Welds the steel pipe for oil, gas and water pipelines in the field, often with their own welding rig, traveling from project to project. BLS does not publish separate figures for welders, cutters, solderers, and brazers; it counts them within welder (SOC 51-4121), whose median pay is $53,750 a year (BLS OEWS, May 2025). Typical entry-level education: High school diploma or equivalent.
- SOC 51-4121
- Production
- Last updated October 9, 2026
At a glance
Pipeline Welder in four numbers
- Median pay
- $53,750a year, or $25.84/hrBLS OEWS, May 2025Lowest 10% $39KTop 10% $78K
US median, all jobs: $50,980
- Projected growth
- +2.4%Slower than averageBLS EP, 2025–2035This career+2.4%All jobs+3.5%
Projected employment change, 2025–2035 Item Value This career +2.4% All jobs +3.5% - Openings a year
- 40,300437,700 jobs todayBLS EP, 2025–2035
- Jobs in 2025437.7K
- Projected 2035448.1K
Employment, 2025–2035 Item Value Jobs in 2025 437.7K Projected 2035 448.1K - Typical education
- High schoolneeded to enterBLS EP, 2025–2035; mix: O*NET
- Less than high school20.8%
- High school53.6%
- Certificate11.6%
- Some college11.3%
- Associate's1.8%
- Bachelor's0.9%
Highest education held by welders, cutters, solderers, and brazers Segment Value Less than high school 20.8% High school 53.6% Certificate 11.6% Some college 11.3% Associate's 1.8% Bachelor's 0.9%
Also advertised as: Pipeliner Welder, Rig Welder, Downhand Pipeline Welder, Mainline Welder, Tie-in Welder.
Pay
How much do Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and Brazers make?
Every pipeline welder in the US, by percentile of annual wage
Median
$53,750
Middle half earn $46,790 to $63,010
- 10th
- $39,240
- 25th
- $46,790
- 75th
- $63,010
- 90th
- $77,530
All US occupations: $50,980
| Percentile | Value |
|---|---|
| 10th | $39,240 |
| 25th | $46,790 |
| Median | $53,750 |
| 75th | $63,010 |
| 90th | $77,530 |
| All US occupations | $50,980 |
Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025
- Median annual wage
- $53,750
- Median hourly wage
- $25.84/hr
- Mean annual wage
- $56,760
- People employed
- 416,210
Versus all US occupations
At $53,750, Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and Brazers earn 5% above the $50,980 median across all US occupations, a difference of $2,770 a year.
Versus production occupations
Inside the Production group, where the middle occupation pays $48,030, this is 12% above the group median.
Pay range
The top 10% earn $77,530 or more while the bottom 10% earn $39,240, a gap of 2.0×. That is a typical spread for a US occupation.
Rank in the bank
This median pays more than 26% of the 1,741 occupations in the NueCareer career bank.
Highest-paying state
Alaska pays the most at $80,840, and still leads at $78,977 once local prices are taken into account.
Pay by state
Which states pay Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and Brazers the most?
State medians come from the same OEWS release as the national figures. The cost-of-living column divides each state median by that state's BEA Regional Price Parity, restating pay in national-average dollars so a high-cost state and a low-cost one can be compared directly.
| State | Median | COL-adjusted | Employed |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1Alaska | $80,840 | $78,977 | 790 |
| 2Hawaii | $79,000 | $71,850 | 520 |
| 3Connecticut | $64,880 | $62,619 | 1,790 |
| 4Wyoming | $63,820 | $68,852 | 1,850 |
| 5Washington | $63,020 | $58,890 | 7,720 |
| 6Massachusetts | $62,570 | $59,164 | 2,830 |
| 7New Hampshire | $62,360 | $59,867 | 1,110 |
| 8Louisiana | $62,250 | $70,573 | 13,690 |
| 9Maine | $62,220 | $64,111 | 1,690 |
| 10North Dakota | $62,000 | $69,695 | 2,590 |
Job outlook
Is Pipeline Welder a growing career?
Employment change over 2025–2035, against every US occupation
Slower than average. +2.4% projected growth vs 3.5% for all occupations.
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and Brazers | +2.4% |
| All US occupations | +3.5% |
Source: BLS EP, 2025–2035
Slower than average
BLS projects employment of Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and Brazers to change 2.4% over 2025–2035, against 3.5% projected for all occupations. That is 10,300 more jobs.
Annual openings
About 40,300 openings are projected each year, 9.2% of the 437,700 jobs that existed in 2025. Most come from workers leaving the occupation, not from growth alone.
Getting in
How to become a Pipeline Welder
Pipeline welders typically learn basic welding at a trade school or community college, then gain pipe welding skills on the job as helpers. Each project requires welders to pass a qualification test for that job's procedure, usually under the API 1104 standard for welding pipelines.
Many union pipeline welders belong to Pipeliners Local 798 of the United Association, which runs training and dispatches members to pipeline jobs across the country. Others work for non-union contractors. Building a reputation for passing X-ray inspection consistently is what keeps a pipeline welder working.
- 1
Typical entry-level education
High school diploma or equivalent
- 2
Work experience in a related occupation
None
- 3
Typical on-the-job training
Moderate-term on-the-job training
- 4
Preparation needed (O*NET job zone)
Little or no preparation
BLS Employment Projections, 2025–2035; job zone from O*NET 31.0 Database.
What education people in the job have
O*NET incumbent survey: the highest level of education reported by people already working as welders, cutters, solderers, and brazers.
- High School Diploma or the equivalent (such as a GED)53.6%
- Less than a High School Diploma20.8%
- Post-Secondary Certificate11.6%
- Some College Courses11.3%
- Associate's Degree or other 2-year degree1.8%
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| High School Diploma or the equivalent (such as a GED) | 53.6% |
| Less than a High School Diploma | 20.8% |
| Post-Secondary Certificate | 11.6% |
| Some College Courses | 11.3% |
| Associate's Degree or other 2-year degree | 1.8% |
Source: O*NET 31.0 Database
The work
What does a Pipeline Welder do?
Pipeline welders join lengths of steel pipe in the field to build transmission and gathering pipelines for natural gas, crude oil, refined products and water. Mainline welders work in crews that move down the right-of-way welding joint after joint, while tie-in welders connect sections, crossings and valves.
Most pipeline welding is done with stick electrodes in all positions, often using the downhill technique, and every weld must pass inspection, frequently by radiography or ultrasonic testing. Many pipeline welders own their welding rig, a pickup truck carrying a welding machine and tools, and are paid for both their labor and their equipment.
Day-to-day tasks
- Weld steel pipe joints in all positions using stick and other processes
- Pass qualification tests to API 1104 procedures for each project
- Prepare bevels and fit up pipe with line-up clamps
- Make tie-in welds at crossings, valves and fabricated sections
- Repair welds rejected by radiographic or ultrasonic inspection
- Maintain and operate a truck-mounted welding rig
- Follow welding procedure specifications for preheat and interpass temperature
- Work safely around heavy equipment and open trenches
Typical tasks, researched by NueCareer from the sources below.
Working conditions and hours
Pipeline welding is outdoor work in all weather, often in remote areas, with long days and frequent six- or seven-day weeks during construction. Welders travel from job to job and may live in hotels or RVs for months. The work is physically demanding, with heat, fumes, and kneeling or bending around the pipe.
Where the work happens
Indoors, climate-controlled
NeverEvery dayOutdoors in all weather
NeverEvery day
Physical demands
Sitting
NeverAlmost all the timeStanding
NeverAlmost all the timeBending or twisting
NeverAlmost all the time
Working with people
Contact with other people
NoneConstantFace-to-face discussions
NeverEvery dayDealing with the public
Not importantExtremely importantLittle or no dealing with customers or the public.
Pressure and stakes
Strict deadlines
NeverEvery dayMeeting strict deadlines at least weekly.
Conflict situations
NeverEvery dayCost of a mistake
Not seriousExtremely serious
Autonomy
Freedom to decide
NoneA lot
Conditions: O*NET Work Context survey. Each item has its own scale, so each dot is read against the two answers that end its own line.
Core skills
O*NET importance, 1 to 5
- Monitoring3.0
- Critical Thinking2.9
- Active Listening2.6
- Speaking2.6
- Reading Comprehension2.5
- Active Learning2.3
- Mathematics2.1
- Learning Strategies2.0
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Monitoring | 3.0 |
| Critical Thinking | 2.9 |
| Active Listening | 2.6 |
| Speaking | 2.6 |
| Reading Comprehension | 2.5 |
| Active Learning | 2.3 |
| Mathematics | 2.1 |
| Learning Strategies | 2.0 |
Source: O*NET 31.0 Database
Transferable skills
O*NET importance, 1 to 5
- Quality Control Analysis3.1
- Judgment and Decision Making2.9
- Operations Monitoring2.8
- Time Management2.8
- Operation and Control2.6
- Complex Problem Solving2.5
- Troubleshooting2.5
- Coordination2.4
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Quality Control Analysis | 3.1 |
| Judgment and Decision Making | 2.9 |
| Operations Monitoring | 2.8 |
| Time Management | 2.8 |
| Operation and Control | 2.6 |
| Complex Problem Solving | 2.5 |
| Troubleshooting | 2.5 |
| Coordination | 2.4 |
Source: O*NET 31.0 Database
Tools and software
- Data base user interface and query software · in demand
- Electronic mail software · in demand
- Office suite software · in demand
- Operating system software · in demand
- Spreadsheet software · in demand
- Analytical or scientific software
- Calendar and scheduling software
- Computer aided design CAD software
“In demand” marks an O*NET Employer-Based Hot Technology, software named in real job postings for this occupation.
Personality fit
What personality type suits a Pipeline Welder?
NueCareer estimate (Holland code RCE) built on O*NET's Welder profile, scored 1 to 7
| Axis | Pipeline Welder |
|---|---|
| Realistic | 7 |
| Investigative | 2 |
| Artistic | 1 |
| Social | 1 |
| Enterprising | 3 |
| Conventional | 4 |
Source: O*NET 31.0 Database
What the work is built around
Day to day this is work built around hands-on, practical work with tools, machines or the outdoors, combined with organising, following procedures and working precisely with data.
- Realistic7.0
- Conventional4.5
- Enterprising2.8
- Investigative2.1
- Artistic1.4
- Social1.1
Closest MBTI types
NueCareer fit scores: cosine similarity between each MBTI type's interest vector and this occupation's O*NET interest profile. Not a BLS or O*NET figure; the method is documented on our methodology page.
Explore further
Careers related to Pipeline Welder
O*NET related occupations
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$47,920median a year
Most earn $37K to $67K
−8.9%High school - Production
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$65,380median a year
Most earn $47K to $108K
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More production careers
Median annual pay, with welders, cutters, solderers, and brazers highlighted
- Power Plant Operator$102,040
- Tool and Die Maker$64,050
- Machinist$58,750
- Welder$53,750
- Pipeline Welder$53,750
- Structural Metal Fabricator and Fitter$51,330
- Computer Numerically Controlled Tool Operator$50,690
- Butcher and Meat Cutter$40,140
- Baker$37,160
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Power Plant Operator | $102,040 |
| Tool and Die Maker | $64,050 |
| Machinist | $58,750 |
| Welder | $53,750 |
| Pipeline Welder | $53,750 |
| Structural Metal Fabricator and Fitter | $51,330 |
| Computer Numerically Controlled Tool Operator | $50,690 |
| Butcher and Meat Cutter | $40,140 |
| Baker | $37,160 |
Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025
Lists Pipeline Welder appears on
Questions
Pipeline Welder: frequently asked questions
How much do Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and Brazers make?
BLS does not publish a separate wage for welders, cutters, solderers, and brazers. It counts them within welder, whose median pay is $53,750 a year (BLS OEWS, May 2025). The middle half of that occupation earn between $46,790 and $63,010, and the top 10% earn $77,530 or more.
Do you need a degree to become a Pipeline Welder?
No. A bachelor's degree is not the norm: BLS reports a high school diploma or equivalent as the typical entry-level education for Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and Brazers. BLS also lists moderate-term on-the-job training as typical on-the-job training. In O*NET's survey of people already doing the job, 53.6% hold high school diploma or the equivalent (such as a ged).
Is Pipeline Welder a growing career?
It is growing, but slowly: 2.4% over 2025–2035 against 3.5% for all occupations (BLS EP, 2025–2035). BLS still projects about 40,300 openings a year, mostly from workers retiring or moving to other work.
What does a Pipeline Welder do?
Pipeline welders join lengths of steel pipe in the field to build transmission and gathering pipelines for natural gas, crude oil, refined products and water. A typical task: weld steel pipe joints in all positions using stick and other processes. Employers most often ask for Data base user interface and query software, Electronic mail software, Office suite software.
Which states pay Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and Brazers the most?
The highest state medians for Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and Brazers are Alaska ($80,840), Hawaii ($79,000), Connecticut ($64,880) (BLS OEWS, May 2025).
What personality type suits a Pipeline Welder?
O*NET scores Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and Brazers highest on the Realistic and Conventional interest areas, so the work mixes hands-on, practical work with tools, machines or the outdoors with organising, following procedures and working precisely with data. On NueCareer's MBTI-to-interest mapping that lines up most closely with ISTJ personalities. Personality is a fit signal, not a gate. The free NueCareer quiz scores your own profile against all 1,731 careers in the bank.