Welder salary
Updated Updated for 2026 tax law
A Welder earns a median of $53,750 a year ($25.84 an hour) in the US, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The average is $56,760. About 416,210 people work in this job.
Take-home pay on $53,750
- Gross pay
- $2,067.31
- Federal income tax
- −$164.23
- Social Security (6.2%)
- −$128.17
- Medicare (1.45%)
- −$29.98
- Texas income tax
- $0.00No state income tax on wages
- Take-home pay
- $1,744.93
Annual breakdown
- Gross
- $53,750
- Federal
- $4,270
- FICA
- $4,112
- State + local
- $0
- Net
- $45,368
- Marginal federal rate
- 12.0%
- Marginal state rate
- 0.0%
2026 federal brackets (Rev. Proc. 2025-32) and 2026 state rules. Estimates assume wages are your only income and use annual liability, so your actual withholding can differ slightly.
Welder salary by state
| State | Median salary | Average | Employed |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alaska | $80,840 | $80,100 | 790 |
| Hawaii | $79,000 | $77,430 | 520 |
| Connecticut | $64,880 | $66,800 | 1,790 |
| Wyoming | $63,820 | $67,990 | 1,850 |
| Washington | $63,020 | $66,340 | 7,720 |
| Massachusetts | $62,570 | $65,050 | 2,830 |
| New Hampshire | $62,360 | $62,900 | 1,110 |
| Louisiana | $62,250 | $63,750 | 13,690 |
| Maine | $62,220 | $61,930 | 1,690 |
| North Dakota | $62,000 | $64,880 | 2,590 |
| Nevada | $61,520 | $64,590 | 1,600 |
| Vermont | $60,890 | $60,210 | 340 |
| Maryland | $60,310 | $64,410 | 2,850 |
| Minnesota | $60,280 | $60,360 | 9,270 |
| District of Columbia | $60,180 | $61,620 | 280 |
| New Mexico | $59,840 | $63,720 | 2,390 |
| Oregon | $59,450 | $60,390 | 5,240 |
| New Jersey | $59,440 | $62,500 | 3,730 |
| Virginia | $59,180 | $60,410 | 10,100 |
| New York | $59,140 | $62,810 | 8,310 |
| Colorado | $58,590 | $60,410 | 4,970 |
| Wisconsin | $58,410 | $57,920 | 15,320 |
| Utah | $58,380 | $59,640 | 4,440 |
| California | $58,060 | $61,120 | 26,060 |
| Delaware | $57,270 | $58,470 | 600 |
| Montana | $55,610 | $58,680 | 1,530 |
| Arizona | $55,600 | $59,040 | 7,270 |
| Iowa | $55,090 | $55,580 | 9,270 |
| Texas | $53,340 | $56,940 | 52,000 |
| Pennsylvania | $52,900 | $56,300 | 17,850 |
| Nebraska | $52,220 | $55,290 | 4,200 |
| Missouri | $51,950 | $55,470 | 10,600 |
| Kentucky | $51,470 | $53,710 | 6,630 |
| Illinois | $51,320 | $55,930 | 16,260 |
| Mississippi | $51,100 | $52,930 | 6,460 |
| Florida | $50,640 | $54,030 | 16,420 |
| North Carolina | $50,590 | $53,720 | 11,750 |
| Rhode Island | $50,580 | $58,180 | 2,300 |
| Idaho | $50,530 | $54,290 | 3,300 |
| Ohio | $50,340 | $53,370 | 20,330 |
| Michigan | $49,990 | $53,820 | 13,330 |
| South Carolina | $49,980 | $52,120 | 7,380 |
| Indiana | $49,730 | $54,220 | 13,280 |
| Oklahoma | $49,720 | $52,860 | 9,960 |
| South Dakota | $49,440 | $51,980 | 3,250 |
| Kansas | $49,410 | $52,780 | 6,370 |
| West Virginia | $48,810 | $53,350 | 2,100 |
| Alabama | $48,490 | $51,120 | 12,450 |
| Georgia | $48,430 | $51,520 | 13,130 |
| Tennessee | $48,040 | $50,450 | 12,510 |
| Arkansas | $47,970 | $50,020 | 6,150 |
Similar jobs
- Engine and Other Machine Assembler: $53,710
- Metal-Refining Furnace Operator and Tender: $54,430
- Milling and Planing Machine Setter: $52,800
- Jeweler and Precious Stone and Metal Worker: $52,540
- Pourer and Caster: $51,810
- Separating: $51,610
- Semiconductor Processing Technician: $51,430
- Structural Metal Fabricator and Fitter: $51,330
BLS occupation: Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and Brazers. Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 (SOC 51-4121). Excludes the self-employed.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a Welder make an hour?
The median hourly wage is $25.84; the average is $27.29.
Which state pays welders the most?
Alaska ($80,840 median), followed by Hawaii and Connecticut.
What is the salary range for a Welder?
The bottom 10% earn under $39,240 and the top 10% earn over $77,530 a year.
How much is $53,750 after taxes?
About $45,368 a year in Texas (no state income tax) or $43,405 in California for a single filer in 2026.
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Estimates for information only — not tax, legal or financial advice.