Welder Salary in San Diego, California — 2026 Data
Welders in San Diego, California earn an average of $65,350 per year ($31.42 per hour). The median (50th percentile) wage is $62,560 per year. That is 15% above the national average of $56,760. Data 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 San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA 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.
Welder Pay in San Diego at a Glance
| Average (mean) annual salary | $65,350 |
|---|---|
| Average (mean) hourly rate | $31.42 per hour |
| Median (50th percentile) annual | $62,560 |
| Median hourly wage | $30.08 per hour |
| Entry-level pay (10th percentile) | $46,700 |
| Senior-level pay (90th percentile) | $82,470 |
| National average | $56,760 |
| Employment (San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA) | 2,940 workers |
| Data vintage | BLS OEWS May 2025 · SOC 51-4121 |
Salary Percentiles for Welders in San Diego
| Percentile | Annual wage | Hourly wage |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $46,700 | $22.45/hr |
| 25th percentile | $50,400 | $24.23/hr |
| 50th percentile (median) | $62,560 | $30.08/hr |
| 75th percentile | $76,630 | $36.84/hr |
| 90th percentile | $82,470 | $39.65/hr |
Explore More Welder Wage Data
Welder Salaries in Other California Cities
- Welder salary in San Francisco, CA — $70,680
- Welder salary in Sacramento, CA — $60,940
- Welder salary in Los Angeles, CA — $60,120
- Welder salary in Bakersfield, CA — $58,650
- Welder salary in Modesto, CA — $57,620