Based on the latest Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS data — updated September 10, 2026.
| Colorado | National | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median annual salary | $58,590 | $53,934 | +9% |
| Median hourly wage | $28.17 | $25.93 | +9% |
Adjusted for local price levels (100 = national average), the cost-adjusted median is $56,828.
| City | Median | Entry Level | Experienced | Cost of Living |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| City-level data coming soon. | ||||
The median annual salary for a Welder in Colorado is $58,590, or about $28.17 per hour, according to BLS OEWS data.
The national median for Welders is $53,934. Colorado is +9% above the national median.
Entry-level welders in Colorado typically earn from varies by experience depending on the city and employer.
With 4,970 welder jobs on record and a median salary of $58,590, Colorado offers above-average pay compared to the rest of the country.
By median annual wage, welders rank 437 of the 738 occupations reported in Colorado — higher than 41% of them.
Among occupations in the same job family, Power Plant Operators at $102,780, Gas Plant Operators at $98,080, Petroleum Pump System Operators, Refinery Operators, and Gaugers at $93,750 — all figures are median annual wages for Colorado.
No. Every figure on this page is a gross (pre-tax) wage. Colorado 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 105.0 (100 = national average).
By median annual wage, welders rank 437 of the 738 occupations reported in Colorado — higher than 41% of them.
| Occupation in the same job family | Median in Colorado | Jobs |
|---|---|---|
| Power Plant Operators | $102,780 | $250 |
| Gas Plant Operators | $98,080 | $570 |
| Petroleum Pump System Operators, Refinery Operators, and Gaugers | $93,750 | $120 |
| Stationary Engineers and Boiler Operators | $81,310 | $560 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers | $78,890 | $9,580 |
| Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operators | $74,200 | $2,620 |
Colorado 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 105.0 (100 = national average).
Ranking and comparison figures come from the same BLS OEWS release as the rest of this page, which covers 738 occupations in Colorado.