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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 $52,229, but geography reshapes that number dramatically. In Santa Clara, the median is $97,216. 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.
$56,693 separates the highest and lowest-paying cities. A Welder in Santa Clara, California earns a median of $97,216 — $56,693 more than their counterpart in Toledo, Ohio ($40,523). 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: $37,605 at entry (P10), $52,229 at midpoint, and $74,165 at the senior end (P90). The state breakdown adds another layer. The $36,560 range from bottom to top isn't just experience — it's geography, specialization, and industry mixed together. The median itself lands $28,138 below the national median household income of $80,367.
Compare the extremes: the highest-paying trio of cities (Santa Clara, Irvine, San Francisco) averages $92,022, while the lowest-paying trio (Toledo, Jackson, Macon) averages $41,519. The $50,503 difference is the kind of number that reshapes career strategy — assuming the cost of living cooperates.
A Welder in Santa Clara, California earns a median of $97,216 — $56,693 more than their counterpart in Toledo, Ohio ($40,523). That gap alone is more than many cities' annual rent.
| Country | Coverage | Entry (P10) | Median | Senior (P90) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| United States | 288 | $37,605 | $52,229 | $74,165 |
| United Kingdom | 27 | £21,649 | £30,067 | £42,695 |
| Canada | 21 | CA$34,214 | CA$47,520 | CA$67,478 |
| Australia | 13 | A$42,425 | A$58,924 | A$83,673 |
| Sweden | 24 | 234,324 kr | 325,450 kr | 462,140 kr |
| State | Cities | Entry (P10) | Median | Senior (P90) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hawaii | 1 | $47,769 | $66,346 | $94,211 |
| California | 61 | $42,919 | $59,610 | $84,646 |
| Massachusetts | 4 | $41,375 | $57,465 | $81,600 |
| Rhode Island | 1 | $40,290 | $55,958 | $79,460 |
| New Hampshire | 1 | $39,231 | $54,488 | $77,373 |
| Washington | 8 | $38,446 | $53,398 | $75,825 |
| Oregon | 5 | $38,018 | $52,802 | $74,979 |
| Colorado | 11 | $37,817 | $52,524 | $74,583 |
| South Carolina | 3 | $37,797 | $52,495 | $74,543 |
| New York | 5 | $37,616 | $52,244 | $74,186 |
| Illinois | 5 | $37,531 | $52,126 | $74,019 |
| Nevada | 5 | $37,100 | $51,528 | $73,170 |
| Virginia | 7 | $37,079 | $51,499 | $73,129 |
| Idaho | 3 | $37,079 | $51,499 | $73,129 |
| Utah | 4 | $36,771 | $51,070 | $72,520 |
| Florida | 22 | $36,736 | $51,022 | $72,452 |
| Arizona | 12 | $36,700 | $50,972 | $72,381 |
| New Jersey | 4 | $36,656 | $50,911 | $72,294 |
| Wisconsin | 2 | $36,233 | $50,323 | $71,459 |
| Tennessee | 6 | $35,986 | $49,980 | $70,972 |
| Michigan | 6 | $35,945 | $49,923 | $70,890 |
| New Mexico | 3 | $35,927 | $49,898 | $70,856 |
| Connecticut | 5 | $35,852 | $49,794 | $70,707 |
| District of Columbia | 1 | $35,280 | $49,000 | $69,580 |
| Alaska | 1 | $35,280 | $49,000 | $69,580 |
| Iowa | 2 | $35,280 | $49,000 | $69,580 |
| North Dakota | 1 | $35,280 | $49,000 | $69,580 |
| Montana | 1 | $35,280 | $49,000 | $69,580 |
| Pennsylvania | 3 | $34,798 | $48,330 | $68,629 |
| Minnesota | 2 | $34,751 | $48,265 | $68,537 |
| North Carolina | 9 | $34,747 | $48,260 | $68,529 |
| Texas | 40 | $34,700 | $48,194 | $68,435 |
| Oklahoma | 4 | $34,583 | $48,032 | $68,206 |
| Georgia | 6 | $34,486 | $47,898 | $68,015 |
| Louisiana | 4 | $34,442 | $47,836 | $67,928 |
| Indiana | 3 | $34,351 | $47,710 | $67,748 |
| Alabama | 5 | $33,968 | $47,177 | $66,992 |
| Ohio | 6 | $33,892 | $47,073 | $66,843 |
| Kentucky | 2 | $33,869 | $47,040 | $66,797 |
| Maryland | 1 | $33,834 | $46,991 | $66,727 |
| Missouri | 4 | $33,807 | $46,954 | $66,675 |
| Kansas | 4 | $33,728 | $46,844 | $66,519 |
| South Dakota | 1 | $33,587 | $46,648 | $66,240 |
| Nebraska | 2 | $33,410 | $46,403 | $65,892 |
| Arkansas | 1 | $31,258 | $43,414 | $61,648 |
| Mississippi | 1 | $29,812 | $41,405 | $58,795 |
The state salary map for Welders: Hawaii at $66,346, California at $59,610, Massachusetts at $57,465 lead the pack. The bottom tier — Mississippi ($41,405), Arkansas ($43,414), Nebraska ($46,403) — shows how regional economics reshape compensation. Across all 46 states with data, the state-level spread alone is $24,941.
When you adjust the top-paying cities for cost of living, the ranking reshuffles. Santa Clara ($97,216 nominal, 198 cost index) delivers $49,099 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 | Oceanside California | $71,785 | 146 | $49,168 | $45,900 |
| 2 | Santa Clara California | $97,216 | 198 | $49,099 | $60,409 |
| 3 | Boston Massachusetts | $74,137 | 151 | $49,097 | $50,430 |
| 4 | Huntington Beach California | $82,957 | 169 | $49,087 | $52,274 |
| 5 | Fremont California | $86,877 | 177 | $49,083 | $54,510 |
| 6 | Irvine California | $90,307 | 184 | $49,080 | $56,467 |
| 7 | Bellevue Washington | $82,908 | 169 | $49,058 | $63,273 |
| 8 | Thousand Oaks California | $78,841 | 161 | $48,970 | $49,926 |
| 9 | Los Angeles California | $71,981 | 147 | $48,967 | $46,012 |
| 10 | Anaheim California | $71,491 | 146 | $48,966 | $45,733 |
From a career planning perspective, Welder offers a $36,560 earning range. The 2.0× progression is steady — not explosive, but reliable. 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 $52,229 in 2026, based on BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics across 288 U.S. metro areas. Entry-level (10th percentile) averages $37,605, while experienced professionals at the 90th percentile average $74,165.
The highest-paying city for Welders is Santa Clara, California with a median salary of $97,216. The top 3 cities are Santa Clara ($97,216), Irvine ($90,307), San Francisco ($88,543). 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 $40,523. 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 $37,605 nationally. This varies by city — in the highest-paying markets, entry-level pay can be close to $69,996. Experience, certifications, and employer type all influence starting salary.
At the 90th percentile (senior level), Welders average $74,165 nationally — $36,560 more than entry-level. In top-paying cities, senior Welders can earn up to $138,047.
The top-paying states for Welders are Hawaii ($66,346 median), California ($59,610 median), Massachusetts ($57,465 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 $52,229 and representation across 288 metro areas, Welder offers a foundation that can be strengthened by strategic location choices. The $36,560 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.