Pay data / Welders / Salary / California
Welder Salary
in California
Welders in California (CA) earn a median of $62,600 a year, about $30 an hour. That runs roughly 28% above the national median for welders, with most earning between $43,500 and $93,400.
Bottom 10%
$43,500
CA Median
$62,600
Top 10%
$93,400
Welder pay by experience in California
- Entry / Fabricator$40,700$20/hr
Shop welding and learning processes.
- Certified Welder$62,600$30/hr
AWS-certified on common processes and positions.
- Specialty / Pipe Welder$90,800$44/hr
6G pipe, TIG, and travel work.
Welder pay in California metros
- Los Angeles$65,900$32/hr
- San Francisco$65,500$31/hr
- San Diego$63,500$31/hr
Certification in California
Welders are certified rather than licensed, typically to AWS or ASME standards for the processes and positions they run. Certifications, not a state license, gate the higher-paying work.
Frequently asked
- How much do welders make in California?
- Welders in California earn a median of $62,600 per year, about $30 per hour. That is roughly 28% above the national median. Most earn between $43,500 and $93,400.
- What is the highest-paying place for welders in California?
- Among California's major metros, Los Angeles tends to pay welders the most, near $65,900 a year.
- Do you need a license to work as a welder in California?
- Welders are certified rather than licensed, typically to AWS or ASME standards for the processes and positions they run. Certifications, not a state license, gate the higher-paying work. In California, employers hire on certifications and demonstrated skill rather than a state license.
Welder pay in other states
Figures are estimates for 2026, anchored to national wage data and localized for California by cost of living and market conditions. Actual pay varies by employer, certification, and project.