Based on the latest Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS data — updated September 10, 2026.
| California | National | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median annual salary | $58,060 | $53,934 | +8% |
| Median hourly wage | $27.91 | $25.93 | +8% |
Adjusted for local price levels (100 = national average), the cost-adjusted median is $52,448.
| City | Median | Entry Level | Experienced | Cost of Living |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| City-level data coming soon. | ||||
The median annual salary for a Welder in California is $58,060, or about $27.91 per hour, according to BLS OEWS data.
The national median for Welders is $53,934. California is +8% above the national median.
Entry-level welders in California typically earn from varies by experience depending on the city and employer.
With 26,060 welder jobs on record and a median salary of $58,060, California offers above-average pay compared to the rest of the country.
By median annual wage, welders rank 513 of the 793 occupations reported in California — higher than 35% of them.
Among occupations in the same job family, Power Distributors and Dispatchers at $137,570, Gas Plant Operators at $130,220, Power Plant Operators at $105,210 — all figures are median annual wages for California.
No. Every figure on this page is a gross (pre-tax) wage. California levies a state income tax, so take-home pay is lower than the gross figures shown here. The state's cost of living index is 145.0 (100 = national average).
By median annual wage, welders rank 513 of the 793 occupations reported in California — higher than 35% of them.
| Occupation in the same job family | Median in California | Jobs |
|---|---|---|
| Power Distributors and Dispatchers | $137,570 | $670 |
| Gas Plant Operators | $130,220 | $800 |
| Power Plant Operators | $105,210 | $2,610 |
| Petroleum Pump System Operators, Refinery Operators, and Gaugers | $103,250 | $3,360 |
| Model Makers, Metal and Plastic | $92,960 | $260 |
| Stationary Engineers and Boiler Operators | $90,650 | $5,840 |
California levies a state income tax, so take-home pay is lower than the gross figures shown here. The state's cost of living index is 145.0 (100 = national average).
Ranking and comparison figures come from the same BLS OEWS release as the rest of this page, which covers 793 occupations in California.