Trades

Welder Salary in Alabama (2026)

The average Welder in Alabama earns around $62,000/year. After taxes, your estimated take-home is $49,325/year ($4,110/month).

Take-Home Pay Breakdown

CategoryAmount
Annual Take-Home Pay
$49,325
Monthly Take-Home Pay
$4,110
Biweekly Take-Home Pay
$1,897
Hourly Take-Home Pay

based on 2,080 hrs/year

$24/hr
Federal Tax
$5,260
State Tax
$2,672
FICA Taxes
$4,743
Effective Tax Rate

total taxes ÷ gross salary

20.44%
Estimates only — not tax advice. · Full disclaimer →

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Welder Salary Ranges in Alabama

Entry Level (0–3 yrs)

$40,000

/year

See tax breakdown →

Mid Level (3–7 yrs)

$60,000

/year

See tax breakdown →

Senior Level (7+ yrs)

$130,000

/year

See tax breakdown →

Not all Welders earn the same — not even close

Alabama's welder market is anchored by Austal USA Mobile shipyard (~4K employees + the substantial USS Independence-class LCS Littoral Combat Ship + EPF Expeditionary Fast Transport + Spearhead-class + the substantial post-2024 LCS + EPF + USCG OPC Heritage-class cutter production + the substantial Austal welder demand), Airbus Mobile Final Assembly Line (~2K employees + the substantial A220 + A320 final assembly + the country's only US Airbus aircraft assembly + the substantial post-2024 Airbus Mobile production ramp), Boeing Decatur (the substantial Boeing Decatur Delta IV Heavy + Atlas V United Launch Alliance ULA + post-2024 Vulcan Centaur + the substantial Boeing Decatur space launch vehicle welder demand), AL auto OEM welder concentration (Mercedes-Benz Vance ~6K + Hyundai Motor Manufacturing Alabama Montgomery ~3K + Honda Manufacturing Lincoln ~4K + Mazda Toyota Manufacturing MTM Huntsville ~4K + the substantial AL auto OEM body-shop welder + the substantial AL Tier 1 supplier welder), AL steel + metals (US Steel Fairfield Birmingham + Nucor Decatur + Outokumpu Calvert + the substantial AL steel + metals welder demand), Alabama Shipyard Mobile (commercial marine welder), plus substantial AL pipeline + agricultural + sugar mill + structural + bridge + the substantial AL infrastructure welder demand.

Senior Shipyard Welder (Austal USA)

$62,000–$98,000+ OT

Austal USA Mobile · LCS + EPF + Spearhead + USCG OPC + post-2024 ramp · navy combatant welder

Senior Aerospace Welder (Airbus Mobile / Boeing Decatur)

$72,000–$118,000+ OT

Airbus Mobile A220 + A320 + Boeing Decatur Delta IV + Atlas V + Vulcan Centaur · NAS 410 + AWS aerospace

Senior Auto OEM Welder (Mercedes / Hyundai / Honda / MTM)

$58,000–$92,000+ OT

Mercedes Vance + Hyundai Montgomery + Honda Lincoln + Mazda Toyota Huntsville body-shop + Tier 1 welder

Senior Boilermaker (Local 108)

$72,000–$132,000+ OT

Boilermakers Local 108 Birmingham + power + industrial boiler · prevailing wage

Pipeline Welder (X-Ray Certified)

$68,000–$132,000+ OT

Pipeline welder · x-ray + 6G + API 1104 + AL gas + crude pipeline + the substantial AL midstream

Senior Structural Welder (AISC / Bridge)

$55,000–$88,000+ OT

AISC structural welder · ALDOT bridge + the substantial AL infrastructure + post-tornado rebuild

Senior Steel Mill Welder (US Steel / Nucor / Outokumpu)

$58,000–$92,000+ OT

US Steel Fairfield + Nucor Decatur + Outokumpu Calvert · steel mill maintenance + USW Local 9226

TIG / GTAW Specialty Welder

$62,000–$95,000+ OT

TIG + GTAW specialty · stainless + exotic alloy + aerospace + pharmaceutical specialty

Mid-Career Welder (3-6 yrs)

$42,000–$62,000+ OT

Mid-career welder transitioning to AWS + 6G + API certified · AL industrial shops

Entry Welder / Apprentice

$30,000–$42,000+ OT

Entry welder apprentice · Wallace State + Calhoun CC + Bishop State + Lawson State + Drake State pipeline

Worth knowing: Alabama's substantial Mobile shipyard + Airbus + Boeing aerospace + auto OEM + steel mill welder concentration is the country's substantial distinctive Southeast US welder cluster most national welder-career surveys understate. The country's substantial Alabama Mobile shipyard cluster (Austal USA Mobile ~4K + USS Independence-class Littoral Combat Ship LCS + Expeditionary Fast Transport EPF Spearhead-class + the substantial post-2024 LCS + EPF + USCG OPC Heritage-class cutter production + Alabama Shipyard Mobile commercial + the substantial Mobile shipyard welder demand) supports the country's substantial concentrated US Gulf Coast naval combatant welder market — senior Austal USA welders clear $62-98K with substantial overtime. Airbus Mobile Final Assembly Line (~2K + A220 + A320 + the country's only US Airbus assembly + the substantial post-2024 Airbus Mobile production ramp) + Boeing Decatur (Delta IV Heavy + Atlas V ULA + post-2024 Vulcan Centaur + the substantial Boeing Decatur space launch welder) supports specialized aerospace welder + NAS 410 + AWS aerospace cert market. The substantial AL auto OEM welder concentration (Mercedes-Benz Vance ~6K + Hyundai Motor Manufacturing Alabama Montgomery ~3K + Honda Manufacturing Lincoln ~4K + Mazda Toyota Manufacturing MTM Huntsville ~4K + the substantial AL Tier 1 supplier welder cluster) supports a large body-shop + assembly-line welder market — senior auto OEM welders clear $58-92K + OT. AL steel + metals (US Steel Fairfield Birmingham + Nucor Decatur + Outokumpu Calvert stainless steel facility + the substantial AL steel + metals welder demand) supports substantial steel mill maintenance + turnaround welder work. Boilermakers Local 108 Birmingham + United Association Plumbers Pipefitters Local 91 + IBEW Local 136 + Ironworkers Local 92 + USW Local 9226 + the substantial AL building trades operate substantial collective bargaining at AL industrial + auto OEM + aerospace + shipyard prevailing wage rates despite AL RTW since 1953. AWS Certified Welder + 6G + API 1104 + ASME Section IX + AWS D1.1 + NAS 410 aerospace cert drive 30-60% wage premium. Wallace State + Calhoun CC + Bishop State + Lawson State + Drake State + the substantial AL CC welding pipeline. AL's 5% top + Federal Income Tax Deduction + AL RTW since 1953 + no state estate tax anchor the AL welder proposition.

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