How much does a welder make?
a year · about $26 an hour
A typical welder in the United States makes $53,750 a year, about $26 an hour, about the same as a typical US worker (median, May 2025, US Bureau of Labor Statistics).
What do they do?
A welder checks a blueprint, measures and inspects metal, then puts on a helmet and protective clothing. They fuse the pieces with a torch, adjust the heat, check the work, and maintain their tools.
Did you know? Some underwater welders work in open water, while others weld inside pressurized dry chambers underwater.
Is that a lot?
Compared with jobs you knowIf 100 people had this job
Most earn between $39,240 and $77,530How do you become one?
U.S. welders usually finish high school or earn a GED, then train at a technical school, community college, or apprenticeship; youth programs can start at 16. Some jobs require licenses or certifications, and OSHA requires electrical-safety training.
School needed: High school plus some training
Good for people who like building and doing and keeping things organized
Why does pay differ?
In the U.S., experience and job-specific certifications can help raise pay, and employers in different industries or places offer different wages. Specialized work, such as underwater welding, requires extra skills; longer hours and night or weekend shifts may also change total earnings.
Where does it pay most?
Highest in Alaska ($80,840), lowest in Arkansas ($47,970).
See every state
Top 5 and bottom 3 states, typical (median) yearly pay.
Jobs like this
Kids' questions
In Japan, a welder averages $30,315. Welder salary in Japan
Data table and sources
| Lower earner (10th from bottom) | Typical person (median) | Higher earner (10th from top) | People in this job |
|---|---|---|---|
| $39,240 | $53,750 | $77,530 | about 416,000 |
| State | Typical person (median) | People in this job |
|---|---|---|
| Alaska | $80,840 | about 790 |
| Hawaii | $79,000 | about 520 |
| Connecticut | $64,880 | about 2,000 |
| Wyoming | $63,820 | about 2,000 |
| Washington | $63,020 | about 8,000 |
Official definition: Use hand-welding, flame-cutting, hand-soldering, or brazing equipment to weld or join metal components or to fill holes, indentations, or seams of fabricated metal products.
Source: US Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS May 2025 (bls.gov); descriptions and related jobs from O*NET 31.0. Figures as of May 2025, full-time yearly pay (hourly × 2,080 hours). bls.gov/oes · O*NET OnLine
Pages used for the text
- www.bls.gov/ooh/production/welders-cutters-solderers-and-brazers.htm
- www.bls.gov/careeroutlook/2015/article/wage-differences.htm
- www.bls.gov/oes/2023/may/oes514121.htm
- www.apprenticeship.gov/educators/youth-apprenticeship
- www.aws.org/Certification-and-Education/Professional-Certification/Certified-Wel
- www.aws.org/career-resources/career-paths-in-welding/underwater-welder/
Data: US BLS OEWS, May 2025 · 1 USD = 150 JPY