Welder salary in Wisconsin
Median $28.08 an hour for 15,320 welders, cutters, solderers and brazers, May 2025, with the union scale by county and the trend since 1999.
Welder pay in Wisconsin: the full range
Wisconsin ranks 22nd of 51 states for median welder pay, and 11th once adjusted for cost of living (the cost-of-living-adjusted median is $29.84). 15,320 welders, cutters, solderers and brazers work in the state.
| Career stage (approximate) | Hourly | Annual | Where it sits in the distribution |
|---|---|---|---|
| Apprentice / entry | $22.62 – $24.19 | $47,060 – $50,320 | roughly the 10th–25th percentile |
| Journeyman | $24.19 – $29.92 | $50,320 – $62,220 | the middle half, around the median |
| Master / foreman / specialist | $29.92 – $34.00 | $62,220 – $70,720 | the 75th–90th percentile and above |
Where does your pay fall?
Welder pay by metro in Wisconsin
| Metro | 10th | Median $/hr | 90th | Jobs | vs state |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Minneapolis | $23.25 | $29.75 | $36.85 | 4,600 | 6% above |
| Fond du Lac | $23.24 | $29.29 | $33.99 | 230 | 4% above |
| Oshkosh | $22.80 | $29.19 | $32.31 | 540 | 4% above |
| Janesville | $23.27 | $28.85 | $34.00 | 520 | 3% above |
| Madison | $21.70 | $28.62 | $34.27 | 1,010 | 2% above |
| Sheboygan | $24.95 | $28.59 | $29.63 | 740 | 2% above |
| Milwaukee | $23.17 | $28.55 | $34.79 | 3,400 | 2% above |
| Racine | $22.23 | $28.46 | $32.75 | 370 | 1% above |
| Appleton | $22.34 | $28.33 | $39.75 | 970 | 1% above |
| Green Bay | $22.67 | $28.29 | $33.60 | 840 | 1% above |
| La Crosse | $23.45 | $28.27 | $37.66 | 300 | 1% above |
| Eau Claire | $22.33 | $27.94 | $32.60 | 350 | about the same as |
| Kenosha | $23.01 | $27.78 | $32.98 | 250 | 1% below |
| Duluth | $22.30 | $27.60 | $39.03 | 370 | 2% below |
| Wausau | $23.14 | $26.82 | $31.17 | 930 | 4% below |
Welder wages in Wisconsin over time
Table
| Year | Wisconsin $/hr | In 2025 $ | US $/hr | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1999 | $13.22 | $25.55 | $12.58 | 16,530 |
| 2000 | $14.04 | $26.25 | $13.13 | 15,160 |
| 2001 | $14.80 | $26.90 | $13.70 | 13,700 |
| 2002 | $15.27 | $27.33 | $14.02 | 11,940 |
| 2003 | $15.52 | $27.16 | $14.25 | 11,240 |
| 2004 | $16.01 | $27.29 | $14.72 | 11,460 |
| 2005 | $15.96 | $26.31 | $14.90 | 11,300 |
| 2006 | $16.08 | $25.68 | $15.10 | 11,970 |
| 2007 | $16.26 | $25.25 | $15.51 | 12,900 |
| 2008 | $17.17 | $25.67 | $16.13 | 14,180 |
| 2009 | $17.75 | $26.64 | $16.71 | 12,900 |
| 2010 | $18.18 | $26.84 | $17.04 | 10,670 |
| 2011 | $18.26 | $26.13 | $17.27 | 11,010 |
| 2012 | $18.37 | $25.76 | $17.45 | 11,440 |
| 2013 | $18.16 | $25.10 | $17.66 | 12,700 |
| 2014 | $18.38 | $25.00 | $17.99 | 13,550 |
| 2015 | $18.87 | $25.63 | $18.34 | 14,190 |
| 2016 | $19.62 | $26.32 | $18.94 | 14,970 |
| 2017 | $20.08 | $26.37 | $19.35 | 14,250 |
| 2018 | $20.45 | $26.22 | $19.89 | 15,550 |
| 2019 | $21.44 | $27.00 | $20.43 | 15,730 |
| 2020 | $22.37 | $27.83 | $21.25 | 16,280 |
| 2021 | $23.05 | $27.39 | $22.60 | 16,570 |
| 2022 | $23.75 | $26.13 | $22.86 | 18,080 |
| 2023 | $24.33 | $25.71 | $23.53 | 17,440 |
| 2024 | $26.74 | $27.44 | $24.52 | 16,820 |
| 2025 | $28.08 | $28.08 | $25.84 | 15,320 |
In today's dollars, the median welder wage in Wisconsin changed by +9.6% over the last ten years of data.
Is construction work growing in Wisconsin?
Keep comparing
Welder pay in neighbouring states
Other trades in Wisconsin
Questions this page answers
How much do welders make in Wisconsin?
The median welder in Wisconsin earned $28.08 an hour ($58,410 a year) in May 2025, 9% above the national median of $25.84. The middle half earn $24.19–$29.92; the top 10% earn more than $34.00.
Where does Wisconsin rank for welder pay?
Wisconsin ranks 22nd of 51 states for welder pay, with a median of $28.08 an hour, and 11th after adjusting for Wisconsin's cost of living (BEA price parity 94.1, US = 100).
What is the union welder rate in Wisconsin?
Davis-Bacon determinations do not list a welder classification for most Wisconsin counties, or the trade is not covered; the BLS wage figures above are the best available measure.
How many welders work in Wisconsin?
BLS counted 15,320 welders, cutters, solderers and brazers in Wisconsin in May 2025, 5.2 per 1,000 jobs (location quotient 1.95; 1.0 is the national average concentration).
Sources and notes
- BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025, Wisconsin and metro areas, SOC 51-4121.
- BLS Current Employment Statistics, state construction employment through 2026-08.
- BLS Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages, 2025 annual averages.
- BEA Regional Price Parities (cost-of-living adjustment).
- SAM.gov Davis-Bacon wage determinations, current revisions as of 2026-09-28. Not the official determination.