Wages
Welder Pay in the US in 2026: Wages in All 50 States
Updated November 1, 2026
In the United States, the median wage for Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and Brazers (SOC 51-4121) is $25.84 an hour (BLS, data from May 2025). Pay depends on the state and the metro area. The tables below give hourly and yearly wages for every state and DC, and hourly wages for major metro areas.
What do welders earn in the US?
The first two tables give the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) wages for welders across the United States, by the hour and by the year. BLS counts welders, cutters, solderers and brazers as one group. Half of the workers in the group earn more than the median, and half earn less.
Sources1
Welder wages across the United States
Yearly welder pay across the United States
Which states pay welders the most?
In the state table, Alaska has the highest median, and Arkansas has the lowest. The table also gives the 10th and 90th percentiles for each state, beside the median. The yearly table after it gives the same states in yearly pay.
Sources1
Welder wages in all 50 states and DC
Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and Brazers (SOC 51-4121) · Hourly, US dollars · Data from May 2025
| Place | 10th percentile | Median | 90th percentile |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | $17.65[1] | $23.31[1] | $32.12[1] |
| Alaska | $23.88[1] | $38.87[1] | $52.85[1] |
| Arizona | $19.21[1] | $26.73[1] | $39.08[1] |
| Arkansas | $17.97[1] | $23.06[1] | $30.21[1] |
| California | $21.40[1] | $27.91[1] | $39.40[1] |
| Colorado | $21.20[1] | $28.17[1] | $38.32[1] |
| Connecticut | $20.96[1] | $31.19[1] | $42.30[1] |
| Delaware | $21.90[1] | $27.54[1] | $36.33[1] |
| District of Columbia | $23.27[1] | $28.93[1] | $36.34[1] |
| Florida | $18.85[1] | $24.35[1] | $33.84[1] |
| Georgia | $18.29[1] | $23.28[1] | $31.33[1] |
| Hawaii | $24.04[1] | $37.98[1] | $48.18[1] |
| Idaho | $19.41[1] | $24.30[1] | $34.03[1] |
| Illinois | $18.70[1] | $24.67[1] | $36.89[1] |
| Indiana | $18.46[1] | $23.91[1] | $36.00[1] |
| Iowa | $21.92[1] | $26.49[1] | $31.37[1] |
| Kansas | $18.17[1] | $23.75[1] | $32.06[1] |
| Kentucky | $18.89[1] | $24.74[1] | $33.18[1] |
| Louisiana | $20.58[1] | $29.93[1] | $39.30[1] |
| Maine | $22.71[1] | $29.92[1] | $36.64[1] |
| Maryland | $19.52[1] | $29.00[1] | $45.81[1] |
| Massachusetts | $22.94[1] | $30.08[1] | $40.11[1] |
| Michigan | $18.80[1] | $24.03[1] | $33.75[1] |
| Minnesota | $21.97[1] | $28.98[1] | $36.40[1] |
| Mississippi | $17.69[1] | $24.57[1] | $30.98[1] |
| Missouri | $18.36[1] | $24.98[1] | $37.57[1] |
| Montana | $21.02[1] | $26.73[1] | $39.17[1] |
| Nebraska | $21.08[1] | $25.10[1] | $32.16[1] |
| Nevada | $21.41[1] | $29.58[1] | $45.70[1] |
| New Hampshire | $22.86[1] | $29.98[1] | $38.60[1] |
| New Jersey | $20.81[1] | $28.58[1] | $39.31[1] |
| New Mexico | $17.72[1] | $28.77[1] | $44.60[1] |
| New York | $21.08[1] | $28.43[1] | $41.88[1] |
| North Carolina | $18.53[1] | $24.32[1] | $34.25[1] |
| North Dakota | $22.43[1] | $29.81[1] | $40.05[1] |
| Ohio | $18.75[1] | $24.20[1] | $33.90[1] |
| Oklahoma | $18.20[1] | $23.90[1] | $33.96[1] |
| Oregon | $22.15[1] | $28.58[1] | $38.09[1] |
| Pennsylvania | $19.48[1] | $25.43[1] | $35.99[1] |
| Rhode Island | $17.09[1] | $24.32[1] | $38.94[1] |
| South Carolina | $18.62[1] | $24.03[1] | $31.01[1] |
| South Dakota | $18.32[1] | $23.77[1] | $30.47[1] |
| Tennessee | $18.19[1] | $23.10[1] | $30.87[1] |
| Texas | $18.45[1] | $25.64[1] | $38.58[1] |
| Utah | $21.08[1] | $28.07[1] | $38.23[1] |
| Vermont | $21.95[1] | $29.27[1] | $35.99[1] |
| Virginia | $20.44[1] | $28.45[1] | $38.29[1] |
| Washington | $23.07[1] | $30.30[1] | $41.47[1] |
| West Virginia | $17.65[1] | $23.46[1] | $35.47[1] |
| Wisconsin | $22.62[1] | $28.08[1] | $34.00[1] |
| Wyoming | $22.70[1] | $30.69[1] | $43.08[1] |
Yearly welder pay by state
Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and Brazers (SOC 51-4121) · Yearly, US dollars · Data from May 2025
| Place | Median | 90th percentile |
|---|---|---|
| Alabama | $48,490[1] | $66,820[1] |
| Alaska | $80,840[1] | $109,940[1] |
| Arizona | $55,600[1] | $81,280[1] |
| Arkansas | $47,970[1] | $62,830[1] |
| California | $58,060[1] | $81,940[1] |
| Colorado | $58,590[1] | $79,700[1] |
| Connecticut | $64,880[1] | $87,980[1] |
| Delaware | $57,270[1] | $75,560[1] |
| District of Columbia | $60,180[1] | $75,580[1] |
| Florida | $50,640[1] | $70,390[1] |
| Georgia | $48,430[1] | $65,160[1] |
| Hawaii | $79,000[1] | $100,220[1] |
| Idaho | $50,530[1] | $70,790[1] |
| Illinois | $51,320[1] | $76,730[1] |
| Indiana | $49,730[1] | $74,880[1] |
| Iowa | $55,090[1] | $65,250[1] |
| Kansas | $49,410[1] | $66,680[1] |
| Kentucky | $51,470[1] | $69,010[1] |
| Louisiana | $62,250[1] | $81,750[1] |
| Maine | $62,220[1] | $76,220[1] |
| Maryland | $60,310[1] | $95,280[1] |
| Massachusetts | $62,570[1] | $83,430[1] |
| Michigan | $49,990[1] | $70,200[1] |
| Minnesota | $60,280[1] | $75,710[1] |
| Mississippi | $51,100[1] | $64,440[1] |
| Missouri | $51,950[1] | $78,150[1] |
| Montana | $55,610[1] | $81,470[1] |
| Nebraska | $52,220[1] | $66,900[1] |
| Nevada | $61,520[1] | $95,050[1] |
| New Hampshire | $62,360[1] | $80,290[1] |
| New Jersey | $59,440[1] | $81,760[1] |
| New Mexico | $59,840[1] | $92,760[1] |
| New York | $59,140[1] | $87,110[1] |
| North Carolina | $50,590[1] | $71,240[1] |
| North Dakota | $62,000[1] | $83,290[1] |
| Ohio | $50,340[1] | $70,510[1] |
| Oklahoma | $49,720[1] | $70,640[1] |
| Oregon | $59,450[1] | $79,230[1] |
| Pennsylvania | $52,900[1] | $74,870[1] |
| Rhode Island | $50,580[1] | $81,000[1] |
| South Carolina | $49,980[1] | $64,510[1] |
| South Dakota | $49,440[1] | $63,380[1] |
| Tennessee | $48,040[1] | $64,200[1] |
| Texas | $53,340[1] | $80,240[1] |
| Utah | $58,380[1] | $79,520[1] |
| Vermont | $60,890[1] | $74,870[1] |
| Virginia | $59,180[1] | $79,630[1] |
| Washington | $63,020[1] | $86,250[1] |
| West Virginia | $48,810[1] | $73,780[1] |
| Wisconsin | $58,410[1] | $70,720[1] |
| Wyoming | $63,820[1] | $89,610[1] |
Which metro areas pay welders the most?
The table lists the 20 metro areas with the most welders, cutters, solderers and brazers, by name. Among them, Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA has the highest median, and Cleveland, OH has the lowest. Before you move, compare the metro area with its state in the state table.
Sources1
Welder wages in the 20 metro areas with the most welders, cutters, solderers and brazers
Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and Brazers (SOC 51-4121) · Hourly, US dollars · Data from May 2025
| Place | 10th percentile | Median | 90th percentile |
|---|---|---|---|
| Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA | $18.80[1] | $23.86[1] | $33.32[1] |
| Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC | $19.74[1] | $26.96[1] | $36.50[1] |
| Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN | $18.81[1] | $25.31[1] | $35.79[1] |
| Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN | $18.97[1] | $24.99[1] | $35.56[1] |
| Cleveland, OH | $18.91[1] | $23.58[1] | $33.00[1] |
| Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX | $18.85[1] | $24.82[1] | $36.98[1] |
| Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, MI | $18.75[1] | $24.91[1] | $36.42[1] |
| Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX | $18.50[1] | $27.86[1] | $39.39[1] |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | $21.41[1] | $27.00[1] | $38.40[1] |
| Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, FL | $19.62[1] | $26.25[1] | $35.86[1] |
| Milwaukee-Waukesha, WI | $23.17[1] | $28.55[1] | $34.79[1] |
| Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI | $23.25[1] | $29.75[1] | $36.85[1] |
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | $21.58[1] | $29.66[1] | $46.12[1] |
| Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD | $21.36[1] | $28.07[1] | $38.44[1] |
| Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler, AZ | $21.04[1] | $27.18[1] | $39.08[1] |
| Pittsburgh, PA | $20.81[1] | $25.78[1] | $36.44[1] |
| Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA | $23.10[1] | $29.83[1] | $40.36[1] |
| Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA | $21.14[1] | $25.02[1] | $36.74[1] |
| Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | $24.17[1] | $31.85[1] | $43.09[1] |
| Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC | $22.36[1] | $30.13[1] | $37.59[1] |
Pay in other metal trades
The table below gives the BLS national wages for four other metal trades. They are boilermakers; plumbers, pipefitters and steamfitters; sheet metal workers; and structural iron and steel workers. Compare them with the welder tables at the top of the page before you choose a trade to train in.
Wages in four other metal trades across the United States
Hourly, US dollars · United States · Data from May 2025
How do public works pay welders?
On New York City public works, the prevailing wage schedule sets a rate for each trade. A welder is paid the rate of the trade that does the work.
Sources2
Before you move for welding work
Check these points before you take a job in another state.
- Compare the metro median in the metro table, not only the state figure.
- Ask which trade the job falls under. The public-works section above explains why it matters.
- Ask whether a quoted rate is base pay or a total package that includes benefits.
- Ask how overtime is paid before you accept.
How to read these figures
BLS gives percentiles for each place. The 10th percentile is the wage that 10 percent of workers in the group earn less than. The 90th percentile is the wage that 10 percent earn more than. All BLS figures on this page are for May 2025. A cell that says No published figure has no BLS figure for that place.
Questions and answers
How much does a welder make a year?
The yearly table gives the national figures. The yearly state table gives them for each state and DC.
How much does a welder make in Texas?
Texas is in the state table. Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX and Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX each have a row in the metro table.
Do the BLS figures include cutters, solderers and brazers?
Yes. BLS reports welders, cutters, solderers and brazers as one occupation group. Every welder table on this page covers that whole group.
Can Werko match me with a US welder job?
No. Werko matches trades workers in Canada now. You can join the US waitlist on this page.
Sources
- BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Retrieved October 31, 2026
- Construction Worker Prevailing Wage Schedule, July 1, 2026 to June 30, 2027
Office of the Comptroller, City of New York (Bureau of Labor Law). Retrieved October 31, 2026