382 metro areas
Welder Salary by City (2026)
Welders earn the most in Fairbanks, AK, an average of $83,300 a year, against $56,760 nationally. After local prices, pay goes furthest in Fairbanks, AK ($80,710 in national-average dollars). Every metro area with its own BLS estimate is ranked below.
- US average (mean)
- $56,760BLS OEWS, May 2025
- Highest-paying city
- $83,300Fairbanks, AK
- Best after cost of living
- $80,710Fairbanks, AK
- Metro areas
- 382With their own estimate
Top cities
Highest-paying cities for welders
Top 10 metro areas
- Fairbanks, AK$83,300
- Urban Honolulu, HI$79,390
- Bremerton, WA$77,000
- Anchorage, AK$74,010
- Baton Rouge, LA$72,430
- Lima, OH$70,930
- Kennewick, WA$70,840
- San Francisco, CA$70,680
- Hartford, CT$69,720
- San Jose, CA$69,120
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Fairbanks-College, AK | $83,300 |
| Urban Honolulu, HI | $79,390 |
| Bremerton-Silverdale-Port Orchard, WA | $77,000 |
| Anchorage, AK | $74,010 |
| Baton Rouge, LA | $72,430 |
| Lima, OH | $70,930 |
| Kennewick-Richland, WA | $70,840 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | $70,680 |
| Hartford-West Hartford-East Hartford, CT | $69,720 |
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | $69,120 |
Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025
Mean wage ÷ BEA price level
- Fairbanks, AK$83,300 nominal$80,710
- Lake Charles, LA$68,660 nominal$79,970
- Baton Rouge, LA$72,430 nominal$79,790
- Lima, OH$70,930 nominal$79,100
- Minot, ND$66,060 nominal$75,910
- Shreveport, LA$62,770 nominal$74,050
- Bremerton, WA$77,000 nominal$72,910
- Alexandria, LA$62,320 nominal$72,730
- St. Cloud, MN$62,940 nominal$71,820
- Urban Honolulu, HI$79,390 nominal$71,550
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Fairbanks-College, AK | $80,710 |
| Lake Charles, LA | $79,970 |
| Baton Rouge, LA | $79,790 |
| Lima, OH | $79,100 |
| Minot, ND | $75,910 |
| Shreveport-Bossier City, LA | $74,050 |
| Bremerton-Silverdale-Port Orchard, WA | $72,910 |
| Alexandria, LA | $72,730 |
| St. Cloud, MN | $71,820 |
| Urban Honolulu, HI | $71,550 |
Source: BLS OEWS 2025 · BEA RPP 2024
Every city
Welder salary in every metro area
Mean annual wage, with the Department of Labor's entry (Level I) and experienced (Level IV) prevailing-wage benchmarks for the same metro, and the mean at national-average prices. Sorted by mean pay.
| # | Metro area | Mean | Entry (Level I) | Experienced (Level IV) | At US prices |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Fairbanks, AK | $83,300 | $58,070 | $95,720 | $80,710 |
| 2 | Urban Honolulu, HI | $79,390 | $57,820 | $90,020 | $71,550 |
| 3 | Bremerton, WA | $77,000 | $57,410 | $86,630 | $72,910 |
| 4 | Anchorage, AK | $74,010 | $53,120 | $84,280 | $70,200 |
| 5 | Baton Rouge, LA | $72,430 | $53,560 | $81,720 | $79,790 |
| 6 | Lima, OH | $70,930 | $48,980 | $81,740 | $79,100 |
| 7 | Kennewick, WA | $70,840 | $52,620 | $79,810 | $70,780 |
| 8 | San Francisco, CA | $70,680 | $51,750 | $80,000 | $61,130 |
| 9 | Hartford, CT | $69,720 | $49,730 | $79,560 | $67,860 |
| 10 | San Jose, CA | $69,120 | $52,890 | $77,130 | $62,600 |
| 11 | Lake Charles, LA | $68,660 | $50,650 | $77,540 | $79,970 |
| 12 | Seattle, WA | $68,430 | $53,140 | $75,960 | $61,570 |
| 13 | Vallejo, CA | $68,100 | $48,440 | $77,790 | $62,780 |
| 14 | Washington, DC-VA-MD-WV | $67,950 | $47,150 | $78,190 | $62,410 |
| 15 | Bridgeport, CT | $67,790 | $44,570 | $79,230 | $63,440 |
| 16 | New York, NY-NJ | $67,430 | $47,990 | $77,000 | $59,900 |
| 17 | Napa, CA | $67,140 | $47,820 | $76,670 | $59,650 |
| 18 | Casper, WY | $66,440 | $50,560 | $74,260 | $70,810 |
| 19 | Portland, ME | $66,410 | $55,180 | $71,950 | $65,200 |
| 20 | Boston, MA-NH | $66,210 | $50,940 | $73,720 | $61,150 |
| 21 | Baltimore, MD | $66,190 | $44,570 | $76,840 | $63,350 |
| 22 | Odessa, TX | $66,080 | $45,700 | $76,110 | $70,380 |
| 23 | Minot, ND | $66,060 | $47,780 | $75,070 | $75,910 |
| 24 | Kahului, HI | $65,670 | $44,870 | $75,900 | $60,030 |
| 25 | Midland, TX | $65,400 | $45,610 | $75,130 | $68,280 |
| 26 | New Orleans, LA | $65,370 | $47,490 | $74,190 | $70,600 |
| 27 | San Diego, CA | $65,350 | $47,470 | $74,150 | $58,410 |
| 28 | Bellingham, WA | $65,100 | $51,360 | $71,860 | $63,000 |
| 29 | Bay City, MI | $64,880 | $43,600 | $75,340 | $70,580 |
| 30 | Atlantic City, NJ | $64,790 | $43,350 | $75,340 | $65,540 |
| 31 | Bismarck, ND | $64,460 | $54,060 | $69,580 | $70,820 |
| 32 | Burlington, VT | $64,310 | $53,140 | $69,830 | $63,710 |
| 33 | Portland, OR-WA | $64,170 | $49,750 | $71,280 | $60,870 |
| 34 | Carson City, NV | $63,710 | $50,770 | $70,080 | $64,920 |
| 35 | Staunton, VA | $63,610 | $48,280 | $71,160 | $69,800 |
| 36 | New Haven, CT | $63,440 | $43,640 | $73,200 | $60,670 |
| 37 | Mount Vernon, WA | $63,360 | $50,590 | $69,640 | $61,850 |
| 38 | Minneapolis, MN-WI | $63,290 | $50,560 | $69,580 | $60,380 |
| 39 | La Crosse, WI-MN | $63,210 | $50,360 | $69,560 | $68,880 |
| 40 | Lexington Park, MD | $63,000 | $44,600 | $72,070 | $62,520 |
| 41 | St. Cloud, MN | $62,940 | $52,120 | $68,270 | $71,820 |
| 42 | Boulder, CO | $62,840 | $46,720 | $70,780 | $59,730 |
| 43 | Shreveport, LA | $62,770 | $43,780 | $72,130 | $74,050 |
| 44 | Olympia, WA | $62,730 | $49,820 | $69,120 | $60,510 |
| 45 | Worcester, MA | $62,500 | $49,300 | $68,990 | $60,960 |
| 46 | Alexandria, LA | $62,320 | $45,700 | $70,490 | $72,730 |
| 47 | Farmington, NM | $62,170 | $39,580 | $73,300 | $70,880 |
| 48 | Beaumont, TX | $62,090 | $44,180 | $70,910 | $68,950 |
| 49 | Virginia Beach, VA-NC | $62,000 | $46,720 | $69,530 | $63,300 |
| 50 | Albany, OR | $61,860 | $47,570 | $68,890 | $60,590 |
| 51 | Salisbury, MD | $61,690 | $39,480 | $72,630 | $64,520 |
| 52 | Peoria, IL | $61,590 | $46,880 | $68,830 | $67,510 |
| 53 | Flagstaff, AZ | $61,550 | $43,760 | $70,320 | $61,350 |
| 54 | Denver, CO | $61,460 | $44,870 | $69,640 | $58,100 |
| 55 | Santa Rosa, CA | $61,320 | $46,510 | $68,620 | $56,890 |
| 56 | Reno, NV | $61,300 | $46,090 | $68,760 | $60,680 |
| 57 | Salt Lake City, UT | $61,150 | $46,630 | $68,310 | $60,620 |
| 58 | Salinas, CA | $61,110 | $44,370 | $69,370 | $56,040 |
| 59 | Sacramento, CA | $60,940 | $46,840 | $67,870 | $57,130 |
| 60 | Great Falls, MT | $60,880 | $47,440 | $67,500 | $62,860 |
| 61 | Kiryas Joel, NY | $60,670 | $45,160 | $68,310 | $55,450 |
| 62 | Philadelphia, PA-NJ-DE-MD | $60,650 | $45,530 | $68,100 | $59,140 |
| 63 | Appleton, WI | $60,610 | $47,220 | $67,200 | $65,580 |
| 64 | St. Joseph, MO-KS | $60,610 | $49,440 | $66,100 | $70,170 |
| 65 | Manchester, NH | $60,590 | $47,010 | $67,290 | $57,350 |
| 66 | Albany, NY | $60,440 | $46,840 | $67,140 | $60,700 |
| 67 | El Centro, CA | $60,400 | $41,370 | $69,760 | $63,460 |
| 68 | Ogden, UT | $60,380 | $45,360 | $67,770 | $60,170 |
| 69 | Duluth, MN-WI | $60,280 | $47,720 | $66,480 | $67,910 |
| 70 | Fargo, ND-MN | $60,280 | $48,530 | $66,040 | $66,340 |
| 71 | Los Angeles, CA | $60,130 | $44,970 | $67,580 | $52,950 |
| 72 | Grand Forks, ND-MN | $60,090 | $46,470 | $66,830 | $69,340 |
| 73 | Longview, WA | $60,090 | $46,490 | $66,790 | $61,600 |
| 74 | Glens Falls, NY | $60,030 | $48,940 | $65,480 | $63,280 |
| 75 | Mobile, AL | $59,970 | $45,450 | $67,120 | $68,070 |
| 76 | Phoenix, AZ | $59,970 | $45,200 | $67,250 | $58,050 |
| 77 | Janesville, WI | $59,820 | $49,300 | $65,000 | $63,840 |
| 78 | Richmond, VA | $59,720 | $44,120 | $67,390 | $61,030 |
| 79 | Fort Collins, CO | $59,610 | $43,930 | $67,330 | $58,950 |
| 80 | Trenton, NJ | $59,610 | $44,800 | $66,890 | $57,770 |
| 81 | Yuba City, CA | $59,610 | $43,260 | $67,660 | $57,190 |
| 82 | Greeley, CO | $59,570 | $45,090 | $66,710 | $59,470 |
| 83 | Houston, TX | $59,530 | $42,290 | $68,040 | $60,360 |
| 84 | Oshkosh, WI | $59,510 | $48,340 | $65,000 | $64,040 |
| 85 | Kansas City, MO-KS | $59,260 | $44,350 | $66,580 | $64,040 |
| 86 | Bozeman, MT | $59,220 | $47,530 | $64,980 | $57,770 |
| 87 | Fond du Lac, WI | $59,220 | $48,210 | $64,630 | $64,620 |
| 88 | San Luis Obispo, CA | $59,220 | $44,820 | $66,310 | $54,530 |
| 89 | Sierra Vista, AZ | $59,220 | $40,390 | $68,490 | $66,360 |
| 90 | Colorado Springs, CO | $59,200 | $43,850 | $66,750 | $58,780 |
| 91 | Santa Maria, CA | $59,180 | $43,640 | $66,810 | $54,390 |
| 92 | Walla Walla, WA | $59,180 | $47,440 | $64,940 | $60,070 |
| 93 | Charlottesville, VA | $59,160 | $42,540 | $67,350 | $59,670 |
| 94 | Las Vegas, NV | $59,110 | $43,040 | $67,020 | $58,980 |
| 95 | Rochester, MN | $59,070 | $50,230 | $63,420 | $65,040 |
| 96 | Madison, WI | $58,910 | $47,380 | $64,560 | $60,550 |
| 97 | Providence, RI-MA | $58,800 | $42,700 | $66,730 | $57,780 |
| 98 | Hammond, LA | $58,740 | $42,290 | $66,850 | $69,550 |
| 99 | Milwaukee, WI | $58,700 | $48,070 | $63,940 | $60,550 |
| 100 | Bakersfield, CA | $58,660 | $41,970 | $66,850 | $58,140 |
| 101 | Spokane, WA | $58,660 | $45,680 | $65,040 | $58,460 |
| 102 | Austin, TX | $58,640 | $43,180 | $66,250 | $59,800 |
| 103 | Des Moines, IA | $58,610 | $47,720 | $63,960 | $63,910 |
| 104 | Santa Cruz, CA | $58,570 | $43,390 | $66,040 | $53,300 |
| 105 | Sheboygan, WI | $58,570 | $53,370 | $61,130 | $62,300 |
| 106 | Oxnard, CA | $58,550 | $44,140 | $65,640 | $52,970 |
| 107 | Syracuse, NY | $58,550 | $45,200 | $65,120 | $61,150 |
| 108 | Iowa City, IA | $58,510 | $46,220 | $64,540 | $63,940 |
| 109 | Elizabethtown, KY | $58,450 | $48,630 | $63,270 | $64,530 |
| 110 | Gulfport, MS | $58,390 | $45,570 | $64,690 | $64,870 |
| 111 | Kingston, NY | $58,340 | $43,640 | $65,600 | $57,930 |
| 112 | Billings, MT | $58,240 | $45,050 | $64,730 | $62,270 |
| 113 | Decatur, IL | $58,240 | $46,450 | $64,040 | $65,870 |
| 114 | Naples, FL | $58,220 | $42,830 | $65,790 | $56,410 |
| 115 | Racine, WI | $58,050 | $47,030 | $63,460 | $60,490 |
| 116 | Wheeling, WV-OH | $57,930 | $38,980 | $67,270 | $65,590 |
| 117 | Ann Arbor, MI | $57,760 | $43,830 | $64,600 | $57,260 |
| 118 | Corpus Christi, TX | $57,760 | $39,830 | $66,600 | $62,330 |
| 119 | Corvallis, OR | $57,720 | $46,010 | $63,480 | $55,490 |
| 120 | Green Bay, WI | $57,700 | $47,030 | $62,960 | $61,990 |
| 121 | Cheyenne, WY | $57,620 | $45,090 | $63,770 | $59,720 |
| 122 | Modesto, CA | $57,620 | $44,080 | $64,290 | $55,350 |
| 123 | Lafayette, LA | $57,600 | $43,510 | $64,540 | $66,050 |
| 124 | Pittsburgh, PA | $57,530 | $43,720 | $64,330 | $60,770 |
| 125 | Riverside, CA | $57,320 | $44,640 | $63,560 | $53,850 |
| 126 | Santa Fe, NM | $57,320 | $45,140 | $63,340 | $58,040 |
| 127 | Kokomo, IN | $57,280 | $40,250 | $65,670 | $63,890 |
| 128 | Kenosha, WI | $57,220 | $48,070 | $61,730 | $56,590 |
| 129 | Provo, UT | $57,080 | $45,700 | $62,670 | $58,110 |
| 130 | Sioux Falls, SD-MN | $57,080 | $43,310 | $63,860 | $62,980 |
| 131 | Charlotte, NC-SC | $56,990 | $43,580 | $63,610 | $58,540 |
| 132 | Redding, CA | $56,970 | $41,950 | $64,380 | $56,580 |
| 133 | Sioux City, IA-NE-SD | $56,950 | $43,100 | $63,750 | $65,870 |
| 134 | Stockton, CA | $56,910 | $44,220 | $63,150 | $54,150 |
| 135 | Decatur, AL | $56,890 | $38,980 | $65,730 | $65,230 |
| 136 | Bend, OR | $56,870 | $46,950 | $61,760 | $54,890 |
| 137 | Yakima, WA | $56,870 | $45,320 | $62,550 | $59,520 |
| 138 | Buffalo, NY | $56,800 | $44,200 | $63,020 | $59,260 |
| 139 | Elkhart, IN | $56,780 | $41,930 | $64,080 | $62,860 |
| 140 | Jackson, MI | $56,740 | $41,080 | $64,460 | $61,820 |
| 141 | Eau Claire, WI | $56,720 | $46,180 | $61,920 | $61,120 |
| 142 | Allentown, PA-NJ | $56,660 | $44,450 | $62,670 | $56,680 |
| 143 | Miami, FL | $56,640 | $43,760 | $62,980 | $49,620 |
| 144 | Charleston, SC | $56,600 | $44,350 | $62,630 | $56,060 |
| 145 | Albuquerque, NM | $56,580 | $39,960 | $64,750 | $59,220 |
| 146 | Chambersburg, PA | $56,580 | $44,430 | $62,570 | $59,780 |
| 147 | Salem, OR | $56,580 | $45,860 | $61,840 | $54,590 |
| 148 | Hagerstown, MD-WV | $56,510 | $42,850 | $63,230 | $60,010 |
| 149 | Harrisburg, PA | $56,470 | $42,700 | $63,250 | $57,240 |
| 150 | Slidell, LA | $56,410 | $37,730 | $65,620 | $60,840 |
| 151 | Houma, LA | $56,390 | $43,490 | $62,750 | $66,260 |
| 152 | Lewiston, ME | $56,390 | $46,490 | $61,280 | $59,520 |
| 153 | Grand Junction, CO | $56,350 | $43,010 | $62,920 | $59,020 |
| 154 | Anniston, AL | $56,200 | $43,560 | $62,440 | $65,390 |
| 155 | Chicago, IL-IN | $56,180 | $42,040 | $63,150 | $54,230 |
| 156 | Springfield, MA | $56,180 | $44,220 | $62,070 | $58,480 |
| 157 | York, PA | $56,160 | $43,140 | $62,590 | $58,500 |
| 158 | Waterbury, CT | $56,120 | $40,640 | $63,730 | $56,240 |
| 159 | Bangor, ME | $56,100 | $45,760 | $61,190 | $58,130 |
| 160 | Lynchburg, VA | $56,100 | $41,850 | $63,110 | $62,780 |
| 161 | Lancaster, PA | $56,010 | $43,700 | $62,090 | $57,000 |
| 162 | Ames, IA | $55,970 | $44,820 | $61,460 | $63,010 |
| 163 | Rochester, NY | $55,910 | $43,040 | $62,250 | $57,620 |
| 164 | Dallas, TX | $55,890 | $42,310 | $62,590 | $54,210 |
| 165 | Detroit, MI | $55,890 | $42,200 | $62,650 | $55,720 |
| 166 | Lansing, MI | $55,850 | $43,490 | $61,940 | $58,800 |
| 167 | Omaha, NE-IA | $55,850 | $45,720 | $60,840 | $60,770 |
| 168 | Tucson, AZ | $55,830 | $41,830 | $62,710 | $57,620 |
| 169 | Fresno, CA | $55,810 | $43,970 | $61,630 | $54,630 |
| 170 | Eugene, OR | $55,790 | $45,410 | $60,900 | $54,930 |
| 171 | Wausau, WI | $55,790 | $47,610 | $59,820 | $60,220 |
| 172 | Indianapolis, IN | $55,760 | $41,700 | $62,710 | $58,270 |
| 173 | Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN | $55,740 | $42,720 | $62,150 | $58,450 |
| 174 | Cedar Rapids, IA | $55,720 | $45,590 | $60,720 | $62,630 |
| 175 | Wichita, KS | $55,720 | $41,540 | $62,710 | $62,640 |
| 176 | Vineland, NJ | $55,700 | $44,120 | $61,420 | $58,040 |
| 177 | Raleigh, NC | $55,680 | $43,490 | $61,690 | $56,730 |
| 178 | Weirton, WV-OH | $55,680 | $38,330 | $64,230 | $62,540 |
| 179 | Roanoke, VA | $55,660 | $43,760 | $61,530 | $59,450 |
| 180 | Evansville, IN | $55,640 | $40,140 | $63,270 | $60,790 |
| 181 | Tuscaloosa, AL | $55,560 | $40,370 | $63,020 | $63,340 |
| 182 | North Port, FL | $55,540 | $44,320 | $61,050 | $54,230 |
| 183 | Tulsa, OK | $55,540 | $43,390 | $61,530 | $62,250 |
| 184 | Enid, OK | $55,520 | $38,440 | $63,920 | $65,880 |
| 185 | Pocatello, ID | $55,520 | $45,490 | $60,440 | $62,450 |
| 186 | Lincoln, NE | $55,370 | $45,740 | $60,110 | $60,460 |
| 187 | Akron, OH | $55,310 | $43,760 | $60,990 | $59,240 |
| 188 | Ithaca, NY | $55,310 | $44,490 | $60,630 | $53,530 |
| 189 | Port St. Lucie, FL | $55,310 | $44,080 | $60,840 | $55,180 |
| 190 | College Station, TX | $55,290 | $40,710 | $62,480 | $60,790 |
| 191 | Dubuque, IA | $55,200 | $46,900 | $59,280 | $63,210 |
| 192 | Winchester, VA-WV | $55,200 | $43,330 | $61,070 | $57,230 |
| 193 | Cape Coral, FL | $55,180 | $43,970 | $60,690 | $53,910 |
| 194 | Lewiston, ID-WA | $55,120 | $45,490 | $59,880 | $60,470 |
| 195 | Mankato, MN | $55,100 | $45,680 | $59,740 | $60,580 |
| 196 | Michigan City, IN | $55,080 | $40,870 | $62,070 | $60,080 |
| 197 | Idaho Falls, ID | $55,040 | $40,480 | $62,190 | $58,300 |
| 198 | Lexington, KY | $55,020 | $42,810 | $61,030 | $59,230 |
| 199 | Reading, PA | $54,910 | $44,450 | $60,050 | $56,570 |
| 200 | Erie, PA | $54,870 | $41,450 | $61,460 | $60,330 |
| 201 | Harrisonburg, VA | $54,870 | $40,620 | $61,900 | $57,820 |
| 202 | Niles, MI | $54,830 | $42,810 | $60,760 | $59,360 |
| 203 | St. Louis, MO-IL | $54,830 | $42,200 | $61,070 | $57,660 |
| 204 | Hilton Head Island, SC | $54,810 | $42,830 | $60,690 | $55,920 |
| 205 | Louisville/Jefferson County, KY-IN | $54,810 | $43,660 | $60,280 | $58,890 |
| 206 | Boise City, ID | $54,790 | $43,530 | $60,320 | $55,690 |
| 207 | Crestview, FL | $54,790 | $44,240 | $59,990 | $56,470 |
| 208 | Asheville, NC | $54,770 | $43,410 | $60,360 | $56,750 |
| 209 | Greensboro, NC | $54,700 | $42,720 | $60,610 | $58,900 |
| 210 | Greenville, NC | $54,700 | $40,310 | $61,800 | $61,880 |
| 211 | Wilmington, NC | $54,700 | $41,720 | $61,090 | $56,730 |
| 212 | Columbus, OH | $54,620 | $43,180 | $60,260 | $57,210 |
| 213 | Blacksburg, VA | $54,560 | $42,930 | $60,280 | $58,850 |
| 214 | Dover, DE | $54,560 | $44,120 | $59,720 | $55,950 |
| 215 | Waterloo, IA | $54,540 | $46,050 | $58,720 | $62,650 |
| 216 | Grants Pass, OR | $54,520 | $46,530 | $58,470 | $55,770 |
| 217 | Jacksonville, FL | $54,520 | $42,520 | $60,440 | $54,800 |
| 218 | Lake Havasu City, AZ | $54,480 | $40,080 | $61,570 | $57,900 |
| 219 | Monroe, LA | $54,450 | $42,310 | $60,440 | $65,130 |
| 220 | Saginaw, MI | $54,350 | $41,560 | $60,670 | $59,800 |
| 221 | Savannah, GA | $54,350 | $41,660 | $60,590 | $57,090 |
| 222 | Pueblo, CO | $54,290 | $44,100 | $59,320 | $59,160 |
| 223 | Kingsport, TN-VA | $54,270 | $40,350 | $61,110 | $62,780 |
| 224 | Battle Creek, MI | $54,230 | $46,030 | $58,260 | $59,900 |
| 225 | Orlando, FL | $54,230 | $42,330 | $60,070 | $53,470 |
| 226 | Prescott Valley, AZ | $54,120 | $40,810 | $60,670 | $55,080 |
| 227 | Rapid City, SD | $54,100 | $41,120 | $60,510 | $60,680 |
| 228 | Scranton, PA | $54,100 | $42,000 | $60,070 | $57,830 |
| 229 | Beckley, WV | $54,060 | $37,920 | $62,000 | $61,180 |
| 230 | Sherman, TX | $54,060 | $41,410 | $60,280 | $57,650 |
| 231 | Wenatchee, WA | $54,060 | $41,040 | $60,490 | $52,050 |
| 232 | Charleston, WV | $53,960 | $38,290 | $61,670 | $60,820 |
| 233 | Victoria, TX | $53,930 | $40,910 | $60,360 | $60,030 |
| 234 | Longview, TX | $53,890 | $40,870 | $60,300 | $60,220 |
| 235 | Hattiesburg, MS | $53,870 | $39,210 | $61,090 | $61,470 |
| 236 | Davenport, IA-IL | $53,850 | $42,520 | $59,430 | $60,450 |
| 237 | Amarillo, TX | $53,830 | $40,270 | $60,510 | $58,630 |
| 238 | Topeka, KS | $53,830 | $40,270 | $60,510 | $60,610 |
| 239 | Yuma, AZ | $53,710 | $40,730 | $60,090 | $57,940 |
| 240 | Birmingham, AL | $53,540 | $40,100 | $60,150 | $58,420 |
| 241 | Burlington, NC | $53,540 | $42,540 | $58,970 | $57,450 |
| 242 | Medford, OR | $53,540 | $44,280 | $58,090 | $52,780 |
| 243 | Flint, MI | $53,480 | $39,420 | $60,400 | $57,480 |
| 244 | Gettysburg, PA | $53,440 | $42,000 | $59,070 | $56,030 |
| 245 | Binghamton, NY | $53,370 | $41,770 | $59,110 | $57,470 |
| 246 | Rockford, IL | $53,370 | $42,140 | $58,910 | $57,910 |
| 247 | Canton, OH | $53,350 | $44,320 | $57,800 | $59,670 |
| 248 | Atlanta, GA | $53,310 | $42,080 | $58,840 | $53,280 |
| 249 | Lebanon, PA | $53,310 | $42,100 | $58,820 | $57,190 |
| 250 | Tampa, FL | $53,290 | $42,680 | $58,530 | $52,820 |
| 251 | Coeur d'Alene, ID | $53,250 | $43,740 | $57,930 | $54,170 |
| 252 | San Antonio, TX | $53,210 | $40,390 | $59,530 | $56,180 |
| 253 | Clarksville, TN-KY | $53,190 | $43,990 | $57,720 | $58,480 |
| 254 | Durham, NC | $53,190 | $41,910 | $58,740 | $54,510 |
| 255 | Chico, CA | $53,120 | $42,970 | $58,120 | $52,490 |
| 256 | Rocky Mount, NC | $53,080 | $42,580 | $58,260 | $60,310 |
| 257 | Springfield, MO | $53,080 | $42,680 | $58,200 | $59,920 |
| 258 | Hanford, CA | $53,060 | $42,560 | $58,220 | $52,220 |
| 259 | St. George, UT | $53,040 | $42,080 | $58,430 | $54,500 |
| 260 | Nashville, TN | $53,020 | $41,000 | $58,950 | $55,040 |
| 261 | Jackson, MS | $53,000 | $39,830 | $59,490 | $59,520 |
| 262 | Killeen, TX | $53,000 | $40,040 | $59,380 | $58,160 |
| 263 | Midland, MI | $52,980 | $40,980 | $58,910 | $57,640 |
| 264 | Springfield, IL | $52,980 | $38,420 | $60,170 | $57,120 |
| 265 | Dayton, OH | $52,960 | $40,120 | $59,260 | $57,130 |
| 266 | Augusta, GA-SC | $52,940 | $40,230 | $59,200 | $57,600 |
| 267 | Spartanburg, SC | $52,920 | $42,240 | $58,160 | $58,120 |
| 268 | Williamsport, PA | $52,920 | $41,600 | $58,490 | $57,300 |
| 269 | Altoona, PA | $52,890 | $42,000 | $58,260 | $59,090 |
| 270 | Traverse City, MI | $52,850 | $40,270 | $59,050 | $56,600 |
| 271 | Elmira, NY | $52,790 | $44,280 | $56,970 | $55,920 |
| 272 | Jefferson City, MO | $52,770 | $44,030 | $57,050 | $59,980 |
| 273 | Muncie, IN | $52,730 | $42,930 | $57,530 | $59,820 |
| 274 | Utica, NY | $52,710 | $40,040 | $58,930 | $56,870 |
| 275 | Grand Island, NE | $52,640 | $44,490 | $56,640 | $60,750 |
| 276 | Lawton, OK | $52,600 | $38,600 | $59,510 | $61,200 |
| 277 | Abilene, TX | $52,580 | $40,160 | $58,700 | $58,190 |
| 278 | Merced, CA | $52,480 | $43,450 | $56,910 | $53,400 |
| 279 | Monroe, MI | $52,480 | $38,130 | $59,550 | $56,130 |
| 280 | Pensacola, FL | $52,290 | $41,560 | $57,570 | $53,510 |
| 281 | Paducah, KY-IL | $52,270 | $41,390 | $57,640 | $60,720 |
| 282 | Missoula, MT | $52,230 | $43,430 | $56,580 | $54,160 |
| 283 | Fort Wayne, IN | $52,210 | $41,390 | $57,530 | $56,400 |
| 284 | Lakeland, FL | $52,210 | $41,480 | $57,510 | $53,750 |
| 285 | Athens, GA | $52,150 | $42,410 | $56,930 | $55,870 |
| 286 | Las Cruces, NM | $52,150 | $37,070 | $59,570 | $57,810 |
| 287 | Morgantown, WV | $52,150 | $36,900 | $59,650 | $55,880 |
| 288 | Oklahoma City, OK | $52,120 | $39,520 | $58,320 | $57,650 |
| 289 | Bowling Green, KY | $52,100 | $44,430 | $55,890 | $57,770 |
| 290 | Cleveland, OH | $52,080 | $40,710 | $57,680 | $55,450 |
| 291 | Fayetteville, NC | $51,960 | $39,810 | $57,930 | $56,490 |
| 292 | Chattanooga, TN-GA | $51,920 | $39,440 | $58,070 | $56,770 |
| 293 | Grand Rapids, MI | $51,830 | $43,040 | $56,180 | $54,250 |
| 294 | Homosassa Springs, FL | $51,790 | $38,560 | $58,320 | $55,410 |
| 295 | Palm Bay, FL | $51,770 | $38,940 | $58,090 | $51,770 |
| 296 | Winston, NC | $51,770 | $40,730 | $57,200 | $56,250 |
| 297 | Champaign, IL | $51,710 | $42,410 | $56,280 | $55,780 |
| 298 | Kalamazoo, MI | $51,690 | $42,760 | $56,080 | $54,500 |
| 299 | Daphne, AL | $51,670 | $37,900 | $58,470 | $54,570 |
| 300 | Lafayette, IN | $51,670 | $43,280 | $55,810 | $55,300 |
| 301 | Greenville, SC | $51,560 | $41,850 | $56,350 | $55,290 |
| 302 | Panama City, FL | $51,560 | $37,070 | $58,700 | $52,990 |
| 303 | Parkersburg, WV | $51,560 | $38,380 | $58,050 | $59,220 |
| 304 | Warner Robins, GA | $51,520 | $42,410 | $55,990 | $54,930 |
| 305 | Muskegon, MI | $51,480 | $42,390 | $55,930 | $55,640 |
| 306 | Lawrence, KS | $51,380 | $41,270 | $56,350 | $56,940 |
| 307 | Sebastian, FL | $51,330 | $40,730 | $56,560 | $52,210 |
| 308 | Visalia, CA | $51,310 | $38,650 | $57,530 | $51,400 |
| 309 | Columbia, MO | $51,290 | $43,260 | $55,270 | $57,350 |
| 310 | Twin Falls, ID | $51,190 | $42,240 | $55,580 | $55,580 |
| 311 | South Bend, IN-MI | $51,170 | $40,750 | $56,280 | $55,110 |
| 312 | Logan, UT-ID | $51,080 | $40,140 | $56,470 | $53,250 |
| 313 | Memphis, TN-MS-AR | $51,060 | $39,230 | $56,890 | $55,390 |
| 314 | Huntington, WV-KY-OH | $51,020 | $37,520 | $57,660 | $57,700 |
| 315 | Montgomery, AL | $51,020 | $38,310 | $57,280 | $56,890 |
| 316 | Cleveland, TN | $51,000 | $41,520 | $55,660 | $57,900 |
| 317 | Springfield, OH | $51,000 | $40,040 | $56,410 | $56,360 |
| 318 | Albany, GA | $50,980 | $38,190 | $57,260 | $58,150 |
| 319 | Jonesboro, AR | $50,980 | $42,160 | $55,330 | $59,360 |
| 320 | Kankakee, IL | $50,880 | $38,460 | $56,990 | $52,780 |
| 321 | Punta Gorda, FL | $50,840 | $39,620 | $56,370 | $50,570 |
| 322 | State College, PA | $50,810 | $38,850 | $56,700 | $52,510 |
| 323 | Brunswick, GA | $50,770 | $40,020 | $56,080 | $57,890 |
| 324 | Columbia, SC | $50,730 | $39,500 | $56,260 | $54,160 |
| 325 | Columbus, IN | $50,690 | $39,080 | $56,410 | $54,500 |
| 326 | Owensboro, KY | $50,690 | $41,370 | $55,290 | $57,210 |
| 327 | Toledo, OH | $50,650 | $39,520 | $56,140 | $55,380 |
| 328 | Morristown, TN | $50,590 | $37,440 | $57,050 | $58,580 |
| 329 | Manhattan, KS | $50,540 | $41,930 | $54,790 | $56,050 |
| 330 | Tallahassee, FL | $50,540 | $40,040 | $55,720 | $53,810 |
| 331 | Bloomington, IN | $50,340 | $37,590 | $56,640 | $52,940 |
| 332 | Wichita Falls, TX | $50,320 | $36,460 | $57,140 | $56,220 |
| 333 | Sandusky, OH | $50,250 | $40,710 | $54,950 | $56,280 |
| 334 | Lubbock, TX | $49,940 | $36,900 | $56,370 | $54,690 |
| 335 | Youngstown, OH | $49,900 | $40,370 | $54,600 | $57,100 |
| 336 | Deltona, FL | $49,880 | $39,190 | $55,140 | $50,200 |
| 337 | Gainesville, GA | $49,710 | $44,080 | $52,480 | $51,370 |
| 338 | San Angelo, TX | $49,710 | $36,670 | $56,140 | $53,770 |
| 339 | Knoxville, TN | $49,520 | $39,560 | $54,430 | $53,500 |
| 340 | Cape Girardeau, MO-IL | $49,500 | $40,890 | $53,750 | $57,510 |
| 341 | Sumter, SC | $49,400 | $36,090 | $55,950 | $56,120 |
| 342 | Terre Haute, IN | $49,380 | $41,540 | $53,250 | $56,240 |
| 343 | Sebring, FL | $49,300 | $39,310 | $54,200 | $53,310 |
| 344 | Laredo, TX | $49,230 | $34,090 | $56,680 | $56,610 |
| 345 | Gainesville, FL | $49,170 | $40,210 | $53,600 | $50,830 |
| 346 | Little Rock, AR | $49,170 | $39,480 | $53,960 | $55,020 |
| 347 | Fayetteville, AR | $49,130 | $38,250 | $54,500 | $53,780 |
| 348 | Ocala, FL | $49,130 | $40,080 | $53,580 | $51,590 |
| 349 | Hickory, NC | $48,980 | $38,920 | $53,930 | $55,350 |
| 350 | Waco, TX | $48,960 | $38,980 | $53,890 | $52,900 |
| 351 | Valdosta, GA | $48,780 | $37,750 | $54,200 | $55,260 |
| 352 | Brownsville, TX | $48,670 | $32,550 | $56,620 | $56,610 |
| 353 | Joplin, MO-KS | $48,550 | $38,850 | $53,330 | $56,640 |
| 354 | Goldsboro, NC | $48,480 | $38,480 | $53,390 | $54,800 |
| 355 | Macon, GA | $48,320 | $37,040 | $53,870 | $54,580 |
| 356 | Myrtle Beach, SC | $48,070 | $37,190 | $53,410 | $51,330 |
| 357 | Bloomington, IL | $47,760 | $36,800 | $53,140 | $51,060 |
| 358 | Johnstown, PA | $47,740 | $37,900 | $52,560 | $55,560 |
| 359 | Tyler, TX | $47,650 | $37,940 | $52,440 | $51,710 |
| 360 | Johnson City, TN | $47,440 | $38,170 | $52,020 | $53,950 |
| 361 | Fort Smith, AR-OK | $47,400 | $37,980 | $52,040 | $55,190 |
| 362 | Dalton, GA | $47,300 | $37,090 | $52,330 | $52,650 |
| 363 | Florence, SC | $47,110 | $39,730 | $50,730 | $54,290 |
| 364 | Wildwood, FL | $46,740 | $40,120 | $50,000 | $54,720 |
| 365 | Florence, AL | $46,220 | $35,730 | $51,400 | $54,490 |
| 366 | Huntsville, AL | $46,130 | $36,880 | $50,710 | $49,560 |
| 367 | Dothan, AL | $46,090 | $36,210 | $50,980 | $54,980 |
| 368 | Texarkana, TX-AR | $46,030 | $34,840 | $51,520 | $54,790 |
| 369 | Auburn, AL | $45,950 | $36,750 | $50,480 | $52,260 |
| 370 | Jackson, TN | $45,800 | $37,130 | $50,070 | $53,550 |
| 371 | El Paso, TX | $45,780 | $31,870 | $52,640 | $50,920 |
| 372 | Hot Springs, AR | $45,660 | $35,070 | $50,880 | $53,260 |
| 373 | Mansfield, OH | $45,530 | $36,150 | $50,170 | $51,230 |
| 374 | Rome, GA | $44,910 | $38,210 | $48,190 | $49,810 |
| 375 | Gadsden, AL | $44,100 | $35,670 | $48,260 | $51,490 |
| 376 | McAllen, TX | $43,040 | $30,470 | $49,210 | $50,110 |
| 377 | Columbus, GA-AL | $42,370 | $31,430 | $47,780 | $47,450 |
| 378 | Ponce, PR | $33,320 | $27,660 | $36,090 | N/A |
| 379 | Mayaguez, PR | $31,700 | $27,020 | $33,990 | N/A |
| 380 | San Juan, PR | $31,350 | $26,460 | $33,740 | N/A |
| 381 | Arecibo, PR | $30,830 | $27,680 | $32,390 | N/A |
| 382 | Aguadilla, PR | $29,410 | $25,360 | $31,430 | N/A |
More
More on welders
Method
About these numbers
- Mean wages are BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) May 2025 estimates for each metropolitan statistical area, as published in the Department of Labor’s 2026–27 OFLC prevailing-wage file. Only metros with their own BLS estimate are listed.
- Entry (Level I) and experienced (Level IV) are the Department of Labor’s prevailing-wage levels for the occupation in that metro, used for employer visa filings. They are benchmarks from the same OEWS survey, not percentiles.
- OEWS top-codes wages at $115 an hour ($239,200 a year); top-coded means are shown as "$239,200+" and left out of rankings.
- At US prices divides the mean by the metro’s BEA Regional Price Parity (2024) over 100, a NueCareer calculation.
Questions
Welder salary by city: FAQ
Which city pays welders the most?
Fairbanks, AK, where the average (mean) wage is $83,300 a year, followed by Urban Honolulu, HI ($79,390), Bremerton, WA ($77,000), Anchorage, AK ($74,010). The national mean is $56,760 (BLS OEWS, May 2025).
Where do welders earn the most after cost of living?
Divided by each metro's BEA price level, pay goes furthest in Fairbanks, AK ($80,710 at national prices, $83,300 nominal), Lake Charles, LA ($79,970 at national prices, $68,660 nominal), Baton Rouge, LA ($79,790 at national prices, $72,430 nominal).
How much do welders make in the biggest cities?
New York, NY-NJ: $67,430; Los Angeles, CA: $60,130; Chicago, IL-IN: $56,180; Dallas, TX: $55,890; Houston, TX: $59,530 (mean annual wage, BLS OEWS May 2025).
Where do welders earn the least?
Of the 382 metro areas with their own estimate, Aguadilla, PR has the lowest mean wage, $29,410.