Welder Salary Guide 2026
What you can earn as a welder, by process, location, and certification level
Average Salaries
Entry Level (0-2 years)
- Hourly: $18-25/hour
- Annual: $37,000-52,000
Mid-Level (2-5 years)
- Hourly: $25-35/hour
- Annual: $52,000-73,000
Experienced (5+ years)
- Hourly: $35-50/hour
- Annual: $73,000-104,000
Master Welder (10+ years)
- Hourly: $50-75+/hour
- Annual: $104,000+
By Process
| Process | Entry | Mid | Senior |
|---|
| MIG | $18-22 | $25-30 | $35-45 |
| TIG | $20-25 | $30-40 | $40-55 |
| Stick | $18-22 | $25-32 | $35-45 |
| Pipe | $25-30 | $35-45 | $50-65 |
By Industry
| Industry | Average Hourly |
|---|
| Aerospace | $35-55 |
| Oil and Gas (Pipeline) | $40-65 |
| Structural Fabrication | $25-35 |
| Shipbuilding | $30-45 |
| Automotive | $20-30 |
| Maintenance/Repair | $22-32 |
By Location
Highest Paying States
- Alaska: $40-55/hour
- New Mexico: $35-50/hour
- Wyoming: $35-48/hour
- Texas: $32-45/hour
- North Dakota: $32-45/hour
Major Cities
- Houston, TX: $30-45/hour
- Los Angeles, CA: $28-42/hour
- Seattle, WA: $28-40/hour
- Chicago, IL: $25-38/hour
Certifications That Pay
- AWS Certified Welder (CW) - Adds $2-5/hour
- CWI (Certified Welding Inspector) - $40-75/hour
- API 1104 (pipeline) - +$5-15/hour
- ASME (pressure vessel) - +$5-12/hour
Overtime and Benefits
Welders typically receive:
- Overtime: Time-and-a-half after 40 hours
- Per diem: $50-100/day for travel jobs
- Health insurance: Typically covered
- Tool allowance: $500-1,500/year
A welder making $30/hour working 50 hours makes around $95,000 annually with overtime.
Career Progression
- Entry Welder - Learning, supervised work
- Production Welder - Independent work
- Skilled Welder - Multiple processes, complex jobs
- Lead Welder - Supervising others
- Welder/Fabricator - Layout, blueprint reading
- CWI - Inspection, quality control
The Bottom Line
The highest earners are certified in multiple codes, proficient in TIG and pipe, willing to travel, and experienced in demanding industries.
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Sources
- Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Outlook Handbook
- AWS Wage Survey
- Indeed, LinkedIn salary data (2025-2026)
- Fabricators and Manufacturers Association