Welders in the United States earn a median of $53,750 a year, or $25.84 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics’ May 2025 survey of 416,000 welders. The range is wide: the bottom 10% earn under $39,240, while specialists in pipe, rig and underwater welding clear $77,500 and well beyond. In welding, what you earn comes down to your tickets, your specialism and the state you work in.
Welder salary USA by type and specialism
This is where welding gets interesting. A basic MIG welder sits near the bottom, while a pipe, rig or underwater welder earns multiples of that. Each ticket and certification you add lifts your pay band. The table below breaks down typical pay by type of welding.
| Welder type | Typical annual salary | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Entry-level / MIG welder | $38,000 – $45,000 | Most common starting point |
| General welder (median) | $53,750 | BLS national median, May 2025 |
| TIG welder | $45,000 – $58,000 | Precision, higher skill |
| Structural / certified (AWS) | $50,000 – $65,000 | Construction & manufacturing |
| Pipe welder | $55,000 – $72,000 | Energy & construction |
| Rig / offshore welder | $70,000 – $100,000+ | Oil, gas & offshore |
| Underwater welder | $60,000 – $100,000+ | Commercial diving, highest risk |
The official BLS median ($53,750) and percentiles are national figures; the by-type ranges are typical industry pay around that median, not official estimates. The takeaway is the same either way: specialise, get certified, and your earnings climb fast.
A few of these specialisms deserve a closer look, because they’re where the real money sits:
- Pipe welders work on pipelines and pressure systems in oil, gas and construction. The precision and certification required push pay well above general welding, and demand follows energy projects across the country.
- Rig and offshore welders trade comfort for cash — long rotations on oil platforms and offshore wind, where day rates and remote-location premiums stack up fast. The UK’s North Sea is the other big offshore market, and our guide to the welder salary in the UK shows how pay compares there.
- Underwater (commercial diver) welders sit at the very top. Combining welding with commercial diving, they handle ship hulls, pipelines and offshore structures, and the danger pays: six figures is achievable for experienced divers.
- Aerospace and nuclear welders need the tightest tolerances and strictest certifications of all, and the specialist nature keeps their pay among the highest in the trade.
Welder salary USA by state: where the money is
Location changes everything. The lowest-paid 10% of US welders earn under $39,240, while the top 10% clear $77,530. Alaska ($80,840) and Hawaii ($79,000) top the state table by a wide margin, both around $25,000 above the national median, driven by remote-location premiums and a small, hard-to-staff workforce. Behind them come Connecticut ($64,880), Wyoming ($63,820), Washington ($63,020) and Louisiana ($62,250), where shipbuilding, energy and heavy industry concentrate. The lowest-paying states are Arkansas, Tennessee and Georgia, all near $48,000.
There’s a quirk in that geography worth knowing before you chase the top figures. Several of the better-paying welding states — Alaska, Washington, Wyoming, Texas and Tennessee among them — are also among the nine that levy no state income tax at all. A welder earning $63,000 in Anchorage or Seattle keeps noticeably more of it than one earning the same in California or Oregon, where state tax comes off on top of the federal bill. Texas is the clearest case of the trade-off: it employs 52,000 welders, more than any other state, but its median of $53,340 sits just below the national figure, so the tax saving is doing much of the work. Put the same salary through the calculator below and switch between Texas and California to see what that difference is worth in your pocket.
US Take-Home Pay Calculator (2026)
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This is an estimate for informational purposes only and is not tax advice. Federal income tax and FICA use official 2026 IRS and SSA figures. Every state is calculated using its real 2026 rate schedule and its own standard deduction or personal exemption — no flat approximations. State rates and brackets are as of 1 January 2026 (source: Tax Foundation, compiled from state statutes, forms and instructions). A few states index their bracket thresholds annually and had not published 2026 figures at compilation, so those reflect the most recent official schedule. Not included: city and county income taxes, state tax credits, itemised deductions, dependant exemptions, and state disability or paid-leave payroll levies (notably California's 1.1% and Washington's 0.58%). For an exact figure, consult the IRS, your state tax authority or a tax professional.
Welder pay by state: the full table
Every state and Washington, D.C., ranked by median annual salary, from the BLS May 2025 survey. The employment column shows how big each state’s welding workforce is, which matters as much as the headline rate when you are deciding where to look for work.
| State | Median annual salary | Median hourly wage | Average annual salary | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alaska | $80,840 | $38.87 | $80,100 | 790 |
| Hawaii | $79,000 | $37.98 | $77,430 | 520 |
| Connecticut | $64,880 | $31.19 | $66,800 | 1,790 |
| Wyoming | $63,820 | $30.69 | $67,990 | 1,850 |
| Washington | $63,020 | $30.30 | $66,340 | 7,720 |
| Massachusetts | $62,570 | $30.08 | $65,050 | 2,830 |
| New Hampshire | $62,360 | $29.98 | $62,900 | 1,110 |
| Louisiana | $62,250 | $29.93 | $63,750 | 13,690 |
| Maine | $62,220 | $29.92 | $61,930 | 1,690 |
| North Dakota | $62,000 | $29.81 | $64,880 | 2,590 |
| Nevada | $61,520 | $29.58 | $64,590 | 1,600 |
| Vermont | $60,890 | $29.27 | $60,210 | 340 |
| Maryland | $60,310 | $29.00 | $64,410 | 2,850 |
| Minnesota | $60,280 | $28.98 | $60,360 | 9,270 |
| District of Columbia | $60,180 | $28.93 | $61,620 | 280 |
| New Mexico | $59,840 | $28.77 | $63,720 | 2,390 |
| Oregon | $59,450 | $28.58 | $60,390 | 5,240 |
| New Jersey | $59,440 | $28.58 | $62,500 | 3,730 |
| Virginia | $59,180 | $28.45 | $60,410 | 10,100 |
| New York | $59,140 | $28.43 | $62,810 | 8,310 |
| Colorado | $58,590 | $28.17 | $60,410 | 4,970 |
| Wisconsin | $58,410 | $28.08 | $57,920 | 15,320 |
| Utah | $58,380 | $28.07 | $59,640 | 4,440 |
| California | $58,060 | $27.91 | $61,120 | 26,060 |
| Delaware | $57,270 | $27.54 | $58,470 | 600 |
| Montana | $55,610 | $26.73 | $58,680 | 1,530 |
| Arizona | $55,600 | $26.73 | $59,040 | 7,270 |
| Iowa | $55,090 | $26.49 | $55,580 | 9,270 |
| Texas | $53,340 | $25.64 | $56,940 | 52,000 |
| Pennsylvania | $52,900 | $25.43 | $56,300 | 17,850 |
| Nebraska | $52,220 | $25.10 | $55,290 | 4,200 |
| Missouri | $51,950 | $24.98 | $55,470 | 10,600 |
| Kentucky | $51,470 | $24.74 | $53,710 | 6,630 |
| Illinois | $51,320 | $24.67 | $55,930 | 16,260 |
| Mississippi | $51,100 | $24.57 | $52,930 | 6,460 |
| Florida | $50,640 | $24.35 | $54,030 | 16,420 |
| North Carolina | $50,590 | $24.32 | $53,720 | 11,750 |
| Rhode Island | $50,580 | $24.32 | $58,180 | 2,300 |
| Idaho | $50,530 | $24.30 | $54,290 | 3,300 |
| Ohio | $50,340 | $24.20 | $53,370 | 20,330 |
| Michigan | $49,990 | $24.03 | $53,820 | 13,330 |
| South Carolina | $49,980 | $24.03 | $52,120 | 7,380 |
| Indiana | $49,730 | $23.91 | $54,220 | 13,280 |
| Oklahoma | $49,720 | $23.90 | $52,860 | 9,960 |
| South Dakota | $49,440 | $23.77 | $51,980 | 3,250 |
| Kansas | $49,410 | $23.75 | $52,780 | 6,370 |
| West Virginia | $48,810 | $23.46 | $53,350 | 2,100 |
| Alabama | $48,490 | $23.31 | $51,120 | 12,450 |
| Georgia | $48,430 | $23.28 | $51,520 | 13,130 |
| Tennessee | $48,040 | $23.10 | $50,450 | 12,510 |
| Arkansas | $47,970 | $23.06 | $50,020 | 6,150 |
How to earn more as a welder in the USA
The fastest way to raise your pay is to specialise and certify. Progressing from MIG to TIG welding, then earning AWS certifications and pipe or structural tickets, lifts your band at each step. The biggest jumps come from changing environment: moving into oil and gas, offshore rigs or commercial diving, where demand and remote locations push rates far above factory pay. Overtime is common and can add thousands a year, and experienced welders who run their own rigs commonly clear six figures.
Union vs non-union welders in the USA
One factor that quietly makes a big difference to welder pay is whether you work union or non-union. Union welders — typically through bodies like the UA (United Association) or Boilermakers — generally earn higher hourly rates, with structured pay scales, benefits, pensions and overtime built in. Non-union welders can still earn well, especially in high-demand states, but pay is more variable and benefits depend entirely on the employer. For welders chasing the top of the scale, a union pipe or rig ticket is often the fastest route to six-figure earnings.
Demand and job outlook for welders
Employment of welders is projected to grow 2% from 2024 to 2034, with around 45,600 openings every year over the decade — most driven by the need to replace retiring workers. The nation’s aging infrastructure, energy build-out and reshoring of manufacturing all keep skilled welders in steady demand, especially those with specialist tickets.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a welder make an hour in the USA?
The national median is $25.84 an hour, or $53,750 a year (BLS, May 2025). The bottom 10% earn under $18.87, while pipe, rig and underwater welders can bill far more, often $40+ an hour.
What is the highest-paying type of welding in the USA?
Underwater (commercial diver) and offshore rig welding pay the most, frequently reaching $70,000 to over $100,000, reflecting the danger, travel and specialist certification involved.
Which state pays welders the most?
Alaska ($80,840) and Hawaii ($79,000) lead by a wide margin, driven by remote-location premiums and high living costs. Connecticut, Wyoming and Washington follow. Texas employs the most welders of any state, 52,000, but pays close to the national median.
Is welding a good career in the USA in 2026?
Yes — it offers a debt-free route into a skilled trade, with a clear ladder from around $39,000 to six figures for specialists, steady demand, and work that can’t be outsourced.
Curious how this compares across the Atlantic? See our full welder salary USA vs UK comparison, or read how the trade is paid in Britain in our guide to the welder salary in the UK. The BLS covers training routes, certification and the job outlook in its Occupational Outlook Handbook.