What are the main factors that influence a Welding Operator's salary?

The primary factors are: 1) Experience Level, 2) Geographic Location, 3) Education/Skills, 4) Company Size & Industry

How does experience change A Welding Operator's salary?

A Welding Operator's salary grows with experience: a Welder I (0-1 years)earns $47,293, a Welding Operator (1-3 years)earns $58,464, a Welder III (3-5 years)earns $65,931, a Welder IV (5-7 years)earns $75,217,

What are the highest paying states for a Welding Operator?

Welding Operator salary varies significantly by state. The top 3 highest paying states for Welding Operator roles are District of Columbia $61,998, California $61,763, Massachusetts $60,940. These tech hubs typically pay 10-15% above the national average.

How much do different types of Welding Operator roles make?

Salaries for Welding Operator level roles vary by specialization: Welding Manager: $145,999; Welding Engineer: $103,042; Welding Supervisor: $75,016; Welding Foreman: $70,811; Welding Instructor: $59,836.

Welding Operator Salary in Rhode Island

How much does a Welding Operator make in Rhode Island?

As of April 01, 2026, the average salary for a Welding Operator in Rhode Island is $58,056 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $28.

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

Top Earners (90th percentile): $67,866
Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $52,192 to $63,191
Entry-Level (10th percentile): $46,853

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Welding Operator Salaries by Percentile

	Annual Salary	Monthly Pay	Weekly Pay	Hourly Wage
75th Percentile	$63,191	$5,266	$1,215	$30
Average	$58,056	$4,838	$1,116	$28
25th Percentile	$52,192	$4,349	$1,004	$25

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Key Factors That Influence Welding Operator Salaries

A Welding Operator'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 and company size can directly affect your earning potential.

How Do Welding Operator 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 Welding Operators. For example, consider the average annual salaries in these key locations:

District of Columbia: $61,998.
California: $61,763.
Massachusetts: $60,940.

District of Columbia $61,998 California $61,763 Massachusetts $60,940 Washington $60,716 New Jersey $60,694 Alaska $60,615 Connecticut $59,843 New York $59,529

Hawaii $58,527 Rhode Island $58,056 Maryland $57,737 Minnesota $57,300 Colorado $57,132 Illinois $57,076 Oregon $56,864 Delaware $56,707

New Hampshire $56,608 Virginia $56,388 Pennsylvania $55,744 Nevada $55,419 North Dakota $55,313 Michigan $55,145 Wisconsin $55,083 Vermont $54,960

Texas $54,618 Maine $54,596 Arizona $54,562 Ohio $54,523 Georgia $54,008 Indiana $53,750 Wyoming $53,700 Utah $53,621

Iowa $53,588 Kansas $53,319 Louisiana $53,241 North Carolina $53,213 Missouri $53,202 Florida $52,983 Montana $52,866 Nebraska $52,754

Kentucky $52,692 South Carolina $52,468 Tennessee $52,328 Idaho $52,272 New Mexico $51,863 Oklahoma $51,774 Alabama $51,443 South Dakota $50,889

Arkansas $50,587 West Virginia $50,424 Mississippi $49,937

Top Paying Cities for Welding Operators

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:

Adamsville: $59,008
Albion: $58,028
Ashaway: $59,232

Adamsville, RI $59,008 Albion, RI $58,028 Ashaway, RI $59,232 Barrington, RI $58,028 Block Island, RI $58,924 Bradford, RI $59,193 Bristol, RI $57,972 Carolina, RI $58,711

Charlestown, RI $58,773 Chepachet, RI $57,916 Clayville, RI $57,972 Coventry, RI $57,916 West Greenwich, RI $57,877 East Greenwich, RI $57,956 Exeter, RI $59,193 Fiskeville, RI $58,028

Forestdale, RI $57,972 Foster, RI $57,877 Glendale, RI $57,877 Greene, RI $58,527 Greenville, RI $58,028 Harmony, RI $58,012 Harrisville, RI $57,916 Hope, RI $58,028

Hope Valley, RI $59,232 Hopkinton, RI $59,249 Jamestown, RI $58,655 Kenyon, RI $59,176 Little Compton, RI $58,986 Manville, RI $58,028 Mapleville, RI $57,877 Newport, RI $58,667

Middletown, RI $58,913 North Kingstown, RI $57,860 North Scituate, RI $58,012 Oakland, RI $57,933 Pascoag, RI $57,900 Pawtucket, RI $58,028 Central Falls, RI $58,028 Cumberland, RI $58,028

Lincoln, RI $58,028 Portsmouth, RI $58,432 Prudence Island, RI $57,916 Rockville, RI $59,249 Saunderstown, RI $58,689 Shannock, RI $59,159 Slatersville, RI $57,972 Slocum, RI $58,689

Tiverton, RI $59,025 Wakefield, RI $58,627 Kingston, RI $58,639 Narragansett, RI $58,650 Peace Dale, RI $58,627 Warren, RI $58,012 Warwick, RI $58,028 Westerly, RI $59,266

West Kingston, RI $58,672 West Warwick, RI $58,028 Wood River Junction, RI $59,193 Woonsocket, RI $57,972 North Smithfield, RI $58,012 Wyoming, RI $59,176 Providence, RI $58,028 Cranston, RI $58,028

North Providence, RI $58,028 East Providence, RI $58,028 Riverside, RI $58,028 Rumford, RI $58,028 Smithfield, RI $58,028 Johnston, RI $58,028

Welding Operator Salary: Hourly Rate, Weekly Pay, and Monthly Pay

Understanding how a Welding Operator'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

$52,192

Average $58,056/year

$63,191

$4,349

Average $4,838/month

$5,266

$1,004

Average $1,116/week

$1,215

$25

Average $28/hour

$30

	Annual Salary	Monthly Pay	Weekly Pay	Hourly Wage
75th Percentile	$63,191	$5,266	$1,215	$30
Average	$58,056	$4,838	$1,116	$28
25th Percentile	$52,192	$4,349	$1,004	$25

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