Salary guide, May 2025
Welding Supervisor 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 First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers in the United States was $74,450 (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS, May 2025). The middle half of workers earned between $58,630 and $91,680.
Broader occupation · SOC 51-1011 First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers
Welding Supervisor 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| $47,130 | $58,630 | $74,450 | $91,680 | $108,750 |
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| $22.66 | $28.19 | $35.79 | $44.08 | $52.28 |
BLS estimated 673,430 workers employed in this occupation in the United States.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. SOC 51-1011 First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers, 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 | $63,720 | $50,480 to $82,640 | 6,960 | 0.57 |
| Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, FL | $64,510 | $51,740 to $83,370 | 4,580 | 0.73 |
| Orlando-Kissimmee-Sanford, FL | $62,400 | $49,580 to $81,170 | 3,350 | 0.55 |
| Raleigh-Cary, NC | $75,230 | $57,900 to $89,880 | 1,680 | 0.52 |
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | $81,790 | $64,130 to $101,350 | 19,220 | 0.47 |
| Northern New Jersey within New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | $81,790 | $64,130 to $101,350 | 19,220 | 0.47 |
| Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX | $69,940 | $51,360 to $89,820 | 16,880 | 0.96 |
| Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN | $76,500 | $59,380 to $93,880 | 20,970 | 1.07 |
Rank every metro for Welding Supervisor
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.
- Petroleum and Coal Products Manufacturing$124,260
- Petroleum and Coal Products Manufacturing$124,260
- Pulp, Paper, and Paperboard Mills$97,080
- Aerospace Product and Parts Manufacturing$96,350
- Chemical Manufacturing (3251, 3252, 3253, and 3259 only)$86,730
- Motor Vehicle Manufacturing$86,300
- Ship and Boat Building$83,450
- Engine, Turbine, and Power Transmission Equipment Manufacturing$82,760
- Pharmaceutical and Medicine Manufacturing$82,750
- Paper Manufacturing$82,620
- Chemical Manufacturing$81,090
- Navigational, Measuring, Electromedical, and Control Instruments Manufacturing$80,960
- Nonferrous Metal (except Aluminum) Production and Processing$80,770
- Communications Equipment Manufacturing$79,980
- Grain and Oilseed Milling$79,810
Bars show up to 15 industries with exact annual medians. The table lists every published industry.
| NAICS | Industry | Employment | 25th | Median | 75th |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 31-33 | Manufacturing | 491,210 | $59,920 | $75,180 | $90,810 |
| 311000 | Food Manufacturing | 71,790 | $56,400 | $69,140 | $81,060 |
| 332000 | Fabricated Metal Product Manufacturing | 67,090 | $60,130 | $73,910 | $84,500 |
| 336000 | Transportation Equipment Manufacturing | 57,620 | $62,370 | $78,400 | $96,760 |
| 325000 | Chemical Manufacturing | 39,780 | $63,350 | $81,090 | $102,270 |
| 333000 | Machinery Manufacturing | 38,680 | $62,170 | $77,040 | $93,810 |
| 326000 | Plastics and Rubber Products Manufacturing | 34,910 | $58,750 | $70,920 | $81,370 |
| 326100 | Plastics Product Manufacturing | 29,260 | $58,450 | $69,840 | $80,920 |
| 3330A1 | Machinery Manufacturing (3331, 3332, 3334, and 3339 only) | 26,480 | $62,000 | $76,550 | $92,570 |
| 3320A2 | Fabricated Metal Product Manufacturing (3323 and 3324 only) | 23,510 | $60,670 | $74,050 | $84,670 |
| 336300 | Motor Vehicle Parts Manufacturing | 22,500 | $57,740 | $70,140 | $82,250 |
| 311600 | Animal Slaughtering and Processing | 21,650 | $60,560 | $70,620 | $80,000 |
| 334000 | Computer and Electronic Product Manufacturing | 21,300 | $62,280 | $78,820 | $98,330 |
| 339000 | Miscellaneous Manufacturing | 21,210 | $58,250 | $73,440 | $86,940 |
| 3320A1 | Fabricated Metal Product Manufacturing (3321, 3322, 3325, 3326, and 3329 only) | 20,660 | $59,780 | $74,110 | $83,350 |
| 331000 | Primary Metal Manufacturing | 19,350 | $62,040 | $77,360 | $93,150 |
| 3250A1 | Chemical Manufacturing (3251, 3252, 3253, and 3259 only) | 18,550 | $68,100 | $86,730 | $110,840 |
| 322000 | Paper Manufacturing | 17,540 | $66,070 | $82,620 | $97,290 |
| 321000 | Wood Product Manufacturing | 17,420 | $52,250 | $63,110 | $79,540 |
| 323000 | Printing and Related Support Activities | 15,950 | $53,440 | $65,320 | $80,520 |
| 323100 | Printing and Related Support Activities | 15,950 | $53,440 | $65,320 | $80,520 |
| 337000 | Furniture and Related Product Manufacturing | 15,350 | $52,960 | $63,160 | $78,650 |
| 332700 | Machine Shops; Turned Product; and Screw, Nut, and Bolt Manufacturing | 15,280 | $61,810 | $76,500 | $92,760 |
| 327000 | Nonmetallic Mineral Product Manufacturing | 15,240 | $60,100 | $75,590 | $90,010 |
| 327000 | Nonmetallic Mineral Product Manufacturing | 15,240 | $60,100 | $75,590 | $90,010 |
| 335000 | Electrical Equipment, Appliance, and Component Manufacturing | 14,650 | $59,530 | $74,260 | $88,050 |
| 3370A1 | Furniture and Related Product Manufacturing (3371 and 3372 only) | 14,340 | $53,150 | $63,000 | $78,640 |
| 311800 | Bakeries and Tortilla Manufacturing | 13,290 | $48,240 | $60,540 | $77,400 |
| 325400 | Pharmaceutical and Medicine Manufacturing | 12,570 | $65,740 | $82,750 | $101,500 |
| 322200 | Converted Paper Product Manufacturing | 12,560 | $62,210 | $79,040 | $93,870 |
| 332710 | Machine Shops | 12,160 | $62,250 | $76,700 | $92,840 |
| 336400 | Aerospace Product and Parts Manufacturing | 11,090 | $78,600 | $96,350 | $106,600 |
| 339900 | Other Miscellaneous Manufacturing | 11,020 | $52,540 | $64,610 | $80,120 |
| 321900 | Other Wood Product Manufacturing | 10,430 | $50,750 | $61,400 | $76,400 |
| 311900 | Other Food Manufacturing | 10,210 | $55,680 | $69,910 | $81,880 |
| 339100 | Medical Equipment and Supplies Manufacturing | 10,190 | $61,640 | $78,370 | $96,780 |
| 334400 | Semiconductor and Other Electronic Component Manufacturing | 9,810 | $60,950 | $77,770 | $98,280 |
| 336100 | Motor Vehicle Manufacturing | 9,730 | $74,770 | $86,300 | $99,320 |
| 3250A2 | Chemical Manufacturing (3255 and 3256 only) | 8,660 | $57,980 | $73,640 | $85,610 |
| 334500 | Navigational, Measuring, Electromedical, and Control Instruments Manufacturing | 8,420 | $66,990 | $80,960 | $99,570 |
| 311500 | Dairy Product Manufacturing | 7,880 | $61,740 | $77,080 | $87,000 |
| 332800 | Coating, Engraving, Heat Treating, and Allied Activities | 7,630 | $53,960 | $63,550 | $78,030 |
| 311400 | Fruit and Vegetable Preserving and Specialty Food Manufacturing | 7,300 | $54,780 | $67,780 | $80,180 |
| 335900 | Other Electrical Equipment and Component Manufacturing | 6,470 | $59,420 | $75,190 | $91,560 |
| 333500 | Metalworking Machinery Manufacturing | 6,430 | $62,160 | $76,500 | $93,900 |
| 336200 | Motor Vehicle Body and Trailer Manufacturing | 6,320 | $58,590 | $65,340 | $79,940 |
| 312000 | Beverage and Tobacco Product Manufacturing | 6,300 | $61,600 | $78,260 | $90,210 |
| 336600 | Ship and Boat Building | 6,010 | $73,830 | $83,450 | $100,580 |
| 312100 | Beverage Manufacturing | 5,690 | $61,240 | $78,140 | $89,280 |
| 326200 | Rubber Product Manufacturing | 5,650 | $60,080 | $73,840 | $83,880 |
| 335300 | Electrical Equipment Manufacturing | 5,410 | $61,380 | $76,390 | $91,870 |
| 331500 | Foundries | 5,120 | $60,370 | $74,850 | $84,400 |
| 322100 | Pulp, Paper, and Paperboard Mills | 4,980 | $84,620 | $97,080 | $114,460 |
| 324000 | Petroleum and Coal Products Manufacturing | 4,980 | $81,450 | $124,260 | $149,880 |
| 324100 | Petroleum and Coal Products Manufacturing | 4,980 | $81,450 | $124,260 | $149,880 |
| 331100 | Iron and Steel Mills and Ferroalloy Manufacturing | 4,960 | $66,780 | $77,910 | $95,430 |
| 314000 | Textile Product Mills | 4,390 | $47,560 | $60,100 | $75,410 |
| 313000 | Textile Mills | 4,080 | $56,620 | $63,690 | $77,350 |
| 311100 | Animal Food Manufacturing | 3,800 | $58,690 | $74,110 | $82,640 |
| 321200 | Veneer, Plywood, and Engineered Wood Product Manufacturing | 3,640 | $54,230 | $64,940 | $81,700 |
| 321100 | Sawmills and Wood Preservation | 3,350 | $58,070 | $74,470 | $92,910 |
| 331200 | Steel Product Manufacturing from Purchased Steel | 3,220 | $61,520 | $75,770 | $92,280 |
| 311300 | Sugar and Confectionery Product Manufacturing | 3,210 | $49,570 | $64,810 | $82,720 |
| 332720 | Turned Product and Screw, Nut, and Bolt Manufacturing | 3,120 | $60,450 | $75,600 | $92,460 |
| 311200 | Grain and Oilseed Milling | 3,090 | $62,650 | $79,810 | $96,530 |
| 331300 | Alumina and Aluminum Production and Processing | 3,090 | $59,770 | $76,580 | $93,150 |
| 333600 | Engine, Turbine, and Power Transmission Equipment Manufacturing | 3,030 | $65,650 | $82,760 | $98,270 |
| 331400 | Nonferrous Metal (except Aluminum) Production and Processing | 2,960 | $67,300 | $80,770 | $97,550 |
| 333300 | Commercial and Service Industry Machinery Manufacturing | 2,740 | $60,690 | $76,850 | $92,620 |
| 314900 | Other Textile Product Mills | 2,580 | $47,430 | $60,640 | $75,890 |
| 315000 | Apparel Manufacturing | 2,460 | $45,310 | $56,610 | $74,770 |
| 313200 | Fabric Mills | 2,330 | $56,580 | $64,180 | $77,490 |
| 315200 | Cut and Sew Apparel Manufacturing | 1,870 | $45,870 | $57,420 | $74,380 |
| 314100 | Textile Furnishings Mills | 1,810 | $48,320 | $59,740 | $74,990 |
| 335200 | Household Appliance Manufacturing | 1,540 | $60,070 | $64,090 | $79,480 |
| 334200 | Communications Equipment Manufacturing | 1,470 | $62,940 | $79,980 | $97,220 |
| 311700 | Seafood Product Preparation and Packaging | 1,360 | $43,680 | $59,750 | $77,710 |
| 336900 | Other Transportation Equipment Manufacturing | 1,290 | $55,390 | $66,260 | $80,130 |
| 335100 | Electric Lighting Equipment Manufacturing | 1,230 | $50,320 | $63,430 | $80,060 |
| 316000 | Leather and Allied Product Manufacturing | 1,120 | $47,610 | $60,780 | $74,920 |
| 334100 | Computer and Peripheral Equipment Manufacturing | 1,030 | $56,440 | $73,550 | $96,020 |
| 337900 | Other Furniture Related Product Manufacturing | 1,020 | $50,580 | $70,040 | $79,380 |
| 313300 | Textile and Fabric Finishing and Fabric Coating Mills | 970 | $57,870 | $63,710 | $79,580 |
| 313100 | Fiber, Yarn, and Thread Mills | 780 | $56,350 | $62,610 | $75,700 |
| 339910 | Jewelry and Silverware Manufacturing | 740 | $49,530 | $62,760 | $81,350 |
| 336500 | Railroad Rolling Stock Manufacturing | 690 | $61,750 | $77,560 | $91,600 |
| 312200 | Tobacco Manufacturing | 610 | $65,300 | $78,840 | $96,410 |
| 316900 | Other Leather and Allied Product Manufacturing | 490 | $47,680 | $59,750 | $73,890 |
| 315900 | Apparel Accessories and Other Apparel Manufacturing | 430 | $39,520 | $56,830 | $77,090 |
| 316200 | Footwear Manufacturing | 370 | $47,690 | $61,870 | $73,060 |
| 334300 | Audio and Video Equipment Manufacturing | 360 | $58,490 | $66,110 | $81,270 |
| 316100 | Leather and Hide Tanning and Finishing | 260 | $47,350 | $60,220 | $83,230 |
| 334600 | Manufacturing and Reproducing Magnetic and Optical Media | 210 | $54,040 | $56,750 | $67,760 |
| 315100 | Apparel Knitting Mills | 170 | $42,100 | $49,390 | $60,700 |
What should you know about manufacturing pay mix?
For Welding Supervisor, write the straight-time rate separately from shift coverage and extra hours. OEWS includes base rate, guaranteed pay and production incentive pay. It excludes overtime premium, shift differentials and nonproduction bonuses. 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 | $56,330 | $71,190 | $86,770 |
| May 2025 | $58,630 | $74,450 | $91,680 |
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.
- Worker occupation: CNC Machinist pay (SOC 51-4041)
- Worker occupation: CNC Setup Machinist pay (SOC 51-9161)
- Worker occupation: CNC Programmer pay (SOC 51-9162)
- Worker occupation: Tool and Die Maker pay (SOC 51-4111)
- Worker occupation: Production Welder (MIG) pay (SOC 51-4121)
- Worker occupation: Robotic Welding Technician pay (SOC 51-4122)
- Worker occupation: Press Brake Operator pay (SOC 51-4031)
- Worker occupation: Production Technician pay (SOC 51-9199)
Recruiter's read. Qualitative, not BLS data.
What should you know about the actual remit?
Write down who is accountable for welding crews and work controls on the actual product and code requirements today. That explanation helps separate their capability from a team's success at welding crews and work controls on the actual product and code requirements.
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 Welding Supervisor?
The median annual wage for First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers in the United States was $74,450 (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS, May 2025). The middle half of workers earned between $58,630 and $91,680. This is the broader occupation BLS publishes, not a figure for this exact title.
What does the 10th percentile mean here?
10% of workers in this occupation and area earned less than $47,130. 90% earned less than $108,750.
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 Welding Supervisor at a plant?
Welding Supervisor 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 673,430 workers employed in this occupation in the United States.
What should you know about related?
Production Welder (MIG) pay TIG Welder pay Code Welder (ASME / Pressure Vessel) pay Robotic Welding Technician pay Press Brake Operator pay Welding Supervisor pay ranked across all metros Open jobs Welding Supervisor recruiting Check an offer for this role
What does this data mean for your opening?
Manufacturing Headhunters analyzes the Welding Supervisor role under SOC 51-1011, which covers first-line supervisors of production and operating workers. This classification is broader than welding alone and includes various production management roles. As of May 2025, the national median is $74,450, an increase of $3,260 from the May 2024 median of $71,190.
The middle-band width, representing the spread between the P25 ($58,630) and the P75 ($91,680), is $33,050. These figures offer a starting point for assessing supervisory compensation but exclude plant-specific bonuses and production-related incentives.
National industry trends in Petroleum and Coal Products Manufacturing show a median of $124,260, while the Pulp, Paper, and Paperboard Mills industry reports a median of $97,080. These figures are higher than the broad occupation median, reflecting the compensation levels within those specific industries. Regional benchmarking in the Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN, area shows a median of $76,500 with a $34,500 middle-band width. The New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ, region reports a median of $81,790 with a middle-band width of $37,220. These comparisons are based on top occupational employment centers.
The P10 of $47,130 and the P90 of $108,750 define the national wage spectrum. Because the Welding Supervisor title is mapped into the broader SOC 51-1011, hiring managers must look beyond the SOC definition to assess candidate expertise in procedure oversight and formal welder qualification management. BLS wage data does not isolate supervisory pay by process or specific metallurgical knowledge. The industry medians, while higher, confirm that supervisory compensation varies significantly by sector. Recruiters should utilize these benchmarks as a foundation, acknowledging that the actual pay for welding supervisors depends on the scope of production accountability and technical responsibility.
Which pay questions should you settle before hiring?
How does the broader SOC 51-1011 impact this salary data?
The SOC 51-1011 includes all first-line production supervisors, not just those managing welding lines. This means the figures incorporate a wide variety of supervisory roles with differing levels of technical and production responsibility.
Why is the middle-band width wider for supervisors?
The $33,050 middle-band width reflects the diverse nature of production supervisory responsibilities. Larger firms or those in high-cost sectors drive the higher pay, while smaller operations fall toward the lower end.
Are regional medians in Chicago or New York adjusted for living costs?
The regional medians represent the reported wages for the occupation within those specific metropolitan areas. They are not adjusted for local living costs but represent the actual pay distribution for that local labor market.
Related recruiting or pay page · Related wage comparison 1 · Data methodology · Related wage comparison 3 · Related wage comparison 4