Welder Salary
Bureau of Labor Statistics title: Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and Brazers
The median welder salary in the United States is $53,750 per year ($25.84/hour). Salaries range from $39,240 at the entry level to $77,530+ for the top 10% of earners. There are 416,210 welder jobs nationwide. Employment is projected to grow 2.2% through 2034.
Last updated: June 2026 Β· Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
Salary Distribution
Job Growth (2024-2034)
Annual Openings
Education Required
Training Needed
Welder Career Guide
Interview questions, resume templates, and a career ladder written specifically for welders.
Welders join, cut, and shape metal using various welding processes (MIG, TIG, stick, flux-cored) for construction, manufacturing, shipbuilding, pipeline, aerospace, and specialty industries. Career splits: construction welders (structural steel, pipefitting β often union), manufacturing welders (auto, appliance, aerospace factories), pipeline welders (oil + gas + water β highest paying itinerant work), specialty welders (aerospace, nuclear, underwater β highest hourly), inspection + engineering path (CWI + Welding Engineer). Path: high school + welding school (6-12 month program) + certifications (AWS D1.1, ASME, API). Union apprenticeship (3-4 years) preferred for highest pay + benefits. Median compensation: entry $38-55k; skilled welders $52-78k; specialty (nuclear, aerospace, underwater) $75-140k; pipeline welders $80-160k during projects; inspectors + engineers $85-135k+; business owners $100-500k+.
Core Skills Hiring Managers Screen For
How to Become a Welder
- 1Age 18+ + high school diploma or GED (preferred)Age minimum for hot work. Reading + basic math + measurement required.
- 2Welding school (6-12 months) OR union apprenticeship (3-4 years)Community college / trade school (Tulsa Welding School, Lincoln Electric Welding School, local community colleges). Union apprenticeship earn-while-you-learn.
- 3Get AWS welder certifications (D1.1 for structural steel, D1.2 for aluminum, etc.)Structural steel = D1.1. Pipe = D1.1 + API 1104 + ASME Sec IX. Aerospace = AWS D17.1. Nuclear = ASME III.
- 4First welding job (fabrication shop, construction, manufacturer)Entry welders start at $18-25/hr. Prove skills + move up.
- 5Union apprenticeship (Boilermakers, Ironworkers, UA, IBEW) for highest pay + benefits3-4 year paid apprenticeship. Progressive wage increases. Guaranteed journeyman status.
- 6Specialize (pipe, aerospace, nuclear, underwater, aluminum)Specialty commands 40-80% premium wages. Pipeline + aerospace + underwater highest-paying.
- 7Advance to foreman β supervisor β inspector (CWI) β engineerCareer progression from craft to management + inspection + engineering.
Career Progression
- β’Basic welding tasks under supervision
- β’Learning processes + materials
- β’Assist skilled welders
- β’Independent welding on standard positions
- β’Multiple process proficiency
- β’Following WPS + specifications
- β’Complex position welding
- β’Specialty processes
- β’High-pressure + high-quality environments
- β’Supervise crew of 5-15
- β’Quality control + inspections
- β’Coordinate with GC + trades
- β’Weld quality + inspection
- β’Procedure development + qualification
- β’Failure analysis
- β’Full business P&L
- β’Multi-project + team oversight
- β’Business development
Interview Questions & Answers
5 free questions below. Career Kit unlocks 11 total plus resume bullets for every level.
Q1. Tell me about your welding experience.situational
Q2. How do you handle a weld that fails inspection?situational
Q3. Tell me about a difficult weld you performed.behavioral
Q4. Why our company / trade?culture
Q5. How do you handle safety on the job?situational
Resume Template β Journeyman Welder (3-6 yrs)
Copy these bullets into your resume as a starting point. Career Kit includes bullets for every level of the ladder.
- βΈJourneyman Welder, [Company], 4 years welding structural + pipe on commercial + industrial projects.
- βΈAWS D1.1 Structural + ASME Sec IX Pipe + API 1104 certifications current.
- βΈZero failed welds during 3 consecutive quality audits at [Company]. Bilingual English + Spanish.
- βΈCertified in TIG + MIG + Stick + Flux-cored processes. Overhead + vertical + horizontal + flat positions.
What Gets You Rejected
- βWeak welding skills or missing key certifications.
- βHistory of failed welds without correction discipline.
- βPoor safety awareness.
- βBad-mouthing prior shop or foreman.
- βMissing continuing education or recertification.
- βWeak measurement or blueprint reading.
- βSubstance abuse concerns.
- βFailed drug test.
Salary Negotiation Levers
- βHourly rate + specialty + certifications matter significantly.
- βUnion vs non-union β union pays 30-60% more + strong pension + benefits.
- βSpecialty pay: pipe (30-50% premium), aerospace (20-40%), nuclear (20-40%), underwater (100%+ premium during dive).
- βSign-on bonus $1,000-10,000 in specialty + high-demand areas.
- βOvertime + holiday premium during construction season.
- βPer diem + travel pay for out-of-town.
- βFull benefits (health, dental, retirement) via union pension fund.
- βPTO + sick time.
- βCertifications support + testing fees.
- βCareer path to foreman + inspector + engineer.
Welder Resume Review β $29
Personalized resume review from someone who has hired welders. Purchase, email your resume to support@weblabra.com, and receive detailed written feedback within 7 days.
- β Occupation-specific critique (not generic)
- β Rewrite suggestions for weak bullets
- β Missing skills / keywords flagged
- β Formatting + ATS-readability feedback
- β 7-day turnaround, 100% refund if we miss it
Welder Career Kit β $19
- β All 11 interview questions with expert answers
- β 10 real questions aggregated from Glassdoor, Blind, Reddit, LinkedIn
- β Interview format intel for 8 top employers
- β 3 copy-paste salary negotiation emails
- β Resume bullets for every level of the career ladder
- β 30β60β90 day plan for your first role
- β Cover letter templates specific to this occupation
- β Detailed salary negotiation script
- β Ranked list of certifications with cost + ROI
- β Downloadable PDF for offline access
- β Instant access, no expiration, no subscription
One-time purchase. 7-day refund guarantee.
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Welder Salary by State
Best Cities (cost-adjusted) βSalary Map β Click a state for details
Top Paying States
| State | Median | vs. National |
|---|---|---|
| Alaska | $80,840 | +50.4% |
| Hawaii | $79,000 | +47.0% |
| Connecticut | $64,880 | +20.7% |
| Wyoming | $63,820 | +18.7% |
| Washington | $63,020 | +17.2% |
| Massachusetts | $62,570 | +16.4% |
| New Hampshire | $62,360 | +16.0% |
| Louisiana | $62,250 | +15.8% |
| Maine | $62,220 | +15.8% |
| North Dakota | $62,000 | +15.3% |
Welder Salary by Metro Area
| Metro Area | Median | vs. National |
|---|---|---|
| Lima, OH | $85,790 | +59.6% |
| Urban Honolulu, HI | $81,120 | +50.9% |
| Fairbanks-College, AK | $80,210 | +49.2% |
| Baton Rouge, LA | $78,170 | +45.4% |
| Hartford-West Hartford-East Hartford, CT | $75,040 | +39.6% |
| Anchorage, AK | $74,000 | +37.7% |
| Lake Charles, LA | $72,920 | +35.7% |
| Bremerton-Silverdale-Port Orchard, WA | $71,720 | +33.4% |
| Kahului-Wailuku, HI | $67,280 | +25.2% |
| Portland-South Portland, ME | $66,420 | +23.6% |