Qualified Craft Worker Salary in the United States

How much does a Qualified Craft Worker make in the United States?

As of April 01, 2026, the average salary for a Qualified Craft Worker in the United States is $43,759 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $21.

However, a Qualified Craft Worker's salary can vary significantly. Here’s a look at the typical salary range:

  • Top Earners (90th percentile): $52,596
  • Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $39,520 to $48,385
  • Entry-Level (10th percentile): $35,661
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View as table View as graph 25% $39,520 10% $35,661 90% $52,596 75% $48,385 $43,759 50%(Median) Didn’t find job title? Click

Qualified Craft Worker Salaries by Percentile

Annual
Salary
Monthly
Pay
Weekly
Pay
Hourly
Wage
75th Percentile $48,385 $4,032 $930 $23
Average $43,759 $3,647 $842 $21
25th Percentile $39,520 $3,293 $760 $19
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Key Factors That Influence Qualified Craft Worker Salaries

A Qualified Craft Worker'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.

How Experience Level Affects Qualified Craft Worker Salaries?

Experience is a primary driver of a Qualified Craft Worker's salary. As you build your skills and take on more complex tasks, your compensation generally increases. Here's how the average salary grows at different career stages:

  • Entry-Level (less than 1 year): $42,013
  • Early Career (1-2 years): $42,141
  • Mid-Level (2-4 years): $43,759
  • Senior-Level (5-8 years): $45,664
  • Expert (over 8 years): $45,800
Levels Salary
Entry Level Qualified Craft Worker$42,013
Intermediate Level Qualified Craft Worker$42,141
Senior Level Qualified Craft Worker$43,759
Specialist Level Qualified Craft Worker$45,664
Expert Level Qualified Craft Worker$45,800
$42,013 0 yr
$42,141 < 2 yrs
$43,759 2-4 yrs
$45,664 5-8 yrs
$45,800 > 8 yrs
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What Am I Worth?

How Do Qualified Craft Worker Salaries Vary from State to State?

Your salary can change significantly depending on where you work. States with a higher cost of living and strong industrial sectors often pay more to attract Qualified Craft Workers. For example, consider the average annual salaries in these key locations:

  • District of Columbia: $48,450.
  • California: $48,266.
  • Massachusetts: $47,623.

Top Paying Cities for Qualified Craft Workers

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: $55,193
  • San Francisco: $54,651
  • Oakland: $53,439

What Skills Can Increase a Qualified Craft Worker's Salary?

Demanded Skills for the Role:

  • Problem Solving (Mentioned in 5.01% Job Postings): Analyzing and identifying the root cause of problems and applying critical thinking skills to solve problems.
  • Welding (Mentioned in 3.31% Job Postings): Welding is a fabrication or sculptural process that joins materials, usually metals or thermoplastics, by using high heat to melt the parts together and allowing them to cool causing fusion. Welding is distinct from lower temperature metal-joining techniques such as brazing and soldering, which do not melt the base metal. In addition to melting the base metal, a filler material is typically added to the joint to form a pool of molten material (the weld pool) that cools to form a joint that, based on weld configuration (butt, full penetration, fillet, etc.), can be stronger than the base material (parent metal). Pressure may also be used in conjunction with heat, or by itself, to produce a weld. Welding also requires a form of shield to protect the filler metals or melted metals from being contaminated or oxidized. Many different energy sources can be used for welding, including a gas flame (chemical), an electric arc (electrical), a laser, an electron beam, friction, and ultrasound. While often an industrial process, welding may be performed in many different environments, including in open air, under water, and in outer space. Welding is a hazardous undertaking and precautions are required to avoid burns, electric shock, vision damage, inhalation of poisonous gases and fumes, and exposure to intense ultraviolet radiation.
  • Preventative Maintenance (Mentioned in 1.85% Job Postings): Developing and implementing maintenance strategies to increase equipment life expectancy and avoid unplanned downtime.
See More Skills
Skills Demand Percentage
Problem Solving 5.01%
Welding 3.31%
Preventative Maintenance 1.85%
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 Qualified Craft Worker's salary.
  • Written Communication: Can increase your salary by up to 12%.
  • Flexibility: Can increase your salary by up to 7%.
  • Customer Service: Can increase your salary by up to 6%.
Skill Salary Salary % Increase
Written Communication
$49,010
12%
Flexibility
$46,822
7%
Customer Service
$46,385
6%
Hydraulics
$45,947
5%
Initiative
$45,509
4%
Time Management
$45,509
4%
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How Education impacts a Qualified Craft Worker's Salary?

Your level of education can impact your salary potential. While many Qualified Craft Workers enter the field with a No Diploma 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 Qualified Craft Worker with a No Diploma is between $41,277 and $44,367).

Qualified Craft Worker Salaries by Degree Level

Typical Education for Qualified Craft Worker
Degree Level % of user with this level of education
No Diploma 71.4%
High School 71.4%
Associates 14.3%
Bachelors 14.3%
Masters 0.0%
Doctorate 0.0%
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Qualified Craft Worker Salary: Hourly Rate, Weekly Pay, and Monthly Pay

Understanding how a Qualified Craft Worker'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 April 01, 2026

Salary Trends for Qualified Craft Worker

Salaries for a Qualified Craft Worker can change over time, reflecting shifts in market demand and the overall economy. The median salary increased from $41,070 in 2023 to around $41,106 in 2025, reflecting changes in demand, location, experience, and the wider economy. For a detailed analysis of Qualified Craft Worker salary trends, .

Average Annual Salary of Qualified Craft Worker Over Time

2022
$???
2023
$41,070
2024
$41,218
2025
$41,106
2026
$???
2027
$???
Year Average Annual Salary
2022
View More
2023 $41,070
2024 $41,218
2025 $41,106
2026
View More
2027
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Most common benefits for Qualified Craft Worker

Social Security
401(k)
Disability
Healthcare
Pension
Time Off (days)
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Common company salaries for Qualified Craft Worker

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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.)

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