Based on the latest Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS data — updated September 10, 2026.
| Tennessee | National | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median annual salary | $48,040 | $53,934 | -11% |
| Median hourly wage | $23.10 | $25.93 | -11% |
Adjusted for local price levels (100 = national average), the cost-adjusted median is $52,274.
| City | Median | Entry Level | Experienced | Cost of Living |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| City-level data coming soon. | ||||
The median annual salary for a Welder in Tennessee is $48,040, or about $23.10 per hour, according to BLS OEWS data.
The national median for Welders is $53,934. Tennessee is -11% below the national median.
Entry-level welders in Tennessee typically earn from varies by experience depending on the city and employer.
With 12,510 welder jobs on record and a median salary of $48,040, Tennessee offers competitive pay compared to the rest of the country.
By median annual wage, welders rank 442 of the 730 occupations reported in Tennessee — higher than 39% of them.
Among occupations in the same job family, Power Plant Operators at $115,920, Petroleum Pump System Operators, Refinery Operators, and Gaugers at $96,730, Power Distributors and Dispatchers at $79,910 — all figures are median annual wages for Tennessee.
No. Every figure on this page is a gross (pre-tax) wage. Tennessee has no state income tax on wages, so take-home pay is closer to the gross figures shown here. The state's cost of living index is 92.0 (100 = national average).
By median annual wage, welders rank 442 of the 730 occupations reported in Tennessee — higher than 39% of them.
| Occupation in the same job family | Median in Tennessee | Jobs |
|---|---|---|
| Power Plant Operators | $115,920 | $490 |
| Petroleum Pump System Operators, Refinery Operators, and Gaugers | $96,730 | $170 |
| Power Distributors and Dispatchers | $79,910 | $100 |
| Tire Builders | $74,100 | $1,360 |
| Stationary Engineers and Boiler Operators | $72,470 | $370 |
| Pourers and Casters, Metal | $71,880 | $120 |
Tennessee has no state income tax on wages, so take-home pay is closer to the gross figures shown here. The state's cost of living index is 92.0 (100 = national average).
Ranking and comparison figures come from the same BLS OEWS release as the rest of this page, which covers 730 occupations in Tennessee.