The average salary for a welder in the United States is around $22,963 per year.
Avg Salary
Welders earn an average yearly salary of $22,963.
Wages typically start from $17,281 and go up to $30,513.
64% below national average Updated in 2023
Welder earnings by seniority
90th percentile
Top-level welder earnings begin at:
$14.67 per hour
$30,513 per year
75th percentile
Senior-level welder earnings begin at:
$12.82 per hour
$26,669 per year
50th percentile
Mid-level welder earnings begin at:
$11.04 per hour
$22,963 per year
25th percentile
Junior-level welder earnings begin at:
$9.51 per hour
$19,772 per year
10th percentile
Starting level welder earnings begin at:
$8.31 per hour
$17,281 per year
Approximate values based on highest and lowest earning segments.
Welder salary by state
| State Name | Average Salary |
|---|---|
| Alaska | $75,940 |
| District of Columbia | $65,810 |
| Hawaii | $63,120 |
| Wyoming | $60,800 |
| Virgin Islands, U.S. | $60,410 |
| North Dakota | $59,770 |
| Rhode Island | $57,420 |
| Washington | $55,300 |
| Connecticut | $49,480 |
| Massachusetts | $49,480 |
| New Jersey | $49,480 |
| Virginia | $49,200 |
| Louisiana | $48,750 |
| New Hampshire | $48,620 |
| New Mexico | $48,600 |
| California | $48,590 |
| Maryland | $48,340 |
| Delaware | $48,210 |
| New York | $48,140 |
| Maine | $47,940 |
| Wisconsin | $47,940 |
| Minnesota | $47,840 |
| Oregon | $47,840 |
| Nevada | $47,830 |
| Texas | $47,820 |
| Colorado | $47,740 |
| Pennsylvania | $47,130 |
| Arizona | $46,970 |
| Utah | $46,910 |
| Vermont | $46,910 |
| Iowa | $46,640 |
| Idaho | $46,640 |
| Indiana | $46,640 |
| Montana | $46,640 |
| Nebraska | $46,640 |
| North Carolina | $46,450 |
| Mississippi | $46,420 |
| Oklahoma | $46,420 |
| Alabama | $46,320 |
| West Virginia | $46,240 |
| Kansas | $45,600 |
| Ohio | $45,010 |
| Tennessee | $44,830 |
| Illinois | $44,590 |
| Missouri | $44,280 |
| Florida | $44,260 |
| Kentucky | $43,440 |
| South Dakota | $39,300 |
| Michigan | $38,870 |
| South Carolina | $38,860 |
| Georgia | $38,520 |
| Guam | $38,050 |
| Arkansas | $37,760 |
| Puerto Rico | $23,710 |
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 tile and marble setters but more than HVAC technicians.
| Career | Median Salary |
|---|---|
| Tile and marble setter salary | $24K |
| Forklift operator salary | $25K |
| Plumber salary | $24K |
| Maintenance worker salary | $23K |
| Carpenter salary | $23K |
| Welder salary | $23K |
| Jeweler salary | $21K |
| Upholsterer salary | $18K |
| Cement mason salary | $18K |
| HVAC technician salary | $17K |
Source: CareerExplorer (Aggregated)