The average welder earns about $47,000 per year, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, but some of the highest-paying welding jobs can bring in six-figure salaries. In order to land one of these, you really have to commit to your craft -- and your education. Here's a look at some of the most lucrative welding positions available today.
Quickstart Guide To Landing A High-Paying Welding Job
- Polish your resume. Getting a high paying job in welding is competitive. Think about it like this: you’re selling the company on a major investment in you, so you need to do everything you can to get an edge. Investing a little money to have a professional resume writing service polish up your resume can be the edge you need. Check out our guide to the best resume writing services to get started today.
- Look for jobs on ZipRecruiter. If you are looking for a high-paying welding job, start your search on ZipRecruiter. ZipRecruiter is free for job seekers and you can apply to jobs with a single click!
Discover Your Dream Job Find jobs near you and apply with 1 click! New jobs posted daily.
10 Of The Highest-Paying Welding Jobs
Here are 10 of the best-paying jobs for welders:
1. Welding Engineer
Median National Salary: $86,554/year
Education Required: Bachelor's degree
Job Duties: A welding engineer is responsible for developing welding techniques, procedures, and specifications to ensure the quality and integrity of welded components and structures. They use their expertise in metallurgy, welding processes, and quality control to design and implement welding procedures, conduct inspections, and provide technical guidance to optimize welding operations and ensure compliance with industry standards.
2. Rig Welder
Median National Salary: $96,884/year
Education required: At least a high school diploma or GED and completion of a two-year technical training program
Job Duties: A rig welder is responsible for performing welding tasks on industrial sites, often working on pipelines, construction projects, or oil rigs. They use their expertise in welding techniques, safety protocols, and metal fabrication to ensure the structural integrity and quality of welded components in challenging and remote work environments.
3. Pipeline Welder
Median National Salary: $71,593/year
Education required: At least a high school diploma or GED and, ideally, an associate's degree or certification in welding
Job Duties: A pipeline welder is responsible for welding and joining sections of pipes to construct or repair pipelines for transporting liquids or gases. They use their expertise in welding techniques, pipefitting, and safety procedures to ensure the integrity and strength of the welded joints, contributing to the safe and efficient operation of the pipeline system.
4. Nuclear Welder
Median National Salary: $49,074/year
Education required: At least a high school diploma or GED, plus an American Welding Society certification and a Worldwide Gas Association certification
Job Duties: A nuclear welder is responsible for welding and fabricating components used in nuclear power plants and other nuclear facilities. They use their expertise in specialized welding techniques, stringent quality control, and radiation safety to ensure that welded components meet the strict standards and regulations required for nuclear applications.
5. Certified Welding Inspector
Median National Salary: $66,492/year
Education required: At least an associate's degree in welding and at least a Certified Associate Welding Inspector (CAWI) certificate
Job Duties: A certified welding inspector is responsible for ensuring that welding processes and procedures comply with industry standards and specifications. They use their expertise in welding codes, inspection techniques, and quality assurance to examine welds, assess their integrity, and verify that they meet the required standards for safety and performance.
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6. Robotic Welding Technician
Median National Salary: $53,663/year
Education required: At least a high school diploma or GED and ideally, a certification in robotic arc welding
Job Duties: A robotic welding technician is responsible for programming, operating, and maintaining robotic welding systems to automate welding processes in manufacturing environments. They use their expertise in robotic programming, welding techniques, and equipment maintenance to ensure that robotic welding systems operate efficiently, produce high-quality welds, and contribute to the productivity of manufacturing operations.
7. Underwater Welder
Median National Salary: $46,613/year
Education required: At least a high school diploma or GED and completion of a diving exam and ideally, certifications in welding and diving
Job Duties: An underwater welder is responsible for performing welding and cutting operations in underwater environments, such as offshore structures, ships, and pipelines. They use their expertise in diving techniques, welding procedures, and underwater safety to execute welds and repairs in challenging aquatic conditions, contributing to the maintenance and construction of marine infrastructure.
8. Welding Supervisor
Median National Salary: $61,961/year
Education required: At least an associate's degree in welding and ideally, welding certifications and management experience
Job Duties: A welding supervisor is responsible for overseeing and coordinating welding activities in a manufacturing or construction environment. They use their expertise in welding processes, quality control, and team management to ensure that welding operations are carried out efficiently, safely, and in compliance with project requirements and industry standards.
9. Shipfitter
Median National Salary: $52,672/year
Education required: At least a high school diploma or GED and ideally, welding certifications
Job Duties: A shipfitter is responsible for fabricating and assembling the structural components of ships and boats, such as bulkheads, frames, and decks. They use their expertise in blueprint reading, metal fabrication, and welding to ensure that ship components are accurately fitted, aligned, and welded according to specifications, contributing to the construction and repair of marine vessels.
10. Welding Technician
Median National Salary: $48,390/year
Education required: At least a high school diploma or GED and ideally, an associate's degree in welding and welding certifications
Job Duties: A welding technician is responsible for assisting in the setup, operation, and maintenance of welding equipment and processes. They use their expertise in welding techniques, equipment troubleshooting, and quality control to support welding operations, ensure the integrity of welds, and contribute to the efficiency of manufacturing or construction projects.
Best Places To Find High-Paying Welding Jobs
Below are a few places you can look to find high-paying welding jobs that interest you, or you can check out our article on the best job posting sites to know where employers are posting. Before you start applying for jobs, take time to polish your manufacturing resume.
ZipRecruiter
ZipRecruiter is one of the most popular job sites out there because it's free to use and it enables job seekers to quickly apply to jobs. It also gives them powerful filters they can use to narrow down their results.
For more information, read our ZipRecruiter review.
Discover Your Dream Job Find jobs near you and apply with 1 click! New jobs posted daily.
Indeed
Indeed is another well-known job site that allows employees to post their resumes and search for jobs. Once they've entered a job title and location, they can filter their results to find what they need.
For more information, read our Indeed review.
Jobs In Welding
Jobs In Welding is operated by the American Welding Society and features exclusively welding jobs. However, it doesn't have an overabundance of available positions.
Frequently Asked Questions
What type of welders make $100,000 a year?
There are several types of welders that can make $100,000 a year or more, including underwater welders, nuclear welders, and rig welders. But these individuals often have several certifications, postsecondary degrees, and a lot of experience in their field.
Where are the highest-paid welding jobs?
Some of the highest-paying welding jobs include welding engineers, rig welders, and pipeline welders.
What type of welder makes the most?
Welders in several specialties can make six-figure salaries. It all depends on the welder's experience level, certifications, and often, the risk involved with the work.
Can welders make $200,000 a year?
Some welders can make $200,000 per year, though this is rare. Those who do make this much money are usually experienced, certified, and working in high-risk environments.
The Bottom Line
There are plenty of opportunities for aspiring welders to make a comfortable salary, and ZipRecruiter can help you find them. Begin your search today to see what's out there for you. And if you want to spruce up your resume before you apply, check out our best resume writing services.
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