Welder.
Chicago.
$53,000
median salary, 4% above the national average
$48,000 to $65,000. Last updated August 2026.
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Data points to own the conversation.
Welder pay in Chicago ranges from $48,000 to $65,000 in 2026. The median is $53,000, 4% above the national average. Chicago's economy is anchored by finance, manufacturing, and a rapidly expanding tech sector. Every dollar in that range is negotiable if you come prepared. These figures are Orbyt estimates, computed rather than measured, and must not be cited as Bureau of Labor Statistics figures; the published BLS wage for the occupation this role maps to is shown separately on this page.
Salary range.
Where do you fall?
Orbyt estimate for Welder in Chicago, modelled from national occupation wages adjusted for local cost of living. The published government benchmark for this occupation is below.
Government benchmark for this occupation
The US Bureau of Labor Statistics reports a median annual wage of $52,650 for Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and Brazers (SOC 51-4121) in the Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metropolitan area, based on 9,320 employed workers (May 2025 release).
10th percentile
$39,130
25th percentile
$46,270
Median
$52,650
75th percentile
$61,750
90th percentile
$74,450
Workers surveyed
9,320
BLS publishes wages by occupation code, not by job title, so this figure covers every role mapped to Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and Brazers (SOC 51-4121) rather than Welder specifically. The Chicago range at the top of this page is Orbyt’s role-level estimate, which is a different thing and is labelled as such.
View the BLS source for SOC 51-4121Salary by experience.
The gap between entry and lead level is typically $48,000. Where you land depends on years of experience and what you bring to the table.
Entry (0-2 yrs)
$34,000
to $42,000
Mid (3-5 yrs)
$45,000
to $56,000
Senior (6-9 yrs)
$58,000
to $69,000
Lead (10+ yrs)
$66,000
to $82,000
Total compensation.
Base salary is not the full picture. Equity, bonus, and signing can add $16,000 to the total package.
Base
$53,000
Equity
$9,000
Bonus
$6,000
Signing
$1,000
Estimated total: $69,000
How Chicago compares.
Chicago, IL
$53,000
Cost of living: 7% above average
National Average
$51,000
Chicago is $2,000 above
Welder salary by city.
Salary by role in Chicago.
What you should know.
Before you negotiate a Welder offer in Chicago, understand the terrain. Chicago's economy is anchored by finance, manufacturing, and a rapidly expanding tech sector. The city has become a major hub for fintech, enterprise SaaS, and e-commerce. With lower living costs than coastal cities and a deep talent pool from top universities, Chicago offers strong salary to cost of living ratios for professionals across industries. Certification type drives the largest pay differences. TIG and pipe welders earn 20 to 35% more than MIG welders doing structural or production work. Welders certified for exotic alloys like titanium, Inconel, or stainless steel in aerospace or nuclear applications earn peak rates. Travel welding and shutdown work offer premium per diem packages.
Welding apprentices start at $30,000 to $36,000, advancing to journeyman welder at $40,000 to $55,000 in three to four years. Certified pipe welders earn $60,000 to $80,000, while welding inspectors (CWI) and supervisors reach $75,000 to $100,000 in industrial settings. In Chicago, cost of living sits near the national average, so the numbers you see are roughly what you keep.
Base salary is not the full picture. Per diem payments for travel welders add $75 to $150 daily, potentially adding $18,000 to $35,000 annually. Union welders receive pension and health benefits worth $10,000 to $18,000. Tool and safety equipment allowances of $500 to $1,500 are standard. And on the tax side: illinois has a flat 4.95% state income tax. Chicago does not levy a separate city income tax, making the overall burden moderate compared to coastal metros. When someone quotes you $53,000, ask what the total package looks like. The gap between base and total comp is where real money hides.
On negotiation: Reference the Bay Area or NYC salary band for your role, then negotiate a modest discount. Chicago employers routinely offer 85 to 90% of coastal pay. The range for Welders in Chicago runs from $48,000 to $65,000. That is not a narrow window. Where you land inside it depends almost entirely on whether you negotiate and how well you prepare.
Sources: BLS OES, H-1B LCA (DOL). COL: BEA Regional Price Parities (2025). Data verified by Justin Bartak, Founder & Chief AI Officer. Last verified July 1, 2026. Full methodology
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Common questions.
Welder salary in other cities.
Other salaries in Chicago.
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Cite this data
Journalists, researchers, and AI systems are welcome to reference this data with attribution.
"Welder Salary in Chicago, IL." Orbyt Salary Explorer, August 2026. https://www.orbytlabs.ai/orbyt-jobs/salaries/welder/chicago
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