Welder earnings by seniority

90th percentile

Top-level welder earnings begin at:

$43.08 per hour

$89,610 per year

75th percentile

Senior-level welder earnings begin at:

$37.93 per hour

$78,890 per year

50th percentile

Mid-level welder earnings begin at:

$30.69 per hour

$63,820 per year

25th percentile

Junior-level welder earnings begin at:

$27.11 per hour

$56,380 per year

10th percentile

Starting level welder earnings begin at:

$22.70 per hour

$47,220 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 Wyoming. On average, they make less than electricians but more than machinists.

Career Median Salary
Electrician salary $76K
Pump operator salary $78K
Derrick operator salary $77K
Water treatment plant operator salary $63K
Rotary drill operator salary $61K
Welder salary $64K
Quality control inspector salary $65K
Millwright salary $63K
Wellhead pumper salary $57K
Machinist salary $63K

Source: CareerExplorer (Aggregated)