Welder Salary (2025)
Welding · SOC Code 51-4121 · 3-year apprenticeship
National Salary Range
Welder salaries range from $41,148 to $66,632 median across cities, depending on location, union membership, and experience level.
Welder Salary by City
| City | Median | Range (10th-90th) | COL-Adjusted | Grade | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| New York, NY | $66,632 | $42,452 – $101,746 | $35,632 | D | 7,786 |
| San Francisco, CA | $62,299 | $38,340 – $87,998 | $32,789 | D | 7,762 |
| Los Angeles, CA | $60,560 | $38,100 – $86,806 | $36,482 | D | 9,174 |
| Seattle, WA | $58,722 | $36,674 – $84,136 | $39,411 | D | 5,675 |
| Boston, MA | $56,411 | $33,859 – $84,439 | $37,113 | D | 6,839 |
| Chicago, IL | $55,958 | $34,954 – $82,206 | $52,297 | C | 5,011 |
| Minneapolis, MN | $54,215 | $32,002 – $77,124 | $51,146 | C | 3,798 |
| Denver, CO | $52,173 | $30,872 – $76,084 | $40,760 | D | 5,128 |
| Houston, TX | $51,959 | $33,237 – $77,462 | $54,124 | C | 3,569 |
| Philadelphia, PA | $51,794 | $32,043 – $73,989 | $45,038 | D | 3,739 |
| Portland, OR | $51,629 | $30,831 – $77,140 | $39,715 | D | 5,976 |
| Salt Lake City, UT | $51,400 | $33,353 – $74,156 | $49,423 | C | 5,338 |
| St. Louis, MO | $51,031 | $30,411 – $79,039 | $56,701 | C | 2,801 |
| Dallas, TX | $50,502 | $31,266 – $77,014 | $49,512 | C | 4,378 |
| Raleigh, NC | $49,553 | $31,755 – $74,709 | $49,553 | C | 3,963 |
| Detroit, MI | $49,210 | $30,858 – $76,174 | $55,292 | C | 2,762 |
| Charlotte, NC | $49,035 | $29,277 – $71,125 | $50,036 | C | 3,335 |
| Phoenix, AZ | $48,956 | $29,397 – $72,350 | $47,530 | C | 3,487 |
| Milwaukee, WI | $48,469 | $29,348 – $74,143 | $50,489 | C | 3,940 |
| Miami, FL | $48,356 | $29,541 – $71,412 | $39,636 | D | 6,122 |
| Pittsburgh, PA | $48,323 | $31,335 – $68,883 | $52,525 | C | 4,605 |
| Las Vegas, NV | $48,316 | $31,349 – $74,427 | $46,458 | D | 4,226 |
| Indianapolis, IN | $48,113 | $29,235 – $74,344 | $52,871 | C | 4,607 |
| New Orleans, LA | $47,590 | $29,971 – $71,616 | $50,095 | C | 4,368 |
| Columbus, OH | $46,818 | $30,212 – $67,670 | $50,342 | C | 4,551 |
| Atlanta, GA | $46,015 | $29,396 – $64,837 | $43,410 | D | 4,738 |
| Nashville, TN | $45,564 | $27,903 – $70,578 | $44,237 | D | 5,767 |
| Kansas City, MO | $44,845 | $29,029 – $67,416 | $47,707 | C | 3,056 |
| Tampa, FL | $41,466 | $24,815 – $59,100 | $41,055 | D | 5,075 |
| San Antonio, TX | $41,148 | $25,755 – $60,151 | $45,720 | D | 3,095 |
About Welder Pay
Welders earn a national median salary of $50,902 based on 2025 BLS occupational wage data. The highest-paying city for this trade is New York at $66,632 median, while San Antonio offers the lowest at $41,148.
Becoming a welder typically requires a 3-year apprenticeship program. Entry-level workers (10th percentile) can expect around $42,452, while master-level tradespeople (90th percentile) earn $101,746 or more. With 8% wage growth over the past 5 years, this trade is growing at a steady pace.
See how this compares to other trades on our highest paying trades ranking, or browse the best cities for trade workers.
Related Welding Trades
Frequently Asked Questions
The national median salary for welders is $50,902 based on 2025 BLS data. Pay ranges from $41,148 to $66,632 depending on city, experience, and union status.
New York offers the highest median pay for welders at $66,632. However, cost of living matters — the COL-adjusted pay may tell a different story. Check our city-by-city breakdown above.
With a Trade Pay Score of D and 8% wage growth over 5 years, welder offers steady career prospects. There are approximately 144,671 jobs nationwide across 30 metro areas.
Becoming a welder typically requires a 3-year apprenticeship program combining on-the-job training with classroom instruction. Entry-level pay starts around $42,452 (10th percentile).
Wage data from BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) 2025. Trade Pay Scores are a composite of median wage vs. metro income, wage growth, job demand, and COL-adjusted pay.