Welders basically weld or join metal parts together. The skill required is very similar across industries, making it less difficult for these occupations to transfer from one field to another.
The most common employment for welders is in the field of manufacturing, such as the automobile industry and other production facilities that require the joining of metal objects together.
On the job training, technical school, and a high school diploma are the requirements to become a welder whose work is mostly full time.
Welders are also exposed to a few risks in the workplace and they have one of the highest rates of injuries among all occupations.
Welder Salary
How much do welders make? The average welder salary is . The lower 10% earns an average of $28,560 and the upper 10% earns an average of $63,740.
A welder starting salary depends on a lot of factors such as the industry he’s working in, his skills, and his experience.
Those who are trained in the latest technologies usually earn more and have better job opportunities. Those who work longer hours, during evenings and holidays also earn more than the average.
Top 5 Paying States
| Flag | State | Employment per 1000 Jobs | Hourly mean wage | Annual mean wage |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | Alaska | 2.16 | $34.57 | $71,910 |
 | Hawaii | 0.80 | $28.42 | $59,120 |
 | Wyoming | 8.63 | $25.47 | $52,980 |
 | North Dakota | 6.77 | $24.19 | $50,310 |
 | Delaware | 1.143 | $22.99 | $47,820 |
Top Paying Industries
| Industry | Percent of industry employment | Hourly mean wage | Annual mean wage |
|---|---|---|---|
| Electric Power Generation – Transmission and Distribution | 0.29 | $33.23 | $69,120 |
| Natural Gas Distribution | 0.81 | $32.90 | $68,420 |
| Transportation of Crude Oil | 0.40 | $29.80 | $61,980 |
| Postal Service | 0.01 | $27.88 | $57,990 |
| Artificial Synthetic Fibers and Filaments Manufacturing | 0.04 | $27.88 | $57,990 |
Welder Job Description
What do welders do? A welder’s job involves heating metals, melting them, and fusing them together to create a single shape. They fill holes, repair indentations, and join metal objects with the use of hand-held heating equipment.
The work environment of a welder involves working in outdoor spaces, and indoor spaces that are confined. Some welders work on a scaffold, high off the ground.
A welder’s specific duties involve studying blueprints, specs, and sketches; calculating dimensions to be welded; inspecting materials to be welded; igniting heating equipment; monitoring the welding process to prevent overheating; and maintaining equipment.
Most welders work in the manufacturing industry where 61% of all welders were employed in 2016.
Since the skills of a welder are similar across many industries, they have the ability to jump from one field of work to another. For example, a welder who gets laid off from an automobile manufacturing industry can still work in another field such as construction.
The industries that use welders the most are shipbuilding, automotive manufacturing and repair, construction of buildings, houses, and bridges, and thousands of other industries. This means that a welder has lot of industries to find employment into.
Welders, however, are more prone to injuries than the average occupation. They are often exposed to a number of hazards such as exposure to direct heat where a single mistake can lead to disastrous results. They’re also exposed to intense light that pose a risk for extreme health consequences if they are not careful.
Due to these dangers, welders must wear a number of protective gear when they work.
Among these are heat-resistant gloves, goggles, masks, and other important equipment and gear to protect them from burns and eye injuries, as well as from falling objects when working at a construction site.
Most welders work full time. Most construction firms have 24/7 operations and they have 2 to 3 8-12-hour shifts, including weekends, overnight, and holidays when the needs arise.
Welder Job Outlook
The projected increase in welder employment from 2016 to 2026 is , which is average. About 22,500 jobs are expected to be created during these years.
Employment growth is seen to be caused by the needs of manufacturing facilities, as well as the construction of new infrastructures such as bridges and buildings.
Repair and maintenance of aging structures are also seen to provide more employment for welders.
Future construction of new power generation facilities will also provide job opportunities.
Those who have the most experience and those who are trained in the latest modern technologies are also seen to have the most job prospects in the future.
Welders who are willing to relocate and work in different locations will also be more preferred by manufacturing and construction firms.
Welder Salary by State
| Flag | State | Employment per 1000 Jobs | Hourly mean wage | Annual mean wage |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | Alabama | 4.755 | $17.67 | $36,740 |
| Alaska | 2.16 | $34.57 | $71,910 |
 | Arizona | 1.539 | $18.54 | $38,560 |
 | Arkansas | 3.712 | $17.21 | $35,790 |
 | California | 1.655 | $20.45 | $42,540 |
 | Colorado | 2.116 | $20.96 | $43,600 |
 | Connecticut | 1.174 | $20.82 | $43,310 |
| Delaware | 1.143 | $22.99 | $47,820 |
 | Florida | 1.579 | $17.99 | $37,410 |
 | Georgia | 2.225 | $17.05 | $35,460 |
| Hawaii | 0.796 | $28.42 | $59,120 |
 | Idaho | 3.642 | $16.92 | $35,200 |
 | Illinois | 2.488 | $18.13 | $37,710 |
 | Indiana | 4.558 | $17.91 | $37,250 |
 | Iowa | 5.746 | $17.36 | $36,110 |
 | Kansas | 4.434 | $17.80 | $37,020 |
 | Kentucky | 3.647 | $17.88 | $37,180 |
 | Louisiana | 8.67 | $21.08 | $43,840 |
 | Maine | 3.081 | $22.16 | $46,080 |
 | Maryland | 0.976 | $22.18 | $46,140 |
 | Massachusetts | 0.961 | $22.00 | $45,760 |
 | Michigan | 3.037 | $17.70 | $36,820 |
 | Minnesota | 3.144 | $19.52 | $40,600 |
 | Mississippi | 5.726 | $19.91 | $41,420 |
 | Missouri | 2.561 | $18.54 | $38,570 |
 | Montana | 2.968 | $18.72 | $38,940 |
 | Nebraska | 4.295 | $17.29 | $35,960 |
 | Nevada | 1.339 | $21.28 | $44,260 |
 | New Hampshire | 1.701 | $20.19 | $42,000 |
 | New Jersey | 0.93 | $21.97 | $45,710 |
 | New Mexico | 2.777 | $22.48 | $46,770 |
 | New York | 0.958 | $19.98 | $41,550 |
 | North Carolina | 1.999 | $18.50 | $38,470 |
| North Dakota | 6.772 | $24.19 | $50,310 |
 | Ohio | 2.991 | $18.15 | $37,750 |
 | Oklahoma | 6.682 | $18.64 | $38,780 |
 | Oregon | 2.854 | $19.41 | $40,370 |
 | Pennsylvania | 3.077 | $18.93 | $39,370 |
 | Rhode Island | 2.617 | $20.46 | $42,560 |
 | South Carolina | 3.144 | $18.19 | $37,840 |
 | South Dakota | 7.271 | $16.09 | $33,470 |
 | Tennessee | 2.378 | $18.01 | $37,470 |
 | Texas | 4.643 | $19.66 | $40,900 |
 | Utah | 3.718 | $19.44 | $40,430 |
 | Vermont | 1.302 | $17.25 | $35,870 |
 | Virginia | 2.22 | $20.22 | $42,050 |
 | Washington | 2.209 | $22.15 | $46,060 |
 | West Virginia | 3.598 | $21.52 | $44,750 |
 | Wisconsin | 4.966 | $18.89 | $39,290 |
| Wyoming | 8.636 | $25.47 | $52,980 |
Top paying metropolitan areas
| Area | Employment per 1000 jobs | Hourly mean wage | Annual mean wage |
|---|---|---|---|
| Anchorage, AK | 1.35 | $34.15 | $71,030 |
| Honolulu, HI | 0.90 | $29.59 | $61,550 |
| Peabody – MA, NECTA Division | 0.53 | $29.20 | $60,740 |
| Fairbanks, AK | 2.04 | $28.14 | $58,520 |
| Charleston, WV | 2.83 | $27.77 | $57,770 |
Top paying nonmetropolitan areas
| Area | Employment per 1000 jobs | Hourly mean wage | Annual mean wage |
|---|---|---|---|
| Railbelt – Southwest Alaska nonmetropolitan area | 4.70 | $36.14 | $75,180 |
| Southeast Alaska – nonmetropolitan area | 8.98 | $35.22 | $73,260 |
| Southeastern Wyoming – nonmetropolitan area | 5.02 | $31.96 | $66,480 |
| Far Western North Dakota – nonmetropolitan area | 7.54 | $31.53 | $65,580 |
| North and West Central – New Mexico – nonmetropolitan area | 1.89 | $29.90 | $62,180 |
