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Salary Guides / California
Welder Salary in California
California employee welding wages, experience bands and national sector figures to help you assess offers and paid hours.
What Welders Earn in California
California employee welding wages span $21.40–$39.40/hr, or $44,520–$81,940 a year. The figures combine welders, cutters, solderers and brazers across industries, including work outside construction. They exclude premium pay and benefits. Compare an offer's base wage with paid hours, overtime terms and employer benefits. A structural welding test documents skills for its tested scope, without setting your wage. Discuss the duties supporting any proposed increase.
Hourly rates by level in California
What each rung of the trade is paid, before overtime and per diem.
Where do you stand?
Enter your hourly rate to see how it compares to other welders in California.
What are you making?
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Use your base rate, not what you take home after overtime.
You're right around the middle
$28.00 is above roughly 46% of this market. The top quarter starts at $36.00, and the median sits at $29.00.
Calculate pay with extra credentials
Pick your level, add certifications, select shift — the estimate updates live.
1Your level
2Certifications you hold
3Shift & work type
4Overtime & per diem
An estimate, not an offer. Overtime is paid at time and a half past forty hours.
Who pays the most in California
These national figures cover welding settings relevant to California construction and machinery work. Compare duties, schedules and travel when assessing shop and field offers.
Building Equipment Contractors
Piping and building-system installation calls for welders who follow the specified procedure. Ask about testing, inspection schedules and moves between California jobs. Separate pipe welding responsibilities from general installation duties so the offer reflects the work you will perform.
Industrial Machinery Repair
Repairing commercial and industrial machinery brings varied components and repair conditions. For California maintenance offers, discuss shutdown hours and preparation time. Find out who identifies the repair method and whether the job includes cutting out damaged sections.
Structural Exterior Contractors
Steel connections put structural welders alongside erection crews. On Los Angeles City projects, account for required certification and access arrangements when comparing offers. Discuss how much of the assignment involves welding and how much involves fitting or other erection duties.
Which states pay welders the most
Median hourly across every state with a published guide for this trade. Cost of living is not netted out — compare take-home, not just the rate.
What each certification is worth
Sorted by payback speed.
| Certification | Rate bump | Extra / year | Cost | Payback |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Iron Workers Local 433 Apprenticeship (journeyperson) | +$2.67 | $5,554 | $0 | 0 weeks |
| OSHA 30-Hour Construction | +$0.96 | $1,997 | $159 | 5 weeks |
| OSHA 10-Hour Construction | +$0.32 | $666 | $59 | 5 weeks |
| Fire Watch / Hot Work Safety (NFPA 51B, Cal/OSHA) | +$0.03 | $62 | $40 | 34 weeks |
| AWS D1.1 Structural Steel Welder Qualification Test | +$0.16 | $333 | $450 | 71 weeks |
| ASME Section IX / API 1104 Pipe Welder Qualification Test | +$0.16 | $333 | $650 | 102 weeks |
What overtime actually adds
Past forty hours the rate is time and a half. Built from the rate above. At $27.91/hr.
Questions workers ask
Do these bands set my apprenticeship wage?▾
How should I compare a shop offer with field work?▾
Will certification automatically move me into the highest band?▾
See Open Welder Jobs in California
Verified positions matching this trade and location.
Current BLS California employee wages for Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and Brazers, SOC 51-4121; cross-industry estimates exclude premium pay and benefits, and do not isolate construction welding.
Last updated October 20, 2026. Rates are market estimates, not guarantees.