Salary data
What Welders Actually Earn
Median annual salary
$51,000
Wide range by specialty and sector
Pipeline welder ceiling
$75,850+
Certified pipe welders in oil and gas
Entry level
$38,130
First-year welder helper or tacker
Structural welder
$24.52
Certified structural welders — bridges, towers
Welding has the widest salary range of any trade. A general shop welder makes $35,000–$45,000. A certified 6G pipe welder working oil and gas in Texas or Louisiana earns $80,000–$120,000+. Specialty certifications are the path to the top of this trade.
Sources: BLS OES May 2024 · SOC 51-4121. Pipeline wages represent specialized market. Individual results vary significantly by certification and sector.
Texas median salary
$48,000
Oil and gas sector drives premium wages
Pipeline welder TX
$90K–$120K
Certified pipe welders in Permian Basin
Entry level in Texas
$33,000
First-year helper — TX wage level
TX no income tax
Advantage
Significant take-home advantage
Texas-specific: Texas is the top welding market in the country due to the oil and gas industry concentrated in the Permian Basin and Gulf Coast. Certified pipe welders in West Texas and along the Gulf are among the highest-paid tradespeople in any field. AWS certification is the standard credential recognized by Texas energy employers.
Sources: BLS OES May 2023 TX state data · CareerOneStop. Pipeline estimates based on industry data.
Louisiana median salary
$52,000
Petrochemical plants drive premium wages
Turnaround welder LA
$80K–$110K
Refinery turnaround work — high pay
Entry level in Louisiana
$34,000
First-year welder — LA wage level
LA market driver
Petrochem
Nation's largest concentration of refineries
Louisiana-specific: Louisiana hosts the highest concentration of oil refineries and petrochemical plants in the country. Turnaround welders who work plant maintenance shutdowns can earn premium wages on a project basis. Many welders base in Louisiana and travel regionally.
Sources: BLS OES May 2023 LA state data · CareerOneStop. Turnaround estimates based on industry data.
Training paths
How to Become a Welder
Three ways in.
- Welding technology certificate 6 to 9 months. Fastest to AWS certification and dealership/shop hires.
- On-the-job training Helper roles or pre-apprenticeships through ironworkers and pipefitters unions. Limited and not in every market.
- Community college 2-year program on paper. Only ~13% finish in two years (NCES data). Better path if you want to move into welding inspection later.
Your trade-school advantage
Ready to see your $187K path?
See programs near you that get you there.
See programs near you
Day in the life
What the Job Actually Looks Like
Day in the life
What the Job Actually Looks Like
6:00
AM
Site arrival and setup
Set up welding equipment, review prints and weld symbols, inspect materials. Safety check — welding is a high-hazard trade requiring strict PPE compliance.
7:00
AM
Production welding
Laying beads, fitting and tacking components, following weld procedure specifications. The core of the day — consistent, precise, production-pace welding.
10:00
AM
Inspection and quality check
Visual inspection of completed welds, grinding or re-welding rejected passes. On certified jobs, NDT inspectors may check your work.
12:00
PM
Lunch and material review
30-minute break. Review afternoon assignments and any material or print changes.
1:00
PM
Afternoon production
Pipeline welders progress the pipeline. Shop welders may move to a different weld position or assembly. Overtime is common on deadline jobs.
3:30
PM
Cleanup and documentation
Clean equipment, log weld rod usage and completed joints, file any inspection paperwork. Travel welders may be heading to the next town.
What you will need
Skills That Make a Great Welder
What you will need
Skills That Make a Great Welder
Hand steadiness and control
Welding is a physical skill. Consistent bead quality requires steady hands, proper technique, and thousands of hours of practice.
Blueprint and symbol reading
Weld symbols communicate exactly what joint type, size, and inspection requirement is required. Misreading a print causes rejected welds and rework.
Metallurgy knowledge
Different metals require different processes, heat inputs, and filler materials. Understanding why materials behave differently makes a welder significantly more valuable.
Safety discipline
Welding involves UV radiation, toxic fumes, fire hazards, and electrical risk. Safe welders maintain their PPE and their certifications.
Multi-process versatility
Welders certified in MIG, TIG, stick, and flux-core across multiple positions are more employable and command higher wages than single-process specialists.
Patience and precision
Certified pipe welding requires absolute precision. A rejected weld on a high-pressure pipeline is not just expensive — it is a safety issue.
Job market outlook
The Market for Welders in 2026
Job market outlook
The Market for Welders in 2026
Projected job growth 2024–2034
2%
BLS — slower overall, but specialty demand strong
Annual job openings
47K
Replacement demand exceeds growth
Current welder jobs in the US
424K
BLS · 2024
Pipeline welder shortage
Critical
AWS estimates 400K welder shortage by 2030
Overall welder job growth is modest at 2%, but that number masks a significant shortage at the top of the trade. AWS estimates a shortage of 400,000 welders by 2030, concentrated in certified pipe welding, structural welding, and aerospace applications.
The energy transition is creating new welding demand in wind tower fabrication, solar mounting structures, and EV manufacturing. At the same time, oil and gas in Texas and Louisiana continues to need certified pipe welders at premium wages.
For welders who pursue AWS certification and specialize in pipe, structural, or aerospace applications, the job market is strong and wages are well above the median. The key is certification.
Common questions
Welder FAQs
Common questions
Welder FAQs
Certified 6G pipe welders working in oil and gas — particularly in Texas, Louisiana, Wyoming, and North Dakota — earn $80,000–$120,000+ annually. Travel welders who follow pipeline construction projects can earn even more with per diem allowances. The 6G certification is the key credential for pipeline work.
A focused trade school certificate program gets you to entry-level certification in 6–9 months. AWS certification tests can be taken at any point — most certificate programs include prep for at least one certification. Pipeline certification (6G) typically requires additional practice beyond a basic certificate program.
AWS D1.1 (structural steel) and 6G (pipe welding in all positions) are the most valuable certifications for earning potential. D1.1 opens structural fabrication and construction work. 6G opens pipeline, refinery, and pressure vessel work — which is where the highest wages in welding are found.
Yes, particularly for certified welders in specialty applications. The physical demands mean most welders transition to inspection, supervision, or business ownership as they age. CWI (Certified Welding Inspector) is a common career progression that leverages welding experience into a less physically demanding but well-compensated role.
Yes, though Florida is not a major welding market compared to Texas or Louisiana. Structural welding for construction, marine welding for the boat industry, and general fabrication are the strongest Florida welding sectors. No state welding license is required in Florida — AWS certifications are the recognized standard.
Earn more
Similar Trades That Pay More
What people are saying
The salary data on this site is more detailed than anything I found elsewhere.
AdamGeorgia
I sent this to my nephew who’s considering trades — incredibly thorough.
TonyFlorida
Finally a site that gives real numbers without trying to sell you something.
MattPennsylvania