Highest Paying Cities for Welder (2025)
The median Welder salary is $75,040 in Hartford, CT, the highest-paying city for this role. After adjusting for cost of living, Hartford, CT offers the best purchasing power at $66,643 adjusted.
The 70 cities below are ranked by median wage for Welder, drawn from BLS OEWS. Top-of-list cities typically combine high local labor demand with above-baseline cost-of-living, so the gross-wage ranking partly reflects COL adjustment. Reading the ranking carefully: gross median wage is the headline number, but the cost-adjusted figure (which divides by the city's cost-of-living index) tells a different story for high-COL cities. The ranking sorts on gross wage; the per-city pages surface the adjusted figure.
For workers evaluating Welder relocation, the top of the ranking is the obvious starting point — but the bottom of the list (low gross wage, low COL) is often where cost-adjusted real income is highest. The role-specific pages link to per-city detail.
Ranked by Median Salary
| Rank | City | Median | Range (10th-90th) | COL Index | COL-Adjusted | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Hartford, CT | $75,040 | $46,490, $89,230 | 112.6 | $66,643 | 670 |
| 2 | Anchorage, AK | $74,000 | $46,680, $96,200 | 127 | $58,268 | 250 |
| 3 | Seattle, WA | $66,240 | $50,270, $89,630 | 149.4 | $44,337 | 3,230 |
| 4 | San Francisco, CA | $64,320 | $48,010, $99,930 | 179.6 | $35,813 | 1,990 |
| 5 | San Jose, CA | $64,140 | $49,130, $92,310 | 195.8 | $32,758 | 1,050 |
| 6 | Boston, MA | $63,770 | $49,030, $83,430 | 152.1 | $41,926 | 2,210 |
| 7 | Bridgeport, CT | $63,440 | $41,560, $110,640 | 137.5 | $46,138 | 210 |
| 8 | New Orleans, LA | $63,270 | $45,520, $82,600 | 95.9 | $65,975 | 2,000 |
| 9 | San Diego, CA | $62,560 | $46,700, $82,470 | 160.2 | $39,051 | 2,940 |
| 10 | Portland, OR | $62,050 | $48,050, $83,940 | 130.1 | $47,694 | 3,300 |
| 11 | Baltimore, MD | $61,920 | $43,300, $95,280 | 114.2 | $54,221 | 1,290 |
| 12 | Minneapolis, MN | $61,880 | $48,350, $76,650 | 106.2 | $58,267 | 4,600 |
| 13 | New York, NY | $61,680 | $44,890, $95,920 | 187.2 | $32,949 | 5,780 |
| 14 | Washington, DC | $60,670 | $45,150, $114,440 | 152.8 | $39,705 | 2,000 |
| 15 | Salt Lake City, UT | $60,190 | $46,050, $79,160 | 101.4 | $59,359 | 1,490 |
| 16 | Des Moines, IA | $59,980 | $47,220, $74,850 | 93.3 | $64,287 | 1,170 |
| 17 | Madison, WI | $59,530 | $45,140, $71,270 | 103.8 | $57,351 | 1,010 |
| 18 | Milwaukee, WI | $59,390 | $48,190, $72,370 | 97.4 | $60,975 | 3,400 |
| 19 | Albany, NY | $59,390 | $45,730, $77,580 | 100.7 | $58,977 | 550 |
| 20 | Spokane, WA | $59,350 | $45,090, $74,450 | 97.4 | $60,934 | 630 |
| 21 | Austin, TX | $59,040 | $39,420, $76,060 | 103 | $57,320 | 2,210 |
| 22 | Denver, CO | $58,890 | $45,060, $79,700 | 112.8 | $52,207 | 1,990 |
| 23 | Reno, NV | $58,800 | $45,970, $80,250 | 106.5 | $55,211 | 390 |
| 24 | Philadelphia, PA | $58,380 | $44,430, $79,960 | 118.4 | $49,307 | 4,630 |
| 25 | Las Vegas, NV | $57,980 | $41,740, $84,030 | 109 | $53,193 | 730 |
| 26 | Houston, TX | $57,940 | $38,480, $81,940 | 96.5 | $60,041 | 15,850 |
| 27 | Richmond, VA | $57,710 | $42,950, $83,920 | 102.1 | $56,523 | 1,260 |
| 28 | Kansas City, MO | $57,370 | $42,850, $78,150 | 95.4 | $60,136 | 2,710 |
| 29 | Bakersfield, CA | $57,360 | $38,020, $78,710 | 100.6 | $57,018 | 800 |
| 30 | Sacramento, CA | $57,290 | $47,220, $79,950 | 124.7 | $45,942 | 1,530 |
| 31 | Rochester, NY | $57,130 | $38,800, $70,520 | 92.9 | $61,496 | 650 |
| 32 | Raleigh, NC | $56,940 | $40,460, $71,800 | 99.8 | $57,054 | 1,090 |
| 33 | Phoenix, AZ | $56,540 | $43,760, $81,290 | 100.7 | $56,147 | 5,440 |
| 34 | Los Angeles, CA | $56,160 | $44,530, $79,870 | 166 | $33,831 | 7,850 |
| 35 | Charlotte, NC | $56,070 | $41,060, $75,910 | 96.7 | $57,983 | 3,370 |
| 36 | Buffalo, NY | $55,420 | $41,880, $74,110 | 92.5 | $59,914 | 970 |
| 37 | Colorado Springs, CO | $55,270 | $43,760, $95,430 | 104.5 | $52,890 | 470 |
| 38 | Miami, FL | $54,590 | $40,800, $74,600 | 123.1 | $44,346 | 3,510 |
| 39 | Wichita, KS | $54,190 | $39,020, $71,890 | 84 | $64,512 | 1,460 |
| 40 | Greensboro, NC | $54,180 | $40,130, $70,550 | 91.3 | $59,343 | 1,180 |
| 41 | Lexington, KY | $53,680 | $40,170, $66,300 | 91.3 | $58,795 | 480 |
| 42 | Pittsburgh, PA | $53,610 | $43,280, $75,780 | 92.3 | $58,082 | 3,600 |
| 43 | Tulsa, OK | $53,550 | $39,960, $72,740 | 86.8 | $61,694 | 4,520 |
| 44 | Omaha, NE | $53,110 | $44,770, $70,150 | 91.8 | $57,854 | 1,060 |
| 45 | Providence, RI | $52,800 | $35,580, $81,000 | 119.4 | $44,221 | 2,490 |
| 46 | Chicago, IL | $52,650 | $39,130, $74,450 | 107.3 | $49,068 | 9,320 |
| 47 | Riverside-San Bernardino, CA | $52,050 | $43,970, $76,410 | 122.4 | $42,525 | 3,810 |
| 48 | Cincinnati, OH | $51,990 | $39,460, $73,970 | 91.2 | $57,007 | 3,160 |
| 49 | Detroit, MI | $51,810 | $39,000, $75,760 | 95.1 | $54,479 | 4,580 |
| 50 | St. Louis, MO | $51,640 | $38,770, $72,140 | 90 | $57,378 | 2,820 |
| 51 | Dallas, TX | $51,630 | $39,210, $76,920 | 104.1 | $49,597 | 10,620 |
| 52 | Columbus, OH | $51,260 | $40,100, $70,470 | 93.1 | $55,059 | 2,190 |
| 53 | Tucson, AZ | $51,150 | $38,660, $78,090 | 95.4 | $53,616 | 740 |
| 54 | Indianapolis, IN | $51,070 | $37,690, $76,130 | 90.1 | $56,681 | 2,790 |
| 55 | Louisville, KY | $50,870 | $41,070, $70,360 | 90.2 | $56,397 | 1,790 |
| 56 | Jacksonville, FL | $50,640 | $38,990, $72,840 | 95.1 | $53,249 | 1,420 |
| 57 | Fresno, CA | $50,550 | $42,850, $73,730 | 105.5 | $47,915 | 950 |
| 58 | Boise, ID | $50,240 | $40,500, $71,930 | 102.1 | $49,207 | 1,400 |
| 59 | Orlando, FL | $50,200 | $39,520, $68,780 | 103.1 | $48,691 | 2,020 |
| 60 | Albuquerque, NM | $49,980 | $37,040, $79,060 | 94 | $53,170 | 510 |
| 61 | Tampa, FL | $49,930 | $39,890, $67,360 | 99.6 | $50,131 | 2,520 |
| 62 | Birmingham, AL | $49,930 | $38,010, $71,640 | 90.4 | $55,232 | 2,160 |
| 63 | Atlanta, GA | $49,630 | $39,100, $69,300 | 99.2 | $50,030 | 5,240 |
| 64 | Nashville, TN | $49,460 | $40,220, $68,490 | 100.3 | $49,312 | 2,590 |
| 65 | Greenville, SC | $49,130 | $39,990, $63,340 | 90.1 | $54,528 | 1,760 |
| 66 | Oklahoma City, OK | $48,760 | $37,560, $70,640 | 86.5 | $56,370 | 2,200 |
| 67 | Memphis, TN | $48,600 | $38,620, $65,280 | 84 | $57,857 | 1,590 |
| 68 | San Antonio, TX | $48,220 | $38,230, $73,800 | 91.5 | $52,699 | 2,510 |
| 69 | Knoxville, TN | $48,040 | $38,280, $63,980 | 90.3 | $53,200 | 1,780 |
| 70 | Little Rock, AR | $47,440 | $38,340, $60,250 | 88.2 | $53,787 | 1,190 |
Ranked by Purchasing Power (COL-Adjusted)
Cost-of-living adjusted salaries show where your Welder paycheck goes furthest. A lower COL index means your dollars stretch further.
| Rank | City | COL-Adjusted | Raw Median | COL Index |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Hartford, CT | $66,643 | $75,040 | 112.6 |
| 2 | New Orleans, LA | $65,975 | $63,270 | 95.9 |
| 3 | Wichita, KS | $64,512 | $54,190 | 84 |
| 4 | Des Moines, IA | $64,287 | $59,980 | 93.3 |
| 5 | Tulsa, OK | $61,694 | $53,550 | 86.8 |
| 6 | Rochester, NY | $61,496 | $57,130 | 92.9 |
| 7 | Milwaukee, WI | $60,975 | $59,390 | 97.4 |
| 8 | Spokane, WA | $60,934 | $59,350 | 97.4 |
| 9 | Kansas City, MO | $60,136 | $57,370 | 95.4 |
| 10 | Houston, TX | $60,041 | $57,940 | 96.5 |
| 11 | Buffalo, NY | $59,914 | $55,420 | 92.5 |
| 12 | Salt Lake City, UT | $59,359 | $60,190 | 101.4 |
| 13 | Greensboro, NC | $59,343 | $54,180 | 91.3 |
| 14 | Albany, NY | $58,977 | $59,390 | 100.7 |
| 15 | Lexington, KY | $58,795 | $53,680 | 91.3 |
| 16 | Anchorage, AK | $58,268 | $74,000 | 127 |
| 17 | Minneapolis, MN | $58,267 | $61,880 | 106.2 |
| 18 | Pittsburgh, PA | $58,082 | $53,610 | 92.3 |
| 19 | Charlotte, NC | $57,983 | $56,070 | 96.7 |
| 20 | Memphis, TN | $57,857 | $48,600 | 84 |
| 21 | Omaha, NE | $57,854 | $53,110 | 91.8 |
| 22 | St. Louis, MO | $57,378 | $51,640 | 90 |
| 23 | Madison, WI | $57,351 | $59,530 | 103.8 |
| 24 | Austin, TX | $57,320 | $59,040 | 103 |
| 25 | Raleigh, NC | $57,054 | $56,940 | 99.8 |
| 26 | Bakersfield, CA | $57,018 | $57,360 | 100.6 |
| 27 | Cincinnati, OH | $57,007 | $51,990 | 91.2 |
| 28 | Indianapolis, IN | $56,681 | $51,070 | 90.1 |
| 29 | Richmond, VA | $56,523 | $57,710 | 102.1 |
| 30 | Louisville, KY | $56,397 | $50,870 | 90.2 |
| 31 | Oklahoma City, OK | $56,370 | $48,760 | 86.5 |
| 32 | Phoenix, AZ | $56,147 | $56,540 | 100.7 |
| 33 | Birmingham, AL | $55,232 | $49,930 | 90.4 |
| 34 | Reno, NV | $55,211 | $58,800 | 106.5 |
| 35 | Columbus, OH | $55,059 | $51,260 | 93.1 |
| 36 | Greenville, SC | $54,528 | $49,130 | 90.1 |
| 37 | Detroit, MI | $54,479 | $51,810 | 95.1 |
| 38 | Baltimore, MD | $54,221 | $61,920 | 114.2 |
| 39 | Little Rock, AR | $53,787 | $47,440 | 88.2 |
| 40 | Tucson, AZ | $53,616 | $51,150 | 95.4 |
| 41 | Jacksonville, FL | $53,249 | $50,640 | 95.1 |
| 42 | Knoxville, TN | $53,200 | $48,040 | 90.3 |
| 43 | Las Vegas, NV | $53,193 | $57,980 | 109 |
| 44 | Albuquerque, NM | $53,170 | $49,980 | 94 |
| 45 | Colorado Springs, CO | $52,890 | $55,270 | 104.5 |
| 46 | San Antonio, TX | $52,699 | $48,220 | 91.5 |
| 47 | Denver, CO | $52,207 | $58,890 | 112.8 |
| 48 | Tampa, FL | $50,131 | $49,930 | 99.6 |
| 49 | Atlanta, GA | $50,030 | $49,630 | 99.2 |
| 50 | Dallas, TX | $49,597 | $51,630 | 104.1 |
| 51 | Nashville, TN | $49,312 | $49,460 | 100.3 |
| 52 | Philadelphia, PA | $49,307 | $58,380 | 118.4 |
| 53 | Boise, ID | $49,207 | $50,240 | 102.1 |
| 54 | Chicago, IL | $49,068 | $52,650 | 107.3 |
| 55 | Orlando, FL | $48,691 | $50,200 | 103.1 |
| 56 | Fresno, CA | $47,915 | $50,550 | 105.5 |
| 57 | Portland, OR | $47,694 | $62,050 | 130.1 |
| 58 | Bridgeport, CT | $46,138 | $63,440 | 137.5 |
| 59 | Sacramento, CA | $45,942 | $57,290 | 124.7 |
| 60 | Miami, FL | $44,346 | $54,590 | 123.1 |
| 61 | Seattle, WA | $44,337 | $66,240 | 149.4 |
| 62 | Providence, RI | $44,221 | $52,800 | 119.4 |
| 63 | Riverside-San Bernardino, CA | $42,525 | $52,050 | 122.4 |
| 64 | Boston, MA | $41,926 | $63,770 | 152.1 |
| 65 | Washington, DC | $39,705 | $60,670 | 152.8 |
| 66 | San Diego, CA | $39,051 | $62,560 | 160.2 |
| 67 | San Francisco, CA | $35,813 | $64,320 | 179.6 |
| 68 | Los Angeles, CA | $33,831 | $56,160 | 166 |
| 69 | New York, NY | $32,949 | $61,680 | 187.2 |
| 70 | San Jose, CA | $32,758 | $64,140 | 195.8 |
Frequently Asked Questions
Hartford, CT pays the highest median Welder salary at $75,040. However, after cost-of-living adjustment, Hartford, CT offers the most purchasing power at $66,643 adjusted.
The national median Welder salary is $56,053 based on BLS data. Salaries range from $47,440 to $75,040 depending on city.
Not necessarily. A city with higher nominal pay may have a higher cost of living that offsets the salary difference. Compare the "COL-Adjusted" column in both tables above, cities with lower costs of living often offer better real purchasing power.
Other Trades Rankings
Rankings based on BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2024. COL adjustments use BEA Regional Price Parities.
Source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, 2026.