Welder Salary in California

$28/hr

California employee welding wages, experience bands and national sector figures to help you assess offers and paid hours.

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What Welders Earn in California

California employee welding wages span $21.40–$39.40/hr, or $44,520–$81,940 a year. The figures combine welders, cutters, solderers and brazers across industries, including work outside construction. They exclude premium pay and benefits. Compare an offer's base wage with paid hours, overtime terms and employer benefits. A structural welding test documents skills for its tested scope, without setting your wage. Discuss the duties supporting any proposed increase.

Hourly rates by level in California

What each rung of the trade is paid, before overtime and per diem.

Apprentice · 0–2 yrs
$21.40–$23.31/hr
▲ 0.18% from last year
Journeyman · 4–8 yrs
$23.31–$33.85/hr
▲ 0.18% from last year
Master · 8+ yrs
$33.85–$39.40/hr
▲ 0.18% from last year

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Where do you stand?

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$/ hr

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

You're right around the middle

$28.00 is above roughly 46% of this market. The top quarter starts at $36.00, and the median sits at $29.00.

10th
$18
25th
$23
Median
$29
75th
$36
90th
$45
YOU · $28.00
Your percentile
46th
Among this market
Your annual · 40 hrs
$58,240
Before overtime and per diem
Gap to median
−$2,080
Below the median

Calculate pay with extra credentials

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

An estimate, not an offer. Overtime is paid at time and a half past forty hours.

American RecruitsEstimate
Journeyman Welder
California · Day Shift
Base rate$28.58
+ Iron Workers Local 433 Apprenticeship (journeyperson)$2.67
+ OSHA 30-Hour Construction$0.96
+ Fire Watch / Hot Work Safety (NFPA 51B, Cal/OSHA)$0.03
Effective hourly$32.24
Straight · 40 hrs$1,290
Overtime · 8 hrs @ 1.5×$387
Weekly gross$1,676
Annualised · 50 weeks
$83,824
8 OT hrs/week · California

Who pays the most in California

These national figures cover welding settings relevant to California construction and machinery work. Compare duties, schedules and travel when assessing shop and field offers.

01 / 03$31.24/hr

Building Equipment Contractors

Piping and building-system installation calls for welders who follow the specified procedure. Ask about testing, inspection schedules and moves between California jobs. Separate pipe welding responsibilities from general installation duties so the offer reflects the work you will perform.

+ Piping practice
+ System installation
– Restricted access
– Changing sites
02 / 03$26.98/hr

Industrial Machinery Repair

Repairing commercial and industrial machinery brings varied components and repair conditions. For California maintenance offers, discuss shutdown hours and preparation time. Find out who identifies the repair method and whether the job includes cutting out damaged sections.

+ Repair variety
+ Troubleshooting practice
– Shutdown schedules
– Variable access
03 / 03$25.64/hr

Structural Exterior Contractors

Steel connections put structural welders alongside erection crews. On Los Angeles City projects, account for required certification and access arrangements when comparing offers. Discuss how much of the assignment involves welding and how much involves fitting or other erection duties.

+ Structural practice
+ Crew coordination
– Weather exposure
– Elevated work

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. 01Californiathis page$27.91/hr
  2. 02Texas$25.71/hr
  3. 03Ohio$25.71/hr

What each certification is worth

Sorted by payback speed.

CertificationRate bumpExtra / yearCostPayback
Iron Workers Local 433 Apprenticeship (journeyperson)+$2.67$5,554$00 weeks
OSHA 30-Hour Construction+$0.96$1,997$1595 weeks
OSHA 10-Hour Construction+$0.32$666$595 weeks
Fire Watch / Hot Work Safety (NFPA 51B, Cal/OSHA)+$0.03$62$4034 weeks
AWS D1.1 Structural Steel Welder Qualification Test+$0.16$333$45071 weeks
ASME Section IX / API 1104 Pipe Welder Qualification Test+$0.16$333$650102 weeks

What overtime actually adds

Past forty hours the rate is time and a half. Built from the rate above. At $27.91/hr.

40 hr week
$1,116
No OT
50 hr week
$1,535
+$20,933/yr
60 hr week
$1,954
+$41,865/yr
70 hr week
$2,372
+$62,797/yr

Questions workers ask

Do I pay for protective gear when welding stainless steel?▾
No. Cal/OSHA's Title 8 Section 1532.2 requires employers to provide protective clothing and equipment at no cost where chromium (VI) skin or eye contact is a hazard. Required medical surveillance is also free.
Does daily overtime apply to field welding?▾
Yes, for nonexempt employees. IWC Wage Order 16, enforced by DIR's Labor Commissioner, generally requires overtime after eight daily or 40 weekly hours. Keep records of required setup time.
Which wage applies to welding on public works?▾
The DIR prevailing wage determination for your craft and location. California requires prevailing wages on covered public works over $1,000. Ask the contractor which determination and classification apply to your welding work.

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Current BLS California employee wages for Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and Brazers, SOC 51-4121; cross-industry estimates exclude premium pay and benefits, and do not isolate construction welding.

Last updated October 23, 2026. Rates are market estimates, not guarantees.