Welders Salary 2025: $56,053 Median Pay (BLS OEWS)
$56,053 per year is the national median annual wage for welders (BLS OEWS, May 2025 reference period). That works out to about $27/hour, with a 10th–90th percentile range of $46,490 to $89,230. The Bureau of Labor Statistics classifies this role under SOC code 51-4121.
Key Facts (BLS OEWS, May 2025)
- Median annual wage
- $56,053
- Median hourly wage
- $27/hr
- Mean annual wage
- $58,491
- Total US employment
- 181,670
- Top-paying metro
- Hartford, CT, CT ($75,040)
- BLS SOC code
- 51-4121
Source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 release.
Welder (SOC 51-4121) sits in the lower-paying U.S. occupations on BLS OEWS data: national median wage of $56,053 across 181,670 reported workers.
Cross-city wage variation runs moderate — $47,440 to $75,040 median across 70 cities, about 58% above the floor. The spread is large enough to matter for relocation decisions but not large enough to dominate them. Welder is in the {{category}} category. BLS OEWS captures base wage but not bonuses, equity compensation, or commissions; total compensation for many roles runs meaningfully above the reported wage.
Salary Range (BLS Percentiles)
Welders salaries range from $47,440 to $75,040 median across cities, depending on location, experience, and industry.
Welders Salary by City (BLS OEWS)
| City | 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th | COL-Adjusted | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hartford, CT | $46,490 | $57,910 | $75,040 | $82,135 | $89,230 | $66,643 | 670 |
| Anchorage, AK | $46,680 | $57,608 | $74,000 | $85,100 | $96,200 | $58,268 | 250 |
| Seattle, WA | $50,270 | $56,658 | $66,240 | $77,935 | $89,630 | $44,337 | 3,230 |
| San Francisco, CA | $48,010 | $54,534 | $64,320 | $82,125 | $99,930 | $35,813 | 1,990 |
| San Jose, CA | $49,130 | $55,134 | $64,140 | $78,225 | $92,310 | $32,758 | 1,050 |
| Boston, MA | $49,030 | $54,926 | $63,770 | $73,600 | $83,430 | $41,926 | 2,210 |
| Bridgeport, CT | $41,560 | $50,312 | $63,440 | $87,040 | $110,640 | $46,138 | 210 |
| New Orleans, LA | $45,520 | $52,620 | $63,270 | $72,935 | $82,600 | $65,975 | 2,000 |
| San Diego, CA | $46,700 | $53,044 | $62,560 | $72,515 | $82,470 | $39,051 | 2,940 |
| Portland, OR | $48,050 | $53,650 | $62,050 | $72,995 | $83,940 | $47,694 | 3,300 |
| Baltimore, MD | $43,300 | $50,748 | $61,920 | $78,600 | $95,280 | $54,221 | 1,290 |
| Minneapolis, MN | $48,350 | $53,762 | $61,880 | $69,265 | $76,650 | $58,267 | 4,600 |
| New York, NY | $44,890 | $51,606 | $61,680 | $78,800 | $95,920 | $32,949 | 5,780 |
| Washington, DC | $45,150 | $51,358 | $60,670 | $87,555 | $114,440 | $39,705 | 2,000 |
| Salt Lake City, UT | $46,050 | $51,706 | $60,190 | $69,675 | $79,160 | $59,359 | 1,490 |
| Des Moines, IA | $47,220 | $52,324 | $59,980 | $67,415 | $74,850 | $64,287 | 1,170 |
| Madison, WI | $45,140 | $50,896 | $59,530 | $65,400 | $71,270 | $57,351 | 1,010 |
| Milwaukee, WI | $48,190 | $52,670 | $59,390 | $65,880 | $72,370 | $60,975 | 3,400 |
| Albany, NY | $45,730 | $51,194 | $59,390 | $68,485 | $77,580 | $58,977 | 550 |
| Spokane, WA | $45,090 | $50,794 | $59,350 | $66,900 | $74,450 | $60,934 | 630 |
| Austin, TX | $39,420 | $47,268 | $59,040 | $67,550 | $76,060 | $57,320 | 2,210 |
| Denver, CO | $45,060 | $50,592 | $58,890 | $69,295 | $79,700 | $52,207 | 1,990 |
| Reno, NV | $45,970 | $51,102 | $58,800 | $69,525 | $80,250 | $55,211 | 390 |
| Philadelphia, PA | $44,430 | $50,010 | $58,380 | $69,170 | $79,960 | $49,307 | 4,630 |
| Las Vegas, NV | $41,740 | $48,236 | $57,980 | $71,005 | $84,030 | $53,193 | 730 |
| Houston, TX | $38,480 | $46,264 | $57,940 | $69,940 | $81,940 | $60,041 | 15,850 |
| Richmond, VA | $42,950 | $48,854 | $57,710 | $70,815 | $83,920 | $56,523 | 1,260 |
| Kansas City, MO | $42,850 | $48,658 | $57,370 | $67,760 | $78,150 | $60,136 | 2,710 |
| Bakersfield, CA | $38,020 | $45,756 | $57,360 | $68,035 | $78,710 | $57,018 | 800 |
| Sacramento, CA | $47,220 | $51,248 | $57,290 | $68,620 | $79,950 | $45,942 | 1,530 |
| Rochester, NY | $38,800 | $46,132 | $57,130 | $63,825 | $70,520 | $61,496 | 650 |
| Raleigh, NC | $40,460 | $47,052 | $56,940 | $64,370 | $71,800 | $57,054 | 1,090 |
| Phoenix, AZ | $43,760 | $48,872 | $56,540 | $68,915 | $81,290 | $56,147 | 5,440 |
| Los Angeles, CA | $44,530 | $49,182 | $56,160 | $68,015 | $79,870 | $33,831 | 7,850 |
| Charlotte, NC | $41,060 | $47,064 | $56,070 | $65,990 | $75,910 | $57,983 | 3,370 |
| Buffalo, NY | $41,880 | $47,296 | $55,420 | $64,765 | $74,110 | $59,914 | 970 |
| Colorado Springs, CO | $43,760 | $48,364 | $55,270 | $75,350 | $95,430 | $52,890 | 470 |
| Miami, FL | $40,800 | $46,316 | $54,590 | $64,595 | $74,600 | $44,346 | 3,510 |
| Wichita, KS | $39,020 | $45,088 | $54,190 | $63,040 | $71,890 | $64,512 | 1,460 |
| Greensboro, NC | $40,130 | $45,750 | $54,180 | $62,365 | $70,550 | $59,343 | 1,180 |
| Lexington, KY | $40,170 | $45,574 | $53,680 | $59,990 | $66,300 | $58,795 | 480 |
| Pittsburgh, PA | $43,280 | $47,412 | $53,610 | $64,695 | $75,780 | $58,082 | 3,600 |
| Tulsa, OK | $39,960 | $45,396 | $53,550 | $63,145 | $72,740 | $61,694 | 4,520 |
| Omaha, NE | $44,770 | $48,106 | $53,110 | $61,630 | $70,150 | $57,854 | 1,060 |
| Providence, RI | $35,580 | $42,468 | $52,800 | $66,900 | $81,000 | $44,221 | 2,490 |
| Chicago, IL | $39,130 | $44,538 | $52,650 | $63,550 | $74,450 | $49,068 | 9,320 |
| Riverside-San Bernardino, CA | $43,970 | $47,202 | $52,050 | $64,230 | $76,410 | $42,525 | 3,810 |
| Cincinnati, OH | $39,460 | $44,472 | $51,990 | $62,980 | $73,970 | $57,007 | 3,160 |
| Detroit, MI | $39,000 | $44,124 | $51,810 | $63,785 | $75,760 | $54,479 | 4,580 |
| St. Louis, MO | $38,770 | $43,918 | $51,640 | $61,890 | $72,140 | $57,378 | 2,820 |
| Dallas, TX | $39,210 | $44,178 | $51,630 | $64,275 | $76,920 | $49,597 | 10,620 |
| Columbus, OH | $40,100 | $44,564 | $51,260 | $60,865 | $70,470 | $55,059 | 2,190 |
| Tucson, AZ | $38,660 | $43,656 | $51,150 | $64,620 | $78,090 | $53,616 | 740 |
| Indianapolis, IN | $37,690 | $43,042 | $51,070 | $63,600 | $76,130 | $56,681 | 2,790 |
| Louisville, KY | $41,070 | $44,990 | $50,870 | $60,615 | $70,360 | $56,397 | 1,790 |
| Jacksonville, FL | $38,990 | $43,650 | $50,640 | $61,740 | $72,840 | $53,249 | 1,420 |
| Fresno, CA | $42,850 | $45,930 | $50,550 | $62,140 | $73,730 | $47,915 | 950 |
| Boise, ID | $40,500 | $44,396 | $50,240 | $61,085 | $71,930 | $49,207 | 1,400 |
| Orlando, FL | $39,520 | $43,792 | $50,200 | $59,490 | $68,780 | $48,691 | 2,020 |
| Albuquerque, NM | $37,040 | $42,216 | $49,980 | $64,520 | $79,060 | $53,170 | 510 |
| Tampa, FL | $39,890 | $43,906 | $49,930 | $58,645 | $67,360 | $50,131 | 2,520 |
| Birmingham, AL | $38,010 | $42,778 | $49,930 | $60,785 | $71,640 | $55,232 | 2,160 |
| Atlanta, GA | $39,100 | $43,312 | $49,630 | $59,465 | $69,300 | $50,030 | 5,240 |
| Nashville, TN | $40,220 | $43,916 | $49,460 | $58,975 | $68,490 | $49,312 | 2,590 |
| Greenville, SC | $39,990 | $43,646 | $49,130 | $56,235 | $63,340 | $54,528 | 1,760 |
| Oklahoma City, OK | $37,560 | $42,040 | $48,760 | $59,700 | $70,640 | $56,370 | 2,200 |
| Memphis, TN | $38,620 | $42,612 | $48,600 | $56,940 | $65,280 | $57,857 | 1,590 |
| San Antonio, TX | $38,230 | $42,226 | $48,220 | $61,010 | $73,800 | $52,699 | 2,510 |
| Knoxville, TN | $38,280 | $42,184 | $48,040 | $56,010 | $63,980 | $53,200 | 1,780 |
| Little Rock, AR | $38,340 | $41,980 | $47,440 | $53,845 | $60,250 | $53,787 | 1,190 |
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Frequently Asked Questions
The national median salary for Welder is $56,053 as of 2025. The national mean (average) is $58,491. Salaries range from $47,440 to $75,040 depending on city and cost of living.
Welder salaries vary significantly by metro area. The highest-paying cities offer median salaries well above the national average of $56,053, though cost of living should be factored in. Check the city breakdown table above for COL-adjusted figures.
There are approximately 181,670 Welder positions in the US across 70 metropolitan areas tracked by the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Welder positions at the 90th percentile earn significantly more than the median, suggesting strong income growth potential with experience and specialization. The gap between the 10th and 90th percentile indicates the impact that skills, location, and seniority have on compensation.
Salary data from BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics. COL adjustments use BEA Regional Price Parities.
Source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, 2026.