10 Highest Paying Welding Jobs You Should Consider in 2024

Ever wonder how much do welders make in a year? If welding could be a lucrative career choice? The answer is a resounding yes! According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), welders, cutters, solderers, and brazers held nearly 431,000 jobs in the United States in May 2022.

Here’s the exciting part: the BLS also reports that median annual wages for these occupations were $48,940 per year in 2023. This means that half of all workers in these fields earned more than this amount, and the other half earned less.

But wait, there’s more! With the right skills and experience, welders can climb even higher on the pay scale. This guide will take you through some of the top-paying welding jobs available. We’ll talk about what the job involves, how much you can earn, and who might enjoy it. Whether you’re new to welding or looking for a change, this list will give you an idea of what’s out there. Let’s get started.

Discover the Best Paying Welding Jobs

Underwater Welder

• Job Description: Underwater welders are highly specialized professionals who perform welding tasks in submerged environments. They work on critical underwater structures such as oil rigs, pipelines, ship hulls, and bridge supports. This career combines the technical skills of welding with the physical demands of commercial diving. Underwater welders utilize specialized equipment to perform their tasks in challenging aquatic conditions, often at significant depths.
• Why Choose It: Underwater welding is renowned as one of the highest paying welding jobs in the industry. The underwater welder salary range is impressive, typically falling between $80,000 to $200,000 annually, making it the highest paid welding job for many practitioners. This substantial compensation reflects the job’s inherent risks and the specialized skills required. However, it’s important to note that this career path demands extensive training, including commercial diving certification and specialized underwater welding techniques.
• Perfect Fit: If you’re a water rat who gets a kick out of pushing your limits and wants to rake in the big bucks, this gig’s got your name written all over it. You’ve gotta have nerves of steel and be cool as a cucumber when things get dicey underwater. It’s not for the faint-hearted, but if you’ve got the guts, you could be swimming in cash!

Pipeline Welder

• Job Description: Pipeline welders are integral to the energy and utilities sectors, specializing in the construction and maintenance of extensive pipeline systems that transport oil, natural gas, and water across vast distances. These professionals must possess a high level of skill to ensure the integrity and safety of these critical infrastructure components. Pipeline welders often work in diverse environments, from remote rural areas to urban settings, and must adapt to varying weather conditions and terrain.
• Why Choose It: Pipeline welding ranks among the good welding jobs with competitive compensation. Curious to know how much do welders make on the pipeline? Annual salaries typically range from $63,000 to $100,000. This career offers a balance of job stability and the opportunity for travel, as pipeline projects often span different regions. The consistent demand for pipeline maintenance and new construction ensures a steady flow of work opportunities in this field.
• Perfect Fit: If you’re the type who gets antsy cooped up indoors and doesn’t mind living out of a suitcase now and then, this job could be your golden ticket. You’ll need to be tough as nails and ready to roll with the punches, ’cause Mother Nature doesn’t always play nice!

Rig Welder

• Job Description: Rig welders are specialized professionals who work on offshore oil platforms, performing critical welding tasks to maintain the structural integrity and functionality of these complex facilities. Their responsibilities include repairing and fabricating various components of the rig, from support structures to pipelines. Rig welders must be adept at working in challenging maritime conditions, often at considerable heights above the water or in confined spaces within the rig’s structure.
• Why Choose It: While not the highest paying welding job, rig welding offers a competitive salary range of $50,000 to $80,000 annually. This compensation reflects the demanding nature of the work and the extended periods spent on offshore platforms. Rig welders often work on a rotational schedule, alternating between weeks of intensive work on the rig and extended periods of time off, which can provide a unique work-life balance for those suited to this lifestyle.
• Perfect Fit: If you’ve got sea legs and a hankering for adventure, this job might float your boat. You’ll need to be tough as old boots and ready to rough it with your crew for weeks on end. But if you can hack it, you’ll have some wild stories to tell when you’re back on dry land!

Welding Engineer

• Job Description: Welding engineers occupy a crucial role at the intersection of engineering and welding technology. These professionals are responsible for designing and optimizing welding processes, developing new welding techniques, and ensuring the quality and efficiency of welding operations across various industries. Welding engineers utilize their extensive knowledge of materials science, structural engineering, and welding technology to solve complex fabrication challenges and improve manufacturing processes.
• Why Choose It: The welding engineer career path offers one of the highest welding salaries in the field, with annual compensation typically ranging from $70,000 to $100,000. This substantial salary reflects the advanced technical knowledge and problem-solving skills required for the role. Welding engineers often find opportunities in aerospace, automotive, and manufacturing industries, where their expertise contributes significantly to product development and quality assurance.
• Perfect Fit: If you’re the brainiac type who gets a kick out of solving tricky problems and has a soft spot for sparks and metal, this gig’s got your name written all over it. You’ll need to be sharp as a tack and able to think on your feet, but if you can handle the heat, you’ll be cooking with gas in no time!

Certified Welding Inspector

• Job Description: Certified Welding Inspectors (CWIs) play a critical role in ensuring the quality, safety, and compliance of welding work across various industries. These professionals are responsible for examining welds, verifying that they meet specified standards and codes, and documenting their findings. CWIs must possess a comprehensive understanding of welding processes, materials, and industry regulations. Their expertise is essential in maintaining the integrity of welded structures in sectors such as construction, manufacturing, and energy.
• Why Choose It: While not among the highest paid welding jobs, the role of a Certified Welding Inspector offers a stable and respectable career path. Annual salaries typically range from $60,000 to $80,000, reflecting the importance of quality control in welding operations. This career provides opportunities for those who prefer a less physically demanding role in the welding industry while still utilizing their technical knowledge and experience.
• Perfect Fit: If you’ve got an eagle eye for detail and a knack for spotting a bad weld from a mile away, this job could be right up your alley. You’ll need to be as stubborn as a mule when it comes to quality and have the gift of the gab to explain things to the folks doing the welding. If you can do that, you’ll be sitting pretty in no time!

Aerospace Welder

• Job Description: Aerospace welders specialize in fabricating and repairing components for aircraft, spacecraft, and related systems. This highly specialized field requires exceptional precision and adherence to stringent quality standards. Aerospace welders work with advanced materials such as titanium alloys and heat-resistant superalloys, utilizing sophisticated welding techniques like electron beam welding and laser welding. Their work is critical in ensuring the structural integrity and safety of aerospace vehicles.
• Why Choose It: Aerospace welding is considered one of the best paying welding jobs, with annual salaries ranging from $55,000 to $80,000. This competitive compensation reflects the high level of skill and precision required in the aerospace industry. The field offers the opportunity to work on cutting-edge projects and contribute to advancements in aviation and space exploration technology.
• Perfect Fit: If you’re the type who’s always had your head in the clouds and your hands steady as a rock, this job might just be your ticket to the stars. You’ll need to be precise as a Swiss watch and cool under pressure, ’cause when you’re working on stuff that’s gonna fly, there’s no room for slip-ups. If you can handle the heat and the high stakes, you’ll be soaring in no time!

Military Support Welder

• Job Description: Military support welders play a crucial role in maintaining and repairing military equipment, vehicles, and structures. These professionals work on a wide range of assets, from combat vehicles and naval vessels to aircraft and military infrastructure. Military support welders must be proficient in various welding techniques and be able to work efficiently in diverse environments, often under challenging conditions. Their work directly contributes to the operational readiness and effectiveness of military forces.
• Why Choose It: While not among the highest paying welding jobs, military support welding offers a stable career with competitive compensation, typically ranging from $50,000 to $80,000 annually. This role provides the opportunity to serve one’s country in a civilian capacity and often comes with additional benefits associated with government employment. The skills acquired in this position are highly transferable to other sectors of the welding industry.
• Perfect Fit: If you’ve got a patriotic streak a mile wide and love tinkering with big, tough machines, this job’s got your name all over it. You’ll need to be as adaptable as a chameleon and tougher than old boot leather, ’cause you never know where Uncle Sam might need you next. But if you’re up for the challenge, you’ll be serving your country with pride and skill!

Ironworker

• Job Description: Ironworkers are essential in the construction industry, specializing in the installation of structural and reinforcing steel, ornamental iron, and precast concrete in various structures. Their responsibilities include erecting steel frameworks for buildings, bridges, and other large-scale construction projects. Ironworkers must possess a combination of physical strength, technical skill, and spatial awareness to safely maneuver and secure heavy steel components at significant heights.
• Why Choose It: While ironworking may not offer the highest welding salary, it provides a solid career path with earnings ranging from $42,000 to $80,000 annually. The job offers the satisfaction of contributing to the visible growth of urban landscapes and infrastructure. Ironworkers often benefit from union representation, which can provide additional job security and benefits.
• Perfect Fit: If you’ve got muscles of steel and a head for heights, this job might just be your calling. You’ll need to be tough as nails and have nerves of steel to dance around on those high beams. But if you can hack it, you’ll have the best view in the city and the pride of knowing you’re building the skyline with your own two hands!

Nuclear Welder

• Job Description: Nuclear welders specialize in the construction, maintenance, and repair of nuclear power facilities and their components. This highly specialized field requires extensive knowledge of nuclear systems, radiation safety protocols, and advanced welding techniques. Nuclear welders must adhere to exceptionally stringent quality standards and safety regulations due to the critical nature of their work in ensuring the integrity and safety of nuclear power plants.
• Why Choose It: Nuclear welding is among the highest paid welding jobs, with salaries typically ranging from $60,000 to $100,000 annually. This substantial compensation reflects the specialized skills, additional certifications, and potential hazards associated with working in nuclear environments. The field offers stable employment prospects due to the ongoing need for maintenance and upgrades in existing nuclear facilities.
• Perfect Fit: If you’re the type who gets a kick out of sci-fi come to life and has a mind as sharp as a laser beam, this gig might be your nuclear option. You’ll need to be cool as a cucumber under pressure and have a memory like a steel trap for all those safety protocols. But if you can keep your cool in a hot zone, you’ll be sitting pretty in one of the most high-tech welding jobs out there!

Aeronautics Welding

• Job Description: Aeronautics welders specialize in the fabrication, repair, and maintenance of aircraft components and structures. This field requires a high level of precision and expertise in working with specialized materials such as aluminum alloys, titanium, and heat-resistant metals. Aeronautics welders must be proficient in various welding techniques, including TIG (Tungsten Inert Gas) welding, and possess a thorough understanding of aviation industry standards and regulations.
• Why Choose It: Aeronautics welding is considered one of the good welding jobs, offering competitive salaries ranging from $52,000 to $90,000 annually. This field provides the opportunity to work on cutting-edge aviation technology and contribute to the safety and efficiency of air travel. The specialized nature of the work often leads to long-term job security and opportunities for career advancement within the aviation industry.
• Perfect Fit: If you’ve always dreamed of reaching for the stars and have hands steady enough to thread a needle in a hurricane, this job might be your ticket to the wild blue yonder. You’ll need to be as precise as a Swiss watch and have an eye for detail sharper than an eagle’s. But if you can handle the pressure of knowing your welds are keeping planes in the air, you’ll be flying high in this career!

Takeaway

There you have it – ten different welding careers. As you can see, welding offers a lot of options. From working underwater to helping build airplanes, there’s something for many interests. Some jobs pay more than others, but all need skill and hard work. Think about what kind of work environment you like and what skills you want to use. This can help you choose the right welding career for you. Whatever you pick, welding can offer a solid career with good pay. Good luck with your welding journey!