How much does a Welder make in California?

As of April 01, 2026, the average annual salary for a Welder in California is around $65,441, with an hourly rate of $31, according to Salary.com Global Salary IQ data . This number represents the median. The average salary ranges from $58,241 (25th percentile) to $74,625 (75th percentile). A Welder's salary is shaped by several key factors, including experience level, specific skills, industry differences, company size, and cost-of-living adjustments based on location. Below, we’ll dive deeper into each of these factors to help you understand how they impact compensation.

Use our Salary Calculator to estimate your income potential based on location, experience, education and more.

View as table View as graph
Welder Salaries by Percentile
Annual
Salary		 Monthly
Pay		 Weekly
Pay		 Hourly
Wage
75th Percentile $74,625 $6,219 $1,435 $36
Average $65,441 $5,453 $1,258 $31
25th Percentile $58,241 $4,853 $1,120 $28

Average Salary

25% $58,241 10% $51,686 90% $82,987 75% $74,625 $65,441 50%(Median)
Employers: Find Surveys For This Job Employers: Price Your Company Jobs
Change Search Criteria

What is the hourly rate of a Welder?

$58,241
Average
$65,441/year
$74,625
$4,853
Average
$5,453/month
$6,219
$1,120
Average
$1,258/week
$1,435
$28
Average
$31/hour
$36
Annual Salary Monthly Pay Weekly Pay Hourly Wage
75th Percentile $74,625 $6,219 $1,435 $36
Average $65,441 $5,453 $1,258 $31
25th Percentile $58,241 $4,853 $1,120 $28
Use our Salary Calculator to explore typical earnings for a Welder, including an hourly rate of $31, weekly pay of $1,258, monthly pay of $5,453, and an annual salary of $65,441. Based on Salary IQ data from real job postings, this tool helps you convert a salary between its hourly, weekly, biweekly, monthly, and annually.

What is the pay difference between an Entry Welder and an Expert Welder?

Experience and job level are key drivers of a Welder's salary. Entry Welders earn around $63,076, while Intermediate Welders make $63,291. Senior Welders see salaries rise to $65,441, and Expert Welders can earn up to $70,239. These numbers show a clear trend: as experience grows, so does earning potential. This reflects the IT industry's strong value placed on experience level.
Levels Salary
Entry Level Welder $63,076
Intermediate Level Welder $63,291
Senior Level Welder $65,441
Specialist Level Welder $68,868
Expert Level Welder $70,239
$63,076 0 yr
$63,291 < 2 yrs
$65,441 2-4 yrs
$68,868 5-8 yrs
$70,239 > 8 yrs
Entry Level 4%
Mid Level 3%
Senior Level 0%
Top Level 5%
Experienced 7%
View as graph

What state pays the most for Welders?

From April 01, 2026, District of Columbia offers the highest Welder salaries in the United States, ranging from $58,463 to $74,909 followed by California at $58,241 - $74,625. While these states provide top pay for Welder, high living costs impact earnings. Rhode Island and Hawaii offer competitive salaries with lower expenses, making them attractive options for the role.
Rank State Average Salary
1 District of Columbia $65,690
2 California $65,441
3 Massachusetts $64,568
4 Washington $64,331
5 New Jersey $64,307
6 Alaska $64,224
7 Connecticut $63,406
8 New York $63,073
9 Hawaii $62,011
10 Rhode Island $61,513

Job Openings for Welders