How much do welders make in Missouri in 2026?

The median welder in Missouri earns $51,950 per year, which works out to roughly $24.98 an hour based on a standard 2,080-hour work year. That number sits in the middle of a real spread — entry-level and lower-experienced welders at the 25th percentile pull in $45,930 ($22.08/hr), while welders in the top quarter of earners reach $61,660 ($29.64/hr). All figures come from the BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics survey, May 2025.

That $15,730 gap between the 25th and 75th percentile is worth paying attention to. It tells you that skill level, process knowledge, and industry placement make a significant difference in what you take home. A welder who can run GMAW on structural steel in a shop is not earning the same as one who is certified in GTAW and working on pressure vessels or pipework in a refinery or power plant setting. The process you master, and the industry that needs it, moves your number.

Missouri's welding workforce covers a wide range of industries. Manufacturing is the dominant employer — automotive components, heavy equipment, and fabricated metal products all have a meaningful footprint in the state. The aerospace and defense sector around St. Louis employs precision welders who typically sit above the median. Agricultural equipment and infrastructure projects spread across the state also generate steady demand, particularly in rural counties where fabrication shops support construction and farming operations.

Geography matters inside Missouri. The St. Louis metro and the Kansas City metro tend to post higher wages due to larger industrial employers, unionized manufacturing facilities, and higher costs of doing business. Smaller cities and rural areas generally track closer to or below the state median, though cost of living differences can offset some of that gap in take-home purchasing power.

Overtime is a real factor in annual earnings for welders. Many shops and contractors run extended hours during busy project cycles. A welder earning $24.98/hr base who logs 200 hours of overtime at time-and-a-half adds roughly $7,494 to annual gross pay — pushing total compensation well past the stated median. That math applies across all percentile levels and is worth factoring in when you evaluate a job offer.

Certifications move the needle. AWS D1.1 structural certification is broadly valued across Missouri's manufacturing and construction welding jobs. ASME Section IX qualifications matter in the oil, gas, and power generation sectors. Welders who hold multiple process certifications — particularly those covering both plate and pipe — consistently land offers at or above the 75th percentile. If your ticket list is short, adding certifications is the most direct path to a higher wage.

No union scale data is currently available for this trade in Missouri. Welders working under collective bargaining agreements at specific employers or on prevailing wage projects should verify rates directly with the relevant local union or project labor agreement.

TradesPays updates wage data as new BLS releases become available. The numbers on this page reflect the May 2025 OEWS survey and represent statewide averages — your actual offer will depend on your certifications, process experience, industry, employer size, and location within Missouri.