Pay data / Welders / Salary / Iowa
Welder Salary
in Iowa
Welders in Iowa (IA) earn a median of $46,500 a year, about $22 an hour. That runs roughly 5% below the national median for welders, with most earning between $32,300 and $69,300.
Bottom 10%
$32,300
IA Median
$46,500
Top 10%
$69,300
Welder pay by experience in Iowa
- Entry / Fabricator$30,200$15/hr
Shop welding and learning processes.
- Certified Welder$46,500$22/hr
AWS-certified on common processes and positions.
- Specialty / Pipe Welder$67,400$32/hr
6G pipe, TIG, and travel work.
Welder pay in Iowa metros
- Des Moines$49,500$24/hr
- Cedar Rapids$48,100$23/hr
- Davenport$46,200$22/hr
Certification in Iowa
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 Iowa?
- Welders in Iowa earn a median of $46,500 per year, about $22 per hour. That is roughly 5% below the national median. Most earn between $32,300 and $69,300.
- What is the highest-paying place for welders in Iowa?
- Among Iowa's major metros, Des Moines tends to pay welders the most, near $49,500 a year.
- Do you need a license to work as a welder in Iowa?
- 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 Iowa, 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 Iowa by cost of living and market conditions. Actual pay varies by employer, certification, and project.