Best Value Cities for Welders — 2026
Baton Rouge, Louisiana ranks first with an average Welder salary of $72,430 per year ($34.82/hr). Full ranking of 100 cities below, updated August 2026.
Methodology: Wage figures come from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 release data vintage (survey reference period May 2025), mapped from SOC occupation 51-4121 Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and Brazers to the job title "Welder". Values are measured survey estimates for the metropolitan metropolitan statistical area (MSA) — not modeled or interpolated. Year-over-year comparisons use the May 2024 OEWS release. The year shown in page titles is the publication and update year, not the data vintage.
Ranked Cities
| City | State | Average Annual Salary | Hourly Rate | Entry Level | Senior Level |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Baton Rouge | Louisiana | $72,430 | $34.82/hr | $49,480 | $92,270 |
| Mobile | Alabama | $59,970 | $28.83/hr | $44,360 | $74,520 |
| New Orleans | Louisiana | $65,370 | $31.43/hr | $45,520 | $82,600 |
| Wichita | Kansas | $55,730 | $26.79/hr | $39,020 | $71,890 |
| Syracuse | New York | $58,550 | $28.15/hr | $44,630 | $75,870 |
| Tulsa | Oklahoma | $55,540 | $26.70/hr | $39,960 | $72,740 |
| Buffalo | New York | $56,810 | $27.31/hr | $41,880 | $74,110 |
| Jackson | Mississippi | $53,010 | $25.48/hr | $37,220 | $70,180 |
| Des Moines | Iowa | $58,610 | $28.18/hr | $47,220 | $74,850 |
| Akron | Ohio | $55,300 | $26.59/hr | $41,870 | $77,820 |
| Richmond | Virginia | $59,720 | $28.71/hr | $42,950 | $83,920 |
| Kansas City | Missouri | $59,250 | $28.49/hr | $42,850 | $78,150 |
| Birmingham | Alabama | $53,540 | $25.74/hr | $38,010 | $71,640 |
| Rochester | New York | $55,910 | $26.88/hr | $38,800 | $70,520 |
| Houston | Texas | $59,530 | $28.62/hr | $38,480 | $81,940 |
| Scranton | Pennsylvania | $54,100 | $26.01/hr | $40,110 | $72,420 |
| Albuquerque | New Mexico | $56,570 | $27.20/hr | $37,040 | $79,060 |
| Pittsburgh | Pennsylvania | $57,520 | $27.66/hr | $43,280 | $75,780 |
| Spokane | Washington | $58,650 | $28.20/hr | $45,090 | $74,450 |
| York | Pennsylvania | $56,170 | $27.00/hr | $41,600 | $73,860 |
| Hartford | Connecticut | $69,720 | $33.52/hr | $46,490 | $89,230 |
| Ogden | Utah | $60,370 | $29.03/hr | $44,080 | $78,940 |
| Minneapolis | Minnesota | $63,300 | $30.43/hr | $48,350 | $76,650 |
| Detroit | Michigan | $55,900 | $26.87/hr | $39,000 | $75,760 |
| Virginia Beach | Virginia | $62,000 | $29.81/hr | $46,510 | $78,180 |
| Omaha | Nebraska | $55,840 | $26.85/hr | $44,770 | $70,150 |
| Indianapolis | Indiana | $55,770 | $26.81/hr | $37,690 | $76,130 |
| Milwaukee | Wisconsin | $58,700 | $28.22/hr | $48,190 | $72,370 |
| Louisville | Kentucky | $54,800 | $26.35/hr | $41,070 | $70,360 |
| Dayton | Ohio | $52,950 | $25.46/hr | $37,460 | $69,670 |
| Augusta | Georgia | $52,940 | $25.45/hr | $38,520 | $71,010 |
| Charleston | South Carolina | $56,590 | $27.21/hr | $43,050 | $73,890 |
| Greensboro | North Carolina | $54,700 | $26.30/hr | $40,130 | $70,550 |
| Harrisburg | Pennsylvania | $56,470 | $27.15/hr | $39,780 | $74,430 |
| Fort Wayne | Indiana | $52,210 | $25.10/hr | $38,340 | $63,730 |
| Victoria | Texas | $53,940 | $25.93/hr | $38,840 | $70,730 |
| Toledo | Ohio | $50,650 | $24.35/hr | $37,970 | $61,750 |
| Oklahoma City | Oklahoma | $52,120 | $25.06/hr | $37,560 | $70,640 |
| Austin | Texas | $58,630 | $28.19/hr | $39,420 | $76,060 |
| St Louis | Missouri | $54,840 | $26.36/hr | $38,770 | $72,140 |
| Tucson | Arizona | $55,820 | $26.84/hr | $38,660 | $78,090 |
| Salt Lake City | Utah | $61,160 | $29.40/hr | $46,050 | $79,160 |
| Memphis | Tennessee | $51,050 | $24.55/hr | $38,620 | $65,280 |
| Cincinnati | Ohio | $55,730 | $26.80/hr | $39,460 | $73,970 |
| Jacksonville | Florida | $54,530 | $26.21/hr | $38,990 | $72,840 |
| Bakersfield | California | $58,650 | $28.20/hr | $38,020 | $78,710 |
| San Antonio | Texas | $53,210 | $25.58/hr | $38,230 | $73,800 |
| Chattanooga | Tennessee | $51,920 | $24.96/hr | $37,500 | $69,320 |
| Madison | Wisconsin | $58,900 | $28.32/hr | $45,140 | $71,270 |
| Phoenix | Arizona | $59,970 | $28.83/hr | $43,760 | $81,290 |
| Colorado Springs | Colorado | $59,190 | $28.46/hr | $43,760 | $95,430 |
| Cleveland | Ohio | $52,080 | $25.04/hr | $39,330 | $68,640 |
| Lancaster | Pennsylvania | $56,020 | $26.93/hr | $41,480 | $73,900 |
| Dallas | Texas | $55,890 | $26.87/hr | $39,210 | $76,920 |
| Charlotte | North Carolina | $56,990 | $27.40/hr | $41,060 | $75,910 |
| Fresno | California | $55,810 | $26.83/hr | $42,850 | $73,730 |
| Pensacola | Florida | $52,290 | $25.14/hr | $37,920 | $64,500 |
| Greenville | South Carolina | $51,570 | $24.79/hr | $39,990 | $63,340 |
| Little Rock | Arkansas | $49,180 | $23.64/hr | $38,340 | $60,250 |
| Columbus | Ohio | $54,630 | $26.26/hr | $40,100 | $70,470 |
| Provo | Utah | $57,070 | $27.44/hr | $43,220 | $76,380 |
| Grand Rapids | Michigan | $51,840 | $24.92/hr | $39,540 | $63,030 |
| Denver | Colorado | $61,470 | $29.55/hr | $45,060 | $79,700 |
| Cape Coral | Florida | $55,170 | $26.53/hr | $43,040 | $71,040 |
| Raleigh | North Carolina | $55,690 | $26.77/hr | $40,460 | $71,800 |
| Worcester | Massachusetts | $62,500 | $30.05/hr | $47,720 | $81,400 |
| Lakeland | Florida | $52,210 | $25.10/hr | $39,480 | $67,000 |
| Modesto | California | $57,620 | $27.70/hr | $42,850 | $75,670 |
| Anchorage | Alaska | $74,000 | $35.58/hr | $46,680 | $96,200 |
| Baltimore | Maryland | $66,190 | $31.82/hr | $43,300 | $95,280 |
| El Paso | Texas | $45,780 | $22.01/hr | $29,360 | $64,260 |
| Columbia | South Carolina | $50,730 | $24.39/hr | $37,000 | $62,900 |
| Knoxville | Tennessee | $49,530 | $23.81/hr | $38,280 | $63,980 |
| Allentown | Pennsylvania | $56,650 | $27.24/hr | $43,720 | $74,820 |
| Durham | North Carolina | $53,180 | $25.57/hr | $41,670 | $69,020 |
| McAllen | Texas | $43,030 | $20.69/hr | $28,160 | $62,530 |
| Palm Bay | Florida | $51,760 | $24.89/hr | $32,910 | $66,460 |
| Atlanta | Georgia | $53,310 | $25.63/hr | $39,100 | $69,300 |
| Bridgeport | Connecticut | $67,800 | $32.59/hr | $41,560 | $110,640 |
| Philadelphia | Pennsylvania | $60,650 | $29.16/hr | $44,430 | $79,960 |
| Chicago | Illinois | $56,180 | $27.01/hr | $39,130 | $74,450 |
| Las Vegas | Nevada | $59,110 | $28.42/hr | $41,740 | $84,030 |
| Boise | Idaho | $54,780 | $26.34/hr | $40,500 | $71,930 |
| Nashville | Tennessee | $53,020 | $25.49/hr | $40,220 | $68,490 |
| Orlando | Florida | $54,220 | $26.07/hr | $39,520 | $68,780 |
| Portland | Oregon | $64,170 | $30.85/hr | $48,050 | $83,940 |
| Tampa | Florida | $53,300 | $25.62/hr | $39,890 | $67,360 |
| Providence | Rhode Island | $58,800 | $28.27/hr | $35,580 | $81,000 |
| Riverside | California | $57,320 | $27.56/hr | $43,970 | $76,410 |
| Stockton | California | $56,900 | $27.36/hr | $41,600 | $74,280 |
| Boston | Massachusetts | $66,210 | $31.83/hr | $49,030 | $83,430 |
| Sacramento | California | $60,940 | $29.30/hr | $47,220 | $79,950 |
| Miami | Florida | $56,640 | $27.23/hr | $40,800 | $74,600 |
| Washington | District of Columbia | $67,950 | $32.67/hr | $45,150 | $114,440 |
| Urban Honolulu | Hawaii | $79,390 | $38.17/hr | $52,020 | $100,220 |
| Seattle | Washington | $68,440 | $32.90/hr | $50,270 | $89,630 |
| San Diego | California | $65,350 | $31.42/hr | $46,700 | $82,470 |
| New York | New York | $67,430 | $32.42/hr | $44,890 | $95,920 |
| San Francisco | California | $70,680 | $33.98/hr | $48,010 | $99,930 |
| Los Angeles | California | $60,120 | $28.91/hr | $44,530 | $79,870 |