Trades

Welder Salary in Nebraska (2026)

The average Welder in Nebraska earns around $65,000/year. After taxes, your estimated take-home is $52,183/year ($4,349/month).

Take-Home Pay Breakdown

CategoryAmount
Annual Take-Home Pay
$52,183
Monthly Take-Home Pay
$4,349
Biweekly Take-Home Pay
$2,007
Hourly Take-Home Pay

based on 2,080 hrs/year

$25/hr
Federal Tax
$5,620
State Tax
$2,225
FICA Taxes
$4,973
Effective Tax Rate

total taxes ÷ gross salary

19.72%
Estimates only — not tax advice. · Full disclaimer →

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Welder Salary Ranges in Nebraska

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

Nebraska's welder market is anchored by Union Pacific Railroad Omaha HQ + the substantial Union Pacific Bailey Yard North Platte (the substantial UP ~12K UP employees + the substantial UP as the largest US freight RR + the substantial UP Bailey Yard 2,850 acres + the substantial UP Bailey Yard processes ~14K railcars/day + the substantial UP Bailey Yard 314 miles of track + the substantial UP Bailey Yard the country's substantial world's largest rail classification yard + the substantial UP rail car welder + locomotive welder + the substantial UP AWS D14 rail welder + the substantial UP IBT Teamsters collective bargaining), Werner Enterprises Omaha (~9K Werner employees + the substantial Werner trucking + the substantial Werner trailer + chassis welder + the substantial Werner Omaha campus), Kiewit Corporation Omaha (~30K Kiewit global + the substantial Kiewit construction welder + the substantial Kiewit power + infrastructure + the substantial Kiewit AWS D1.1 structural welder), Valmont Industries Omaha (~3K Valmont Omaha employees + the substantial Valmont center pivot irrigation + the substantial Valmont steel structures + the substantial Valmont galvanized steel pole welder), Lindsay Corporation Omaha (the substantial Lindsay Zimmatic Center Pivot irrigation welder), Offutt AFB Bellevue (~10K Offutt personnel + the substantial USSTRATCOM HQ + the substantial 55th Wing RC-135 Rivet Joint + the substantial Offutt AFB cleared welder + AWS D17.1 aerospace + cleared facility), Lozier Corporation Omaha + the substantial Lincoln Industries Lincoln + the substantial Behlen Manufacturing Columbus, ConAgra Brands Omaha + Tyson + Smithfield meat processing (the substantial NE corn + ethanol + meat processing stainless welder + ASME BPE + GMP), plus substantial NE pipeline + structural + the substantial NDOR Nebraska Department of Roads bridge + the substantial Boilermakers Local 83 Kansas City cross-border.

Senior Rail Welder (Union Pacific Bailey Yard)

$65,000–$108,000+ OT

Union Pacific Bailey Yard North Platte · world largest rail yard + rail car + locomotive welder · AWS D14 + IBT

Industrial Welder (Werner / Kiewit / Valmont)

$58,000–$92,000+ OT

Werner trailer + Kiewit construction + Valmont center pivot irrigation + galvanized steel pole welder · AWS D1.1

Aerospace Cleared Welder (Offutt AFB)

$65,000–$98,000+ OT

Offutt AFB · USSTRATCOM HQ + 55th Wing RC-135 ground support + cleared facility welder + AWS D17.1

Senior Boilermaker (Local 83 Kansas City)

$72,000–$128,000+ OT

Boilermakers Local 83 Kansas City MO cross-border + power + industrial boiler · NE prevailing wage

Food Processing Welder (ConAgra / Tyson)

$55,000–$85,000+ OT

ConAgra Brands Omaha + ADM + Cargill corn processing + ethanol + Tyson + Smithfield meat processing stainless

Pipeline Welder (X-Ray Certified)

$65,000–$118,000+ OT

Pipeline welder · x-ray + 6G + API 1104 + NE pipeline + the substantial NE midstream + cross-border

Senior Structural Welder (AISC / Bridge)

$50,000–$78,000+ OT

AISC structural welder · NDOR bridge + the substantial NE infrastructure + the substantial Platte River + Missouri River

Agricultural Equipment / Ranch Welder

$48,000–$78,000+ OT

NE ag equipment welder + the substantial NE #1 US beef + the substantial NE ranch + farm fabrication

Mid-Career Welder (3-6 yrs)

$38,000–$55,000+ OT

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

Entry Welder / Apprentice

$28,000–$42,000+ OT

Entry welder apprentice · Metro CC + Central CC + Southeast CC + Boilermakers Local 83 Kansas City apprenticeship

Worth knowing: Nebraska's Union Pacific Bailey Yard rail welder + Werner Enterprises + Kiewit Corporation + Valmont Industries irrigation + Offutt AFB USSTRATCOM + ConAgra food processing welder concentration is the country's substantial distinctive Plains rail + ag-industrial + aerospace + food processing welder cluster most national welder-career surveys understate. Union Pacific Bailey Yard North Platte (the substantial UP Bailey Yard 2,850 acres + the substantial UP Bailey Yard processes ~14K railcars/day + the substantial UP Bailey Yard 314 miles of track + the substantial UP Bailey Yard the country's substantial world's largest rail classification yard + the substantial UP Bailey Yard ~3K UP employees + the substantial UP rail car + locomotive welder + the substantial UP AWS D14 rail welder + the substantial UP IBT Teamsters collective bargaining + the substantial UP post-2024 PSR Precision Scheduled Railroading) supports specialized rail welder work — UP Bailey Yard senior rail welders clear $65-108K + OT with AWS D14 + IBT collective bargaining. The substantial Omaha industrial cluster (Werner Enterprises ~9K Werner employees + the substantial Werner trucking + trailer welder + Kiewit Corporation ~30K Kiewit + the substantial Kiewit construction + power + infrastructure welder + Valmont Industries ~3K Valmont Omaha + the substantial Valmont center pivot irrigation + steel structures + galvanized steel pole welder + Lindsay Corporation Zimmatic Center Pivot irrigation + Behlen Manufacturing Columbus + Lozier Corporation Omaha retail fixtures + Lincoln Industries Lincoln) supports substantial NE industrial welder work — Omaha industrial welders clear $58-92K with AWS D1.1 + AWS D14 ag certification. Offutt AFB Bellevue (~10K Offutt personnel + the substantial USSTRATCOM US Strategic Command HQ + the substantial 55th Wing RC-135 Rivet Joint + the substantial 55th Strategic Reconnaissance Wing + the substantial Offutt AFB cleared welder + AWS D17.1 aerospace + cleared facility + the substantial Offutt AFB post-2024 STRATCOM HQ building modernization) supports specialized aerospace cleared welder work. ConAgra Brands Omaha + the substantial NE corn + the substantial NE ~25 ethanol plants + Tyson + Smithfield meat processing + the substantial NE Grand Island + Lexington + Madison + Dakota City beef processing supports specialized food processing stainless welder work. Boilermakers Local 83 Kansas City MO cross-border + United Association Plumbers Pipefitters Local 464 Omaha + UA Local 469 Lincoln + IBEW Local 22 Omaha + Ironworkers Local 21 Omaha + Sheet Metal Workers Local 3 Omaha + the substantial NE building trades operate substantial collective bargaining at NE industrial + rail + ag-industrial prevailing wage rates — though NE IS a Right-to-Work state (signed 1947) limiting union security clauses, the substantial NE building trades retain prevailing-wage public works contracts + the substantial UP IBT Teamsters union representation. AWS Certified Welder + 6G + API 1104 + ASME Section IX + AWS D1.1 + AWS D14 ag + AWS D17.1 aerospace + cleared facility cert drive 30-60% wage premium. Metro CC + Central CC + Southeast CC + Western Nebraska CC + Boilermakers Local 83 Kansas City apprenticeship pipeline. NE progressive 2.46-5.84% (phasing to 3.99% flat by 2027) + NE 5.5% sales tax + NE NO estate tax + NE IS a Right-to-Work state anchor the NE welder proposition.

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