The average salary for a welder in California is around $58,060 per year.
Avg Salary
Welders earn an average yearly salary of $58,060.
Wages typically start from $44,520 and go up to $81,940.
25% below national average Updated in 2025
Welder earnings by seniority
90th percentile
Top-level welder earnings begin at:
$39.40 per hour
$81,940 per year
75th percentile
Senior-level welder earnings begin at:
$33.85 per hour
$70,400 per year
50th percentile
Mid-level welder earnings begin at:
$27.91 per hour
$58,060 per year
25th percentile
Junior-level welder earnings begin at:
$23.31 per hour
$48,480 per year
10th percentile
Starting level welder earnings begin at:
$21.40 per hour
$44,520 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 California. On average, they make less than professional painters but more than derrick operators.
| Career | Median Salary |
|---|---|
| Professional painter salary | $59K |
| Precious metal worker salary | $61K |
| Jeweler salary | $61K |
| Gem worker salary | $61K |
| Machinist salary | $57K |
| Welder salary | $58K |
| Hazardous materials removal worker salary | $56K |
| Pump operator salary | $58K |
| Maintenance worker salary | $57K |
| Derrick operator salary | $55K |
Source: CareerExplorer (Aggregated)