Highest-Paying States for Welders: Top 25
The 25 highest-paying US states for welders, ranked by statewide median annual wage. Wages from BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 release.
| # | State | Annual median | Hourly | 90th percentile | Employment | 5-yr wage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Alaska | $80,840 | $38.87/hr | $109,940 | 790 | up 10.8% |
| 2 | Hawaii | $79,000 | $37.98/hr | $100,220 | 520 | up 24.2% |
| 3 | Connecticut | $64,880 | $31.19/hr | $87,980 | 1,790 | up 31.3% |
| 4 | Wyoming | $63,820 | $30.69/hr | $89,610 | 1,850 | up 11.9% |
| 5 | Washington | $63,020 | $30.30/hr | $86,250 | 7,720 | up 16.9% |
| 6 | Massachusetts | $62,570 | $30.08/hr | $83,430 | 2,830 | up 19.5% |
| 7 | New Hampshire | $62,360 | $29.98/hr | $80,290 | 1,110 | up 31.8% |
| 8 | Louisiana | $62,250 | $29.93/hr | $81,750 | 13,690 | up 19.2% |
| 9 | Maine | $62,220 | $29.92/hr | $76,220 | 1,690 | up 16.5% |
| 10 | North Dakota | $62,000 | $29.81/hr | $83,290 | 2,590 | up 11.7% |
| 11 | Nevada | $61,520 | $29.58/hr | $95,050 | 1,600 | up 34.9% |
| 12 | Vermont | $60,890 | $29.27/hr | $74,870 | 340 | up 36.7% |
| 13 | Maryland | $60,310 | $29.00/hr | $95,280 | 2,850 | up 11.2% |
| 14 | Minnesota | $60,280 | $28.98/hr | $75,710 | 9,270 | up 28.2% |
| 15 | District of Columbia | $60,180 | $28.93/hr | $75,580 | 280 | down 7.2% |
| 16 | New Mexico | $59,840 | $28.77/hr | $92,760 | 2,390 | up 18.8% |
| 17 | Oregon | $59,450 | $28.58/hr | $79,230 | 5,240 | up 24.2% |
| 18 | New Jersey | $59,440 | $28.58/hr | $81,760 | 3,730 | up 19.8% |
| 19 | Virginia | $59,180 | $28.45/hr | $79,630 | 10,100 | up 22.6% |
| 20 | New York | $59,140 | $28.43/hr | $87,110 | 8,310 | up 33.3% |
| 21 | Colorado | $58,590 | $28.17/hr | $79,700 | 4,970 | up 21.8% |
| 22 | Wisconsin | $58,410 | $28.08/hr | $70,720 | 15,320 | up 25.5% |
| 23 | Utah | $58,380 | $28.07/hr | $79,520 | 4,440 | up 35.7% |
| 24 | California | $58,060 | $27.91/hr | $81,940 | 26,060 | up 26.4% |
| 25 | Delaware | $57,270 | $27.54/hr | $75,560 | 600 | up 6.6% |
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2020 and May 2025.