How Much Do Welders Make in 2026? (Salary by Type & State)
By Wealthvieu · Updated
Welders in the US earn $47,010 on average — but specialized welders can earn $75,000-$200,000+ through certifications and high-demand industries.
Average Welder Salary in 2026
Metric
Amount
Average salary
$47,010
Median salary
$44,190
Entry level
$35,000-$40,000
Experienced
$50,000-$65,000
Specialized
$75,000-$150,000+
Hourly rate
$22.60
Welder Salary by Specialty
Specialty
Average Salary
Training
Underwater Welder
$100,000-$200,000+
Commercial diving + welding
Pipeline Welder
$70,000-$120,000
6G certification
Nuclear Welder
$65,000-$95,000
NDE certified
Aerospace Welder
$60,000-$85,000
High precision
Structural Steel Welder
$55,000-$75,000
AWS certified
Pipe Welder
$50,000-$70,000
6G certification
TIG Welder
$48,000-$65,000
Certification
MIG Welder
$42,000-$55,000
Common
Stick Welder
$40,000-$50,000
Entry level
Production/Shop Welder
$38,000-$48,000
Basic
Welder Salary by State
State
Average Salary
vs. National
Alaska
$66,890
+42%
Hawaii
$58,820
+25%
Wyoming
$55,320
+18%
North Dakota
$54,050
+15%
Washington
$53,790
+14%
Minnesota
$52,900
+13%
Nevada
$51,880
+10%
California
$51,420
+9%
Texas
$47,400
+1%
Ohio
$45,200
-4%
Florida
$42,100
-10%
Georgia
$41,500
-12%
Mississippi
$39,400
-16%
Welder Salary by Industry
Industry
Average Salary
Demand
Oil & Gas extraction
$70,000-$100,000
High
Nuclear/Power plants
$65,000-$95,000
Moderate
Shipbuilding
$55,000-$75,000
Moderate
Aerospace
$55,000-$80,000
Moderate
Construction (commercial)
$50,000-$70,000
High
Manufacturing
$45,000-$60,000
High
Automotive
$42,000-$55,000
Moderate
Construction (residential)
$40,000-$55,000
High
Maintenance/Repair
$38,000-$52,000
Steady
Underwater Welder Salary Deep Dive
The highest-paying welding specialty:
Factor
Details
Salary range
$100,000-$200,000+
Depth pay
+$1-$4 per foot
Saturation diving
$1,500-$3,000/day
Training required
Commercial diving certification + welding
Training cost
$15,000-$30,000
Risks
Extreme (decompression, drowning)
Work schedule
On/off rotation (28 days on/28 off typical)
Pipeline Welder Salary
Position
Salary Range
Notes
Pipeline helper
$35,000-$45,000
Entry point
Pipeline welder
$70,000-$100,000
6G certified
Rig welder
$80,000-$120,000
Travel required
Pipeline foreman
$100,000-$150,000
Supervisory
Pipeline work is boom/bust depending on oil prices and pipeline projects.
Welder Certifications That Pay More
Certification
Salary Boost
Cost
AWS Certified Welder
+5-15%
$300-$1,000
6G Pipe Certification
+20-40%
$500-$2,000
ASME Certification
+15-25%
$500-$1,500
API Certification
+10-20%
$500-$1,000
CWI (Inspector)
$60,000-$90,000
$2,000-$5,000
How to Become a Welder
Path
Duration
Cost
Trade school
6-18 months
$5,000-$15,000
Community college
1-2 years
$3,000-$10,000
Apprenticeship
3-4 years
Paid training
On-the-job training
Varies
Paid
Many welders start working quickly and earn certifications while employed.
Welder Salary by Experience
Experience
Salary Range
Entry (0-2 years)
$35,000-$42,000
Journeyman (3-5 years)
$45,000-$55,000
Experienced (6-10 years)
$50,000-$65,000
Master/Specialized
$65,000-$100,000+
Overtime and Travel Pay
Scenario
Earnings Boost
Overtime (10 hrs/week)
+$12,000-$17,000
Per diem (travel work)
+$8,000-$15,000
Shutdown work
$50-$80/hour
Pipeline season
$100,000+ in 6-8 months
Mobile welders willing to travel earn significantly more.
Welder Salary After Taxes
Gross Salary
Federal Tax
FICA
State Tax
Take-Home
$40,000
$2,200
$3,060
$1,600
$33,140
$50,000
$3,400
$3,825
$2,000
$40,775
$75,000
$7,300
$5,738
$3,000
$58,962
$100,000
$12,200
$7,650
$4,000
$76,150
Career Path Options
Path
Earnings Potential
Shop welder → Lead → Supervisor
$40K → $60K → $75K
Welder → Pipeline welder
$40K → $100K+
Welder → Underwater welder
$40K → $150K+
Welder → Welding Inspector (CWI)
$40K → $75K+
Welder → Business owner
$40K → $100K-$200K+
Is Welding a Good Career?
Pros:
Fast training (months, not years)
No college debt
Diverse opportunities
High-paying specialties exist
Demand is steady
Cons:
Physically demanding
Health risks (fumes, burns)
Weather exposure (outdoor work)
Base pay is modest
Boom/bust in some industries
Bottom Line
Welders earn $47,010 average, but specialized welders earn much more. Pipeline welders make $70,000-$120,000, and underwater welders earn $100,000-$200,000+. The path to higher pay involves certifications (6G, CWI), specialization, and willingness to travel. Welding offers a fast, debt-free entry into skilled trades with significant upside potential.