Earnings
Median wages of welders, cutters, solderers, and brazers were $16.13 an hour in May 2008. The middle 50 percent earned between $13.20 and $19.61. The lowest 10 percent earned less than $10.85, and the top 10 percent earned more than $24.38. The range of wages of welders reflects the wide range of skill levels in the occupation. Median hourly wages of welders, cutters, solderers, and brazers in the industries employing the largest numbers of them were as follows:
| Other general purpose machinery manufacturing | $16.34 |
| Agriculture, construction, and mining machinery manufacturing | 16.28 |
| Commercial and industrial machinery and equipment (except automotive and electronic) repair and maintenance | 15.93 |
| Architectural and structural metals manufacturing | 15.05 |
| Motor vehicle body and trailer manufacturing | 14.73 |
Median wages of welding, soldering, and brazing machine setters, operators, and tenders were $15.20 an hour in May 2008. The middle 50 percent earned between $12.62 and $18.63. The lowest 10 percent earned less than $10.47, and the top 10 percent earned more than $23.92. Median wages in motor vehicle parts manufacturing, the industry employing these workers in the largest numbers, were $15.34 an hour in May 2008.
About 20 percent of welders belong to labor unions; the particular unions that welders belong to depend on the industry and company in which the welder is employed.
