Updated May 2026 · BLS OEWS 2024 reference period
Top 10% Welder Salary (2026)
The top 10% of welders earn $79,824 or more per year as of 2026, based on the 90th percentile of Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS wage data — the threshold at which only 10% of workers in this occupation earn more. Across U.S. metros, the 90th percentile ranges from $65,200 (lowest-paying metro) to $115,370 (highest-paying metro).
90th percentile across U.S. metros, employment-weighted
What This Pay Level Means
The 90th percentile is the BLS-published wage below which 90% of workers in this occupation earn — i.e., the wage above which only the top 10% earn. Workers in this band are typically principals, directors, senior managers, or highly-specialized individual contributors at top-paying employers. Reaching this band usually requires 15+ years of experience plus deep specialization, or a move to a top-paying metro.
Most senior and management welders earn at the 75th-to-90th percentile band. The median (50th percentile) is the right anchor for typical workers; the 75th percentile fits experienced specialists. See "Senior welder salary" for the 75th-percentile band.
Top-Paying Metros at This Level
| Metro | Top Pay |
|---|---|
| San Jose, CA | $115,370 |
| Washington, DC | $105,060 |
| San Francisco, CA | $102,200 |
| New York, NY | $96,590 |
| Los Angeles, CA | $89,180 |
What the Numbers Tell You
Geographic pay for Welders is relatively uniform — the top-paying metro pays only about 1.4× the lowest, a $18,770 range.
Roughly 112,560 Welders are employed across the metros tracked here — a sizable mid-tier occupation with reliable percentile data.
Other Pay Levels for Welders
Each percentile band targets a distinct experience level — see the dedicated page for your career stage:
How This Salary Is Calculated
Wages come from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics' Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) program — an annual survey of about 1.2 million U.S. establishments published by Standard Occupational Classification (SOC) code and Metropolitan Statistical Area. The figure on this page is employment-weighted across 25 BLS-tracked metros for SOC code 51-4121. The mapping from BLS percentiles to experience bands (entry / junior / mid / senior / top 10%) follows the convention used by the U.S. Department of Labor's prevailing wage system. See full methodology.
Frequently Asked Questions
Top 10% Welder Salary (2026)?
The top 10% of welders earn $79,824 or more per year as of 2026, based on the 90th percentile of Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS wage data — the threshold at which only 10% of workers in this occupation earn more. Across U.S. metros, the 90th percentile ranges from $65,200 (lowest-paying metro) to $115,370 (highest-paying metro).
How does this percentile compare to the median?
Welders have a national median (50th percentile) of $56,534. The 90th percentile shown on this page ($79,824) is 41% above the median — typical for this experience band.
Where do welders at this level earn the most?
San Jose, CA pays the highest at this percentile band — $115,370. Lowest-paying tracked metro: Tampa, FL at $65,200.
What years of experience does this percentile represent?
The 90th percentile is the BLS-published wage below which 90% of workers in this occupation earn — i.e., the wage above which only the top 10% earn. Workers in this band are typically principals, directors, senior managers, or highly-specialized individual contributors at top-paying employers. Reaching this band usually requires 15+ years of experience plus deep specialization, or a move to a top-paying metro.
Where does this welder salary data come from?
Every wage figure comes from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics' Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) program at bls.gov/oes — an annual federal survey of more than 1 million U.S. employers. The percentile figure on this page is employment-weighted across BLS-tracked metros.
The top 10% of welders earn $79,824 or more per year as of 2026, based on the 90th percentile of Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS wage data — the threshold at which only 10% of workers in this occupation earn more. Across U.S. metros, the 90th percentile ranges from $65,200 (lowest-paying metro) to $115,370 (highest-paying metro).