{
  "title": "How much do welders make by US metro",
  "trade": "Welder",
  "socCode": "51-4121",
  "generated": "2026-06-01",
  "dataSource": "BLS OEWS May 2025 metropolitan files",
  "notes": [
    "Raw BLS OEWS May 2025 metropolitan medians (p50) for welders (SOC 51-4121, the BLS \"Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and Brazers\" occupation). Not cost-of-living adjusted. These are highest-PAYING metros for welders, not \"best places to work.\"",
    "Welder data is complete across this metro set - BLS published wages for all 50 of 50 metros, so no metro is imputed or dropped.",
    "OEWS is an employer survey of wages, not total compensation - it excludes benefits, overtime, per-diem, and self-employment (rig welder / contract) income, which can be a large share of a welder's pay. Traveling industrial welders on per-diem packages routinely out-earn these figures.",
    "The \"Baton Rouge\" figure is the BLS Baton Rouge, LA CBSA; metro figures cover the whole commuting area, not the city alone.",
    "Metro set is the 50 US metros with the most skilled-trades employment; not every US metro is covered. A single May 2025 vintage, not a trend."
  ],
  "summary": {
    "metroCount": 50,
    "metrosCovered": 50,
    "metrosSuppressed": 0,
    "coveragePct": 100,
    "top": {
      "metroName": "Baton Rouge, LA",
      "primState": "LA",
      "annualP50": 78170
    },
    "bottom": {
      "metroName": "San Antonio, TX",
      "primState": "TX",
      "annualP50": 48220
    },
    "spread": 29950,
    "crossMetroMedian": 56115
  },
  "rankings": [
    {
      "rank": 1,
      "metroSlug": "baton-rouge-la",
      "metroName": "Baton Rouge, LA",
      "primState": "LA",
      "areaTitle": "Baton Rouge, LA",
      "annualP25": 61170,
      "annualP50": 78170,
      "annualP75": 79880,
      "hourlyP50": 37.58,
      "employment": 3690
    },
    {
      "rank": 2,
      "metroSlug": "seattle-wa",
      "metroName": "Seattle, WA",
      "primState": "WA",
      "areaTitle": "Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA",
      "annualP25": 58200,
      "annualP50": 66240,
      "annualP75": 75210,
      "hourlyP50": 31.85,
      "employment": 3230
    },
    {
      "rank": 3,
      "metroSlug": "san-francisco-ca",
      "metroName": "San Francisco, CA",
      "primState": "CA",
      "areaTitle": "San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA",
      "annualP25": 56680,
      "annualP50": 64320,
      "annualP75": 78920,
      "hourlyP50": 30.93,
      "employment": 1990
    },
    {
      "rank": 4,
      "metroSlug": "san-jose-ca",
      "metroName": "San Jose, CA",
      "primState": "CA",
      "areaTitle": "San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA",
      "annualP25": 57420,
      "annualP50": 64140,
      "annualP75": 76730,
      "hourlyP50": 30.84,
      "employment": 1050
    },
    {
      "rank": 5,
      "metroSlug": "boston-ma",
      "metroName": "Boston, MA",
      "primState": "MA",
      "areaTitle": "Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH",
      "annualP25": 56250,
      "annualP50": 63770,
      "annualP75": 76100,
      "hourlyP50": 30.66,
      "employment": 2210
    },
    {
      "rank": 6,
      "metroSlug": "virginia-beach-va",
      "metroName": "Virginia Beach, VA",
      "primState": "VA",
      "areaTitle": "Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC",
      "annualP25": 49950,
      "annualP50": 62670,
      "annualP75": 71090,
      "hourlyP50": 30.13,
      "employment": 3740
    },
    {
      "rank": 7,
      "metroSlug": "san-diego-ca",
      "metroName": "San Diego, CA",
      "primState": "CA",
      "areaTitle": "San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA",
      "annualP25": 50400,
      "annualP50": 62560,
      "annualP75": 76630,
      "hourlyP50": 30.08,
      "employment": 2940
    },
    {
      "rank": 8,
      "metroSlug": "portland-or",
      "metroName": "Portland, OR",
      "primState": "OR",
      "areaTitle": "Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA",
      "annualP25": 53130,
      "annualP50": 62050,
      "annualP75": 72400,
      "hourlyP50": 29.83,
      "employment": 3300
    },
    {
      "rank": 9,
      "metroSlug": "baltimore-md",
      "metroName": "Baltimore, MD",
      "primState": "MD",
      "areaTitle": "Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD",
      "annualP25": 48180,
      "annualP50": 61920,
      "annualP75": 80060,
      "hourlyP50": 29.77,
      "employment": 1290
    },
    {
      "rank": 10,
      "metroSlug": "minneapolis-mn",
      "metroName": "Minneapolis, MN",
      "primState": "MN",
      "areaTitle": "Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI",
      "annualP25": 55020,
      "annualP50": 61880,
      "annualP75": 72140,
      "hourlyP50": 29.75,
      "employment": 4600
    },
    {
      "rank": 11,
      "metroSlug": "new-york-ny",
      "metroName": "New York, NY",
      "primState": "NY",
      "areaTitle": "New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ",
      "annualP25": 52790,
      "annualP50": 61680,
      "annualP75": 75930,
      "hourlyP50": 29.66,
      "employment": 5780
    },
    {
      "rank": 12,
      "metroSlug": "washington-dc",
      "metroName": "Washington, DC",
      "primState": "DC",
      "areaTitle": "Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV",
      "annualP25": 50120,
      "annualP50": 60670,
      "annualP75": 77560,
      "hourlyP50": 29.17,
      "employment": 2000
    },
    {
      "rank": 13,
      "metroSlug": "salt-lake-city-ut",
      "metroName": "Salt Lake City, UT",
      "primState": "UT",
      "areaTitle": "Salt Lake City-Murray, UT",
      "annualP25": 49450,
      "annualP50": 60190,
      "annualP75": 67630,
      "hourlyP50": 28.94,
      "employment": 1490
    },
    {
      "rank": 14,
      "metroSlug": "milwaukee-wi",
      "metroName": "Milwaukee, WI",
      "primState": "WI",
      "areaTitle": "Milwaukee-Waukesha, WI",
      "annualP25": 50520,
      "annualP50": 59390,
      "annualP75": 63010,
      "hourlyP50": 28.55,
      "employment": 3400
    },
    {
      "rank": 15,
      "metroSlug": "austin-tx",
      "metroName": "Austin, TX",
      "primState": "TX",
      "areaTitle": "Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos, TX",
      "annualP25": 47060,
      "annualP50": 59040,
      "annualP75": 67000,
      "hourlyP50": 28.39,
      "employment": 2210
    },
    {
      "rank": 16,
      "metroSlug": "denver-co",
      "metroName": "Denver, CO",
      "primState": "CO",
      "areaTitle": "Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO",
      "annualP25": 47870,
      "annualP50": 58890,
      "annualP75": 70760,
      "hourlyP50": 28.31,
      "employment": 1990
    },
    {
      "rank": 17,
      "metroSlug": "philadelphia-pa",
      "metroName": "Philadelphia, PA",
      "primState": "PA",
      "areaTitle": "Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD",
      "annualP25": 49700,
      "annualP50": 58380,
      "annualP75": 68890,
      "hourlyP50": 28.07,
      "employment": 4630
    },
    {
      "rank": 18,
      "metroSlug": "las-vegas-nv",
      "metroName": "Las Vegas, NV",
      "primState": "NV",
      "areaTitle": "Las Vegas-Henderson-North Las Vegas, NV",
      "annualP25": 46340,
      "annualP50": 57980,
      "annualP75": 66180,
      "hourlyP50": 27.87,
      "employment": 730
    },
    {
      "rank": 19,
      "metroSlug": "houston-tx",
      "metroName": "Houston, TX",
      "primState": "TX",
      "areaTitle": "Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX",
      "annualP25": 46470,
      "annualP50": 57940,
      "annualP75": 71460,
      "hourlyP50": 27.86,
      "employment": 15850
    },
    {
      "rank": 20,
      "metroSlug": "richmond-va",
      "metroName": "Richmond, VA",
      "primState": "VA",
      "areaTitle": "Richmond, VA",
      "annualP25": 48600,
      "annualP50": 57710,
      "annualP75": 66490,
      "hourlyP50": 27.74,
      "employment": 1260
    },
    {
      "rank": 21,
      "metroSlug": "kansas-city-mo",
      "metroName": "Kansas City, MO",
      "primState": "MO",
      "areaTitle": "Kansas City, MO-KS",
      "annualP25": 48240,
      "annualP50": 57370,
      "annualP75": 71380,
      "hourlyP50": 27.58,
      "employment": 2710
    },
    {
      "rank": 22,
      "metroSlug": "sacramento-ca",
      "metroName": "Sacramento, CA",
      "primState": "CA",
      "areaTitle": "Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA",
      "annualP25": 49210,
      "annualP50": 57290,
      "annualP75": 63980,
      "hourlyP50": 27.55,
      "employment": 1530
    },
    {
      "rank": 23,
      "metroSlug": "raleigh-nc",
      "metroName": "Raleigh, NC",
      "primState": "NC",
      "areaTitle": "Raleigh-Cary, NC",
      "annualP25": 47190,
      "annualP50": 56940,
      "annualP75": 60980,
      "hourlyP50": 27.37,
      "employment": 1090
    },
    {
      "rank": 24,
      "metroSlug": "phoenix-az",
      "metroName": "Phoenix, AZ",
      "primState": "AZ",
      "areaTitle": "Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler, AZ",
      "annualP25": 48890,
      "annualP50": 56540,
      "annualP75": 65690,
      "hourlyP50": 27.18,
      "employment": 5440
    },
    {
      "rank": 25,
      "metroSlug": "los-angeles-ca",
      "metroName": "Los Angeles, CA",
      "primState": "CA",
      "areaTitle": "Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA",
      "annualP25": 47910,
      "annualP50": 56160,
      "annualP75": 64800,
      "hourlyP50": 27,
      "employment": 7850
    },
    {
      "rank": 26,
      "metroSlug": "charlotte-nc",
      "metroName": "Charlotte, NC",
      "primState": "NC",
      "areaTitle": "Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC",
      "annualP25": 47420,
      "annualP50": 56070,
      "annualP75": 62740,
      "hourlyP50": 26.96,
      "employment": 3370
    },
    {
      "rank": 27,
      "metroSlug": "miami-fl",
      "metroName": "Miami, FL",
      "primState": "FL",
      "areaTitle": "Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, FL",
      "annualP25": 47870,
      "annualP50": 54590,
      "annualP75": 62630,
      "hourlyP50": 26.25,
      "employment": 3510
    },
    {
      "rank": 28,
      "metroSlug": "pittsburgh-pa",
      "metroName": "Pittsburgh, PA",
      "primState": "PA",
      "areaTitle": "Pittsburgh, PA",
      "annualP25": 47480,
      "annualP50": 53610,
      "annualP75": 63120,
      "hourlyP50": 25.78,
      "employment": 3600
    },
    {
      "rank": 29,
      "metroSlug": "omaha-ne",
      "metroName": "Omaha, NE",
      "primState": "NE",
      "areaTitle": "Omaha, NE-IA",
      "annualP25": 48750,
      "annualP50": 53110,
      "annualP75": 60750,
      "hourlyP50": 25.53,
      "employment": 1060
    },
    {
      "rank": 30,
      "metroSlug": "providence-ri",
      "metroName": "Providence, RI",
      "primState": "RI",
      "areaTitle": "Providence-Warwick, RI-MA",
      "annualP25": 50580,
      "annualP50": 52800,
      "annualP75": 68640,
      "hourlyP50": 25.39,
      "employment": 2490
    },
    {
      "rank": 31,
      "metroSlug": "chicago-il",
      "metroName": "Chicago, IL",
      "primState": "IL",
      "areaTitle": "Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN",
      "annualP25": 46270,
      "annualP50": 52650,
      "annualP75": 61750,
      "hourlyP50": 25.31,
      "employment": 9320
    },
    {
      "rank": 32,
      "metroSlug": "riverside-ca",
      "metroName": "Riverside, CA",
      "primState": "CA",
      "areaTitle": "Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA",
      "annualP25": 47830,
      "annualP50": 52050,
      "annualP75": 60850,
      "hourlyP50": 25.02,
      "employment": 3810
    },
    {
      "rank": 33,
      "metroSlug": "cincinnati-oh",
      "metroName": "Cincinnati, OH",
      "primState": "OH",
      "areaTitle": "Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN",
      "annualP25": 47050,
      "annualP50": 51990,
      "annualP75": 62240,
      "hourlyP50": 24.99,
      "employment": 3160
    },
    {
      "rank": 34,
      "metroSlug": "detroit-mi",
      "metroName": "Detroit, MI",
      "primState": "MI",
      "areaTitle": "Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, MI",
      "annualP25": 47650,
      "annualP50": 51810,
      "annualP75": 61010,
      "hourlyP50": 24.91,
      "employment": 4580
    },
    {
      "rank": 35,
      "metroSlug": "st-louis-mo",
      "metroName": "St. Louis, MO",
      "primState": "MO",
      "areaTitle": "St. Louis, MO-IL",
      "annualP25": 46630,
      "annualP50": 51640,
      "annualP75": 60560,
      "hourlyP50": 24.83,
      "employment": 2820
    },
    {
      "rank": 36,
      "metroSlug": "dallas-tx",
      "metroName": "Dallas, TX",
      "primState": "TX",
      "areaTitle": "Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX",
      "annualP25": 46180,
      "annualP50": 51630,
      "annualP75": 62670,
      "hourlyP50": 24.82,
      "employment": 10620
    },
    {
      "rank": 37,
      "metroSlug": "columbus-oh",
      "metroName": "Columbus, OH",
      "primState": "OH",
      "areaTitle": "Columbus, OH",
      "annualP25": 47400,
      "annualP50": 51260,
      "annualP75": 60140,
      "hourlyP50": 24.64,
      "employment": 2190
    },
    {
      "rank": 38,
      "metroSlug": "indianapolis-in",
      "metroName": "Indianapolis, IN",
      "primState": "IN",
      "areaTitle": "Indianapolis-Carmel-Greenwood, IN",
      "annualP25": 46590,
      "annualP50": 51070,
      "annualP75": 62550,
      "hourlyP50": 24.55,
      "employment": 2790
    },
    {
      "rank": 39,
      "metroSlug": "louisville-ky",
      "metroName": "Louisville, KY",
      "primState": "KY",
      "areaTitle": "Louisville/Jefferson County, KY-IN",
      "annualP25": 47440,
      "annualP50": 50870,
      "annualP75": 60330,
      "hourlyP50": 24.46,
      "employment": 1790
    },
    {
      "rank": 40,
      "metroSlug": "jacksonville-fl",
      "metroName": "Jacksonville, FL",
      "primState": "FL",
      "areaTitle": "Jacksonville, FL",
      "annualP25": 46290,
      "annualP50": 50640,
      "annualP75": 61140,
      "hourlyP50": 24.35,
      "employment": 1420
    },
    {
      "rank": 41,
      "metroSlug": "boise-city-id",
      "metroName": "Boise City, ID",
      "primState": "ID",
      "areaTitle": "Boise City, ID",
      "annualP25": 46660,
      "annualP50": 50240,
      "annualP75": 59530,
      "hourlyP50": 24.15,
      "employment": 1400
    },
    {
      "rank": 42,
      "metroSlug": "orlando-fl",
      "metroName": "Orlando, FL",
      "primState": "FL",
      "areaTitle": "Orlando-Kissimmee-Sanford, FL",
      "annualP25": 45940,
      "annualP50": 50200,
      "annualP75": 59630,
      "hourlyP50": 24.13,
      "employment": 2020
    },
    {
      "rank": 43,
      "metroSlug": "birmingham-al",
      "metroName": "Birmingham, AL",
      "primState": "AL",
      "areaTitle": "Birmingham, AL",
      "annualP25": 44350,
      "annualP50": 49930,
      "annualP75": 62080,
      "hourlyP50": 24,
      "employment": 2160
    },
    {
      "rank": 44,
      "metroSlug": "tampa-fl",
      "metroName": "Tampa, FL",
      "primState": "FL",
      "areaTitle": "Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, FL",
      "annualP25": 46670,
      "annualP50": 49930,
      "annualP75": 60310,
      "hourlyP50": 24,
      "employment": 2520
    },
    {
      "rank": 45,
      "metroSlug": "atlanta-ga",
      "metroName": "Atlanta, GA",
      "primState": "GA",
      "areaTitle": "Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA",
      "annualP25": 46130,
      "annualP50": 49630,
      "annualP75": 59700,
      "hourlyP50": 23.86,
      "employment": 5240
    },
    {
      "rank": 46,
      "metroSlug": "nashville-tn",
      "metroName": "Nashville, TN",
      "primState": "TN",
      "areaTitle": "Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin, TN",
      "annualP25": 43730,
      "annualP50": 49460,
      "annualP75": 61100,
      "hourlyP50": 23.78,
      "employment": 2590
    },
    {
      "rank": 47,
      "metroSlug": "cleveland-oh",
      "metroName": "Cleveland, OH",
      "primState": "OH",
      "areaTitle": "Cleveland, OH",
      "annualP25": 44620,
      "annualP50": 49040,
      "annualP75": 58850,
      "hourlyP50": 23.58,
      "employment": 3510
    },
    {
      "rank": 48,
      "metroSlug": "grand-rapids-mi",
      "metroName": "Grand Rapids, MI",
      "primState": "MI",
      "areaTitle": "Grand Rapids-Wyoming-Kentwood, MI",
      "annualP25": 47300,
      "annualP50": 48920,
      "annualP75": 57210,
      "hourlyP50": 23.52,
      "employment": 2520
    },
    {
      "rank": 49,
      "metroSlug": "oklahoma-city-ok",
      "metroName": "Oklahoma City, OK",
      "primState": "OK",
      "areaTitle": "Oklahoma City, OK",
      "annualP25": 42740,
      "annualP50": 48760,
      "annualP75": 59600,
      "hourlyP50": 23.44,
      "employment": 2200
    },
    {
      "rank": 50,
      "metroSlug": "san-antonio-tx",
      "metroName": "San Antonio, TX",
      "primState": "TX",
      "areaTitle": "San Antonio-New Braunfels, TX",
      "annualP25": 45010,
      "annualP50": 48220,
      "annualP75": 60930,
      "hourlyP50": 23.18,
      "employment": 2510
    }
  ],
  "faqs": [
    {
      "question": "Which US metro pays welders the most?",
      "answer": "Of the 50 metros with BLS welder data, Baton Rouge, LA pays the highest median at $78,170 a year, per BLS OEWS May 2025. These are raw wages, not adjusted for cost of living."
    },
    {
      "question": "How much do welders make in Baton Rouge?",
      "answer": "The median welder wage in the Baton Rouge metro is $78,170 a year (about $37.58/hour), per BLS OEWS May 2025 - the highest of the 50 metros we cover. Half of Baton Rouge welders earn between $61,170 (25th percentile) and $79,880 (75th percentile). This is a before-tax employer-survey wage and does not include benefits, overtime, or self-employment income."
    },
    {
      "question": "Do welders make more in expensive coastal cities?",
      "answer": "No - for welders the top of the list is not the expensive coasts. Baton Rouge, LA welders (median $78,170, rank #1) out-earn San Francisco, CA welders (median $64,320, rank #3) in raw BLS dollars (BLS OEWS May 2025). Gulf Coast industrial and petrochemical work pushes welder pay up where that work is. We don't cost-of-living adjust in either direction, so read the ranking as \"highest-paying before rent,\" not \"best place to work.\""
    },
    {
      "question": "How much do welders make in Houston?",
      "answer": "The median welder wage in the Houston metro is $57,940 a year ($46,470 to $71,460 between the 25th and 75th percentiles), per BLS OEWS May 2025. Houston has by far the most welder jobs of any metro we cover (15,850 welders in the BLS count) but ranks #19 of 50 on pay - the biggest market is not the best-paying one."
    },
    {
      "question": "How much do welders make in Chicago?",
      "answer": "The median welder wage in the Chicago metro is $52,650 a year ($46,270 to $61,750 between the 25th and 75th percentiles), per BLS OEWS May 2025. It ranks #31 of 50 metros."
    },
    {
      "question": "How much do welders make in New York?",
      "answer": "The median welder wage in the New York metro is $61,680 a year ($52,790 to $75,930 between the 25th and 75th percentiles), per BLS OEWS May 2025. It ranks #11 of 50 metros. This covers the New York-Newark-Jersey City area, not the five boroughs alone."
    },
    {
      "question": "What is the typical welder wage across major US metros?",
      "answer": "Across the 50 metros with BLS welder data, the metro medians run from $48,220 (San Antonio, TX) to $78,170 (Baton Rouge, LA), a $29,950 spread. The middle of that set sits near $56,115. That figure describes these metros, not a national average. All numbers are BLS OEWS May 2025 medians."
    }
  ]
}