Rig Welder Salary in the United States

How much does a Rig Welder make in the United States?

As of August 01, 2026, the average salary for a Rig Welder in the United States is $83,818 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $40.

However, a Rig Welder's salary can vary significantly. Here’s a look at the typical salary range:

  • Top Earners (90th percentile): $97,193
  • Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $77,112 to $90,819
  • Entry-Level (10th percentile): $71,006
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View as table View as graph 25% $77,112 10% $71,006 90% $97,193 75% $90,819 $83,818 50%(Median) Didn’t find job title? Click

Rig Welder Salaries by Percentile

Annual
Salary
Monthly
Pay
Weekly
Pay
Hourly
Wage
75th Percentile $90,819 $7,568 $1,747 $44
Average $83,818 $6,985 $1,612 $40
25th Percentile $77,112 $6,426 $1,483 $37
Check out Rig Welder Job Openings in the United States
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Key Factors That Influence Rig Welder Salaries

A Rig Welder's salary isn't a fixed number. It's shaped by several important factors. Below, we'll explore how your years of experience, geographic location, education and company size can directly affect your earning potential.

Top Paying Cities for Rig Welders

Salaries can also vary between different cities. Major metropolitan areas or cities with a high demand for technicians often offer more competitive pay. Here are a few examples of average annual salaries in different U.S. cities:

  • San Jose: $105,720
  • San Francisco: $104,562
  • Oakland: $102,359

What Skills Can Increase a Rig Welder's Salary?

Demanded Skills for the Role:

  • Leadership (Mentioned in 7.15% Job Postings): Knowledge of and ability to employ effective strategies that motivate and guide other members within our business to achieve optimum results.
  • Construction Management (Mentioned in 3.36% Job Postings): Construction management (CM) is a professional service that uses specialized, project management techniques to oversee the planning, design, and construction of a project, from its beginning to its end. The purpose of CM is to control a project's time / delivery, cost and quality—sometimes referred to as a project management triangle or "triple constraints." CM is compatible with all project delivery systems, including design-bid-build, design-build, CM At-Risk and Public Private Partnerships. Professional construction managers may be reserved for lengthy, large-scale, high budget undertakings (commercial real estate, transportation infrastructure, industrial facilities, and military infrastructure), called capital projects.
  • Safety Standards (Mentioned in 2.36% Job Postings): Safety standards are designed to ensure the safety of products, activities and processes, etc. They may be advisory or compulsory and are normally laid down by an advisory or regulatory body that may be either voluntary or statutory.
See More Skills
Skills Demand Percentage
Leadership 7.15%
Construction Management 3.36%
Safety Standards 2.36%
What skills can make your compensation higher?
Mastering certain specialized skills can lead to a significant increase in pay. Here are examples of skills and the potential impact they can have on a Rig Welder's salary.
  • Building Codes: Can increase your salary by up to 21%.
  • Presentation: Can increase your salary by up to 16%.
  • Project Management: Can increase your salary by up to 13%.
Skill Salary Salary % Increase
Building Codes
$101,420
21%
Presentation
$97,229
16%
Project Management
$94,715
13%
Effective Communication
$91,362
9%
Fire Protection
$89,685
7%
Quality Control
$88,847
6%
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Rig Welder Salary by Industry: Top Paying Sectors

For Rig Welder roles, the industry you choose can affect earning potential by as much as 90% (the gap between the highest and lowest paying industries). Data shows that the Energy & Utilities and Construction sectors offer the strongest compensation, at 40% above the average. In contrast, Rig Welder positions in MFG Durable or Business Services typically offer lower base pay, as these industries often view Rig Welder as a support function rather than a direct revenue driver.

The top paying industries for a Rig Welder

Industry Sector Average Annual Salary Average Hourly Rate Pay vs.Avg
Energy & Utilities$117,345$56.040%
Construction$108,964$52.030%

How Education impacts a Rig Welder's Salary?

Your level of education can impact your salary potential. While many Rig Welders enter the field with a Bachelor's Degree degree, higher education can lead to more specialized and higher-paying roles.

According to our 100% employer-reported salary data, the median salary for a Rig Welder with a Bachelor's Degree is between $79,749 and $86,024).

Rig Welder Salaries by Degree Level

Typical Education for Rig Welder
Degree Level % of user with this level of education
No Diploma 45.5%
High School 45.5%
Associates 4.5%
Bachelors 31.8%
Masters 18.2%
Doctorate 0.0%
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Rig Welder Salary: Hourly Rate, Weekly Pay, and Monthly Pay

Understanding how a Rig Welder's annual salary breaks down can help with budgeting. Below, you can see the average hourly rate, weekly pay, and monthly pay for this role. Use the buttons to switch between different pay periods.

Last Updated on August 01, 2026

Salary Trends for Rig Welder

Salaries for a Rig Welder can change over time, reflecting shifts in market demand and the overall economy. The median salary decreased from $93,429 in 2023 to around $90,579 in 2025, reflecting changes in demand, location, experience, and the wider economy. For a detailed analysis of Rig Welder salary trends, .

Average Annual Salary of Rig Welder Over Time

2022
$???
2023
$93,429
2024
$91,295
2025
$90,579
2026
$???
2027
$???
Year Average Annual Salary
2022
View More
2023 $93,429
2024 $91,295
2025 $90,579
2026
View More
2027
View More

Most common benefits for Rig Welder

Social Security
401(k)
Disability
Healthcare
Pension
Time Off (days)
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Common company salaries for Rig Welder

Here are companies hiring for Rig Welder and their salaries, click below for more details.

Find Your Next Rig Welder Job

Ready to take the next step in your career? Browse thousands of current Rig Welder job openings on our job board. Use the search bar below to find your perfect match.

United States
  • Confidential

    Columbus, OH

    Confidential | Columbus, OH

    Associate Vice President, Internal Communications. About the Company. National consulting & advisory services firm focused on the healthcare industry. Indu... more

    20 Days Ago

  • C.R. England

    Columbus, OH

    C.R. England | Columbus, OH

    Job Description. C.R. England is Now Urgently Hiring Local Dedicated CDL-A Truck Drivers. \n. Dedicated Local Fleet - Home Daily - Competitive Pay* - Full ... more

    25 Days Ago

  • Confidential

    Columbus, OH

    Confidential | Columbus, OH

    Vice President, Credit Risk Strategy & Data Science. About the Company. High-growth SMB lender building the next generation of credit decisioning. Industry... more

    25 Days Ago

  • Confidential

    Columbus, OH

    Confidential | Columbus, OH

    Vice President, Payments Engineering. About the Company. Globally-recognized provider of corporate payment solutions. Industry. Financial Services. Type. P... more

    27 Days Ago

  • Confidential

    Columbus, OH

    Confidential | Columbus, OH

    Senior Vice President of Project Delivery. About the Company. A multi-billion-dollar construction organization with collaborative, servant-minded leadershi... more

    27 Days Ago

  • USPS

    Columbus, OH

    USPS | Columbus, OH

    The United States Postal Service (USPS) is seeking Mail Carriers and City Carrier Assistants (CCA) to deliver mail and packages to residential and business... more

    1 Month Ago

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FAQ about Rig Welder

1. What industry pays the highest salary for Rig Welder?

The Energy & Utilities industry offers the highest average compensation for Rig Welder roles, with salaries approximately 40% above the market median.

Where Does Our Salary Data Come From?

Salary.com provides salary estimates, histograms, trends, and comparisons using data from employer job postings and third-party sources.

We offer detailed salary information across multiple percentiles for your reference. (Click here to learn Why the Salary Midpoint Formula Is Crucial for Achieving Pay Equity.)

With the most extensive online, real-time compensation data available, Salary.com helps you pinpoint your exact pay target.

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