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Currently, the median annual salary for a welder is $51,000, according to the latest statistics from the Bureau of Labor Statistics. If someone is on the hunt for a truly hands-on career and gets satisfaction from building or repairing things, they may find they enjoy working as a welder. However, this can be a physically demanding and potentially dangerous career choice. To better understand what this role entails and what welders earn, read on.
Key Points
• Welders earn a median annual salary of $51,000, with the highest 10% taking home $75,850.
• Welding salaries vary widely depending on the state, with Washington offering the highest average annual salary ($52,441) and Florida offering the lowest ($34,601).
• A college degree isn’t required for this profession, as most welders gain the essential training through vocational programs, which can take up to a year to complete.
• Full-time welders may receive benefits such as health care and retirement plans, while self-employed welders typically source these independently.
• Welding involves hands-on work and offers solid income potential, but it can be physically demanding.
What Are Welders?
A welder is a highly skilled professional who uses specialized equipment to cut or join metal parts, as well as make other changes to metal products by filling holes, for example. Many welders specialize in certain techniques and processes, but the core of what they do involves applying heat to metal pieces so they can then melt and fuse them together permanently. Typical job responsibilities of welders include:
• Scrutinizing structures or materials slated for welding.
• Understanding and analyzing blueprints, sketches, and specifications.
• Supervising the welding process, making heat adjustments as required.
• Determining and measuring the dimensions of components for welding.
• Executing welding tasks in accordance with blueprint specifications.
• Managing and maintaining equipment and machinery.
Training to be a welder typically involves training at a vocational school, which can take between seven months and a year, depending on your desired specialization. Usually, a welder doesn’t need a college degree.
Additionally, it’s worth noting that welding can be a good career for introverts. While there is some teamwork and/or client contact involved, much of the job involves working solo with your tools.
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How Much Do Starting Welders Make a Year?
If someone is new to the field of welding, they can expect to earn less as an entry-level welder compared to their more experienced counterparts. In terms of how much a welder makes a year, the lowest 10% of earners in this role make less than $38,130.
That being said, there’s a lot of room for salary growth in this role, as the highest 10% earn more than $75,850. While not common, it’s possible that a welder with experience and specialization could earn $100,000 per year in a job market where there’s a high cost of living and consequently higher-than-average pay.
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What Is the Average Salary for a Welder?
What the average salary looks like for a welder can depend a lot on where they live. For example, while Washington welders earn the most on average ($52,441), Florida welders earn almost $20,000 less per year ($34,601). The following table compares how much welders earn on average on an annual, monthly, weekly, and hourly basis in each state, arranged from highest to lowest.
What Is the Average Welder Salary by State for 2026?
| State | Annual Salary | Monthly Pay | Weekly Pay | Hourly Wage |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Washington | $52,441 | $4,370 | $1,008 | $25.21 |
| New York | $50,655 | $4,221 | $974 | $24.35 |
| Massachusetts | $50,567 | $4,213 | $972 | $24.31 |
| Alaska | $49,864 | $4,155 | $958 | $23.97 |
| Vermont | $49,230 | $4,102 | $946 | $23.67 |
| North Dakota | $48,991 | $4,082 | $942 | $23.55 |
| Oregon | $48,954 | $4,079 | $941 | $23.54 |
| Colorado | $48,687 | $4,057 | $936 | $23.41 |
| Hawaii | $48,105 | $4,008 | $925 | $23.13 |
| Nevada | $47,149 | $3,929 | $906 | $22.67 |
| New Jersey | $47,007 | $3,917 | $903 | $22.60 |
| Wisconsin | $46,735 | $3,894 | $898 | $22.47 |
| Pennsylvania | $46,413 | $3,867 | $892 | $22.31 |
| Delaware | $46,341 | $3,861 | $891 | $22.28 |
| South Dakota | $46,302 | $3,858 | $890 | $22.26 |
| Virginia | $45,904 | $3,825 | $882 | $22.07 |
| California | $45,695 | $3,807 | $878 | $21.97 |
| Minnesota | $45,348 | $3,779 | $872 | $21.80 |
| Rhode Island | $45,344 | $3,778 | $872 | $21.80 |
| New Hampshire | $45,029 | $3,752 | $865 | $21.62 |
| Maryland | $44,937 | $3,744 | $864 | $21.60 |
| New Mexico | $44,870 | $3,739 | $862 | $21.57 |
| Illinois | $44,867 | $3,738 | $862 | $21.57 |
| Maine | $44,829 | $3,735 | $862 | $21.55 |
| Wyoming | $44,506 | $3,708 | $855 | $21.40 |
| Nebraska | $44,146 | $3,678 | $848 | $21.22 |
| Indiana | $44,059 | $3,671 | $847 | $21.18 |
| Connecticut | $44,046 | $3,670 | $847 | $21.18 |
| Ohio | $44,019 | $3,668 | $846 | $21.16 |
| Mississippi | $43,851 | $3,654 | $843 | $21.08 |
| Idaho | $43,565 | $3,630 | $837 | $20.94 |
| Iowa | $43,489 | $3,624 | $836 | $20.91 |
| Missouri | $43,431 | $3,619 | $835 | $20.88 |
| Arizona | $43,148 | $3,595 | $829 | $20.74 |
| Texas | $43,137 | $3,594 | $829 | $20.74 |
| South Carolina | $42,966 | $3,580 | $826 | $20.66 |
| Oklahoma | $42,752 | $3,562 | $822 | $20.55 |
| Montana | $42,498 | $3,541 | $817 | $20.43 |
| Utah | $42,152 | $3,512 | $810 | $20.27 |
| North Carolina | $42,079 | $3,506 | $809 | $20.23 |
| Tennessee | $42,024 | $3,502 | $808 | $20.20 |
| Alabama | $41,967 | $3,497 | $807 | $20.18 |
| Kansas | $41,294 | $3,441 | $794 | $19.85 |
| Michigan | $40,356 | $3,363 | $776 | $19.40 |
| Kentucky | $40,214 | $3,351 | $773 | $19.33 |
| Louisiana | $39,594 | $3,299 | $761 | $19.04 |
| Georgia | $39,096 | $3,258 | $751 | $18.80 |
| Arkansas | $38,287 | $3,190 | $736 | $18.41 |
| West Virginia | $35,845 | $2,987 | $689 | $17.23 |
| Florida | $34,601 | $2,883 | $665 | $16.64 |
Source: ZipRecruiter
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Welder Job Considerations for Pay and Benefits
What someone’s pay and benefits look like as a welder depends a lot on whether they choose to work full-time or part-time. Full-time welders who are employed by businesses can expect to gain access to traditional employer-sponsored benefits such as retirement accounts, paid time off, and health care.
However, if someone only works part-time as a welder or is self-employed, they likely won’t receive any benefits and will have to pursue things such as opening retirement accounts and sourcing health care coverage on their own.
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Pros and Cons of Welder Salary
Because welders don’t need a college degree — only technical and on-the-job training — they can save a lot of money on education expenses. Not having to worry about student loan payments each month can help their salaries stretch a lot further, which can be a major advantage of this career path.
On the other hand, this salary can come at a steep cost. Welding can be a very physical and therefore exhausting career. Welders expose themselves to many on-the-job hazards that can lead to injury, such as breathing in fumes and handling extremely hot materials. There are safety procedures in place to offset these risks, but there’s still a certain level of risk they can’t avoid.
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The Takeaway
Working as a welder can lead to a median annual salary of $51,000, and an expensive degree isn’t required to work in this role. There’s also the potential for welders to earn a higher salary as they gain experience, as the top 10% earn more than $75,850. However, it can be tiring and potentially hazardous work.
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FAQ
Can you make 100k a year as a welder?
While it’s not impossible to make $100,000 or more a year as a welder, the top 10% of earners in this field make more than $75,850. However, it may take many years of experience to earn top pay. Welders who are self-employed may find it easier to charge higher rates for their work.
Do people like being a welder?
Many people enjoy working as a welder, especially people who consider themselves introverts. Working as a welder requires a lot of independent work, which can be a great fit for those who get overwhelmed by too much social interaction during the workday.
Is it hard to get hired as a welder?
If someone wants to get hired as a welder or in a similar role, they should be able to find employment if they have the right skills and education. The Bureau of Labor Statistics anticipates there to be an average of 42,600 job openings for welders, cutters, solderers, and brazers every year up to 2032.
How long does it take to become a welder?
Many welders attend vocational schools to gain hands-on experience and training. This typically takes anywhere from six months to a year, depending on the program and specialization.
Do you need a degree to become a welder?
No, you typically don’t require a college degree to become a welder. Most welders enter the field through vocational training programs.
About the author
Jacqueline DeMarco
Jacqueline DeMarco is a freelance writer who specializes in financial topics. Her first job out of college was in the financial industry, and it was there she gained a passion for helping others understand tricky financial topics. Read full bio.
Photo credit: iStock/simonkr
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