What is the best state for welders?

After cost of living, Alaska: the median of $80,840 a year buys about what $78,980 would at average U.S. prices.

Which state pays welders the most?

Before adjusting for prices, Alaska has the highest median, $80,840. After cost of living it ranks 1st of 51.

What is the worst state for welders after cost of living?

Florida, where the median of $50,640 buys about what $48,970 would nationally.

How is cost of living adjusted?

We divide each state's median by its Regional Price Parity from the Bureau of Economic Analysis (2024), where the U.S. average is 100. A state with prices 10% above average (110) has its median divided by 1.10.

Best states for welders

Updated September 27, 2026

After adjusting for cost of living, Alaska is the best-paying state for welders: its median of $80,840 a year buys what $78,980 would nationally, according to May 2025 BLS wages and BEA 2024 price levels. It also has the highest pay before adjusting.

Welder pay by state, after cost of living

#	State	After cost of living	Median pay	Price level
1	Alaska$80,840 median · prices 102.4	$78,980	$80,840	102.4
2	Hawaii$79,000 median · prices 110.0	$71,850	$79,000	110.0
3	Louisiana$62,250 median · prices 88.2	$70,570	$62,250	88.2
4	North Dakota$62,000 median · prices 89.0	$69,700	$62,000	89.0
5	Wyoming$63,820 median · prices 92.7	$68,850	$63,820	92.7
6	New Mexico$59,840 median · prices 92.2	$64,890	$59,840	92.2
7	Maine$62,220 median · prices 97.0	$64,110	$62,220	97.0
8	Iowa$55,090 median · prices 87.8	$62,770	$55,090	87.8
9	Connecticut$64,880 median · prices 103.6	$62,620	$64,880	103.6
10	Vermont$60,890 median · prices 98.0	$62,160	$60,890	98.0
11	Wisconsin$58,410 median · prices 94.1	$62,080	$58,410	94.1
12	Nevada$61,520 median · prices 100.0	$61,530	$61,520	100.0
13	Minnesota$60,280 median · prices 98.6	$61,120	$60,280	98.6
14	New Hampshire$62,360 median · prices 104.2	$59,870	$62,360	104.2
15	Massachusetts$62,570 median · prices 105.8	$59,160	$62,570	105.8
16	Utah$58,380 median · prices 98.9	$59,050	$58,380	98.9
17	Washington$63,020 median · prices 107.0	$58,890	$63,020	107.0
18	Mississippi$51,100 median · prices 87.0	$58,770	$51,100	87.0
19	Montana$55,610 median · prices 94.6	$58,760	$55,610	94.6
20	Virginia$59,180 median · prices 101.1	$58,530	$59,180	101.1
21	Nebraska$52,220 median · prices 90.1	$57,960	$52,220	90.1
22	Oregon$59,450 median · prices 103.4	$57,520	$59,450	103.4
23	Maryland$60,310 median · prices 105.0	$57,460	$60,310	105.0
24	Delaware$57,270 median · prices 99.8	$57,380	$57,270	99.8
25	Missouri$51,950 median · prices 90.8	$57,200	$51,950	90.8
26	Kentucky$51,470 median · prices 90.2	$57,090	$51,470	90.2
27	Colorado$58,590 median · prices 103.1	$56,850	$58,590	103.1
28	Oklahoma$49,720 median · prices 87.8	$56,600	$49,720	87.8
29	South Dakota$49,440 median · prices 88.6	$55,810	$49,440	88.6
30	Arizona$55,600 median · prices 100.7	$55,230	$55,600	100.7
31	Arkansas$47,970 median · prices 86.9	$55,180	$47,970	86.9
32	Texas$53,340 median · prices 97.1	$54,960	$53,340	97.1
33	Kansas$49,410 median · prices 90.1	$54,860	$49,410	90.1
34	New York$59,140 median · prices 107.9	$54,800	$59,140	107.9
35	District of Columbia$60,180 median · prices 109.9	$54,760	$60,180	109.9
36	New Jersey$59,440 median · prices 108.8	$54,630	$59,440	108.8
37	Alabama$48,490 median · prices 88.8	$54,590	$48,490	88.8
38	West Virginia$48,810 median · prices 89.5	$54,540	$48,810	89.5
39	Ohio$50,340 median · prices 92.8	$54,260	$50,340	92.8
40	Pennsylvania$52,900 median · prices 97.6	$54,220	$52,900	97.6
41	North Carolina$50,590 median · prices 94.3	$53,630	$50,590	94.3
42	South Carolina$49,980 median · prices 93.7	$53,310	$49,980	93.7
43	Indiana$49,730 median · prices 93.3	$53,280	$49,730	93.3
44	Idaho$50,530 median · prices 95.5	$52,910	$50,530	95.5
45	California$58,060 median · prices 110.7	$52,440	$58,060	110.7
46	Tennessee$48,040 median · prices 91.9	$52,290	$48,040	91.9
47	Michigan$49,990 median · prices 96.2	$51,960	$49,990	96.2
48	Illinois$51,320 median · prices 100.0	$51,340	$51,320	100.0
49	Georgia$48,430 median · prices 96.3	$50,290	$48,430	96.3
50	Rhode Island$50,580 median · prices 102.3	$49,450	$50,580	102.3
51	Florida$50,640 median · prices 103.4	$48,970	$50,640	103.4

Price level: BEA Regional Price Parity, U.S. average = 100. Every state links to its full welder pay page, with pay in each metro. See also: best-paying cities for welders.

How we ranked them

Each state's median annual wage for welders, cutters, solderers, and brazers (BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025, SOC 51-4121) divided by its Bureau of Economic Analysis Regional Price Parity for 2024 (all items, U.S. = 100), then ranked. Wages exclude self-employed welders. Price levels are statewide averages; costs vary within a state. Methodology

Questions

What is the best state for welders?: After cost of living, Alaska: the median of $80,840 a year buys about what $78,980 would at average U.S. prices.
Which state pays welders the most?: Before adjusting for prices, Alaska has the highest median, $80,840. After cost of living it ranks 1st of 51.
What is the worst state for welders after cost of living?: Florida, where the median of $50,640 buys about what $48,970 would nationally.
How is cost of living adjusted?: We divide each state's median by its Regional Price Parity from the Bureau of Economic Analysis (2024), where the U.S. average is 100. A state with prices 10% above average (110) has its median divided by 1.10.