How much does a Welder make in Kentucky?

The average Welder salary in Kentucky is around $60,000 per year. After federal taxes, FICA, and Kentucky state taxes, your estimated take-home pay is approximately $48,121 annually ($4,010/month).

What is the take-home pay for a Welder in Kentucky?

On a $60,000 salary in Kentucky, your take-home pay is approximately $48,121/year or $4,010/month. Federal tax: $5,020. State tax: $2,269. FICA: $0.00.

Is $60,000 a good Welder salary?

$60,000 is a competitive salary for a Welder — above the national median. In Kentucky, demand for this role is active.

How do Kentucky taxes affect Welder salaries?

Kentucky levies state income tax on top of federal taxes. Your estimated state tax on $60,000 is $2,269. Your total effective tax rate is approximately 19.8%.

What are the career growth prospects for Welders?

2% growth through 2032 (slower than average) overall; pipeline + Permian rig + underwater + aerospace TIG specialty growing faster. Related roles include: Pipe Welder, Structural Welder, Rig Welder, Underwater Welder, Aerospace TIG Welder, Welding Inspector, Welding Supervisor.

How can a Welder in Kentucky reduce their tax bill?

Maximize your 401(k) contribution ($24,500 in 2026) to reduce taxable income. An HSA ($4,400 single / $8,750 family) adds further pre-tax savings. These strategies can save thousands annually — use our calculator to see your exact savings.

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Welder Salary in Kentucky (2026)

The average Welder in Kentucky earns around $60,000/year. After taxes, your estimated take-home is $48,121/year ($4,010/month).

Take-Home Pay Breakdown

Category	Amount
Annual Take-Home Pay	$48,121
Monthly Take-Home Pay	$4,010
Biweekly Take-Home Pay	$1,851
Hourly Take-Home Pay based on 2,080 hrs/year	$23/hr
Federal Tax	$5,020
State Tax	$2,269
FICA Taxes	$4,590
Effective Tax Rate total taxes ÷ gross salary	19.8%

Estimates only — not tax advice. · Full disclaimer →

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Working overtime? The 2025 OBBBA deduction may save you up to $12,500 on federal tax. Open the No Tax on Overtime calculator →

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Key terms:···

Welder Salary Ranges in Kentucky

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

Kentucky's welder market is anchored by KY auto OEM welder concentration (Ford Louisville Assembly Plant + Kentucky Truck Plant combined ~13K + the substantial Ford F-250/F-350/F-450 Super Duty + Expedition + Lincoln Navigator body-shop welder + Toyota Motor Manufacturing Kentucky TMMK Georgetown ~9K + the largest North American Toyota plant + Camry + RAV4 body-shop welder + GM Bowling Green Assembly + Corvette C8 body-shop welder + GE Appliances Louisville ~6K Haier-owned welder), KY steel + metals (Nucor Steel Gallatin Ghent + ~700 employees + electric arc furnace + the substantial Nucor Gallatin sheet steel + AK Steel Ashland Cleveland-Cliffs + post-2020 Cleveland-Cliffs acquisition + Steel Technologies + Steel Dynamics + the substantial KY steel + metals welder demand), Northern Kentucky industrial welder (Cincinnati spillover + Amazon Air CVG + Boilermakers Local 40 Northern KY), pipeline construction (KY gas + crude oil pipeline + the substantial KY midstream pipeline welder demand), plus substantial KY agricultural + tobacco + structural + bridge + the substantial KY infrastructure + bourbon distillery + the substantial KY industrial welder demand.

Senior Auto OEM Welder (Ford / Toyota / GM / GE)

$58,000–$92,000+ OT

Ford Louisville + Kentucky Truck Plant + Toyota Georgetown + GM Bowling Green + GE Appliances body-shop + Tier 1 welder

Senior Steel Mill Welder (Nucor / AK Steel)

$62,000–$98,000+ OT

Nucor Gallatin + AK Steel Ashland Cleveland-Cliffs + Steel Technologies · steel mill maintenance + USW Local

Senior Boilermaker (Local 40 Northern KY)

$72,000–$132,000+ OT

Boilermakers Local 40 Northern KY + Local 374 Lexington + power + industrial boiler · prevailing wage

Pipeline Welder (X-Ray Certified)

$68,000–$132,000+ OT

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

Senior Structural Welder (AISC / Bridge)

$55,000–$88,000+ OT

AISC structural welder · KYTC bridge + the substantial KY infrastructure + post-2021 tornado rebuild

Senior Pipefitter-Welder (Industrial)

$62,000–$108,000+ OT

United Association Pipefitters Local 502 Louisville + industrial + bourbon distillery + auto OEM turnaround

Bourbon Distillery Welder

$52,000–$82,000+ OT

KY bourbon distillery welder · Buffalo Trace + Maker + Wild Turkey + Heaven Hill + Jim Beam stills + maturation

TIG / GTAW Specialty Welder

$62,000–$95,000+ OT

TIG + GTAW specialty · stainless + exotic alloy + pharmaceutical + food-grade specialty

Mid-Career Welder (3-6 yrs)

$42,000–$62,000+ OT

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

Entry Welder / Apprentice

$30,000–$42,000+ OT

Entry welder apprentice · Jefferson CTC + BCTC + Big Sandy CTC + Hazard CTC + WKCTC pipeline

Worth knowing: Kentucky's substantial Ford + Toyota + GM + GE Appliances auto + appliance OEM + Nucor Gallatin steel + bourbon distillery welder concentration is the country's substantial distinctive Ohio Valley US welder cluster most national welder-career surveys understate. The country's substantial Kentucky auto + appliance OEM cluster (Ford Louisville Assembly + Kentucky Truck Plant combined ~13K + the substantial Ford F-Series Super Duty body-shop welder + Toyota Motor Manufacturing Kentucky TMMK Georgetown ~9K + the largest North American Toyota plant + the substantial TMMK body-shop welder + GM Bowling Green Assembly Corvette C8 + the substantial Bowling Green body-shop welder + GE Appliances Louisville ~6K Haier-owned + the substantial GE Appliances residential appliance welder + the substantial KY Tier 1 supplier welder cluster) supports a large body-shop + assembly-line welder market — senior auto OEM welders clear $58-92K + OT. KY steel + metals (Nucor Steel Gallatin Ghent ~700 + electric arc furnace + the substantial Nucor sheet steel + AK Steel Ashland Cleveland-Cliffs + the substantial Ashland steel mill + Steel Technologies + the substantial KY steel + metals welder demand) supports substantial steel mill maintenance + turnaround welder work. Boilermakers Local 40 Northern KY + Boilermakers Local 374 Lexington + United Association Plumbers Pipefitters Local 502 Louisville + IBEW Local 369 Louisville + Ironworkers Local 70 + USW Local 9447 + the substantial KY building trades operate substantial collective bargaining at KY industrial + auto OEM + steel mill prevailing wage rates despite KY RTW since 2017. The country's substantial Kentucky bourbon industry (~95% of US bourbon production + Buffalo Trace + Maker's Mark + Wild Turkey + Heaven Hill + Jim Beam + Woodford Reserve + the substantial KY bourbon production growth) supports specialized bourbon distillery still + maturation barrel + warehouse welder work — bourbon distillery welders clear $52-82K. AWS Certified Welder + 6G + API 1104 + ASME Section IX + AWS D1.1 + AISC structural cert drive 30-60% wage premium. Jefferson CTC + BCTC + Big Sandy CTC + Hazard CTC + Western Kentucky CTC pipeline. KY's flat 4% (post-2024 reform from 5% top) + no state estate tax + KY RTW since 2017 anchor the KY welder proposition.

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Welder Salary in Other States

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