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Welder: pay, job outlook and how to become one

Updated October 23, 2026. Based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics and O*NET data. Published by Humblebee.

$53,750median pay per year, or $25.84 an hour, May 2025[1]
  1. $39,240lowest 10% earn less
  2. $46,79025th percentile
  3. $53,750median
  4. $63,01075th percentile
  5. $77,530top 10% earn more
Middle half of workers in the inner band[5]Median for all US jobs, $50,980[2]

A welder earned a median of $53,750 a year in May 2025, a bit above the median for all jobs[1][2]. You can usually get in with a high school diploma plus technical and on-the-job training, and about 40,300 openings are expected each year[3][4].

Job growth, 2025–35
+2.4%[6]
Openings per year
40,300[4]
Typical entry education
High school diploma or equivalent[7]

How much do welders make?

The median pay for welders, cutters, solderers and brazers was $53,750 a year, or $25.84 an hour, in May 2025[1]. That means half of these workers earned more and half earned less[8]. The median for all occupations in the US was $50,980[2].

The average (mean) wage was higher than the median, at $56,760 a year or $27.29 an hour[9].

Pay varies a lot from one welder to the next. The lowest-paid 10% earned less than $39,240 a year, and the highest-paid 10% earned more than $77,530[5]. A percentile is a cutoff point in the pay range, not a starting salary[8].

Pay level Per year Per hour
10th percentile[5][10] $39,240 $18.87
25th percentile[5][10] $46,790 $22.50
Median[1] $53,750 $25.84
75th percentile[5][10] $63,010 $30.29
90th percentile[5][10] $77,530 $37.28

These figures cover workers paid a wage or salary, full time and part time. They leave out the self-employed, and they do not include the value of benefits such as health insurance or retirement contributions[11]. BLS counted about 416,210 wage and salary jobs in this occupation[12].

Pay by state and city

Alaska had the highest state median at $80,840, followed by Hawaii at $79,000[13]. Next came Connecticut ($64,880), Wyoming ($63,820) and Washington ($63,020)[13]. At the other end of the list, Arkansas had a median of $47,970[13].

The most jobs were in Texas, with 52,000[14]. California (26,060), Ohio (20,330), Pennsylvania (17,850) and Florida (16,420) followed[14].

Among metro areas with at least 100 jobs, Lima, OH had the highest median at $85,790[15]. Urban Honolulu, HI ($81,120) and Baton Rouge, LA ($78,170) came next[15]. The Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX area had the most welding jobs, about 15,850, with a median of $57,940[16].

Show median pay in 50 states and DC
StateMedian per yearJobs
Alaska[13]$80,840790
Hawaii$79,000520
Connecticut$64,8801,790
Wyoming$63,8201,850
Washington$63,0207,720
Massachusetts$62,5702,830
New Hampshire$62,3601,110
Louisiana$62,25013,690
Maine$62,2201,690
North Dakota$62,0002,590
Nevada$61,5201,600
Vermont$60,890340
Maryland$60,3102,850
Minnesota$60,2809,270
District of Columbia$60,180280
New Mexico$59,8402,390
Oregon$59,4505,240
New Jersey$59,4403,730
Virginia$59,18010,100
New York$59,1408,310
Colorado$58,5904,970
Wisconsin$58,41015,320
Utah$58,3804,440
California$58,06026,060
Delaware$57,270600
Montana$55,6101,530
Arizona$55,6007,270
Iowa$55,0909,270
Texas$53,34052,000
Pennsylvania$52,90017,850
Nebraska$52,2204,200
Missouri$51,95010,600
Kentucky$51,4706,630
Illinois$51,32016,260
Mississippi$51,1006,460
Florida$50,64016,420
North Carolina$50,59011,750
Rhode Island$50,5802,300
Idaho$50,5303,300
Ohio$50,34020,330
Michigan$49,99013,330
South Carolina$49,9807,380
Indiana$49,73013,280
Oklahoma$49,7209,960
South Dakota$49,4403,250
Kansas$49,4106,370
West Virginia$48,8102,100
Alabama$48,49012,450
Georgia$48,43013,130
Tennessee$48,04012,510
Arkansas$47,9706,150

How to become a welder

BLS lists a high school diploma or equivalent as the typical education for entry, with no related work experience needed and moderate-term on-the-job training[7]. The usual route pairs that diploma with technical training and training on the job[3].

1) Finish high school or get an equivalent credential[7]. Classes in blueprint reading, shop math and mechanical drawing can help, and so can knowing how electricity works[17]. 2) Get technical training, which you can find in high school technical education, vocational-technical institutes, community colleges and private welding schools, and the military also trains people in welding[18]. 3) Or look for an apprenticeship with an employer[19]. Some take beginners with no training, while others are meant for people who already finished a welding program at a vocational-technical school[19]. 4) Expect to keep learning on the job[20]. Some employers hire people without experience and train them, but many would rather hire someone who has finished a training or credential program[20]. Even workers with formal training get several months of on-the-job training[20]. 5) Meet safety and license rules[21][22]. OSHA requires welders to complete electrical safety training[22]. Some states and localities require a welding license, and the rules differ by place[21].

Certification is offered through courses from professional organizations[23]. Some employers ask for a general or job-specific certification, and some pay for the training and testing[23].

In an ONET survey of 43 workers, 54% said the job requires a high school diploma or equivalent, 21% said less than a diploma, 12% said a postsecondary certificate and 11% said some college courses[24]. ONET places the job in Job Zone 1-2, where some roles need little experience and others need several months to a year[25].

Helpful qualities include attention to detail for precision work, a steady hand with good hand-eye coordination, stamina for long stretches in awkward positions, and the strength to lift heavy metal and move equipment[26][27][28][29].

What welders do

Welders use hand welding, flame cutting, soldering or brazing tools to join metal parts or to fill holes and seams in metal products[30]. Common tasks, starting with those O*NET rates as most important, include[31]:

Job titles workers report include fabrication welder, maintenance welder, MIG welder, TIG welder, brazer and solderer[32].

Where they work

Manufacturing is the largest employer, with 63% of these jobs[33]. About 4.3% of workers were self-employed in 2025[34].

The work can happen outside in any weather or inside, sometimes in a closed-off space built to hold in sparks and glare[35]. Some jobs put you on a scaffold or platform well above the ground[35]. You may lift heavy objects and work overhead or while bending, stooping or standing[36].

The job carries real injury risks. Hazards include fumes, very hot materials and the intense light of the arc[37]. Workers protect themselves by following safety rules and wearing gear like welding helmets, ear protection and gloves that resist heat[37].

Most work full time, and some put in more than 40 hours a week[38]. Many factories run two or three shifts of 8 to 12 hours a day, so evening and weekend work is possible[38].

Job outlook

BLS projects employment of welders, cutters, solderers and brazers to grow 2.4% from 2025 to 2035[6]. That is slower than the 3.5% projected for all occupations[39]. In numbers, jobs are expected to go from about 437,700 to 448,100, a gain of about 10,300[6]. This projection count includes self-employed workers, while the OEWS count of 416,210 jobs does not[6][12].

Even with slow growth, BLS expects about 40,300 openings each year on average[4]. Openings include jobs that free up when people retire or move to other work, not just new positions[4]. Each year, about 2.7% of workers are projected to leave the labor force and 6.2% to switch to a different occupation[40].

Is it a good fit?

Welding has a short path in: a high school diploma and moderate-term on-the-job training are typical[7]. The median pay of $53,750 is above the all-occupations median of $50,980[1][2], and the state median in Alaska was $80,840[13]. Growth is slower than average, but about 40,300 openings are projected each year[39][4]. The work is physical and has hazards like fumes, heat and arc light, and factory jobs may include evening or weekend shifts[37][38]. It may suit someone who likes hands-on, precise work and can handle those conditions[26][28].

Related occupations from O*NET, with BLS median pay and projected growth[41].

Frequently asked questions

How much does a welder make an hour?
The median hourly wage was $25.84 in May 2025[1]. The lowest-paid 10% earned less than $18.87 an hour and the highest-paid 10% earned more than $37.28[10].
What is the highest paying state for welders?
Alaska, with a median of $80,840 a year, followed by Hawaii at $79,000[13].
What education do you need to be a welder?
BLS lists a high school diploma or equivalent as typical, plus moderate-term on-the-job training[7]. Many employers prefer people who have finished a technical training or credential program[20].
How long does it take to become a welder?
BLS describes the typical training as moderate-term on the job[7]. Even people with formal technical training still get several months of on-the-job training after they are hired[20].
Are welders in demand?
Jobs are projected to grow 2.4% from 2025 to 2035, slower than the 3.5% for all occupations[6][39]. Still, about 40,300 openings are expected each year[4].

Facts and sources

  1. BLS OEWS, May 2025: the median wage for Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and Brazers in the US was $53,750 per year and $25.84 per hour. Half of workers earned more and half earned less. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  2. BLS OEWS, May 2025: the median annual wage for all occupations in the US was $50,980. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  3. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  4. BLS Employment Projections: about 40,300 openings for Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and Brazers are projected each year, on average, from 2025 to 2035. Openings include jobs that open when workers retire or move to other occupations, not only new jobs. BLS Employment Projections
  5. BLS OEWS, May 2025, annual wage percentiles for Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and Brazers: 10th percentile $39,240, 25th percentile $46,790, 75th percentile $63,010, 90th percentile $77,530. The 10th percentile means 10% of workers earned less. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  6. BLS Employment Projections: employment of Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and Brazers is projected to grow 2.4% from 2025 to 2035, from about 437,700 to 448,100 jobs (a change of +10,300). These counts include self-employed workers. BLS Employment Projections
  7. BLS Employment Projections, typical path into Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and Brazers: education needed for entry: High school diploma or equivalent; work experience in a related occupation: None; typical on-the-job training: Moderate-term on-the-job training. BLS Employment Projections
  8. BLS OEWS FAQ: a percentile wage is a boundary. The median (50th percentile) separates the highest-paid 50% from the lowest-paid 50% of workers in the occupation. OEWS publishes percentile wages, not a starting salary. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  9. BLS OEWS, May 2025: the mean (average) wage for Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and Brazers was $56,760 per year and $27.29 per hour. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  10. BLS OEWS, May 2025, hourly wage percentiles for Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and Brazers: 10th percentile $18.87, 25th percentile $22.50, 75th percentile $30.29, 90th percentile $37.28. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  11. BLS OEWS FAQ: OEWS covers part-time and full-time workers paid a wage or salary. It does not cover the self-employed, owners and partners in unincorporated firms, household workers or unpaid family workers. OEWS wages do not include nonproduction bonuses or employer costs of benefits such as health insurance or retirement contributions. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  12. BLS OEWS, May 2025: about 416,210 people were employed as Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and Brazers in the US (wage and salary jobs, not counting self-employed workers). BLS OEWS, May 2025
  13. Median annual wage for Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and Brazers in every state with published data, May 2025 (table on this page). BLS OEWS, May 2025
  14. BLS OEWS, May 2025, states with the most Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and Brazers jobs: Texas 52,000; California 26,060; Ohio 20,330; Pennsylvania 17,850; Florida 16,420. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  15. BLS OEWS, May 2025, metro areas with the highest median annual wage for Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and Brazers (areas with at least 100 jobs): Lima, OH $85,790; Urban Honolulu, HI $81,120; Baton Rouge, LA $78,170; Hartford-West Hartford-East Hartford, CT $75,040; Anchorage, AK $74,000; Lake Charles, LA $72,920; Bremerton-Silverdale-Port Orchard, WA $71,720; Portland-South Portland, ME $66,420. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  16. BLS OEWS, May 2025, metro areas with the most Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and Brazers jobs: Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX 15,850 (median $57,940); Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX 10,620 (median $51,630); Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN 9,320 (median $52,650); Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA 7,850 (median $56,160); New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ 5,780 (median $61,680); Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler, AZ 5,440 (median $56,540). BLS OEWS, May 2025
  17. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Education & Training. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  18. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Education & Training. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  19. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Education & Training. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  20. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Education & Training. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  21. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Licenses, Certifications, and Registrations. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  22. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Licenses, Certifications, and Registrations. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  23. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Licenses, Certifications, and Registrations. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  24. O*NET 51-4121.00 survey of workers (43 respondents), education level they say is required: High School Diploma or the equivalent (such as a GED) 54%, Less than a High School Diploma 21%, Post-Secondary Certificate 12%, Some College Courses 11% (levels under 5% not listed). O*NET OnLine
  25. O*NET 51-4121.00: Job Zone 1-2: Very Little to Some Preparation Needed. Some occupations may need little or no previous experience; others require several months to a year of experience. For example, landscaping and groundskeeping workers might require very little training or previous experience, while agricultural equipment operators can benefit from on-the job training. O*NET OnLine
  26. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Important Qualities. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  27. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Important Qualities. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  28. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Important Qualities. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  29. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Important Qualities. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  30. O*NET description of Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and Brazers. O*NET OnLine
  31. O*NET task list for Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and Brazers. O*NET OnLine
  32. O*NET 51-4121.00 sample job titles reported by workers: Assembly Line Brazer, Brazer, Fabrication Welder, Maintenance Welder, MIG Welder (Metal Inert Gas Welder), Solderer, TIG Welder (Tungsten Inert Gas Welder), Welder. O*NET OnLine
  33. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook, largest employers of welders, cutters, solderers, and brazers in 2025: Manufacturing 63%. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  34. BLS Employment Projections: 4.3% of Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and Brazers were self-employed in 2025. BLS Employment Projections
  35. Occupational Outlook Handbook, Work Environment. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  36. Occupational Outlook Handbook, Work Environment. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  37. Occupational Outlook Handbook, Work Environment: Injuries and Illnesses. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  38. Occupational Outlook Handbook, Work Environment: Work Schedules. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  39. BLS Employment Projections: employment in all occupations is projected to grow 3.5% from 2025 to 2035. BLS Employment Projections
  40. BLS Employment Projections, 2025-35 annual average for Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and Brazers: 2.7% of workers leave the labor force each year and 6.2% move to a different occupation. BLS Employment Projections
  41. Related occupations (O*NET) with BLS pay, growth and entry education. O*NET OnLine

Notes are for reading the data only. They are not facts and cannot be cited: use the wage_scope and percentile_meaning facts instead. OEWS employment (jobs in May 2025) and Employment Projections employment (2025, includes self-employed) are different measures and can differ. O*NET education shares come from a small survey of workers in the occupation, not from all workers.

This page includes information from the O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA. CareerFacts has modified all or some of this information. USDOL/ETA has not approved, endorsed, or tested these modifications.