Welders with certification can earn +35.06% more than the average base salary, which is $22.19 per hour.
The average Welder salary in the United States is $46,575 as of December 27, 2023, but the range typically falls between $41,442 and $53,345. Salary ranges can vary widely depending on many important factors, including education, certifications, additional skills, the number of years you have spent in your profession.
The BLS (Bureau of Labor Statistics) estimates a 13% increase in demand for welders up to 2026.
Factors Influencing Welder Salaries
Several factors contribute to the variation in welder salaries. Understanding these factors can help you determine your earning potential in the welding industry.
- Experience: Experienced welders tend to earn higher salaries than entry-level welders. As you gain more skills and expertise in different welding techniques, your earning potential increases.
- Location: Welding salaries can vary significantly by region. Urban areas with a high demand for skilled welders may offer higher wages than rural areas. The cost of living also plays a role in determining wages.
- Industry: The industry you work in can impact your salary. For example, welding jobs in the aerospace or oil and gas industries often pay more than positions in construction or manufacturing.
- Certifications: Holding relevant certifications, such as the American Welding Society (AWS), the German Institute of Welding (DVS) among others, can lead to higher-paying opportunities. Welders with specialized certifications, like underwater welding, may command even higher salaries. Soldamatic offers several courses from relevant associations and experts in welding mentioned before.
- Union Membership: Some welders belong to labor unions, which can negotiate better wages and benefits on their behalf. Union membership can be a significant factor in determining your earnings.
How Much Does a Welder Make A Year
Now, let’s take a look at the average wages for welders in the United States, broken down by experience level and industry.
- Entry-Level Welder: Entry-level welders with basic experience can expect to earn $15.07 per hour or an average annual salary of around $31,350 to $35,000.
- Junior-Level Welder: Junior-level welders with some experience can expect to earn $18.20 per hour or an average annual salary of around $37,8620.
- Mid-Level Welder: With a few years of experience, can expect to earn $22.60 per hour or an average annual salary of around $47,010.
- Senior-Level Welder: With ten years of experience, can expect to earn $27.33 per hour or an average annual salary of around $56,850.
- Top-Level Welder: Welders with extensive experience and expertise in specialized fields can earn well over $30.61 per hour or $63,660 annually, and in some cases, even six-figure salaries.
Industry-Specific Salary
- Oil rig welder salary: $77,000 per year.
- Underwater welder salary: $54,000 per year.
- Industrial pipeline welder salary: $63,000 per year.
- Military support welder salary: $48,000 per year.
- Aerospace welder salary: $45,000 per year.
- Certified welding inspector salary: $57,000 per year.
- Nuclear industry welder salary: $67,000 per year.
- Certified welding supervisor salary: $56,000 per year.
- Welding engineer salary: $83,000 per year.
- Combination welder salary: $59,000 per year.
Welder Salary By State
| State Name | Average Salary |
| Alaska | $75,940 |
| District Of Columbia | $65,810 |
| Hawaii | $63,120 |
| Wyoming | $60,800 |
| Virgin Islands, U.S. | $60,410 |
| North Dakota | $59,770 |
| Rhode Island | $57,420 |
| Washington | $55,300 |
| Connecticut | $49,480 |
| Massachusetts | $49,480 |
| New Jersey | $49,480 |
| Virginia | $49,200 |
| Louisiana | $48,750 |
| New Hampshire | $48,620 |
| New Mexico | $48,600 |
| California | $48,590 |
| Maryland | $48,340 |
| Delaware | $48,210 |
| New York | $48,140 |
| Maine | $47,940 |
| Wisconsin | $47,940 |
| Minnesota | $47,840 |
| Oregon | $47,840 |
| Nevada | $47,830 |
| Texas | $47,820 |
| Colorado | $47,740 |
| Pennsylvania | $47,130 |
| Arizona | $46,970 |
| Utah | $46,910 |
| Vermont | $46,910 |
| Iowa | $46,640 |
| Idaho | $46,640 |
| Indiana | $46,640 |
| Montana | $46,640 |
| Nebraska | $46,640 |
| North Carolina | $46,450 |
| Mississippi | $46,420 |
| Oklahoma | $46,420 |
| Alabama | $46,320 |
| West Virginia | $46,240 |
| Kansas | $45,600 |
| Ohio | $45,010 |
| Tennessee | $44,830 |
| Illinois | $44,590 |
| Missouri | $44,280 |
| Florida | $44,260 |
| Kentucky | $43,440 |
| South Dakota | $39,300 |
| Michigan | $38,870 |
| South Carolina | $38,860 |
| Georgia | $38,520 |
| Guam | $38,050 |
| Arkansas | $37,760 |
| Puerto Rico | $23,710 |
FAQs
Can I make 100k as a welder?
We all see the welding school advertisements: Make Over $100,000 As a Welder! And while it’s true that skilled welders are among the most sought-after workers in the job market, the average welder is bringing in $48,000 per year, a far cry from six figures.
What’s the highest paid welding job?
#1. Rig Welder. Annual Salary: $52,000 – $207,000.
#2. Underwater Welder. Annual Salary: $38,000 – $147,000.
#3. Nuclear Welder. Annual Salary: $22,000 – $143,500.
#4. Industrial Pipeline Welder. Annual Salary: $23,500 – $133,500.
#5. Military Support Welders. Annual Salary: $37,000 – $160,000.
How much does a certified welder make in Kansas?
$37,900 is the 25th percentile. Salaries below this are outliers. $49,500 is the 75th percentile.
Is becoming a welder a good job?
Welders are highly paid because their skills are in high demand and require a high level of training and expertise. Welders must be able to read and interpret blueprints, calculate material dimensions, and understand the properties of different metals and welding techniques.
Can you be a millionaire as a welder?
Certified welder jobs won’t immediately render you a millionaire the minute you start doing it. This profession would take hours of dedicated labor plus continuous efforts to achieve a solid living. Aside from that, admitted professionals can expect to make approximately $50,000 per year in general.
How do welders make 6 figures?
High earning potential in welding is often associated with specialized skills and certifications, extensive experience, and working in industries with a strong demand for welding expertise, such as aerospace, nuclear power, or underwater welding.