How Much Do Welders Make?

A guide to the welding salary in Connecticut and nationwide

Welders are among the most important professionals in modern manufacturing. On a daily basis, welders create parts and fix items that are used in our everyday lives. From kitchen appliances and medical equipment, to automobiles, airplanes, buildings, bridges, pipelines, and oil rigs, welders manufacture and repair all things metal.

Welding is an in-demand field that is brimming with job openings and great compensation for workers. Across the United States, about 6,200 welding jobs will be added to the field between 2022 and 2032. On average, welding professionals can expect to earn around $50,000 annually. However, the welding salary can vary significantly from place to place.

If you are wondering how much welders make, and if this is a lucrative career path, read on. In this guide, we unpack the latest welding salary information, the factors that can influence a welder’s salary, and the top-paying industries where modern welders can work.

How much do welders make in the U.S.?

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), in 2022, the average welder earned about $50,460 annually. The average hourly salary for welders was about $24.26 per hour in 2022.

However, there is a wide range of welding salaries in the United States. The 90th percentile of welders earned $68,750 per year, while the lowest 10 percent earned about $35,380 annually. What you can earn as a welder will largely depend on your experience, your employer, and the state or industry in which you work.

How much do welders make in Connecticut?

Connecticut is listed among the top 10 paying states for welders today. According to the BLS, Connecticut welders make an average annual salary of $57,300 per year — about 14 percent higher than the U.S. average. Welders in the highest percentile have the potential to earn almost $80,000 annually in Connecticut.

Statewide, there are plenty of opportunities for welders to earn an incredible salary. However, the Bureau of Labor Statistics places a special highlight on the Norwich and New London areas of Connecticut, where welders make an average of $63,800 per year.

 

Learn how to land a high-paying welding career in our free downloadable guide.

 

Key factors affecting a welding salary

As suggested above, there are various factors that can impact a welder’s salary. These include:

• Geographical location

The welding salary potential will vary depending on the state in which you work. This is because every state has different costs of living, which are factored into average employment wages. Additionally, local demand will play a big role in a state’s average salary. States with higher demand for welders are more likely to compensate their workers with a high pay.

• Industry and employer

Every employer has the right to offer their own wages, which are often dependent on the working conditions, complexities of the job at hand, the clientele, and if there are training requirements involved. However, employers will often offer competitive salaries and benefits packages to entice (and retain) highly-skilled welders.

A welder’s salary will also depend on the industry in which they work. Welders can work in a variety of industries, from air transportation to natural gas distribution. Some welders will work within manufacturing facilities, while others might carry out trade contractor work. And their salaries will vary as a result. (More on this below!)

• Level of expertise

Entry-level welders (i.e. those just starting out in the field) can typically expect to earn less than seasoned welders with years of experience under their belts. In general, however, your earning potential will largely depend on your skill level.

With that in mind, even welders early in their career have the potential to earn big. They can do this by pursuing professional credentials and gaining proficiencies and experience through a welding training program. Welders who complete skills-based, career-focused training are better positioned to negotiate a higher salary than those with little experience behind them.

Entry-level vs. experienced welder salaries

As with any career, your salary as a welder will grow as you gain experience in the field.

Entry-level welders are typically workers with minimal training or on-the-job experience, however graduates of a collegiate welding program may also fall within this category. These individuals typically start out at a lower base salary than more experienced workers.

This is because these individuals take time to train. Entry-level welders without any experience are commonly trained and supervised by experienced workers until they gain the confidence, knowledge, and know-how to work independently. As they grow, they will foster their skills, advance their professional prospects, and increase their salary potential.

Experienced welders have extensive industry understanding and have taken the time to practice the proficiencies of their profession. To keep up with technology, technique, and changing regulations, some experienced welders acquire advanced-level certifications to increase their earning potential even further.

Whether an entry-level welder or an experienced welding master, the more education and expertise welders obtain, the higher their earning potential. After three to five years of welding familiarity, wages should start to grow substantially. After five to nine years in the career field, a welder’s salary should increase considerably.

For example, entry-level welders in Connecticut may start out at a base salary of $36,000 per year. However, as experience is gained, they have the potential to earn $50,000, $70,000, or even $80,000 annually, based on state data.

Welder salary potential for specific industries

In the United States, the top-paying industries for welders are currently as follows, with the highest earnings at the top of the list:

• Water, sewage, and other systems: $141,800 per year
• Scheduled air transportation: $96,730 annually
• Electric power generation, transmission and distribution: $96,610 annually
• Natural gas distribution: $94,600 annually
• Pipeline transportation of natural gas: $81,200 per year

As you can see, all the above industries offer welders the opportunity to earn vastly more than the national average for welders today. Six figure salaries are possible for welders in these fields.

Top-paying welding careers

The American Welding Society stated that the welding careers listed below could earn beyond $100,000 annually, with appropriate experience and training. Let’s explore some of these high-paying welding jobs:

• Contract welder:

Instead of working for a particular employer, contract welders work as independent contractors, signing agreements with clients to weld certain projects for set periods.

• Iron worker:

Iron workers establish and dismantle substantial metal frameworks like bridges and stadiums for ornamental, reinforcement, and structural purposes.

• Pipeline welder:

Gas and oil are transported through a series of interconnected buildings, structures, and pipelines all over the country. A gas or oil pipeline leak could be catastrophic — for the environment, the gas or oil customer, and the company controlling the pipeline. Pipeline welders create and maintain gas and oil pipelines.

• Underwater welder:

Underwater welders build, repair, and salvage oil rigs, shipwrecks, subsea construction, and more. Underwater welder positions also require several additional aquatic certifications.

• Welding inspector:

Certified welding inspectors are knowledgeable about the specifications of every welding process performed. They also adhere to compliance and safety policies and standards.

Launch a successful welding career

Welding offers a lucrative salary, a diversity of job opportunities, and the ability to work in an exciting, hands-on field where no day is the same.

If you live in Connecticut and want to learn how to weld, Goodwin University’s flexible welding certificate program is a great option for you. You can gain welding experience, skills, and knowledge in as few as eight months.

The program provides hands-on training with state-of-the-art welding technology — including a CNC plasma table and a virtual reality welding simulator. After graduation, you will be well-prepared to pursue professional certification or entry-level employment. In just a matter of months, you can get into the field and start earning fast.

Call Goodwin University at 800-899-3282 or visit us online to learn more about our welding program.