The average salary for a welder in the United States is around $53,750 per year.
Avg Salary
Welders earn an average yearly salary of $53,750.
Wages typically start from $39,240 and go up to $77,530.
17% below national average Updated in 2025
Welder earnings by seniority
90th percentile
Top-level welder earnings begin at:
$37.28 per hour
$77,530 per year
75th percentile
Senior-level welder earnings begin at:
$30.29 per hour
$63,010 per year
50th percentile
Mid-level welder earnings begin at:
$25.84 per hour
$53,750 per year
25th percentile
Junior-level welder earnings begin at:
$22.50 per hour
$46,790 per year
10th percentile
Starting level welder earnings begin at:
$18.87 per hour
$39,240 per year
Approximate values based on highest and lowest earning segments.
Welder salary by state
| State Name | Average Salary |
|---|---|
| Alaska | $80,840 |
| Hawaii | $79,000 |
| Connecticut | $64,880 |
| Wyoming | $63,820 |
| Washington | $63,020 |
| Massachusetts | $62,570 |
| New Hampshire | $62,360 |
| Louisiana | $62,250 |
| Maine | $62,220 |
| North Dakota | $62,000 |
| Nevada | $61,520 |
| Vermont | $60,890 |
| Virgin Islands, U.S. | $60,410 |
| Maryland | $60,310 |
| Minnesota | $60,280 |
| District of Columbia | $60,180 |
| New Mexico | $59,840 |
| Oregon | $59,450 |
| New Jersey | $59,440 |
| Virginia | $59,180 |
| New York | $59,140 |
| Colorado | $58,590 |
| Wisconsin | $58,410 |
| Utah | $58,380 |
| California | $58,060 |
| Delaware | $57,270 |
| Montana | $55,610 |
| Arizona | $55,600 |
| Iowa | $55,090 |
| Texas | $53,340 |
| Pennsylvania | $52,900 |
| Nebraska | $52,220 |
| Missouri | $51,950 |
| Kentucky | $51,470 |
| Illinois | $51,320 |
| Mississippi | $51,100 |
| Florida | $50,640 |
| North Carolina | $50,590 |
| Rhode Island | $50,580 |
| Idaho | $50,530 |
| Ohio | $50,340 |
| Michigan | $49,990 |
| South Carolina | $49,980 |
| Indiana | $49,730 |
| Oklahoma | $49,720 |
| South Dakota | $49,440 |
| Kansas | $49,410 |
| West Virginia | $48,810 |
| Alabama | $48,490 |
| Georgia | $48,430 |
| Tennessee | $48,040 |
| Arkansas | $47,970 |
| Guam | $38,050 |
| 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 precious metal workers but more than professional painters.
| Career | Median Salary |
|---|---|
| Precious metal worker salary | $53K |
| Gem worker salary | $53K |
| Machine assembler salary | $54K |
| Logging worker salary | $52K |
| Faller salary | $52K |
| Welder salary | $54K |
| Recreational vehicle service technician salary | $52K |
| Hazardous materials removal worker salary | $49K |
| Locksmith salary | $51K |
| Professional painter salary | $49K |
Source: CareerExplorer (Aggregated)