Consider a career as a welder if you’re looking for a flexible job that allows you to work with metal to build components in an industrial or construction context. Because welding requires specific expertise and is a labor-intensive job, it can be a rewarding career choice. Finding out how much a different welding position pays will help you choose whether this is a vocation that meets your salary needs and could even help you choose a course for your future.
This article lists some of the highest-paying welding careers for you to consider, along with a salary guide for these positions broken down by state.
Average pay for welding jobs according to amount of experience
In the US, the annual compensation range for a welding position is $32,639 to $63,186. Your pay may vary depending on how much experience you have. For instance, the average annual salary for welders with one to two years of experience is $41,690. A welder with over ten years of experience typically earns $52,205 annually. Click the linked link for the most recent Indeed salary information.
10 of the best-paying positions in welding
Examine ten welding careers where your pay can surpass the national average or be comparable.
1. The welder
The average annual wage nationwide is $57,766.
Welders’ main responsibilities include joining metal together using a variety of equipment that applies pressure and extreme heat. In addition, they prepare welding materials, keep an eye on the welding procedure, maintain all equipment, decipher blueprints, and polish metal surfaces that have been welded together by other staff members.
2. The MIG welder
$42,919 annually is the average pay nationwide.
Principal responsibilities: Gas metal arc welding is a technique used by metal inert gas (MIG) welders to fuse various metal components for the automotive, manufacturing, construction, and fabrication industries. To put metals together for their numerous metal crafts, they use an electric arc welder and inert gas. MIG welders typically possess the physical fitness and credentials necessary to operate in hazardous environments.
3. Submerged welder
The average annual wage nationwide is $57,766.
Principal responsibilities: An underwater welder works in aquatic environments, frequently underwater, using specialized equipment. They can work on subsea construction projects, construct or repair undersea oil rigs or other similar structures, and use wet or dry welding to retrieve metal from shipwrecks.
4. Inspector for welding
The average annual wage nationwide is $57,766.
Principal responsibilities: By conducting stress testing and confirming that welds and welding procedures comply with particular standards and regulations, a welding inspector keeps an eye on the job that other welders undertake. They make sure other welders adhere to safety and compliance guidelines and evaluate the caliber of their work by evaluating the composition and durability of metals.
5. Welder for structures
$54,378 annually is the average pay nationwide.
Principal responsibilities: The metal framework for many different types of structures, such as skyscrapers and bridges, is designed and created by structural welders. They are in charge of assembling and fixing metal parts like columns and beams as well as getting everything ready for welding.
6. Welders of pipes
$55,562 year is the average pay nationwide.
Principal responsibilities: Pipe welders use welding equipment to assemble and repair pipes. They are also in charge of installing and maintaining structural components. Pipe welders must take the appropriate safety measures since the contents of a pipe may be hazardous. They can accurately comprehend designs and are adept at solving problems.
7. Fitter and welder
$44,018 year is the average salary nationwide.
Principal responsibilities: Layouting, fitting, and producing different metal components for the building or assembly of diverse structural forms is the responsibility of welders and fitters. They are capable of working on tanks, bridges, and pressure vessels, among other things.
8. Welder/fabricator
$45,633 annually is the average salary nationwide.
Principal responsibilities: Welders and fabricators finish a range of tasks including the forming, cutting, and designing of metal. They work on all kinds of projects, from conception to completion or repair. In addition, they study plans, operate machinery, and oversee the general manufacturing of metal projects and structures.
9. An engineer in welding
The average annual wage nationwide is $57,766.
Principal responsibilities: A welding engineer makes a commitment to stay up to date on the most recent developments in the welding sector. They modernize the welding procedure and increase its effectiveness for other staff members by applying their specific knowledge. They are also capable of identifying and resolving existing welding process inefficiencies.
10. The nuclear welder
The average annual wage nationwide is $57,766.
Principal responsibilities: Pipes in places with nuclear equipment are welded by nuclear welders. They might be employed by nuclear-powered ships or in shipyards. Certain nuclear welders are in charge of constructing reactor vessels or repairing them when they malfunction.
Advice for increasing your welder income
Check out these pointers for raising your prospective pay as a welder:
Acquire certifications
Even while some entry-level welding jobs might only demand a high school degree, you should think about obtaining certifications to demonstrate your dedication to expanding your expertise and learning more about the welding field. Investigate the various industry certifications offered by the American Welding Society (AWS), which provides a variety of certifications based on your desired career path.
You can become a Certified Welding Supervisor, Certified Welding Inspector, or a Certified Associate Welding Inspector, for instance. Any of these certifications can demonstrate to a potential employer that you possess the know-how and abilities needed to work independently on projects of a higher caliber, and you can use them to support your wage request.
Try adjusting your work schedule.
If you agree to work a schedule that other people would not desire, like working nights or weekends, an employer might pay you a greater income. Rather than working the standard eight-hour workday five days a week, you can decide to work lengthy hours three or four days a week. Another option is to work as an on-call employee, which can pay more.
Travel for employment
Should you accept to travel for work, you might be able to locate more lucrative career opportunities. For instance, your business can require you to travel to various oil rigs abroad. These assignments often come with higher compensation due to the personal sacrifices required of the workers. Another option for you would be to pursue a career as a military support welder, which would pay more due to the possibility of travel involved in the work.
FAQs
Is welder in demand in the USA?
It is anticipated that employment in the welding industry will rise by 22%. A significant demand for qualified welders results from this increase in demand. Because of this, the US Bureau of Labor Statistics projects that there will be plenty of outstanding job prospects for welders until 2026.
What type of welder makes the most money?
Industrial construction is where welders can find the highest paid work. The highest paying positions in the welding industry are those of pipe, tube, rig, underwater, and combo welders. The industry and the kind of welding are both significant. In the industrial construction industry, the highest paying welders can earn over $200,000 annually.
What is the hardest type of welding to learn?
Welding with tungsten inert gas (TIG)
Most people agree that learning to weld with tungsten inert gas (TIG) is the hardest method. Compared to other less sophisticated welding techniques, the technique’s sheer complexity demands more effort and concentration to perfect. Additionally, TIG welding produces some of the strongest and most durable welds in the business.
