Welder Salary in USA

$26/hr

Compare employee offers by process, material, assignment and benefits. Welding-service quotations include business costs beyond an employee's hourly wage.

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What Welders Earn in the United States

Current national welder, cutter, solderer and brazer employee wages span $18.87–$37.28/hr, or $39,240–$77,530/year, with a $25.84/hr median. This combined category covers multiple industries and does not isolate construction, pipe welding or a process. Location, employer, qualified scope and working schedule affect offers. Compare paid hours, benefits and expenses together; a qualification does not establish a guaranteed national premium.

Hourly rates by level in USA

What welders earn at each stage of the trade in USA, before overtime or per-diem.

Helper · 0–2 yrs
$18.87–$22.50/hr
▲ 5.38% from last year
Certified · 2–6 yrs
$22.50–$30.29/hr
▲ 5.38% from last year
Pipe Welder · 6+ yrs
$30.29–$37.28/hr
▲ 5.38% from last year

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$/ hr

Use your base rate, not what you take home after overtime.

You're right around the middle

$32.00 is above roughly 50% of this market. The top quarter starts at $38.00, and the median sits at $32.00.

10th
$18
25th
$25
Median
$32
75th
$38
90th
$58
YOU · $32.00
Your percentile
50th
Among this market
Your annual · 40 hrs
$66,560
Before overtime and per diem
Gap to median
+$0
Above the median

Build your rate

Pick your level, add certifications, select shift — the estimate updates live.

1Your level

2Certifications you hold

3Shift & work type

4Overtime & per diem

Weekly overtime hours8 hrs
Per diem (per day away)$0
American RecruitsEstimate
Certified Welder
USA · Day Shift
Base rate$26.40
+ AWS Certified Welder (CW)$1.62
+ OSHA 30-Hour Construction$0.62
+ Welding Certification (AWS/ASME)$1.38
Effective hourly$30.02
Straight · 40 hrs$1,201
Overtime · 8 hrs @ 1.5×$360
Weekly gross$1,561
Annualised · 50 weeks
$78,039
8 OT hrs/week · USA

Who pays the most in USA

Aerospace manufacturing, marine construction and structural contracting provide three welding settings. National welder-category medians rank this selection; documentation, shipboard access and field weather distinguish opportunities, without establishing an exhaustive highest-paying industry list.

01 / 03$30.84/hr

Aerospace Product and Parts Manufacturing

Welding within aerospace manufacturing.

+ Technical work
+ Controlled processes
– Strict documentation
– Specialized entry
02 / 03$30.04/hr

Ship and Boat Building

Welding supporting marine construction.

+ Large projects
+ Varied assemblies
– Restricted access
– Shift demands
03 / 03$25.64/hr

Foundation, Structure, and Building Exterior Contractors

Welding within specialist construction contracting.

+ Field experience
+ Trade coordination
– Weather exposure
– Changing locations

Which states pay welders the most

Median hourly across every state with a published guide for this trade. Cost of living is not netted out — compare take-home, not just the rate.

  1. 01California$27.91/hr
  2. 02Ohio$25.71/hr
  3. 03Texas$25.71/hr

What each certification is worth

Sorted by payback speed.

CertificationRate bumpExtra / yearCostPayback
AWS Certified Welder (CW)+$1.62$3,370$3255 weeks
Fall Protection Competent Person+$0.75$1,560$1625 weeks
Welding Certification (AWS/ASME)+$1.38$2,870$3256 weeks
OSHA 30-Hour Construction+$0.62$1,290$1857 weeks
First Aid/CPR (OSHA-aligned)+$0.25$520$758 weeks

What overtime actually adds

At $25.84/hr.

40 hr week
$1,034
No OT
50 hr week
$1,421
+$19,380/yr
60 hr week
$1,809
+$38,760/yr
70 hr week
$2,196
+$58,140/yr

Questions workers ask

Do welders earn more for working night shifts?▾
Some employers offer a shift differential, but federal law does not automatically require extra pay for night work. Before accepting a welding job, ask whether the quoted hourly rate includes that premium and which shifts qualify. A union agreement may also set additional pay.
Do published welder salary figures include overtime and benefits?▾
No. BLS occupational wage estimates exclude overtime pay, shift differentials and employer benefit costs. A welder’s total compensation can therefore differ from the published figure. Compare the base wage, expected overtime and benefits separately when evaluating offers.
Is per diem on a travel-welding job always tax-free?▾
No. Calling a payment “per diem” does not make it tax-free. Treatment depends on your tax home, the reimbursement arrangement and whether the assignment is temporary or indefinite. Employer-paid living allowances for an indefinite assignment generally become taxable income.

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Source: Current BLS employee wages for Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and Brazers, SOC 51-4121; construction-only roles are not isolated.

Last updated October 20, 2026. Rates are market estimates, not guarantees.