The average salary for a welder in Colorado is around $46,520 per year.
Avg Salary
Welders earn an average yearly salary of $46,520.
Wages typically start from $33,470 and go up to $72,960.
30% below national average Updated in 2018
Welder earnings by seniority
Approximate values based on highest and lowest earning segments.
Welder salary by state
| State Name | Average Salary |
|---|---|
| Alaska | $66,810 |
| Alabama | $35,821 |
| Arkansas | $35,345 |
| Arizona | $33,808 |
| California | $42,760 |
| Colorado | $46,520 |
| Connecticut | $50,698 |
| District of Columbia | $60,010 |
| Delaware | $51,470 |
| Florida | $37,830 |
| Georgia | $36,050 |
| Guam | $37,270 |
| Hawaii | $56,914 |
| Iowa | $37,281 |
| Idaho | $31,514 |
| Illinois | $36,802 |
| Indiana | $38,272 |
| Kansas | $41,918 |
| Kentucky | $35,668 |
| Louisiana | $51,020 |
| Massachusetts | $49,950 |
| Maryland | $47,970 |
| Maine | $48,220 |
| Michigan | $37,450 |
| Minnesota | $44,040 |
| Missouri | $37,790 |
| Mississippi | $43,050 |
| Montana | $40,070 |
| North Carolina | $39,610 |
| North Dakota | $46,950 |
| Nebraska | $40,570 |
| New Hampshire | $46,400 |
| New Jersey | $44,660 |
| New Mexico | $46,530 |
| Nevada | $45,010 |
| New York | $44,190 |
| Ohio | $39,390 |
| Oklahoma | $41,470 |
| Oregon | $44,310 |
| Pennsylvania | $37,721 |
| Puerto Rico | $22,650 |
| Rhode Island | $48,830 |
| South Carolina | $40,840 |
| South Dakota | $37,440 |
| Tennessee | $39,220 |
| Texas | $43,400 |
| Utah | $40,950 |
| Virginia | $46,280 |
| Virgin Islands | $53,290 |
| Vermont | $40,820 |
| Washington | $49,770 |
| Wisconsin | $42,530 |
| West Virginia | $41,520 |
| Wyoming | $57,120 |
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 Colorado. On average, they make less than industrial designers but more than glaziers.
| Career | Median Salary |
|---|---|
| Industrial designer salary | $58K |
| Mining machine operator salary | $61K |
| Water treatment plant operator salary | $55K |
| Oil and gas rotary drill operator salary | $50K |
| Quality control inspector salary | $49K |
| Welder salary | $47K |
| Chemical technician salary | $47K |
| Tool and die maker salary | $49K |
| Machinist salary | $48K |
| Glazier salary | $47K |
Source: CareerExplorer (Aggregated)