How much does a welding operator make?
a year · about $23 an hour
A typical welding operator in the United States makes $47,920 a year, about $23 an hour, about the same as a typical US worker (median, May 2025, US Bureau of Labor Statistics).
What do they do?
They read a work order, set up a welding or brazing machine, and load metal pieces into a fixture. Then they watch the machine, check finished joints with measuring tools, adjust settings, and record the results.
Did you know? In 1967, General Motors installed two of its earliest spot-welding robots at a plant in Norwood, Ohio.
Is that a lot?
Compared with jobs you knowIf 100 people had this job
Most earn between $36,860 and $66,540How do you become one?
In the U.S., finish high school or earn a GED, then train in a technical program or a registered apprenticeship. Employers also teach new workers on the job; some states or employers require licenses or certificates.
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 United States, experience, machine skills, and certificates or licenses valued by employers can affect pay. It also differs by industry and location, while overtime or other extra hours can change total earnings.
Where does it pay most?
Highest in Wisconsin ($57,640), lowest in Alabama ($40,050).
See every state
Top 5 and bottom 3 states, typical (median) yearly pay.
Jobs like this
Data table and sources
| Lower earner (10th from bottom) | Typical person (median) | Higher earner (10th from top) | People in this job |
|---|---|---|---|
| $36,860 | $47,920 | $66,540 | about 32,000 |
| State | Typical person (median) | People in this job |
|---|---|---|
| Wisconsin | $57,640 | about 1,000 |
| Minnesota | $57,560 | about 670 |
| Nebraska | $57,280 | about 650 |
| Missouri | $56,210 | about 560 |
| New Jersey | $53,680 | about 510 |
Official definition: Set up, operate, or tend welding, soldering, or brazing machines or robots that weld, braze, solder, or heat treat metal products, components, or assemblies. Includes workers who operate laser cutters or laser-beam machines.
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.onetonline.org/link/summary/51-4122.00
- www.bls.gov/ooh/production/welders-cutters-solderers-and-brazers.htm
- www.apprenticeship.gov/apprenticeship-occupations/listings?occupationCode=51-412
- www.bls.gov/oes/2023/may/oes514122.htm
- www.bls.gov/careeroutlook/2015/article/wage-differences.htm
- spectrum.ieee.org/unimation-robot
Data: US BLS OEWS, May 2025 · 1 USD = 150 JPY