In the United States, welders make about $43,187 per year. The mean salary for welders in Canada stands at C$51,162 ($41,162), while the welder salary in the United Kingdom stands at £23,916 ($33,005). Welders earn on average AU$55,901 ($44,486) in Australia, while in Switzerland they make CHF69,339 ($72,174) and in Norway NOK379,944 ($48,097).
Welder Salary Influencers
Pay for welders varies by the type of industry, the welders’ skills and country of work. Generally, experience plays a smaller role in shaping salaries of the welder.
1. Industry
Welders work in construction and manufacturing sectors. Those who work under collective bargaining agreements as members of unions typically receive higher pay and benefits than those in non-union shops. The type of skills, the specific industry, and work setting can influence the pay for welders:
- Architectural and Structural Metals Manufacturing – $39,230
- Natural Gas Distribution – $71,620
- Electric Power Generation, Transmission, and Distribution – $73,970
If you are interested in this field, you can also check out the electrician salary. Welders in the United States skilled in pipe welding earned 11 percent above average. While those in Canada engaged in “Submerged Arc Welding” earn 40 percent more.
2. Geographical Area
| Welder Salary | US | Canada | UK | Australia | Switzerland | Norway |
| Hourly Wage | $17.38 | C$23.08 ($18.57) | £10.22 ($14.10) | AU$25.29 ($20.13) | CHF33.33* ($34.65) | NOK183 ($23.16) |
| Annual Wage | $43,187 | C$51,162 ($41,162) | £23,916 ($33,005) | AU$55,901 ($44,486) | CHF69,339 ($72,174) | NOK379,944 ($48,097) |
The (*) means that the hourly wage was extrapolated from the annual salary
Welder Salary in the US
Payscale reports that welders earn around $43,187 per year, while the hourly rate stands at $17.38. After bonuses of up to $5,036, profit sharing of $7,550, and commissions of up to $6,851 per year, the total salary ranges between $27,132 and $64,497.
Welder Salary in Canada
According to PayScale, the median salary for a welder in Canada is C$51,162 each year. Therefore total earnings run from C$33,690 to C$85,119.
Welder Salary in the UK
Welders in the United Kingdom earn between £14,923 to £38,815, while the yearly median pay stands at £23,916 per year.
Welder Salary in Australia
PayScale states that pay for Australian welders averages AU$55,901 per year. So, after yearly bonuses of up to AU$7,558, the total pay ranges from AU$40,070 to AU$79,458 each year.
Welder Salary in Switzerland
According to PayScale, welders in Switzerland earn about CHF69,339 per year, while the total pay ranges between CHF9,696 to CHF115,868.
Welder Salary in Norway
Salaryexpert.com reports that the median salary for welders in Norway is NOK183 per day. Therefore, on an annual basis, welders make NOK379,944 per year.
3. Experience
Generally, accumulated experience does not significantly increase the pay of welders. According to PayScale, starting welders in the United States have a median salary of $36,000 per year. The median rises to $41,000 after five years of experience, $44,000 after ten years and $48,000 beyond 20 years.
The median salary for entry-level welders in Canada is C$42,000 per year. After five years of experience, the median rises to C$56,000, and after 5 more to C$61,000. While after more than 20 years on the job the salary can reach as much as C$61,000 each year.
In the United Kingdom, new welders make between £20,000 and £23,000 per year. While those at the “experienced” stage earn from £23,000 to £25,000 per year. For highly experienced welders, with more than 20 years in the field, the pay can reach £27,000 per year.
For welders in Australia, the median entry-level salary stands at AU$51,000 per year. That rises to AU$59,000 for welders with at least ten years of experience and does not rise thereafter, according to PayScale.
Working Hours
In the United States, welders generally are full-time workers and may often work overtime. In Canada, approximately 97 percent of welders logged full-time hours. While in Australia, 95.6 percent of welding workers had full-time. As a result, the regular workweek was 41.5 hours per week.
According to the National Career Service, a work week for welders in the United Kingdom is about 38 hours and ranges between 35 and 40 hours. Depending on the employer, shifts may last 8 to 12 hours at a time. Manufacturing plants often operate 24 hours a day and seven days per week. As a result, evening and weekend work usually is common.
Bonuses & Benefit Packages
PayScale reports that welders in the United States fetch bonuses between $103 and $5,036 per year. Bonuses for Canadian welders range between C$100 and C$4,993 each year. In Australia, bonuses received are up to AU$7,558 each year, while the bonus for welders in Norway is around NOK6,763 200 per year. The welders who belong to unions have their benefits, including retirement, determined by collective bargaining agreements.
Moreover, Australia, Switzerland, and Norway entitle employees to pay annual leave and contributions by their employers to pension funds. Under Switzerland’s three-tier retirement system, mandatory employer contributions and benefits through Old-Age and Survivors/Disability Insurance fund 60 percent of retirement. In the third level, employer contributions are voluntary.
Job Outlook
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, employment of welders in the United States should rise by five percent through 2026. The American Welding Society projects a shortage of 290,000 skilled welders by 2020.
The need for infrastructure improvements will help shape demand for welders. Job opportunities arise especially where companies or government agencies seek to upgrade or replace aging utility plants; water, sewer and gasoline lines; roads and other facilities or infrastructure. With the essential welding skills being similar across most industries, a downturn in one manufacturing or construction sector does not necessarily lead to lower overall prospects for welders.
In Norway, oil and gas companies have continued to seek welders with experience in drilling and platform work. In certain countries, there exists a shortage of welders. The “High-integrity” pipe-welder position that requires at least three years of experience appears on the United Kingdom’s “shortage list” as of January 3, 2017.
Conclusion
The generally strong demand for welders can yield significant job openings. However, with a lack of workers with welding skills, employment likely will not rise significantly and shortages of welders may remain. Therefore, pay prospects will likely depend on the welder’s skill, work environment, and type of employer.
Yes Switzerland pays the highest wages and hourly rates for welders and pipefitters in Europe. Our welders at A.Willi AG earn on average 75 000 CHF up to 105 000 CHF per year.