Salary guide, May 2025
Welder-Fabricator pay, United States
Manufacturing Headhunters uses the published BLS OEWS figures below. They describe the mapped occupation and area, not an individual offer.
This is what we do all day: recruit manufacturing professionals.
The median annual wage for Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and Brazers in the United States was $53,750 (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS, May 2025). The middle half of workers earned between $46,790 and $63,010.
Direct match · SOC 51-4121 Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and Brazers
Welder-Fabricator is shown within the broader published occupation. BLS does not separate this plant-specific title, seniority, shift, process or credential. Compare the duties with the SOC definition before using the range.
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| $39,240 | $46,790 | $53,750 | $63,010 | $77,530 |
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| $18.87 | $22.50 | $25.84 | $30.29 | $37.28 |
BLS estimated 416,210 workers employed in this occupation in the United States.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. SOC 51-4121 Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and Brazers, U.S.. Official occupation data · Official area tables. Released 2026-05-15.
How does pay compare in the target metros?
| Metro | Median | 25th to 75th | Employment | Location quotient |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, FL | $54,590 | $47,870 to $62,630 | 3,510 | 0.46 |
| Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, FL | $49,930 | $46,670 to $60,310 | 2,520 | 0.65 |
| Orlando-Kissimmee-Sanford, FL | $50,200 | $45,940 to $59,630 | 2,020 | 0.53 |
| Raleigh-Cary, NC | $56,940 | $47,190 to $60,980 | 1,090 | 0.55 |
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | $61,680 | $52,790 to $75,930 | 5,780 | 0.23 |
| Northern New Jersey within New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | $61,680 | $52,790 to $75,930 | 5,780 | 0.23 |
| Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX | $51,630 | $46,180 to $62,670 | 10,620 | 0.98 |
| Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN | $52,650 | $46,270 to $61,750 | 9,320 | 0.77 |
Rank every metro for Welder-Fabricator
What should you know about pay by manufacturing industry, United States?
Same BLS occupation, national estimates for each manufacturing industry (NAICS) BLS publishes, May 2025. Industry names are BLS labels. Nested NAICS rows overlap; they are not independent samples and must not be added together. Identical source rows repeated at different publication levels appear once.
- Petroleum and Coal Products Manufacturing (NAICS 324000)$99,570
- Chemical Manufacturing (NAICS 325000)$76,240
- Beverage and Tobacco Product Manufacturing (NAICS 312000)$67,540
- Food Manufacturing (NAICS 311000)$64,980
- Machinery Manufacturing (NAICS 333000)$53,660
- Nonmetallic Mineral Product Manufacturing (NAICS 327000)$53,550
- Electrical Equipment, Appliance, and Component Manufacturing (NAICS 335000)$51,580
- Transportation Equipment Manufacturing (NAICS 336000)$51,100
- Fabricated Metal Product Manufacturing (NAICS 332000)$50,870
- Primary Metal Manufacturing (NAICS 331000)$50,700
- Wood Product Manufacturing (NAICS 321000)$49,970
- Miscellaneous Manufacturing (NAICS 339000)$49,890
- Furniture and Related Product Manufacturing (NAICS 337000)$47,860
- Computer and Electronic Product Manufacturing (NAICS 334000)$47,400
- Textile Product Mills (NAICS 314000)$46,370
Bars compare up to 15 non-overlapping 3-digit manufacturing subsectors with exact annual medians. More detailed scopes remain in the table, identified by code and publication level.
| NAICS / scope | Industry | Employment | 25th | Median | 75th |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 31-33 · sector | Manufacturing | 274,710 | $46,560 | $51,210 | $60,920 |
| 332000 · 3-digit | Fabricated Metal Product Manufacturing | 112,520 | $46,470 | $50,870 | $60,450 |
| 3320A2 · 4-digit | Fabricated Metal Product Manufacturing (3323 and 3324 only) | 70,020 | $46,540 | $50,640 | $60,410 |
| 333000 · 3-digit | Machinery Manufacturing | 63,880 | $47,530 | $53,660 | $61,020 |
| 336000 · 3-digit | Transportation Equipment Manufacturing | 63,500 | $46,560 | $51,100 | $61,980 |
| 3330A1 · 4-digit | Machinery Manufacturing (3331, 3332, 3334, and 3339 only) | 56,750 | $47,520 | $53,680 | $61,000 |
| 3320A1 · 4-digit | Fabricated Metal Product Manufacturing (3321, 3322, 3325, 3326, and 3329 only) | 25,910 | $46,290 | $50,870 | $59,990 |
| 336200 · 4-digit | Motor Vehicle Body and Trailer Manufacturing | 22,560 | $46,190 | $49,340 | $56,790 |
| 332700 · 4-digit | Machine Shops; Turned Product; and Screw, Nut, and Bolt Manufacturing | 15,760 | $46,570 | $52,280 | $61,120 |
| 332710 · 5-digit | Machine Shops | 14,960 | $46,790 | $52,240 | $61,110 |
| 336300 · 4-digit | Motor Vehicle Parts Manufacturing | 14,470 | $40,180 | $47,300 | $54,890 |
| 336600 · 4-digit | Ship and Boat Building | 14,370 | $50,580 | $62,470 | $66,960 |
| 331000 · 3-digit | Primary Metal Manufacturing | 7,520 | $44,640 | $50,700 | $61,010 |
| 335000 · 3-digit | Electrical Equipment, Appliance, and Component Manufacturing | 5,830 | $46,700 | $51,580 | $59,810 |
| 334000 · 3-digit | Computer and Electronic Product Manufacturing | 4,840 | $39,080 | $47,400 | $59,210 |
| 339000 · 3-digit | Miscellaneous Manufacturing | 4,330 | $46,070 | $49,890 | $57,980 |
| 336400 · 4-digit | Aerospace Product and Parts Manufacturing | 4,160 | $54,690 | $64,140 | $78,700 |
| 337000 · 3-digit | Furniture and Related Product Manufacturing | 3,480 | $41,670 | $47,860 | $51,660 |
| 3370A1 · 4-digit | Furniture and Related Product Manufacturing (3371 and 3372 only) | 3,340 | $41,670 | $47,700 | $51,390 |
| 339900 · 4-digit | Other Miscellaneous Manufacturing | 3,270 | $45,400 | $49,310 | $58,060 |
| 333500 · 4-digit | Metalworking Machinery Manufacturing | 3,090 | $47,940 | $54,490 | $62,110 |
| 335300 · 4-digit | Electrical Equipment Manufacturing | 3,080 | $47,480 | $55,820 | $62,050 |
| 333300 · 4-digit | Commercial and Service Industry Machinery Manufacturing | 3,010 | $47,220 | $51,270 | $60,120 |
| 336100 · 4-digit | Motor Vehicle Manufacturing | 2,970 | $52,320 | $63,360 | $78,150 |
| 331100 · 4-digit | Iron and Steel Mills and Ferroalloy Manufacturing | 2,920 | $42,520 | $46,430 | $58,760 |
| 336900 · 4-digit | Other Transportation Equipment Manufacturing | 2,680 | $37,310 | $49,280 | $62,250 |
| 334500 · 4-digit | Navigational, Measuring, Electromedical, and Control Instruments Manufacturing | 2,310 | $45,990 | $55,640 | $62,300 |
| 336500 · 4-digit | Railroad Rolling Stock Manufacturing | 2,280 | $49,210 | $52,950 | $62,490 |
| 331200 · 4-digit | Steel Product Manufacturing from Purchased Steel | 2,160 | $46,460 | $53,740 | $61,630 |
| 327000 · 3-digit | Nonmetallic Mineral Product Manufacturing | 2,080 | $46,150 | $53,550 | $63,890 |
| 325000 · 3-digit | Chemical Manufacturing | 2,060 | $71,790 | $76,240 | $79,850 |
| 3250A1 · 4-digit | Chemical Manufacturing (3251, 3252, 3253, and 3259 only) | 1,970 | $72,890 | $76,240 | $79,850 |
| 334400 · 4-digit | Semiconductor and Other Electronic Component Manufacturing | 1,930 | $37,780 | $43,000 | $48,010 |
| 331500 · 4-digit | Foundries | 1,700 | $49,380 | $55,820 | $64,360 |
| 326000 · 3-digit | Plastics and Rubber Products Manufacturing | 1,610 | $39,840 | $45,920 | $57,150 |
| 335900 · 4-digit | Other Electrical Equipment and Component Manufacturing | 1,250 | $45,460 | $51,000 | $56,380 |
| 335200 · 4-digit | Household Appliance Manufacturing | 1,150 | $48,000 | $48,560 | $54,190 |
| 326100 · 4-digit | Plastics Product Manufacturing | 1,130 | $38,900 | $44,430 | $53,300 |
| 339100 · 4-digit | Medical Equipment and Supplies Manufacturing | 1,050 | $49,890 | $49,890 | $57,760 |
| 333600 · 4-digit | Engine, Turbine, and Power Transmission Equipment Manufacturing | 1,030 | $47,710 | $57,730 | $63,340 |
| 332800 · 4-digit | Coating, Engraving, Heat Treating, and Allied Activities | 830 | $43,830 | $49,700 | $58,530 |
| 332720 · 5-digit | Turned Product and Screw, Nut, and Bolt Manufacturing | 790 | $43,970 | $53,730 | $62,670 |
| 311000 · 3-digit | Food Manufacturing | 760 | $59,620 | $64,980 | $70,660 |
| 314000 · 3-digit | Textile Product Mills | 640 | $37,790 | $46,370 | $55,860 |
| 314900 · 4-digit | Other Textile Product Mills | 630 | $38,110 | $46,680 | $55,990 |
| 321000 · 3-digit | Wood Product Manufacturing | 550 | $44,500 | $49,970 | $57,750 |
| 326200 · 4-digit | Rubber Product Manufacturing | 480 | $43,680 | $49,190 | $59,020 |
| 324000 · 3-digit | Petroleum and Coal Products Manufacturing | 470 | $69,140 | $99,570 | $106,940 |
| 324100 · 4-digit | Petroleum and Coal Products Manufacturing | 470 | $69,140 | $99,570 | $106,940 |
| 321900 · 4-digit | Other Wood Product Manufacturing | 450 | $45,080 | $49,610 | $57,750 |
| 311300 · 4-digit | Sugar and Confectionery Product Manufacturing | 410 | $60,560 | $65,520 | $69,910 |
| 331400 · 4-digit | Nonferrous Metal (except Aluminum) Production and Processing | 400 | $46,640 | $50,160 | $63,460 |
| 334200 · 4-digit | Communications Equipment Manufacturing | 350 | $43,990 | $49,050 | $55,480 |
| 335100 · 4-digit | Electric Lighting Equipment Manufacturing | 350 | $42,640 | $46,390 | $57,370 |
| 331300 · 4-digit | Alumina and Aluminum Production and Processing | 340 | $46,420 | $51,630 | $62,980 |
| 337900 · 4-digit | Other Furniture Related Product Manufacturing | 140 | $47,680 | $49,230 | $57,200 |
| 322100 · 4-digit | Pulp, Paper, and Paperboard Mills | 130 | $47,690 | $68,120 | $85,580 |
| 334300 · 4-digit | Audio and Video Equipment Manufacturing | 130 | $37,840 | $42,320 | $45,960 |
| 334100 · 4-digit | Computer and Peripheral Equipment Manufacturing | 120 | $37,050 | $38,490 | $46,430 |
| 311600 · 4-digit | Animal Slaughtering and Processing | 90 | $59,860 | $63,360 | $69,070 |
| 311200 · 4-digit | Grain and Oilseed Milling | 70 | $52,760 | $63,100 | $72,030 |
| 3250A2 · 4-digit | Chemical Manufacturing (3255 and 3256 only) | 70 | $50,160 | $68,800 | $71,520 |
| 321100 · 4-digit | Sawmills and Wood Preservation | 60 | $47,010 | $54,020 | $65,790 |
| 311500 · 4-digit | Dairy Product Manufacturing | 50 | $67,840 | $72,840 | $76,900 |
| 311700 · 4-digit | Seafood Product Preparation and Packaging | 50 | $59,800 | $61,400 | $62,580 |
| 321200 · 4-digit | Veneer, Plywood, and Engineered Wood Product Manufacturing | 40 | $40,490 | $45,260 | $51,590 |
| 311900 · 4-digit | Other Food Manufacturing | 30 | $52,980 | $67,610 | $83,540 |
| 312000 · 3-digit | Beverage and Tobacco Product Manufacturing | 30 | $61,750 | $67,540 | $78,980 |
What should you know about manufacturing pay mix?
For Welder-Fabricator, write the straight-time rate separately from shift coverage and extra hours. OEWS measures straight-time gross wages, not pure base salary or total compensation. It includes base rate, guaranteed pay, commissions and production bonuses. It excludes overtime, shift differentials, nonproduction bonuses and benefits.
An attendance bonus is not a production bonus; confirm its purpose and treatment rather than adding every bonus to the BLS figure. Skills-based pay steps affect the base rate when they are part of straight-time pay; BLS does not publish a separate rate for each plant's skill grade. Ask whether a tool allowance is expense reimbursement or wage pay. OEWS does not publish a separate tool-allowance component. Keep these items separate in the offer so the published wage is not mistaken for the whole package.
Pay mix here means how published medians for this one BLS occupation differ across manufacturing industries and against the all-industry median. It does not split pay into base, incentive or overtime. BLS wages are straight-time gross pay and exclude overtime, shift differentials and nonproduction bonuses.
What should you know about two BLS releases?
| Release period | 25th | Median | 75th |
|---|---|---|---|
| May 2024 | $45,580 | $51,000 | $61,610 |
| May 2025 | $46,790 | $53,750 | $63,010 |
These are two separate BLS estimates from different survey panels. The workers and employers behind them differ, so the gap is not like-for-like pay for the same workers and is not a growth rate. We show no percentage change.
What should you know about supervisory and worker occupations?
BLS publishes these as separate occupations. Pay for one is not a pay step for the other.
- Supervisor occupation: Production Supervisor pay (SOC 51-1011)
Recruiter's read. Qualitative, not BLS data.
What should you know about the actual remit?
Write down who is accountable for fitting components and welding an assembly from drawings today. If responsibility for fitting components and welding an assembly from drawings is divided between several people, tell us where this hire's work begins and ends. That explanation helps separate their capability from a team's success at fitting components and welding an assembly from drawings.
What should you know about questions?
Wages for the OEWS survey are straight-time, gross pay, exclusive of premium pay. Base rate; cost-of-living allowances; guaranteed pay; hazardous-duty pay; incentive pay, including commissions and production bonuses; and tips are included. Excluded are overtime pay, severance pay, shift differentials, nonproduction bonuses, employer cost for supplementary benefits, and tuition reimbursements.
What is the median pay for a Welder-Fabricator?
The median annual wage for Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and Brazers in the United States was $53,750 (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS, May 2025). The middle half of workers earned between $46,790 and $63,010.
What does the 10th percentile mean here?
10% of workers in this occupation and area earned less than $39,240. 90% earned less than $77,530.
Does this include overtime or bonuses?
Wages for the OEWS survey are straight-time, gross pay, exclusive of premium pay. Base rate; cost-of-living allowances; guaranteed pay; hazardous-duty pay; incentive pay, including commissions and production bonuses; and tips are included. Excluded are overtime pay, severance pay, shift differentials, nonproduction bonuses, employer cost for supplementary benefits, and tuition reimbursements.
Is this the pay for a Welder-Fabricator at a plant?
Welder-Fabricator is shown within the broader published occupation. BLS does not separate this plant-specific title, seniority, shift, process or credential. Compare the duties with the SOC definition before using the range. These are occupation estimates across all industries, not an offer for a particular manufacturing title.
How many people work in this occupation?
BLS estimated 416,210 workers employed in this occupation in the United States.
What should you know about related?
What does this data mean for your opening?
The Welder-Fabricator role is categorized within the SOC 51-4121 Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and Brazers occupation. For Welder-Fabricator in the United States, releases are separate survey estimates. The May 2025 median is $53,750; the May 2024 median is $51,000. Their arithmetic difference is $2,750. They are not the same workers' raises and do not establish a pay trend or its cause.
For Welder-Fabricator in the United States, OEWS measures straight-time gross wages, not pure base salary or total compensation. Commissions and production bonuses are included; overtime, shift differentials, nonproduction bonuses and benefits are excluded.
BLS data for SOC 51-4121 does not provide specialized breakouts for layout or fabrication responsibilities. National industry figures show Petroleum and Coal Products Manufacturing with a median of $99,570 and Chemical Manufacturing with a median of $76,240. These national averages illustrate the high pay seen in specific capital-intensive sectors but should not be used as the sole benchmark for all fabrication hiring. Hiring managers should evaluate a candidate's specific fit-up skills and their ability to plan for distortion before welding, as these are technical qualifications that often exceed the scope of basic welder definitions found in general occupation statistics.
Regional wage structures for Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands show a median of $57,940 with a $24,990 middle-band width. Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington shows a median of $51,630 with a $16,490 middle-band width. These metros are selected for their high employment concentration in this occupation. Note that the high location quotient in Houston, at 1.8, indicates a significant welding workforce but does not imply a specific local pay or candidate availability level. Hiring managers should ensure their compensation is competitive within the local market while reflecting the specialized fabrication and layout experience required for their production environment.
Which pay questions should you settle before hiring?
How do I ensure a Welder-Fabricator hire is paid fairly based on these numbers?
Use the national and metro-specific medians as a starting point. Then, adjust your offer based on the candidate's specific fabrication skills and the local labor market conditions.
Why does the Houston metro have such a high middle-band width?
The wider middle-band width in Houston reflects a greater variation in the pay for welders in that specific, large market. It shows that pay rates differ significantly based on employer and role complexity.
Are these figures just for production welders?
The SOC 51-4121 category encompasses all welders, cutters, solderers, and brazers, not just production roles. Therefore, you must verify the candidate's specific fabrication and layout skills during the screening process.
Related recruiting or pay page · Related wage comparison 1 · Data methodology · Related wage comparison 3 · Related wage comparison 4