Based on the latest Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS data — updated September 10, 2026.
| Pennsylvania | National | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median annual salary | $52,900 | $53,934 | -2% |
| Median hourly wage | $25.43 | $25.93 | -2% |
Adjusted for local price levels (100 = national average), the cost-adjusted median is $54,201.
| City | Median | Entry Level | Experienced | Cost of Living |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| City-level data coming soon. | ||||
The median annual salary for a Welder in Pennsylvania is $52,900, or about $25.43 per hour, according to BLS OEWS data.
The national median for Welders is $53,934. Pennsylvania is -2% below the national median.
Entry-level welders in Pennsylvania typically earn from varies by experience depending on the city and employer.
With 17,850 welder jobs on record and a median salary of $52,900, Pennsylvania offers competitive pay compared to the rest of the country.
By median annual wage, welders rank 462 of the 778 occupations reported in Pennsylvania — higher than 41% of them.
Among occupations in the same job family, Power Distributors and Dispatchers at $98,930, Power Plant Operators at $95,800, Petroleum Pump System Operators, Refinery Operators, and Gaugers at $83,870 — all figures are median annual wages for Pennsylvania.
No. Every figure on this page is a gross (pre-tax) wage. Pennsylvania 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 98.0 (100 = national average).
By median annual wage, welders rank 462 of the 778 occupations reported in Pennsylvania — higher than 41% of them.
| Occupation in the same job family | Median in Pennsylvania | Jobs |
|---|---|---|
| Power Distributors and Dispatchers | $98,930 | $560 |
| Power Plant Operators | $95,800 | $1,010 |
| Petroleum Pump System Operators, Refinery Operators, and Gaugers | $83,870 | $820 |
| Aircraft Structure, Surfaces, Rigging, and Systems Assemblers | $81,680 | $740 |
| Gas Plant Operators | $80,810 | $1,370 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers | $74,990 | $28,900 |
Pennsylvania 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 98.0 (100 = national average).
Ranking and comparison figures come from the same BLS OEWS release as the rest of this page, which covers 778 occupations in Pennsylvania.