Welder Salary (United States)

ProfessionTrades

United States welders typically earn around 42,000 to 55,000 dollars per year, with specialized pipe, aerospace and underwater welders above 80,000.

Overview

General shop welding pays modestly, but the specialized end of the trade is different work entirely: pipe welders on industrial projects, aerospace TIG welders and saturation divers command multiples, and travel welders chasing shutdowns at plants earn by the diem. Certification levels through the American Welding Society gate the premium work. Automation is absorbing routine joints while skilled shortage persists at the top. These are approximate figures from federal statistics and industry surveys.

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