Welder salary

Welder earnings by seniority

90th percentile

Top-level welder earnings begin at:

$26.35 per hour

$54,808 per year

75th percentile

Senior-level welder earnings begin at:

$22.16 per hour

$46,086 per year

50th percentile

Mid-level welder earnings begin at:

$18.28 per hour

$38,014 per year

25th percentile

Junior-level welder earnings begin at:

$15.07 per hour

$31,355 per year

10th percentile

Starting level welder earnings begin at:

$12.68 per hour

$26,365 per year

Approximate values based on highest and lowest earning segments.

Welder salary by state

How much does a Welder earn?

Welders who keep up to date on the latest technology are in high demand with employers. The American Welding Society provides certification for welders, which can also improve employment prospects. It is interesting to note that welding skills are highly transferable, so a welder can move from one area or one employer to another in pursuit of a better salary or a more suitable place of employment. Two of the highest paying employers are electrical and gas utilities, at $61,110 and $59,620 respectively. Most employers are in the construction and manufacturing sectors, where pay averages between $35,000 and $37,000.

Welders in the same state can take home vastly different paycheques depending on their particular skill set. Industry booms often account for large wage discrepancies. For example, the recent boom in domestic energy production has increased the demand for welders to build, maintain and repair rigs or pipelines in states like Texas and North Dakota. In North Dakota, welders in the top earning bracket make about $39 per hour, yet the median wage hovers around $21 per hour.

The following list, compiled by Economic Modeling Services International, shows the ten U.S. states that offer the highest wages for welders (2014):

Alaska - $33.97 Median / $43.83 Top 10%
Hawaii - $31.10 Median / $39.75 Top 10%
North Dakota - $20.68 Median / $39.05 Top 10%
West Virginia - $18.21 Median / $37.88 Top 10%
Wyoming - $22.18 Median / $35.23 Top 10%
Nevada - $17.73 Median / $34.38 Top 10%
New Mexico - $19.10 Median / $33.99 Top 10%
Maryland - $20.51 Median / $33.55 Top 10%
California - $18.54 Median / $31.56 Top 10%
Delaware - $21.74 Median / $31.32 Top 10%

How do welder salaries compare to similar careers?

Welders earn about the same as related careers in the United States. On average, they make less than gem workers but more than molding and casting workers.

Source: CareerExplorer (Aggregated)