Welder career
BLS occupation: Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and Brazers (51-4121). Updated September 26, 2026.
Pay
Welders in the U.S. earn a median of $53,750 a year, or $25.84 an hour, according to May 2025 BLS data.
Median yearly pay$53,750
Bottom 10% under$39,240Top 10% over$77,530
Pay in your state
- 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
See all 50 states and DC
- Nevada$61,520
- Vermont$60,890
- 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
Top-paying metro areas
Other trades
Source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Excludes self-employed welders.