How much welders make
Average pay $56,760, median $53,750, entry-level / bottom 10% $39,240 (BLS OEWS May 2025). Welders, cutters, solderers and brazers join and cut metal parts in fabrication shops, shipyards, pipelines, plants and construction sites. Most learn through a vocational or community-college program or on the job, then test for the certifications their jobs require.
- $56,760Average pay (U.S.)
- $39,240Entry-level / bottom 10%
- $53,750Median pay (U.S.)
- $77,530Top 10% earn over
416,210 jobs nationwide · 1,966 listed programs in 50 states. Average pay across all experience levels (BLS OEWS May 2025).
Job outlook: +2.4% projected employment change 2025–35 (all occupations: +3.5%), about 40,300 openings a year (BLS Employment Projections 2025–35, released 2026-08-27). See the outlook ↓
Source: BLS OEWS May 2025 estimates, released 2026-05-15. O*NET 51-4121.00.
Highest-paying states (BLS median)
BLS wage data
What welders earn
As of the BLS OEWS May 2025 estimates, released 2026-05-15, welders in the United States earned an average of $56,760 a year, with a median of $53,750; the entry-level / bottom 10% figure (10th percentile) was $39,240 and the top 10% earned more than $77,530.
Annual wages for Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and Brazers (SOC 51-4121) from the BLS OEWS May 2025 estimates, released 2026-05-15. The national average is $56,760; the median is $53,750 and the entry-level / bottom 10% figure is $39,240 (BLS OEWS May 2025).
| Area | 10th pct | 25th pct | Median | 75th pct | 90th pct | Mean | Employed |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| United States | $39,240 | $46,790 | $53,750 | $63,010 | $77,530 | $56,760 | 416,210 |
Job outlook
Welder job outlook, 2025–35
National employment projections from the BLS Employment Projections 2025–35, released 2026-08-27. Openings include jobs from growth plus workers who retire or change occupations. Across all occupations, employment is projected to change +3.5%.
| Occupation | Jobs 2025 | Projected 2035 | Change | Openings per year | Typical entry education |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Welders, cutters, solderers, and brazers (51-4121) | 437,700 | 448,100 | +2.4% | 40,300 | High school diploma or equivalent |
Find training
Looking for a school or apprenticeship?
This page covers pay and job outlook. Our sister site RegisteredTradeSchools.com keeps the training directory for welders: registered apprenticeship sponsors, how to apply, and school routes.
Training & tuition
What training costs
Tuition comes only from published College Scorecard figures. Apprenticeship sponsors do not publish tuition in federal files, so they show “Contact program.”
| Program group | Lowest | Middle | Highest | What the figure is |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Schools with published tuition (1875) | $544 | $4,761 | $58,300 | College Scorecard annual tuition & fees (in-state low end; out-of-state high end where they differ) |
| Registered apprenticeship sponsors (67) | Contact program | Not published in the DOL file. Registered apprenticeships are usually paid jobs with related classroom instruction. | ||
Occupation profile
| O*NET-SOC code | 51-4121.00 |
|---|---|
| O*NET title | Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and Brazers |
| BLS SOC | 51-4121 |
| Job zone | Job Zone 1-2: Very Little to Some Preparation Needed |
| Sample job titles | Assembly Line Brazer, Brazer, Fabrication Welder, Maintenance Welder, MIG Welder (Metal Inert Gas Welder), Solderer |
Typical tasks (O*NET)
- Operate safety equipment and use safe work habits.
- Examine workpieces for defects and measure workpieces with straightedges or templates to ensure conformance with specifications.
- Weld components in flat, vertical, or overhead positions.
- Detect faulty operation of equipment or defective materials and notify supervisors.
- Recognize, set up, and operate hand and power tools common to the welding trade, such as shielded metal arc and gas metal arc welding equipment.
Programs
Featured welder programs
8 of 1966 listed programs, schools with published tuition first. For the full training directory, see the Find training links above.
| Program / provider | Location | Type | Graduates 2023-24 | Tuition | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aaniiih Nakoda College Welding Technology/Welder | Harlem, MT | Certificate (1-2 years) | 7 | $3,080 Annual tuition & fees, in-state to out-of-state (institution-wide) | IPEDS 2023-24 · CIP 48.0508 |
| Academy of Careers and Technology Welding Technology/Welder | Beckley, WV | Certificate (1-2 years) | 1 | $12,500 Tuition & fees, largest program (program-year school) | IPEDS 2023-24 · CIP 48.0508 |
| Academy of Careers and Technology Welding Technology/Welder | Beckley, WV | Certificate (12 weeks to 1 year) | 5 | $12,500 Tuition & fees, largest program (program-year school) | IPEDS 2023-24 · CIP 48.0508 |
| Advanced Career Institute Welding Technology/Welder | Visalia, CA | Certificate (12 weeks to 1 year) | 190 | $5,970 Tuition & fees, largest program (program-year school) | IPEDS 2023-24 · CIP 48.0508 |
| Advanced Technology Institute Welding Technology/Welder | Virginia Beach, VA | Certificate (1-2 years) | 45 | $14,960 Annual tuition & fees, in-state to out-of-state (institution-wide) | IPEDS 2023-24 · CIP 48.0508 |
| Advanced Technology Institute Welding Technology/Welder | Virginia Beach, VA | Associate degree | 14 | $14,960 Annual tuition & fees, in-state to out-of-state (institution-wide) | IPEDS 2023-24 · CIP 48.0508 |
| Advanced Welding Institute Welding Technology/Welder | South Burlington, VT | Certificate (1-2 years) | 89 | $22,500 Tuition & fees, largest program (program-year school) | IPEDS 2023-24 · CIP 48.0508 |
| Advanced Welding Institute Welding Technology/Welder | South Burlington, VT | Certificate (12 weeks to 1 year) | 2 | $22,500 Tuition & fees, largest program (program-year school) | IPEDS 2023-24 · CIP 48.0508 |
By state
Welder pay and programs by state
Highest state medians:
| State | Listed programs | Median pay | 90th pct | Employed |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | 42 | $48,490 | $66,820 | 12,450 |
| Alaska | 7 | $80,840 | $109,940 | 790 |
| Arizona | 33 | $55,600 | $81,280 | 7,270 |
| Arkansas | 57 | $47,970 | $62,830 | 6,150 |
| California | 156 | $58,060 | $81,940 | 26,060 |
| Colorado | 47 | $58,590 | $79,700 | 4,970 |
| Connecticut | 5 | $64,880 | $87,980 | 1,790 |
| Delaware | 1 | $57,270 | $75,560 | 600 |
| District of Columbia | 0 | $60,180 | $75,580 | 280 |
| Florida | 85 | $50,640 | $70,390 | 16,420 |
| Georgia | 49 | $48,430 | $65,160 | 13,130 |
| Guam | 0 | $40,600 | $55,990 | 360 |
| Hawaii | 5 | $79,000 | $100,220 | 520 |
| Idaho | 17 | $50,530 | $70,790 | 3,300 |
| Illinois | 102 | $51,320 | $76,730 | 16,260 |
| Indiana | 6 | $49,730 | $74,880 | 13,280 |
| Iowa | 37 | $55,090 | $65,250 | 9,270 |
| Kansas | 58 | $49,410 | $66,680 | 6,370 |
| Kentucky | 64 | $51,470 | $69,010 | 6,630 |
| Louisiana | 32 | $62,250 | $81,750 | 13,690 |
| Maine | 7 | $62,220 | $76,220 | 1,690 |
| Maryland | 4 | $60,310 | $95,280 | 2,850 |
| Massachusetts | 2 | $62,570 | $83,430 | 2,830 |
| Michigan | 64 | $49,990 | $70,200 | 13,330 |
| Minnesota | 45 | $60,280 | $75,710 | 9,270 |
| Mississippi | 25 | $51,100 | $64,440 | 6,460 |
| Missouri | 39 | $51,950 | $78,150 | 10,600 |
| Montana | 21 | $55,610 | $81,470 | 1,530 |
| Nebraska | 15 | $52,220 | $66,900 | 4,200 |
| Nevada | 12 | $61,520 | $95,050 | 1,600 |
| New Hampshire | 6 | $62,360 | $80,290 | 1,110 |
| New Jersey | 12 | $59,440 | $81,760 | 3,730 |
| New Mexico | 31 | $59,840 | $92,760 | 2,390 |
| New York | 19 | $59,140 | $87,110 | 8,310 |
| North Carolina | 150 | $50,590 | $71,240 | 11,750 |
| North Dakota | 15 | $62,000 | $83,290 | 2,590 |
| Ohio | 82 | $50,340 | $70,510 | 20,330 |
| Oklahoma | 39 | $49,720 | $70,640 | 9,960 |
| Oregon | 41 | $59,450 | $79,230 | 5,240 |
| Pennsylvania | 64 | $52,900 | $74,870 | 17,850 |
| Puerto Rico | 3 | $30,220 | $36,530 | 1,680 |
| Rhode Island | 0 | $50,580 | $81,000 | 2,300 |
| South Carolina | 27 | $49,980 | $64,510 | 7,380 |
| South Dakota | 10 | $49,440 | $63,380 | 3,250 |
| Tennessee | 54 | $48,040 | $64,200 | 12,510 |
| Texas | 156 | $53,340 | $80,240 | 52,000 |
| U.S. Virgin Islands | 0 | $46,270 | $81,630 | 60 |
| Utah | 23 | $58,380 | $79,520 | 4,440 |
| Vermont | 2 | $60,890 | $74,870 | 340 |
| Virginia | 40 | $59,180 | $79,630 | 10,100 |
| Washington | 72 | $63,020 | $86,250 | 7,720 |
| West Virginia | 23 | $48,810 | $73,780 | 2,100 |
| Wisconsin | 42 | $58,410 | $70,720 | 15,320 |
| Wyoming | 18 | $63,820 | $89,610 | 1,850 |
Related resources
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FAQ
Welder pay and training: quick answers
How much do welders make?
As of the BLS OEWS May 2025 estimates, released 2026-05-15, welders in the United States earned an average of $56,760 a year, with a median of $53,750; the entry-level / bottom 10% figure (10th percentile) was $39,240 and the top 10% earned more than $77,530.
What is entry-level pay for welders?
BLS does not publish a starting wage. The closest federal figure is the 10th percentile, which we label entry-level / bottom 10%: $39,240 a year nationally in the BLS OEWS May 2025 estimates, released 2026-05-15. The median is $53,750.
Which states pay welders the most?
By BLS average annual wage, the top states are Alaska ($80,100), Hawaii ($77,430), Wyoming ($67,990), in the BLS OEWS May 2025 estimates, released 2026-05-15.
How many welder training programs are listed?
We list 1,966 in 50 states: 1,899 school programs from the NCES IPEDS 2023-24 completions file (57,758 graduates that year) and 67 registered apprenticeship sponsors from the DOL Office of Apprenticeship partner file. Listings are matched from public files and are not endorsements.
How much does welder training cost?
For the 1875 listed schools with published College Scorecard tuition and fees, the annual figure ranges from $544 to $58,300 (middle $4,761). Registered apprenticeships are usually paid jobs, and the DOL file does not list tuition.
Is welder a growing field?
BLS projects employment of welders to change +2.4% from 2025 to 2035, versus +3.5% for all occupations, with about 40,300 openings a year from growth and replacement. Source: BLS Employment Projections 2025–35, released 2026-08-27.
Sources
- Wages: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 estimates, released 2026-05-15 (news release USDL-26-0725; data tables). Cross-checked against the BLS Public Data API on 2026-11-03.
- Occupation: O*NET OnLine, 51-4121.00 Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and Brazers, retrieved 2026-11-03 (CC BY 4.0).
- Apprenticeship sponsors: U.S. Department of Labor, Office of Apprenticeship: partner sponsors file, retrieved 2026-10-29 (Partner Finder).
- Schools & graduates: U.S. Department of Education, NCES IPEDS Completions 2023-24 (C2024_A) and Institutional Characteristics (HD2024), award year 2023-24, matched by 6-digit CIP code (completions file; CIP-SOC crosswalk).
- Tuition: U.S. Department of Education, College Scorecard (Most Recent Cohorts: Institution + Field of Study), data updated 2026-10-15, matched by IPEDS unit ID (source).
Program listings are matched from public files by occupation code or organization name; they are not endorsements and we have not visited or tested any program. Confirm schedules, entry requirements and costs with the program. Compiled by the HighPayingTrades team; last refreshed 2026-11-03.