2 answers
James
Student
El Centro, California
1
Question
Updated
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What do welders make pay wise right after trade school?
I am in highschool and I will hopefully be attending Missouri welding institute. I just want to know about the average pay after getting out trade school.
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2 answers
Ed Wheatley
Project Manager
14
Answers
Festus, Missouri
Updated
Ed’s Answer
Hi, James. I'm happy to hear you're interested in the welding career field - you're looking in a good direction.
Welder Pay in California
Welding is one of the most in-demand skilled trades in the country. In California, how much a welder earns depends on where they work, whether they are in a union, their experience, and the type of welding they do. The information below compares union and non-union welder pay at four stages of a career—entry level, 2 years, 5 years, and 10 years—including average overtime pay and extra pay for specialty skills. These numbers are based on real wage data and union pay scales across California.
Main Assumptions
Base Pay:
Taken from California data on Salary.com, Indeed, and the Bureau of Labor Statistics, along with wage sheets from major trade unions such as the Ironworkers, Boilermakers, and Pipefitters.
Overtime:
Most welders work about 5 extra hours per week at 1.5× pay, adding about 10–15% more to yearly earnings.
Specialty Skills:
Certified welders who do advanced work—like TIG or pipe welding, or travel jobs—earn about 15–20% more than basic welders.
Union Jobs:
Based on journeyman-level pay in California union locals, usually $47–$65 per hour, plus benefits like health care, retirement, and training.
Non-Union Jobs:
Based on shop or small-contractor pay across California. Most new welders start non-union right after trade school.
Work Hours:
Calculated on a normal 40-hour work week (2,080 hours per year).
Regions:
Pay averages were blended from major cities—Los Angeles, San Francisco, and San Diego—to account for cost-of-living differences.
Pay Summary
Starting Out (0–1 year):
Non-union: $20–$25/hr base; $22–$27/hr with overtime (~$44K–$54K/year).
Union: $47–$50/hr base; $52–$55/hr with overtime (~$108K–$115K/year).
At 2 Years:
Non-union: $23–$28/hr base; $29–$35/hr with overtime or specialty (~$60K–$73K/year).
Union: $47–$55/hr base; $59–$72/hr with overtime or specialty (~$122K–$150K/year).
At 5 Years:
Non-union: $28–$35/hr base; $35–$44/hr with overtime or specialty (~$73K–$92K/year).
Union: $50–$60/hr base; $63–$75/hr with overtime or specialty (~$131K–$156K/year).
At 10 Years:
Non-union: $30–$38/hr base; $38–$46/hr with overtime or specialty (~$79K–$96K/year).
Union: $55–$65/hr base; $70–$85+/hr with overtime or specialty (~$145K–$176K+/year).
Key Takeaways
Overtime adds about 10–15% to yearly pay.
Specialty certifications can add another 15–20%.
Union welders earn more overall and receive health insurance, retirement, and training benefits.
Non-union welders often start at lower pay but have more freedom to work for smaller shops or start their own business.
Welder Pay in California
Welding is one of the most in-demand skilled trades in the country. In California, how much a welder earns depends on where they work, whether they are in a union, their experience, and the type of welding they do. The information below compares union and non-union welder pay at four stages of a career—entry level, 2 years, 5 years, and 10 years—including average overtime pay and extra pay for specialty skills. These numbers are based on real wage data and union pay scales across California.
Main Assumptions
Base Pay:
Taken from California data on Salary.com, Indeed, and the Bureau of Labor Statistics, along with wage sheets from major trade unions such as the Ironworkers, Boilermakers, and Pipefitters.
Overtime:
Most welders work about 5 extra hours per week at 1.5× pay, adding about 10–15% more to yearly earnings.
Specialty Skills:
Certified welders who do advanced work—like TIG or pipe welding, or travel jobs—earn about 15–20% more than basic welders.
Union Jobs:
Based on journeyman-level pay in California union locals, usually $47–$65 per hour, plus benefits like health care, retirement, and training.
Non-Union Jobs:
Based on shop or small-contractor pay across California. Most new welders start non-union right after trade school.
Work Hours:
Calculated on a normal 40-hour work week (2,080 hours per year).
Regions:
Pay averages were blended from major cities—Los Angeles, San Francisco, and San Diego—to account for cost-of-living differences.
Pay Summary
Starting Out (0–1 year):
Non-union: $20–$25/hr base; $22–$27/hr with overtime (~$44K–$54K/year).
Union: $47–$50/hr base; $52–$55/hr with overtime (~$108K–$115K/year).
At 2 Years:
Non-union: $23–$28/hr base; $29–$35/hr with overtime or specialty (~$60K–$73K/year).
Union: $47–$55/hr base; $59–$72/hr with overtime or specialty (~$122K–$150K/year).
At 5 Years:
Non-union: $28–$35/hr base; $35–$44/hr with overtime or specialty (~$73K–$92K/year).
Union: $50–$60/hr base; $63–$75/hr with overtime or specialty (~$131K–$156K/year).
At 10 Years:
Non-union: $30–$38/hr base; $38–$46/hr with overtime or specialty (~$79K–$96K/year).
Union: $55–$65/hr base; $70–$85+/hr with overtime or specialty (~$145K–$176K+/year).
Key Takeaways
Overtime adds about 10–15% to yearly pay.
Specialty certifications can add another 15–20%.
Union welders earn more overall and receive health insurance, retirement, and training benefits.
Non-union welders often start at lower pay but have more freedom to work for smaller shops or start their own business.
Md Sohel
Welder
1
Answer
Narayanganj, Dhaka Division, Bangladesh
Updated
Md’s Answer
I want to move forward with more experience