Welder Salary 2026 — Take-Home Pay by State
Welders join metal parts using arc, gas, and specialty processes (SMAW, GMAW, GTAW, FCAW). Career structure spans entry shop welder ($38K) to AWS-certified structural / 6G pipe / underwater specialists ($130K+). Top niches: TX Permian rig welding $100K-$150K with $300-$500/day day rates + per diem, Gulf Coast shipyards, NYC iron workers union scale, FL aerospace at KSC/SpaceX, traveling pipeline welders following ND Bakken / PA Marcellus / TX Eagle Ford projects.
National Median
$52,000
Best State (Net)
$63,703
Alaska
Take-Home TX
$43,962
No state tax
Job Growth
2%
Key Facts — Welder 2026
BLS median: $51,680 for welders/cutters/solderers (BLS May 2023 OES) — but 6G pipe + Permian rig + underwater niche $100K-$200K+
AWS D1.1 (Structural Steel) + 6G pipe (highest test) + ASME Section IX certs drive 30-100% wage premium
TX Permian rig welding $300-$500/day day rates + per diem $80-$120/day = $130K-$180K with travel discipline
Underwater / hyperbaric welding ($80K-$200K+) — ADCI commercial diver cert + welding cert combined niche
TCJA 2018 eliminated W-2 unreimbursed tool deduction — 1099 traveling welders still deduct on Schedule C
Solo 401(k) + S-corp election at $80K+ net SE income for 1099 traveling welders saves $4K-$6K/year SE tax
Section 199A QBI 20% deduction applies to traveling/owner-operator welders (NOT SSTB)
AB5 (CA) made most CA welders W-2 with employer FICA + benefits — different career economics than TX 1099
Salary by Experience Level
Apprentice / Helper (year 1-2)
$42,000
gross/year
Est. take-home (TX):
$35,927
Trade school + entry shop work + OJT
Established Welder (3-7 years)
$58,000
gross/year
Est. take-home (TX):
$48,783
AWS D1.1 cert + base process certs (FCAW/GMAW/SMAW)
AWS-Certified Specialist (8-15 years)
$85,000
gross/year
Est. take-home (TX):
$68,628
6G pipe / structural / TIG aerospace specialty
Rig / Pipeline / Underwater Welder
$130,000
gross/year
Est. take-home (TX):
$100,121
Top niche tier with day rates + per diem
Specialties & Salary Premiums
| Specialty | Est. Salary | Premium |
|---|---|---|
| TX Permian Rig Welder (with day rates + per diem) | $130,000 | +150% |
| Underwater / Hyperbaric Welder | $156,000 | +200% |
| 6G Pipe Welder (highest test cert) | $93,600 | +80% |
| Aerospace TIG Welder (KSC/SpaceX/Boeing) | $83,200 | +60% |
| NYC Iron Workers Union (Local 580/40) | $78,000 | +50% |
| Apprentice / Helper (year 1-2) | $36,400 | -30% |
Best States for Welders — Real Take-Home Pay
Ranked by estimated take-home pay (single filer, no additional deductions). The highest gross salary doesn't always mean the most money in your pocket.
▲Top 5 — Highest Take-Home
Welder Salary by State — All 50 States
Take-home estimates for a single filer with no additional deductions. Click any state for the full breakdown.
| State | Gross Salary | Est. Take-Home |
|---|---|---|
| $78,000 | $63,703 | |
| $65,000 | $54,408 | |
| $68,000 | $53,268 | |
| $60,000 | $50,390 | |
| $60,000 | $50,390 | |
| $62,000 | $49,859 | |
| $62,000 | $49,431 | |
| $58,000 | $48,783 | |
| $60,000 | $48,073 | |
| $60,000 | $47,610 | |
| $58,000 | $47,418 | |
| $56,000 | $47,176 | |
| $56,000 | $47,176 | |
| $58,000 | $46,362 | |
15Illinois | $58,000 | $46,057 |
16Hawaii | $58,000 | $45,528 |
| $56,000 | $45,457 | |
18Colorado | $56,000 | $45,420 |
19Ohio | $55,000 | $45,302 |
| $56,000 | $45,077 | |
21Michigan | $56,000 | $45,047 |
22Montana | $55,000 | $44,544 |
| $55,000 | $44,519 | |
24Oklahoma | $55,000 | $44,443 |
25Delaware | $55,000 | $43,997 |
| $52,000 | $43,962 | |
27Maryland | $56,000 | $43,767 |
28Oregon | $56,000 | $43,246 |
29Virginia | $54,000 | $43,225 |
30Arizona | $52,000 | $43,065 |
| $52,000 | $42,684 | |
32Iowa | $52,000 | $42,598 |
33Missouri | $52,000 | $42,484 |
34Indiana | $52,000 | $42,458 |
| $50,000 | $42,355 | |
| $50,000 | $42,355 | |
37Nebraska | $52,000 | $42,300 |
38Utah | $52,000 | $42,175 |
| $50,000 | $41,355 | |
40Vermont | $50,000 | $40,936 |
| $50,000 | $40,911 | |
| $50,000 | $40,869 | |
43Idaho | $50,000 | $40,813 |
44Kentucky | $50,000 | $40,723 |
45Georgia | $50,000 | $40,609 |
46Kansas | $50,000 | $40,365 |
47Maine | $50,000 | $40,273 |
| $48,000 | $38,920 | |
49Alabama | $48,000 | $38,767 |
50Arkansas | $47,000 | $38,664 |
Job Market Outlook
2% growth projected 2022-2032 — slower than average overall, but pipeline + Permian rig + underwater + aerospace TIG specialty growing 8-12% annually. AWS D1.1 + 6G pipe + ASME Section IX + UT/VT inspection certs drive 30-100% wage premium. 1099/SE traveling welder structure dominant in oil-and-gas + pipeline; W-2 shop welder structure dominant in fabrication + manufacturing.
Fastest-growing states:
Maximize Your Take-Home
401(k) — $24,500 max
Reduces taxable income dollar-for-dollar
HSA — $4,400 single
Triple tax advantage — deductible, grows tax-free, tax-free withdrawals
FSA — $3,300 max
Medical expenses with pre-tax dollars
State consideration
Moving to TX, FL, WA can save $5,000–$15,000/year in taxes
Calculate Your Exact Take-Home as a Welder
Add 401(k), HSA, dependents, and more to see your personalized take-home in your state.
Open Calculator →Frequently Asked Questions
Find answers to common questions about your taxes and our calculator.
Welder Salary by State — Detailed Pages
Alabama
$38,767
net
AlaskaNo state tax
$63,703
net
Arizona
$43,065
net
Arkansas
$38,664
net
California
$49,431
net
Colorado
$45,420
net
Connecticut
$48,073
net
Delaware
$43,997
net
FloridaNo state tax
$43,962
net
Georgia
$40,609
net
Hawaii
$45,528
net
Idaho
$40,813
net
Illinois
$46,057
net
Indiana
$42,458
net
Iowa
$42,598
net
Kansas
$40,365
net
Kentucky
$40,723
net
Louisiana
$47,418
net
Maine
$40,273
net
Maryland
$43,767
net
Massachusetts
$47,610
net
Michigan
$45,047
net
Minnesota
$46,362
net
Mississippi
$38,920
net
Missouri
$42,484
net
Montana
$44,544
net
Nebraska
$42,300
net
NevadaNo state tax
$47,176
net
New HampshireNo state tax
$47,176
net
New Jersey
$49,859
net
New Mexico
$42,684
net
New York
$53,268
net
North Carolina
$40,869
net
North Dakota
$54,408
net
Ohio
$45,302
net
Oklahoma
$44,443
net
Oregon
$43,246
net
Pennsylvania
$45,457
net
Rhode Island
$45,077
net
South Carolina
$41,355
net
South DakotaNo state tax
$42,355
net
TennesseeNo state tax
$42,355
net
TexasNo state tax
$48,783
net
Utah
$42,175
net
Vermont
$40,936
net
Virginia
$43,225
net
WashingtonNo state tax
$50,390
net
West Virginia
$40,911
net
Wisconsin
$44,519
net
WyomingNo state tax
$50,390
net