--- title: "Welder Salary in Illinois: Pay & Jobs" canonical: https://highpayingtrades.com/trades/welder/illinois/ description: "Welder pay in Illinois: BLS average $55,930 (all experience levels), median $51,320, bottom 10% $38,890. 102 listed programs." updated: 2026-11-03 wage_source: "BLS OEWS May 2025 estimates, released 2026-05-15" --- 1. [Home](https://highpayingtrades.com/) 2. [Trades](https://highpayingtrades.com/trades/) 3. [Welder](https://highpayingtrades.com/trades/welder/) 4. Illinois Illinois # Welder pay in *Illinois* What welders earn in Illinois: BLS OEWS May 2025 pay for the state and 12 metro areas, plus job counts and 102 listed training programs. - **$55,930** Average pay (state) - **$38,890** Entry-level / bottom 10% - **$51,320** Median pay (state) - **$76,730** Top 10% earn over 16,260 jobs in Illinois · 102 listed programs. [Average pay across all experience levels (BLS OEWS May 2025)](https://highpayingtrades.com/methodology/). BLS wage data ## Welder pay in Illinois Annual wages from the BLS OEWS May 2025 estimates, released 2026-05-15. | Area | 10th pct | 25th pct | Median | 75th pct | 90th pct | Mean | Employed | | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | | Illinois | $38,890 | $46,500 | $51,320 | $61,520 | $76,730 | $55,930 | 16,260 | | United States | $39,240 | $46,790 | $53,750 | $63,010 | $77,530 | $56,760 | 416,210 | Source: BLS OEWS May 2025 estimates, released 2026-05-15. ### Metro areas | Area | 10th pct | 25th pct | Median | 75th pct | 90th pct | Mean | Employed | | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | | Peoria, IL | $46,480 | $50,050 | $58,960 | $65,920 | $79,930 | $61,580 | 1,230 | | Decatur, IL | $47,020 | $48,840 | $57,670 | $62,760 | $66,200 | $58,230 | 200 | | Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN | $39,130 | $46,270 | $52,650 | $61,750 | $74,450 | $56,180 | 9,320 | | St. Louis, MO-IL | $38,770 | $46,630 | $51,640 | $60,560 | $72,140 | $54,840 | 2,820 | | Rockford, IL | $39,920 | $45,190 | $50,200 | $61,000 | $70,710 | $53,380 | 870 | | Springfield, IL | $35,340 | $43,200 | $49,860 | $57,440 | $72,290 | $52,990 | 100 | | Davenport-Moline-Rock Island, IA-IL | $39,280 | $47,270 | $48,630 | $60,000 | $71,950 | $53,840 | 1,240 | | Champaign-Urbana, IL | $39,250 | $45,040 | $48,610 | $57,020 | $62,690 | $51,710 | 100 | | Cape Girardeau, MO-IL | $37,970 | $44,160 | $48,580 | $54,580 | $59,280 | $49,500 | 170 | | Paducah, KY-IL | $39,300 | $44,550 | $48,560 | $58,800 | $66,580 | $52,270 | 310 | | Kankakee, IL | $36,230 | $40,490 | $47,460 | $58,590 | $71,110 | $50,870 | 230 | | Bloomington, IL | $35,990 | $38,520 | $47,180 | $57,220 | $58,190 | $47,750 | 70 | Metropolitan area estimates, BLS OEWS May 2025 estimates, released 2026-05-15. Only areas BLS published are shown. 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. [**Welding apprenticeships and training** Apprenticeship sponsors and school routes by state · RegisteredTradeSchools.com](https://registeredtradeschools.com/trades/welding/) Programs ## Top training programs in Illinois We matched 102 programs in Illinois: 102 school programs (IPEDS 2023-24) and 0 registered apprenticeship sponsors (DOL). The 10 below are schools with published tuition first; the full directory is on RegisteredTradeSchools.com (links above). | Program / provider | Location | Type | Graduates 2023-24 | Tuition | Source | | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | | [Black Hawk College](https://www.bhc.edu/) Welding Technology/Welder | Moline, IL | Certificate (1-2 years) | 10 | $5,220–$8,100 Annual tuition & fees, in-state to out-of-state (institution-wide) | IPEDS 2023-24 · CIP 48.0508 | | [Black Hawk College](https://www.bhc.edu/) Welding Technology/Welder | Moline, IL | Certificate (12 weeks to 1 year) | 48 | $5,220–$8,100 Annual tuition & fees, in-state to out-of-state (institution-wide) | IPEDS 2023-24 · CIP 48.0508 | | [Carl Sandburg College](https://www.sandburg.edu/) Welding Technology/Welder | Galesburg, IL | Certificate (1-2 years) | 10 | $5,500–$9,160 Annual tuition & fees, in-state to out-of-state (institution-wide) | IPEDS 2023-24 · CIP 48.0508 | | [Carl Sandburg College](https://www.sandburg.edu/) Welding Technology/Welder | Galesburg, IL | Associate degree | 2 | $5,500–$9,160 Annual tuition & fees, in-state to out-of-state (institution-wide) | IPEDS 2023-24 · CIP 48.0508 | | [Carl Sandburg College](https://www.sandburg.edu/) Welding Technology/Welder | Galesburg, IL | Certificate (12 weeks to 1 year) | 11 | $5,500–$9,160 Annual tuition & fees, in-state to out-of-state (institution-wide) | IPEDS 2023-24 · CIP 48.0508 | | [City Colleges of Chicago-Kennedy-King College](https://www.ccc.edu/colleges/kennedy/pages/default.aspx) Welding Technology/Welder | Chicago, IL | Certificate (under 12 weeks) | 0 | $4,710–$15,540 Annual tuition & fees, in-state to out-of-state (institution-wide) | IPEDS 2023-24 · CIP 48.0508 | | [City Colleges of Chicago-Kennedy-King College](https://www.ccc.edu/colleges/kennedy/pages/default.aspx) Welding Technology/Welder | Chicago, IL | Certificate (12 weeks to 1 year) | 20 | $4,710–$15,540 Annual tuition & fees, in-state to out-of-state (institution-wide) | IPEDS 2023-24 · CIP 48.0508 | | [City Colleges of Chicago-Richard J Daley College](https://www.ccc.edu/colleges/daley/pages/default.aspx) Welding Technology/Welder | Chicago, IL | Certificate (under 12 weeks) | 0 | $4,710–$15,540 Annual tuition & fees, in-state to out-of-state (institution-wide) | IPEDS 2023-24 · CIP 48.0508 | | [City Colleges of Chicago-Richard J Daley College](https://www.ccc.edu/colleges/daley/pages/default.aspx) Welding Technology/Welder | Chicago, IL | Certificate (12 weeks to 1 year) | 0 | $4,710–$15,540 Annual tuition & fees, in-state to out-of-state (institution-wide) | IPEDS 2023-24 · CIP 48.0508 | | [College of DuPage](https://www.cod.edu/) Welding Technology/Welder | Glen Ellyn, IL | Certificate (1-2 years) | 0 | $4,680–$12,870 Annual tuition & fees, in-state to out-of-state (institution-wide) | IPEDS 2023-24 · CIP 48.0508 | Schools: NCES IPEDS Completions 2023-24, matched by 6-digit CIP code; “Graduates 2023-24” is the number of first-major certificates or associate degrees the school awarded in that program from July 2023 to June 2024 (IPEDS). Tuition: U.S. Dept. of Education College Scorecard (updated 2026-10-15), matched by IPEDS unit ID; it is the published figure, not a quote. Apprenticeship sponsors: DOL Office of Apprenticeship partner file (retrieved 2026-10-29); apprenticeships are typically paid, so no tuition is listed — contact the program. Related resources ## Keep researching [**Welding career path for veterans** Military experience and certification routes. · MilitaryToTrades.com](https://militarytotrades.com/careers/welder/) [**GI Bill-approved welding programs** Schools that accept VA education benefits. · VeteranTradeSchools.com](https://veterantradeschools.com/welding/) ## 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](https://www.bls.gov/news.release/archives/ocwage_05152026.htm); [data tables](https://www.bls.gov/oes/tables.htm)). Cross-checked against the BLS Public Data API on 2026-11-03. - **Occupation:** O\*NET OnLine, [51-4121.00 Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and Brazers](https://www.onetonline.org/link/summary/51-4121.00), 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](https://www.apprenticeship.gov/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](https://nces.ed.gov/ipeds/datacenter/data/C2024_A.zip); [CIP-SOC crosswalk](https://nces.ed.gov/ipeds/cipcode/Files/CIP2020_SOC2018_Crosswalk.xlsx)). - **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](https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/data/)). 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. --- Canonical HTML: https://highpayingtrades.com/trades/welder/illinois/ Wages: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 estimates, released 2026-05-15 (https://www.bls.gov/news.release/archives/ocwage_05152026.htm). Programs: NCES IPEDS 2023-24 completions; DOL Office of Apprenticeship. Tuition: College Scorecard.