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Salary guide · BLS, May 2025Welder salary by state
Welders, cutters, solderers and brazers in the United States earned a median of $25.84 an hour (about $53,750 a year) in May 2025, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. The middle half earned between $22.50 and $30.29, and 416,210 people held the job.
Washington pays welders, cutters, solderers and brazers the most.
Of the 14 states where we have open searches, Washington has the highest median at $30.30 and Georgia the lowest at $23.28. In Montana, our home state, the median is $26.73. Ranked by median, with the national figure first.
| Where | People in the job | 25th percentile | Median | 75th percentile |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| United States | 416,210 | $22.50 | $25.84 | $30.29 |
| Washington | 7,720 | $26.32 | $30.30 | $35.41 |
| Minnesota | 9,270 | $24.50 | $28.98 | $31.45 |
| Oregon | Not published | $23.89 | $28.58 | $32.00 |
| Wisconsin | 15,320 | $24.19 | $28.08 | $29.92 |
| California | 26,060 | $23.31 | $27.91 | $33.85 |
| Arizona | Not published | $23.08 | $26.73 | $31.57 |
| Montana | 1,530 | $22.88 | $26.73 | $30.54 |
| Texas | 52,000 | $21.99 | $25.64 | $31.14 |
| Pennsylvania | 17,850 | $22.71 | $25.43 | $29.77 |
| Illinois | 16,260 | $22.36 | $24.67 | $29.58 |
| North Carolina | 11,750 | $21.83 | $24.32 | $29.26 |
| Ohio | 20,330 | $21.99 | $24.20 | $28.61 |
| Michigan | 13,330 | $22.36 | $24.03 | $28.46 |
| Georgia | Not published | $21.23 | $23.28 | $28.00 |
Welders, Cutters, Solderers and Brazers (SOC 51-4121), an hour. U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025.
Open searches for welders, cutters, solderers and brazers and related roles.
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Welder pay, answered
How much does a welder make?
Welders, cutters, solderers and brazers in the United States earned a median of $25.84 an hour (about $53,750 a year) in May 2025, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. The middle half earned between $22.50 and $30.29, and 416,210 people held the job.
Which state pays welders, cutters, solderers and brazers the most?
Of the 14 states where we have open searches, Washington pays the most, a median of $30.30 an hour, and Georgia the least, $23.28. The national median is $25.84.
How much does a welder make in Montana?
A median of $26.73 an hour in Montana in May 2025, with the middle half between $22.88 and $30.54, across 1,530 people in the job.
Where does this data come from?
The Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics survey, May 2025, for the federal wage group Welders, Cutters, Solderers and Brazers (SOC 51-4121). We publish it here at Compass Group Recruiting, next to our own open searches.
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