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Crunching costs, sorting signals, rendering insights.
Crunching costs, sorting signals, rendering insights.
Real salary distribution from 288 tracked cities across 46 states. Compare entry-level, median, and senior compensation — then adjust for cost of living.
Welder salaries in 2026 span a wider range than most people realize. The weighted national median is $54,536, but geography reshapes that number dramatically. In Sunnyvale, the median is $99,640. We analyzed BLS-sourced salary distributions across 288 U.S. cities and 46 states to map the complete compensation landscape.
Positioned in Construction within the broader Construction & Trades industry, Welders typically hold Postsecondary certificate. The employment landscape is shaped by growing, and the day-to-day is shop/field. Those factors — education investment, demand trajectory, and work structure — all feed into the salary numbers below.
$60,630 separates the highest and lowest-paying cities. A Welder in Sunnyvale, California earns a median of $99,640 — $60,630 more than their counterpart in Toledo, Ohio ($39,010). That gap alone is more than many cities' annual rent. The gap between P10 and P90 shows the earning ceiling is high.
The three-tier salary picture for Welders in 2026: $33,813 at entry (P10), $54,536 at midpoint, and $79,078 at the senior end (P90). The state breakdown adds another layer. The $45,265 range from bottom to top isn't just experience — it's geography, specialization, and industry mixed together. The median itself lands $25,831 below the national median household income of $80,367.
Compare the extremes: the highest-paying trio of cities (Sunnyvale, Santa Clara, Irvine) averages $93,060, while the lowest-paying trio (Toledo, Detroit, Akron) averages $39,323. The $53,737 difference is the kind of number that reshapes career strategy — assuming the cost of living cooperates.
A Welder in Sunnyvale, California earns a median of $99,640 — $60,630 more than their counterpart in Toledo, Ohio ($39,010). That gap alone is more than many cities' annual rent.
The national average entry-level (P10) salary for Welder is $33,813, while senior-level (P90) earners average $79,078. That $45,265 trajectory represents the earning growth a career in this field can deliver.
| Country | Coverage | Entry (P10) | Median | Senior (P90) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| United States | 288 | $33,813 | $54,536 | $79,078 |
| United Kingdom | 27 | £22,401 | £31,112 | £44,179 |
| Canada | 21 | CA$35,978 | CA$49,969 | CA$70,956 |
| Australia | 13 | A$44,909 | A$62,373 | A$88,570 |
| Sweden | 24 | 242,494 kr | 336,797 kr | 478,252 kr |
| State | Cities | Entry (P10) | Median | Senior (P90) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| California | 61 | $40,935 | $66,023 | $95,734 |
| Massachusetts | 4 | $39,558 | $63,803 | $92,514 |
| Hawaii | 1 | $39,339 | $63,450 | $92,003 |
| District of Columbia | 1 | $36,425 | $58,750 | $85,188 |
| New Jersey | 4 | $35,988 | $58,045 | $84,166 |
| Washington | 8 | $35,296 | $56,929 | $82,547 |
| New York | 5 | $33,219 | $53,580 | $77,691 |
| Rhode Island | 1 | $33,220 | $53,580 | $77,691 |
| Florida | 22 | $32,968 | $53,174 | $77,103 |
| Colorado | 11 | $32,398 | $52,255 | $75,771 |
| New Hampshire | 1 | $32,345 | $52,170 | $75,647 |
| Nevada | 5 | $32,287 | $52,076 | $75,510 |
| Arizona | 12 | $32,127 | $51,818 | $75,136 |
| Oregon | 5 | $32,054 | $51,700 | $74,965 |
| Idaho | 3 | $31,957 | $51,543 | $74,738 |
| Connecticut | 5 | $31,704 | $51,136 | $74,148 |
| Utah | 4 | $31,617 | $50,995 | $73,943 |
| Virginia | 7 | $31,096 | $50,156 | $72,726 |
| South Carolina | 3 | $30,694 | $49,507 | $71,785 |
| Alaska | 1 | $30,597 | $49,350 | $71,558 |
| Illinois | 5 | $30,247 | $48,786 | $70,740 |
| North Carolina | 9 | $29,496 | $47,574 | $68,983 |
| New Mexico | 3 | $29,140 | $47,000 | $68,150 |
| Montana | 1 | $29,140 | $47,000 | $68,150 |
| Tennessee | 6 | $29,043 | $46,843 | $67,923 |
| Texas | 40 | $28,900 | $46,612 | $67,588 |
| Minnesota | 2 | $28,849 | $46,530 | $67,469 |
| Wisconsin | 2 | $28,703 | $46,295 | $67,128 |
| Georgia | 6 | $28,606 | $46,138 | $66,901 |
| Pennsylvania | 3 | $28,557 | $46,060 | $66,787 |
| Kansas | 4 | $28,412 | $45,825 | $66,447 |
| Michigan | 6 | $28,314 | $45,668 | $66,219 |
| Kentucky | 2 | $27,975 | $45,120 | $65,424 |
| Maryland | 1 | $27,974 | $45,120 | $65,424 |
| Nebraska | 2 | $27,683 | $44,650 | $64,743 |
| South Dakota | 1 | $27,683 | $44,650 | $64,743 |
| Oklahoma | 4 | $26,955 | $43,475 | $63,039 |
| North Dakota | 1 | $26,809 | $43,240 | $62,698 |
| Louisiana | 4 | $26,445 | $42,653 | $61,847 |
| Missouri | 4 | $26,445 | $42,653 | $61,846 |
| Alabama | 5 | $26,343 | $42,488 | $61,608 |
| Indiana | 3 | $25,935 | $41,830 | $60,654 |
| Arkansas | 1 | $25,935 | $41,830 | $60,654 |
| Iowa | 2 | $25,643 | $41,360 | $59,972 |
| Ohio | 6 | $25,595 | $41,282 | $59,859 |
| Mississippi | 1 | $24,478 | $39,480 | $57,246 |
The state salary map for Welders: California at $66,023, Massachusetts at $63,803, Hawaii at $63,450 lead the pack. The bottom tier — Mississippi ($39,480), Ohio ($41,282), Iowa ($41,360) — shows how regional economics reshape compensation. Across all 46 states with data, the state-level spread alone is $26,543.
When you adjust the top-paying cities for cost of living, the ranking reshuffles. Sunnyvale ($99,640 nominal, 212 cost index) delivers $47,000 in purchasing power — maintaining its lead even after cost adjustment. This is the metric that matters for anyone considering a geo-based career move.
Raw salary divided by the local cost index — this shows where your paycheck buys the most.
| # | City | Nominal Salary | Cost Index | Adjusted Salary | Est. Take-Home |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Sunnyvale California | $99,640 | 212 | $47,000 | $61,792 |
| 2 | Santa Clara California | $93,060 | 198 | $47,000 | $58,038 |
| 3 | Irvine California | $86,480 | 184 | $47,000 | $54,284 |
| 4 | San Francisco California | $85,070 | 181 | $47,000 | $53,479 |
| 5 | Carlsbad California | $83,660 | 178 | $47,000 | $52,675 |
| 6 | San Jose California | $83,190 | 177 | $47,000 | $52,407 |
| 7 | Fremont California | $83,190 | 177 | $47,000 | $52,407 |
| 8 | Berkeley California | $81,310 | 173 | $47,000 | $51,334 |
| 9 | Costa Mesa California | $81,310 | 173 | $47,000 | $51,334 |
| 10 | Huntington Beach California | $79,430 | 169 | $47,000 | $50,262 |
From a career planning perspective, Welder offers a $45,265 earning range. The 2.3× multiplier from entry to senior makes this a field where longevity pays off. The typical entry requires Postsecondary certificate. Day-to-day, expect shop/field work environments. With data from 288 cities, the geographic flexibility is substantial — this career travels well.
The weighted national median salary for Welders is $54,536 in 2026, based on BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics across 288 U.S. metro areas. Entry-level (10th percentile) averages $33,813, while experienced professionals at the 90th percentile average $79,078.
The highest-paying city for Welders is Sunnyvale, California with a median salary of $99,640. The top 3 cities are Sunnyvale ($99,640), Santa Clara ($93,060), Irvine ($86,480). Note: high-paying cities often have higher costs of living — check the cost-adjusted rankings above for purchasing power.
The lowest median Welder salary in our data is in Toledo, Ohio at $39,010. However, lower-paying cities often have significantly lower costs of living, which can offset the pay gap. Always compare salary data alongside local cost of living.
Entry-level Welders (10th percentile) average $33,813 nationally. This varies by city — in the highest-paying markets, entry-level pay can be close to $61,777. Experience, certifications, and employer type all influence starting salary.
At the 90th percentile (senior level), Welders average $79,078 nationally — $45,265 more than entry-level. In top-paying cities, senior Welders can earn up to $144,478.
The top-paying states for Welders are California ($66,023 median), Massachusetts ($63,803 median), Hawaii ($63,450 median). State averages are computed across all tracked cities in each state, weighted equally.
The typical education path for a Welder involves Postsecondary certificate. The field is in the Construction & Trades sector (Construction), and the career outlook is growing. Work style is typically shop/field.
With a national median of $54,536 and representation across 288 metro areas, Welder offers a foundation that can be strengthened by strategic location choices. The $45,265 gap between entry and senior pay shows room for salary growth. Industry outlook: growing.
All salary data on this page is sourced from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) program, which surveys employers across U.S. metropolitan areas. We present 10th percentile (entry), 50th percentile (median), and 90th percentile (senior) pay benchmarks. Cost-of-living adjustments use our core database of 288 cities.
Salary data is sourced from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) program, which surveys employers across U.S. metropolitan and non-metropolitan areas. We present the 10th percentile (entry-level), 50th percentile (median), and 90th percentile (senior) pay benchmarks.
Cost-of-living adjustments use Livably's core index derived from Zillow rent data, Census income surveys, and regional BLS price data. Take-home pay estimates apply simplified federal brackets, 7.65% FICA, and state income tax rates from the Tax Foundation.
State and national averages are computed as simple means across all tracked cities with data for this occupation. Rankings are updated monthly as new BLS releases become available.