Senior-Level Earnings for Welders — 2026
Washington, District of Columbia ranks first with an average Welder salary of $67,950 per year ($32.67/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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Washington | District of Columbia | $67,950 | $32.67/hr | $45,150 | $114,440 |
| Bridgeport | Connecticut | $67,800 | $32.59/hr | $41,560 | $110,640 |
| Urban Honolulu | Hawaii | $79,390 | $38.17/hr | $52,020 | $100,220 |
| San Francisco | California | $70,680 | $33.98/hr | $48,010 | $99,930 |
| Anchorage | Alaska | $74,000 | $35.58/hr | $46,680 | $96,200 |
| New York | New York | $67,430 | $32.42/hr | $44,890 | $95,920 |
| Colorado Springs | Colorado | $59,190 | $28.46/hr | $43,760 | $95,430 |
| Baltimore | Maryland | $66,190 | $31.82/hr | $43,300 | $95,280 |
| Baton Rouge | Louisiana | $72,430 | $34.82/hr | $49,480 | $92,270 |
| Seattle | Washington | $68,440 | $32.90/hr | $50,270 | $89,630 |
| Hartford | Connecticut | $69,720 | $33.52/hr | $46,490 | $89,230 |
| Las Vegas | Nevada | $59,110 | $28.42/hr | $41,740 | $84,030 |
| Portland | Oregon | $64,170 | $30.85/hr | $48,050 | $83,940 |
| Richmond | Virginia | $59,720 | $28.71/hr | $42,950 | $83,920 |
| Boston | Massachusetts | $66,210 | $31.83/hr | $49,030 | $83,430 |
| New Orleans | Louisiana | $65,370 | $31.43/hr | $45,520 | $82,600 |
| San Diego | California | $65,350 | $31.42/hr | $46,700 | $82,470 |
| Houston | Texas | $59,530 | $28.62/hr | $38,480 | $81,940 |
| Worcester | Massachusetts | $62,500 | $30.05/hr | $47,720 | $81,400 |
| Phoenix | Arizona | $59,970 | $28.83/hr | $43,760 | $81,290 |
| Providence | Rhode Island | $58,800 | $28.27/hr | $35,580 | $81,000 |
| Philadelphia | Pennsylvania | $60,650 | $29.16/hr | $44,430 | $79,960 |
| Sacramento | California | $60,940 | $29.30/hr | $47,220 | $79,950 |
| Los Angeles | California | $60,120 | $28.91/hr | $44,530 | $79,870 |
| Denver | Colorado | $61,470 | $29.55/hr | $45,060 | $79,700 |
| Salt Lake City | Utah | $61,160 | $29.40/hr | $46,050 | $79,160 |
| Albuquerque | New Mexico | $56,570 | $27.20/hr | $37,040 | $79,060 |
| Ogden | Utah | $60,370 | $29.03/hr | $44,080 | $78,940 |
| Bakersfield | California | $58,650 | $28.20/hr | $38,020 | $78,710 |
| Virginia Beach | Virginia | $62,000 | $29.81/hr | $46,510 | $78,180 |
| Kansas City | Missouri | $59,250 | $28.49/hr | $42,850 | $78,150 |
| Tucson | Arizona | $55,820 | $26.84/hr | $38,660 | $78,090 |
| Akron | Ohio | $55,300 | $26.59/hr | $41,870 | $77,820 |
| Dallas | Texas | $55,890 | $26.87/hr | $39,210 | $76,920 |
| Minneapolis | Minnesota | $63,300 | $30.43/hr | $48,350 | $76,650 |
| Riverside | California | $57,320 | $27.56/hr | $43,970 | $76,410 |
| Provo | Utah | $57,070 | $27.44/hr | $43,220 | $76,380 |
| Indianapolis | Indiana | $55,770 | $26.81/hr | $37,690 | $76,130 |
| Austin | Texas | $58,630 | $28.19/hr | $39,420 | $76,060 |
| Charlotte | North Carolina | $56,990 | $27.40/hr | $41,060 | $75,910 |
| Syracuse | New York | $58,550 | $28.15/hr | $44,630 | $75,870 |
| Pittsburgh | Pennsylvania | $57,520 | $27.66/hr | $43,280 | $75,780 |
| Detroit | Michigan | $55,900 | $26.87/hr | $39,000 | $75,760 |
| Modesto | California | $57,620 | $27.70/hr | $42,850 | $75,670 |
| Des Moines | Iowa | $58,610 | $28.18/hr | $47,220 | $74,850 |
| Allentown | Pennsylvania | $56,650 | $27.24/hr | $43,720 | $74,820 |
| Miami | Florida | $56,640 | $27.23/hr | $40,800 | $74,600 |
| Mobile | Alabama | $59,970 | $28.83/hr | $44,360 | $74,520 |
| Chicago | Illinois | $56,180 | $27.01/hr | $39,130 | $74,450 |
| Spokane | Washington | $58,650 | $28.20/hr | $45,090 | $74,450 |
| Harrisburg | Pennsylvania | $56,470 | $27.15/hr | $39,780 | $74,430 |
| Stockton | California | $56,900 | $27.36/hr | $41,600 | $74,280 |
| Buffalo | New York | $56,810 | $27.31/hr | $41,880 | $74,110 |
| Cincinnati | Ohio | $55,730 | $26.80/hr | $39,460 | $73,970 |
| Lancaster | Pennsylvania | $56,020 | $26.93/hr | $41,480 | $73,900 |
| Charleston | South Carolina | $56,590 | $27.21/hr | $43,050 | $73,890 |
| York | Pennsylvania | $56,170 | $27.00/hr | $41,600 | $73,860 |
| San Antonio | Texas | $53,210 | $25.58/hr | $38,230 | $73,800 |
| Fresno | California | $55,810 | $26.83/hr | $42,850 | $73,730 |
| Jacksonville | Florida | $54,530 | $26.21/hr | $38,990 | $72,840 |
| Tulsa | Oklahoma | $55,540 | $26.70/hr | $39,960 | $72,740 |
| Scranton | Pennsylvania | $54,100 | $26.01/hr | $40,110 | $72,420 |
| Milwaukee | Wisconsin | $58,700 | $28.22/hr | $48,190 | $72,370 |
| St Louis | Missouri | $54,840 | $26.36/hr | $38,770 | $72,140 |
| Boise | Idaho | $54,780 | $26.34/hr | $40,500 | $71,930 |
| Wichita | Kansas | $55,730 | $26.79/hr | $39,020 | $71,890 |
| Raleigh | North Carolina | $55,690 | $26.77/hr | $40,460 | $71,800 |
| Birmingham | Alabama | $53,540 | $25.74/hr | $38,010 | $71,640 |
| Madison | Wisconsin | $58,900 | $28.32/hr | $45,140 | $71,270 |
| Cape Coral | Florida | $55,170 | $26.53/hr | $43,040 | $71,040 |
| Augusta | Georgia | $52,940 | $25.45/hr | $38,520 | $71,010 |
| Victoria | Texas | $53,940 | $25.93/hr | $38,840 | $70,730 |
| Oklahoma City | Oklahoma | $52,120 | $25.06/hr | $37,560 | $70,640 |
| Greensboro | North Carolina | $54,700 | $26.30/hr | $40,130 | $70,550 |
| Rochester | New York | $55,910 | $26.88/hr | $38,800 | $70,520 |
| Columbus | Ohio | $54,630 | $26.26/hr | $40,100 | $70,470 |
| Louisville | Kentucky | $54,800 | $26.35/hr | $41,070 | $70,360 |
| Jackson | Mississippi | $53,010 | $25.48/hr | $37,220 | $70,180 |
| Omaha | Nebraska | $55,840 | $26.85/hr | $44,770 | $70,150 |
| Dayton | Ohio | $52,950 | $25.46/hr | $37,460 | $69,670 |
| Chattanooga | Tennessee | $51,920 | $24.96/hr | $37,500 | $69,320 |
| Atlanta | Georgia | $53,310 | $25.63/hr | $39,100 | $69,300 |
| Durham | North Carolina | $53,180 | $25.57/hr | $41,670 | $69,020 |
| Orlando | Florida | $54,220 | $26.07/hr | $39,520 | $68,780 |
| Cleveland | Ohio | $52,080 | $25.04/hr | $39,330 | $68,640 |
| Nashville | Tennessee | $53,020 | $25.49/hr | $40,220 | $68,490 |
| Tampa | Florida | $53,300 | $25.62/hr | $39,890 | $67,360 |
| Lakeland | Florida | $52,210 | $25.10/hr | $39,480 | $67,000 |
| Palm Bay | Florida | $51,760 | $24.89/hr | $32,910 | $66,460 |
| Memphis | Tennessee | $51,050 | $24.55/hr | $38,620 | $65,280 |
| Pensacola | Florida | $52,290 | $25.14/hr | $37,920 | $64,500 |
| El Paso | Texas | $45,780 | $22.01/hr | $29,360 | $64,260 |
| Knoxville | Tennessee | $49,530 | $23.81/hr | $38,280 | $63,980 |
| Fort Wayne | Indiana | $52,210 | $25.10/hr | $38,340 | $63,730 |
| Greenville | South Carolina | $51,570 | $24.79/hr | $39,990 | $63,340 |
| Grand Rapids | Michigan | $51,840 | $24.92/hr | $39,540 | $63,030 |
| Columbia | South Carolina | $50,730 | $24.39/hr | $37,000 | $62,900 |
| McAllen | Texas | $43,030 | $20.69/hr | $28,160 | $62,530 |
| Toledo | Ohio | $50,650 | $24.35/hr | $37,970 | $61,750 |
| Little Rock | Arkansas | $49,180 | $23.64/hr | $38,340 | $60,250 |