Welder Salary By State: Salary by State (Hourly + Annual)
Trade Industry Insights / Welder Salary By State
Quick Answer: How Much Do Welders Make?
Welder pay varies by state, process and code work (MIG/TIG/Stick), and the type of welding you do—production, structural, pipe, shutdowns, or specialty. The biggest pay jumps usually come from passing code tests and proving you can weld under inspection.
This page shows hourly and annual estimates by state so you can compare typical welder pay where you live. Use the top 10 chart for context, then the full table to compare your state against nearby markets.
- Biggest pay drivers: code work, pipe/structural certs, out-of-position ability, and inspection pass rate.
- Where pay is often highest: industrial markets, energy corridors, shipyards, and regions with strong commercial demand.
- Reality check: “welder” is a huge range—production MIG and inspected pipe are not paid the same.
- Best next step: Jump to Welder Salaries by State and compare your state to the top 10.
- Want the full career path? How to Become a Welder
Welder Salaries by State
Welder pay can vary a lot depending on where you live. Use this state-by-state breakdown to compare average hourly wage, weekly pay, monthly income, and annual salary for welders across the United States.
Salary estimates are based on aggregated data from publicly available wage sources, including state-level labor datasets, employer-reported estimates, and trade industry compensation data. Primary sources include the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), State Labor Departments, and union wage scales and collective bargaining agreements (where available). Data reflects the most recently available wage releases at the time of publication.
How these Welder salary estimates are calculated: Hourly wage figures are based on the most recent U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics for the trade, supplemented with state labor department wage data and published union wage scales where available. Weekly pay assumes a standard 40-hour work week. Annual salary estimates are calculated using 2,080 work hours per year, and monthly pay is derived by dividing the annual estimate by 12. These figures represent typical earnings and may vary based on experience level, system specialization, overtime, seasonality, and regional demand.
Top 10 Highest Paying States for Welders (Hourly)
Complete Welder Salary Table by State
| State | Hourly Wage | Weekly Pay | Monthly Pay | Annual Salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Washington | $28.21 | $1,128 | $4,890 | $58,677 |
| New York | $27.35 | $1,094 | $4,741 | $56,888 |
| Massachusetts | $27.31 | $1,092 | $4,734 | $56,806 |
| Alaska | $26.97 | $1,080 | $4,681 | $56,177 |
| Vermont | $26.67 | $1,059 | $4,592 | $55,098 |
| North Dakota | $26.55 | $1,055 | $4,570 | $54,844 |
| Oregon | $26.54 | $1,054 | $4,567 | $54,798 |
| Colorado | $26.41 | $1,050 | $4,542 | $54,508 |
| Hawaii | $26.13 | $1,045 | $4,527 | $54,327 |
| Nevada | $25.67 | $1,020 | $4,416 | $52,994 |
| New Jersey | $25.60 | $1,018 | $4,409 | $52,912 |
| Wisconsin | $25.47 | $1,013 | $4,389 | $52,662 |
| Pennsylvania | $25.31 | $1,007 | $4,364 | $52,371 |
| Delaware | $25.28 | $1,006 | $4,361 | $52,333 |
| South Dakota | $25.26 | $1,006 | $4,359 | $52,310 |
| Virginia | $25.07 | $1,001 | $4,339 | $52,062 |
| California | $24.97 | $998 | $4,323 | $51,876 |
| Minnesota | $24.80 | $992 | $4,299 | $51,584 |
| Rhode Island | $24.80 | $992 | $4,299 | $51,584 |
| New Hampshire | $24.65 | $987 | $4,278 | $51,336 |
| Maryland | $24.60 | $986 | $4,272 | $51,264 |
| New Mexico | $24.57 | $985 | $4,266 | $51,196 |
| Illinois | $24.57 | $985 | $4,266 | $51,196 |
| Maine | $24.55 | $984 | $4,263 | $51,152 |
| Wyoming | $24.40 | $978 | $4,237 | $50,848 |
| Nebraska | $24.22 | $971 | $4,207 | $50,482 |
| Indiana | $24.18 | $969 | $4,198 | $50,378 |
| Connecticut | $24.18 | $969 | $4,197 | $50,362 |
| Ohio | $24.16 | $968 | $4,194 | $50,326 |
| Mississippi | $24.08 | $962 | $4,171 | $50,046 |
| Idaho | $23.94 | $956 | $4,146 | $49,752 |
| Iowa | $23.91 | $954 | $4,136 | $49,628 |
| Missouri | $23.88 | $952 | $4,126 | $49,514 |
| Arizona | $23.74 | $947 | $4,107 | $49,288 |
| Texas | $23.74 | $947 | $4,105 | $49,266 |
| South Carolina | $23.66 | $943 | $4,090 | $49,032 |
| Oklahoma | $23.55 | $938 | $4,066 | $48,790 |
| Montana | $23.43 | $934 | $4,049 | $48,586 |
| Utah | $23.27 | $929 | $4,023 | $48,273 |
| North Carolina | $23.23 | $926 | $4,013 | $48,154 |
| Tennessee | $23.20 | $924 | $4,005 | $48,058 |
| Alabama | $23.18 | $923 | $3,998 | $47,974 |
| Kansas | $22.85 | $902 | $3,907 | $46,888 |
| Michigan | $22.40 | $873 | $3,785 | $45,416 |
| Kentucky | $22.33 | $871 | $3,776 | $45,306 |
| Louisiana | $22.04 | $859 | $3,721 | $44,656 |
| Georgia | $21.80 | $847 | $3,668 | $44,016 |
| Arkansas | $21.41 | $833 | $3,607 | $43,288 |
| West Virginia | $20.23 | $809 | $3,507 | $42,078 |
| Florida | $19.64 | $786 | $3,404 | $40,851 |
Recommended Next Steps
- Follow the career guide for training and certifications: How to Become a Welder
- Compare union and non-union work environments: Union vs Non-Union Welder Jobs
- Find welding programs and apprenticeships near you: Trade Schools & Apprenticeships Near Me
