Pay, demand and where to work, from BLS data with the year on every table.
low → high: location quotient
Click a state. States: Alabama · Alaska · Arizona · Arkansas · California · Colorado · Connecticut · Delaware · District of Columbia · Florida · Georgia · Hawaii · Idaho · Illinois · Indiana · Iowa · Kansas · Kentucky · Louisiana · Maine · Maryland · Massachusetts · Michigan · Minnesota · Mississippi · Missouri · Montana · Nebraska · Nevada · New Hampshire · New Jersey · New Mexico · New York · North Carolina · North Dakota · Ohio · Oklahoma · Oregon · Pennsylvania · Rhode Island · South Carolina · South Dakota · Tennessee · Texas · Utah · Vermont · Virginia · Washington · West Virginia · Wisconsin · Wyoming.
By AtiveSite · Published 07/11/2026 · Updated 07/11/2026 · Every figure is linked to its source below.
Welders, cutters, solderers, and brazers (SOC 51-4121) employed 416,210 people in May 2025. The median pay is $53,750 a year ($25.84 an hour); the lowest-paid 10% earn under $39,240 and the highest-paid 10% more than $77,530. BLS projects its employment to change by +2.4% between 2025 and 2035 (about 40,300 openings a year including replacements). The typical way in: High school diploma or equivalent.
Highest median pay: Alaska ($80,840), Hawaii ($79,000), Connecticut ($64,880). Most jobs: Texas (52,000), California (26,060), Ohio (20,330).
| Measure ⇅ | Annual ⇅ | Hourly equivalent ⇅ |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $39,240 | $18.87 |
| 25th percentile | $46,790 | $22.50 |
| Median | $53,750 | $25.84 |
| Mean | $56,760 | $27.29 |
| 75th percentile | $63,010 | $30.29 |
| 90th percentile (experienced) | $77,530 | $37.27 |
Estimate for a wage earner: 2026 federal brackets and standard deduction (IRS), Social Security 6.2% up to $184,500, Medicare 1.45% (+0.9% above $200,000 single / $250,000 married), and a state rate you set. It ignores credits, pre-tax deductions, local taxes and benefits. Sources: IRS: tax year 2026 inflation adjustments · SSA wage base per Federal Register notice 2025-19763.
Hourly equivalents divide by 2,080 hours. Pay above $239,200 is shown as "≥ $239,200" (BLS top code).
| Measure ⇅ | Value ⇅ |
|---|---|
| Jobs 2025 | 437,700 |
| Jobs 2035 (projected) | 448,100 |
| Change in jobs | 10,300 |
| Percent change | +2.4% |
| Openings a year (growth + replacements) | 40,300 |
| Self-employed share | 4.3% |
| Typical entry education | High school diploma or equivalent |
| Work experience in a related occupation | None |
| Typical on-the-job training | Moderate-term on-the-job training |
Licences and certifications are set by states and employers; the education shown is the usual entry requirement, not a legal one.
| State ⇅ | Jobs ⇅ | Location quotient ⇅ | Median pay ⇅ | Entry (10th pct.) ⇅ | Top (90th pct.) ⇅ | Median vs US ⇅ | Yearly rent as % of median pay ⇅ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | 12,450 | 2.20 | $48,490 | $36,710 | $66,820 | -10% | 27% |
| Alaska | 790 | 0.90 | $80,840 | $49,660 | $109,940 | +50% | 21% |
| Arizona | 7,270 | 0.84 | $55,600 | $39,970 | $81,280 | +3% | 36% |
| Arkansas | 6,150 | 1.76 | $47,970 | $37,380 | $62,830 | -11% | 25% |
| California | 26,060 | 0.53 | $58,060 | $44,520 | $81,940 | +8% | 43% |
| Colorado | 4,970 | 0.65 | $58,590 | $44,100 | $79,700 | +9% | 37% |
| Connecticut | 1,790 | 0.39 | $64,880 | $43,590 | $87,980 | +21% | 29% |
| Delaware | 600 | 0.46 | $57,270 | $45,550 | $75,560 | +7% | 32% |
| District of Columbia | 280 | 0.15 | $60,180 | $48,400 | $75,580 | +12% | 39% |
| Florida | 16,420 | 0.62 | $50,640 | $39,200 | $70,390 | -6% | 43% |
| Georgia | 13,130 | 1.00 | $48,430 | $38,030 | $65,160 | -10% | 37% |
| Hawaii | 520 | 0.31 | $79,000 | $50,000 | $100,220 | +47% | 29% |
| Idaho | 3,300 | 1.44 | $50,530 | $40,370 | $70,790 | -6% | 33% |
| Illinois | 16,260 | 1.00 | $51,320 | $38,890 | $76,730 | -5% | 31% |
| Indiana | 13,280 | 1.55 | $49,730 | $38,410 | $74,880 | -7% | 27% |
| Iowa | 9,270 | 2.22 | $55,090 | $45,590 | $65,250 | +2% | 21% |
| Kansas | 6,370 | 1.66 | $49,410 | $37,790 | $66,680 | -8% | 26% |
| Kentucky | 6,630 | 1.24 | $51,470 | $39,300 | $69,010 | -4% | 23% |
| Louisiana | 13,690 | 2.64 | $62,250 | $42,810 | $81,750 | +16% | 21% |
| Maine | 1,690 | 0.99 | $62,220 | $47,230 | $76,220 | +16% | 23% |
| Maryland | 2,850 | 0.39 | $60,310 | $40,590 | $95,280 | +12% | 34% |
| Massachusetts | 2,830 | 0.29 | $62,570 | $47,720 | $83,430 | +16% | 35% |
| Michigan | 13,330 | 1.13 | $49,990 | $39,090 | $70,200 | -7% | 28% |
| Minnesota | 9,270 | 1.17 | $60,280 | $45,690 | $75,710 | +12% | 26% |
| Mississippi | 6,460 | 2.08 | $51,100 | $36,800 | $64,440 | -5% | 23% |
| Missouri | 10,600 | 1.35 | $51,950 | $38,200 | $78,150 | -3% | 25% |
| Montana | 1,530 | 1.12 | $55,610 | $43,720 | $81,470 | +3% | 25% |
| Nebraska | 4,200 | 1.53 | $52,220 | $43,850 | $66,900 | -3% | 25% |
| Nevada | 1,600 | 0.39 | $61,520 | $44,530 | $95,050 | +14% | 33% |
| New Hampshire | 1,110 | 0.61 | $62,360 | $47,540 | $80,290 | +16% | 30% |
| New Jersey | 3,730 | 0.33 | $59,440 | $43,290 | $81,760 | +11% | 36% |
| New Mexico | 2,390 | 1.03 | $59,840 | $36,860 | $92,760 | +11% | 22% |
| New York | 8,310 | 0.32 | $59,140 | $43,840 | $87,110 | +10% | 33% |
| North Carolina | 11,750 | 0.89 | $50,590 | $38,540 | $71,240 | -6% | 32% |
| North Dakota | 2,590 | 2.26 | $62,000 | $46,660 | $83,290 | +15% | 19% |
| Ohio | 20,330 | 1.37 | $50,340 | $38,990 | $70,510 | -6% | 26% |
| Oklahoma | 9,960 | 2.18 | $49,720 | $37,860 | $70,640 | -7% | 25% |
| Oregon | 5,240 | 1.00 | $59,450 | $46,070 | $79,230 | +11% | 32% |
| Pennsylvania | 17,850 | 1.10 | $52,900 | $40,510 | $74,870 | -2% | 28% |
| Rhode Island | 2,300 | 1.71 | $50,580 | $35,560 | $81,000 | -6% | 34% |
| South Carolina | 7,380 | 1.20 | $49,980 | $38,720 | $64,510 | -7% | 31% |
| South Dakota | 3,250 | 2.66 | $49,440 | $38,100 | $63,380 | -8% | 24% |
| Tennessee | 12,510 | 1.43 | $48,040 | $37,840 | $64,200 | -11% | 32% |
| Texas | 52,000 | 1.38 | $53,340 | $38,380 | $80,240 | -1% | 33% |
| Utah | 4,440 | 0.96 | $58,380 | $43,850 | $79,520 | +9% | 33% |
| Vermont | 340 | 0.42 | $60,890 | $45,650 | $74,870 | +13% | 26% |
| Virginia | 10,100 | 0.92 | $59,180 | $42,520 | $79,630 | +10% | 33% |
| Washington | 7,720 | 0.81 | $63,020 | $47,980 | $86,250 | +17% | 35% |
| West Virginia | 2,100 | 1.12 | $48,810 | $36,700 | $73,780 | -9% | 22% |
| Wisconsin | 15,320 | 1.95 | $58,410 | $47,060 | $70,720 | +9% | 23% |
| Wyoming | 1,850 | 2.46 | $63,820 | $47,220 | $89,610 | +19% | 19% |
Location quotient above 1 means the occupation is more concentrated in the state than in the nation. "n/a" means BLS suppressed the figure. Rent uses the state median gross rent (ACS).
The 60 highest-paying metropolitan areas among those with at least 300 jobs in this occupation.
| Metropolitan area ⇅ | Jobs ⇅ | Median pay ⇅ | Entry (10th pct.) ⇅ | Top (90th pct.) ⇅ | Location quotient ⇅ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lima, OH | 470 | $85,790 | $44,610 | $85,790 | 3.54 |
| Urban Honolulu, HI | 430 | $81,120 | $52,020 | $100,220 | 0.36 |
| Baton Rouge, LA | 3,690 | $78,170 | $49,480 | $92,270 | 3.36 |
| Hartford-West Hartford-East Hartford, CT | 670 | $75,040 | $46,490 | $89,230 | 0.42 |
| Lake Charles, LA | 970 | $72,920 | $50,190 | $88,110 | 3.55 |
| Bremerton-Silverdale-Port Orchard, WA | 740 | $71,720 | $53,770 | $101,360 | 2.96 |
| Portland-South Portland, ME | 1,060 | $66,420 | $51,880 | $78,830 | 1.37 |
| Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | 3,230 | $66,240 | $50,270 | $89,630 | 0.58 |
| St. Joseph, MO-KS | 610 | $66,060 | $47,040 | $66,060 | 4.21 |
| Staunton-Stuarts Draft, VA | 390 | $64,470 | $44,860 | $85,360 | 2.81 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | 1,990 | $64,320 | $48,010 | $99,930 | 0.31 |
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | 1,050 | $64,140 | $49,130 | $92,310 | 0.35 |
| Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH | 2,210 | $63,770 | $49,030 | $83,430 | 0.31 |
| Bellingham, WA | 320 | $63,720 | $49,910 | $80,970 | 1.30 |
| Shreveport-Bossier City, LA | 910 | $63,610 | $41,720 | $79,090 | 2.08 |
| Odessa, TX | 790 | $63,470 | $42,590 | $84,090 | 3.66 |
| Gulfport-Biloxi, MS | 2,220 | $63,440 | $38,960 | $63,440 | 5.23 |
| New Orleans-Metairie, LA | 2,000 | $63,270 | $45,520 | $82,600 | 1.68 |
| St. Cloud, MN | 620 | $62,820 | $48,510 | $80,540 | 2.22 |
| Mount Vernon-Anacortes, WA | 430 | $62,800 | $49,150 | $84,480 | 3.03 |
| Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC | 3,740 | $62,670 | $46,510 | $78,180 | 1.83 |
| Casper, WY | 480 | $62,660 | $48,450 | $89,610 | 4.51 |
| San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA | 2,940 | $62,560 | $46,700 | $82,470 | 0.71 |
| Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA | 3,300 | $62,050 | $48,050 | $83,940 | 1.02 |
| Bismarck, ND | 320 | $62,000 | $48,870 | $77,180 | 1.66 |
| Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD | 1,290 | $61,920 | $43,300 | $95,280 | 0.35 |
| Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI | 4,600 | $61,880 | $48,350 | $76,650 | 0.88 |
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | 5,780 | $61,680 | $44,890 | $95,920 | 0.23 |
| Mobile, AL | 1,700 | $61,420 | $44,360 | $74,520 | 3.68 |
| Midland, TX | 810 | $61,410 | $43,440 | $89,480 | 2.47 |
| Fargo, ND-MN | 690 | $61,140 | $46,660 | $74,230 | 1.73 |
| Slidell-Mandeville-Covington, LA | 330 | $60,810 | $30,960 | $75,390 | 1.26 |
| Oshkosh-Neenah, WI | 540 | $60,720 | $47,420 | $67,210 | 2.15 |
| Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | 2,000 | $60,670 | $45,150 | $114,440 | 0.24 |
| Rochester, MN | 510 | $60,380 | $48,550 | $72,350 | 1.56 |
| Worcester, MA | 330 | $60,320 | $47,720 | $81,400 | 0.36 |
| Ogden, UT | 960 | $60,240 | $44,080 | $78,940 | 1.32 |
| Salt Lake City-Murray, UT | 1,490 | $60,190 | $46,050 | $79,160 | 0.67 |
| Janesville-Beloit, WI | 520 | $60,000 | $48,410 | $70,720 | 2.80 |
| Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA | 1,170 | $59,980 | $47,220 | $74,850 | 1.08 |
| Elizabethtown, KY | 660 | $59,900 | $48,960 | $71,100 | 4.80 |
| Anniston-Oxford, AL | 430 | $59,820 | $39,710 | $67,350 | 3.67 |
| Fort Collins-Loveland, CO | 440 | $59,660 | $44,350 | $74,130 | 0.97 |
| Madison, WI | 1,010 | $59,530 | $45,140 | $71,270 | 0.93 |
| Sheboygan, WI | 740 | $59,460 | $51,890 | $61,630 | 4.57 |
| Corpus Christi, TX | 1,280 | $59,450 | $38,380 | $76,120 | 2.47 |
| Albany-Schenectady-Troy, NY | 550 | $59,390 | $45,730 | $77,580 | 0.46 |
| Milwaukee-Waukesha, WI | 3,400 | $59,390 | $48,190 | $72,370 | 1.55 |
| Spokane-Spokane Valley, WA | 630 | $59,350 | $45,090 | $74,450 | 0.92 |
| Racine-Mount Pleasant, WI | 370 | $59,200 | $46,230 | $68,130 | 1.80 |
| Beaumont-Port Arthur, TX | 1,980 | $59,190 | $40,080 | $83,680 | 4.52 |
| Greeley, CO | 730 | $59,180 | $43,980 | $76,010 | 2.27 |
| Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos, TX | 2,210 | $59,040 | $39,420 | $76,060 | 0.64 |
| Peoria, IL | 1,230 | $58,960 | $46,480 | $79,930 | 2.77 |
| Appleton, WI | 970 | $58,920 | $46,460 | $82,680 | 2.92 |
| Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO | 1,990 | $58,890 | $45,060 | $79,700 | 0.46 |
| Green Bay, WI | 840 | $58,850 | $47,150 | $69,880 | 1.79 |
| La Crosse-Onalaska, WI-MN | 300 | $58,800 | $48,780 | $78,320 | 1.34 |
| Reno, NV | 390 | $58,800 | $45,970 | $80,250 | 0.53 |
| Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD | 4,630 | $58,380 | $44,430 | $79,960 | 0.60 |
The median is $53,750 a year ($25.84 an hour); the lowest-paid tenth earn under $39,240 and the highest-paid tenth over $77,530 (BLS OEWS, May 2025).
416,210 in May 2025, and BLS projects +2.4% growth to 2035.
The typical entry education is: High school diploma or equivalent (BLS).
Alaska, with a median of $80,840 (among states with published figures).