Welder pay
What welders earn — and take home — in 2026
Welding is a skilled trade where pay scales sharply with specialty and risk. The BLS puts the median welder, cutter, solderer and brazer at $51,000 (May 2024) for the broad category — but pipe, underwater, aerospace and rig welders earn far more, often into six figures with travel and hazard premiums.
Where a welder's paycheck goes
On the $51,000 median, a single welder pays federal income tax mostly in the 12% bracket after the standard deduction, plus 6.2% Social Security and 1.45% Medicare. Travel and shutdown jobs often include per-diem allowances that may be partly non-taxable, raising effective take-home above what the gross alone suggests.
The highest-paying states for welders
Energy and heavy-industry states pay the most: Alaska, Wyoming, Texas, North Dakota and Louisiana. Texas, Wyoming and Alaska also levy no state income tax, so they combine top welder demand with maximum take-home.
Compare welding with other trades
See how welder pay compares with an electrician or truck driver, or check your exact net in Texas.
Questions
Welder Salary Calculator FAQ
How much does a welder make in 2026?
The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reports a median annual wage of $51,000 for welders, cutters, solderers and brazers (May 2024). General fabrication and shop welding sit near the median, while specialized work — pipe welding, underwater/commercial diving, aerospace and oil-rig welding — can pay well into six figures. The top 10% earn over $72,000 in the standard category.
What is a welder's take-home pay on $51,000?
A single welder earning the $51,000 median takes home roughly $42,000 to $43,000 a year after federal income tax and FICA in a no-income-tax state, less where state tax applies. Overtime and travel pay on industrial and shutdown jobs are taxable but boost gross and net earnings significantly.
Do specialized welders earn more?
Substantially. Pipe welders on energy projects, underwater (commercial-diver) welders, aerospace welders and rig welders can earn two to four times the median, especially with travel, hazard and shutdown premiums. Enter your actual earnings — including overtime and per-diem-eligible pay — for an accurate take-home.
Which states pay welders the most?
Welders earn the highest wages in energy- and manufacturing-heavy states such as Alaska, Wyoming, Texas, North Dakota and Louisiana. Several of these — Texas, Wyoming and Alaska — also have no state income tax, combining strong welder demand with maximum take-home.
- Sources: BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook — Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and Brazers (median $51,000, May 2024) · IRS Rev. Proc. 2025-32 · SSA 2026 wage base · State departments of revenue.
- 🔄 Last updated June 9, 2026 · Tax year 2026
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