Independent salary reference. Not affiliated with BLS, IBEW, NECA, or any electrical contractor. All wage figures cite the source; individual earnings vary by employer, certifications, and market.
Home/Electrician vs Welder Salary
BLS 47-2111vs 51-4121

Electrician vs Welder Salary 2026

Electrician median $63,190 vs Welder median $53,750. +$9,440 in favour of electrician.

Updated 1 July 2026 (figures re-verified against the BLS OEWS May 2025 national file). Source: BLS OEWS May 2025 occupations 47-2111 and 51-4121.

Do welders make more than electricians?

No, not on average. Electricians earn about $9,440 more per year than welders at the median: $63,190 for electricians (BLS 47-2111) versus $53,750 for welders (BLS 51-4121), both from the OEWS May 2025 release. The gap holds at the top of each trade too, where the electrician 90th percentile ($108,510) sits well above the welder 90th percentile ($77,530). Welders do out-earn electricians in a few high-skill niches, underwater (commercial diver) welding, cross-country pipeline welding, and nuclear ASME Section IX work, where certified specialists can clear $90,000 to $200,000. But for the typical worker in each trade, the electrician earns more.

Head-to-Head Comparison

MetricElectricianWelder
BLS occupation code47-211151-4121
Median annual wage (May 2025)$63,190$53,750
Median hourly wage$30.38$25.84
Top 10% earners$108,510$77,530
Entry-level (10th percentile)$42,640$39,240
Typical entry educationHigh school + apprenticeshipPostsecondary nondegree award
Typical training time4-5 year apprenticeship6-24 month programme
License requiredYes (state/local journeyman)AWS or ASME certifications
Job growth 2024-2034 (BLS)+9% (much faster than average)+2% (slower than average)
Total US employment757,220416,210

When Welders Out-Earn Electricians

Underwater Welder

$80k - $200k

Commercial diver-welder. Offshore premium plus dive pay plus saturation diving bonuses.

Pipeline Welder

$100k - $150k

TIG specialty, X-ray-certified. Sustained per-diem during cross-country pipeline construction.

Nuclear Welder (ASME IX)

$90k - $130k

ASME Section IX qualified. Refueling outage overtime drives total comp.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do welders make more than electricians?
No, not on average. Electricians earn about $9,440 more per year than welders at the median ($63,190 for electricians, BLS 47-2111, versus $53,750 for welders, BLS 51-4121, OEWS May 2025). The electrician advantage also holds at the 90th percentile ($108,510 versus $77,530). Welders out-earn electricians only in specialty niches such as underwater (commercial diver) welding, cross-country pipeline welding, and nuclear ASME Section IX work, where certified specialists can earn $90,000 to $200,000.
Do electricians or welders make more money?
Electricians earn approximately $9,440 more per year than welders at the median (electrician $63,190 vs welder $53,750, BLS OEWS May 2025). At the top 10% level, the gap widens: electrician top decile is $108,510 vs welder top decile $77,530. The widest gap is in union markets where IBEW Local agreements push electrician journeyman scales to $50-$60/hr while comparable welder scales (Boilermakers, Ironworkers, or shop welder positions) typically reach $35-$50/hr.
When do welders out-earn electricians?
Welders frequently out-earn electricians in three specialty situations: (1) Underwater welding (commercial diver-welders) typically earn $80,000-$200,000 with offshore premium, dive pay, and saturation diving bonuses; (2) Pipeline welding (TIG specialty, X-ray-certified welders on cross-country pipeline) typically earn $100,000-$150,000 with sustained per-diem; (3) Nuclear power welder positions (ASME Section IX qualification) typically earn $90,000-$130,000 with significant overtime during refueling outages. These specialties require specific certifications and often involve substantial travel.
Which has the longer apprenticeship?
Electrician apprenticeship is typically longer: 4-5 years (8,000-10,000 hours OJT plus 576-1,000 hours classroom) versus welder programmes which are typically 6 months to 2 years (formal welding programmes at community colleges or AWS-accredited training centres). However, welders typically continue accumulating certification credentials throughout their career (different process certifications, different position certifications, different material certifications), each requiring testing and recertification. Both trades are skill-progressive but the electrician path has more upfront credentialing.
Is welding harder on the body than electrical work?
Both trades are physically demanding. Welding involves sustained heat exposure, eye strain (despite protective lenses), fume inhalation (zinc fume fever, manganese exposure, ozone), and sustained awkward positions during pipe welding. Electrical work involves shock and arc-flash hazards, sustained overhead work with raised arms, frequent ladder and lift use, and heavy conduit and switchgear handling. BLS Survey of Occupational Injuries and Illnesses (SOII) data shows comparable nonfatal injury rates between the trades, with electricians having higher fatal injury rates due to electrocution and falls from height.
Is the electrician demand outlook better than welder?
Yes, modestly. BLS projects electrician employment growth at +9% from 2024-2034 (much faster than the average for all occupations), driven by EV charging, solar, grid modernisation, and data center construction. Welder, cutter, solderer, and brazer employment is projected to grow +2% over the same period (slower than average), with growth concentrated in manufacturing, pipeline, and shipbuilding while general fabrication continues to face automation pressure. Both trades have strong demand in the medium term but the electrical trade has more identifiable growth drivers.

Related Pages

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Sources: BLS OEWS May 2025 (occupations 47-2111 Electricians and 51-4121 Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and Brazers), BLS Employment Projections 2024-2034 (bls.gov/emp/), American Welding Society (aws.org) certification programmes.

Updated 2026-04-27