The Bureau of Labor Statistics’ most recent data release on March 31, 2022 reported that wages for welders have increased in 2021. Wages increased to $48,290 for welders in 2021, which is an improvement from average annual wages in 2020 of $46,690. This is about 3.4% growth, indicating that demand for Welders is high and that it will continue to increase.
States with the Highest Pay for Welders
| Alaska | $70,490 |
| Hawaii | $66,020 |
| Wyoming | $63,280 |
| North Dakota | $57,550 |
Welding pay is higher in areas where there is a higher cost of living and high demand for welders. States like Wyoming and North Dakota are very important in oil and gas industries.
Cities with the Highest Pay for Welders
| Fairbanks, AK | $72,500 |
| Anchorage, AK | $71,840 |
| Urban Honolulu, HI | $66,920 |
| Kahului-Wailuku-Lahaina, HI | $64,430 |
States with the Most Welders
States not attached to the continental United States, such as in Alaska or Hawaii, typically have higher cost of living. Because of the higher demand for workers and high cost of living in these areas, welders tend to be compensated higher.
The cities and states with the highest number of welders tend to have a higher concentration of manufacturing and industries that require welding.
| Texas | 46,580 workers |
| California | 30,080 |
| Ohio | 17,710 |
| Pennsylvania | 17,320 |
Cities with the Most Welders
| Houston-The Woodlands-Sugarland, TX | 15,110 workers |
| Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX | 10,220 |
| Chicago, IL-Naperville, IN-Elgin, WI | 9,160 |
| Los Angeles, Long Beach, Anaheim, CA | 8,900 |
Industries with the Most Welders
| Fabricated Metal Product Manufacturing | 67,700 workers |
| Natural Gas Distribution | 58,150 |
| Motor Vehicle Body and Trailer Manufacturing | 24,110 |
Top Paying Industries for Welders
| Electric Power Generation, Transmission and Distribution | $92,130 |
| Natural Gas Distribution | $88,940 |
| Pipeline Transportation of Crude Oil | $87,900 |
Employment Outlook
The outlook for welders is good through 2030, and will rise at a steady rate of 8%. This translates to about 34,100 new job openings in the next 10 years. New infrastructure is in high demand, and welders will be very important to renewing vital infrastructure such as bridges, pipelines, and more.
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References
Welders on the The Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics Site
