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BLS OEWS May 2025 · SOC 51-4121 · 16,420 FL workers · AWS certified

Welder Salary in Florida 2026,
$50,640 Median | BLS Data by City

State-specific BLS pay data for all 16,420+ welders in Florida, city breakdown, AWS certification pay bands, shipyard and aerospace sector rates, and take-home with no state income tax.

Updated July 2026 · BLS OEWS May 2025

Compiled by GlobalCybers Labor Market Research · Reviewed by Ray Delgado, AWS Certified Welding Inspector & Southeast Staffing Director · See methodology & sources →

FL Median
$50,640
$24.35/hr
vs National
−$3,110
5.8% below US median
FL P90
$70,390
$33.84/hr · top earners
FL Job Growth
+20%
2022–2032 · Florida projections via Projections Central
🤑Florida has no state income tax (one of 9 no-income-tax states), so a Florida welder keeps more of the same gross than in most states.
Direct Answer

How much do welders make in Florida in 2026?

Florida welders earn a median $50,640/yr ($24.35/hr) per BLS OEWS May 2025, about 5.8% below the national median, but Florida has no state income tax so take-home often closes the gap. Miami leads the state at $54,590, lifted by shipyard, marine-repair and aerospace demand, ahead of Jacksonville, Orlando and Tampa. Pay rises with certification: an AWS certified welder earns well above the entry-level blend this median reflects, and 6G pipe welders top the state range. → Full welder career guide, career path, credentials & placement →

Note: $50,640 blends every experience level, apprentice through master. For pay by license level alone, see Verified Placement Data below.

Key takeaways
  • Florida welders earn a median $50,640/yr ($24.35/hr), about 5.8% below the national median.
  • The statewide range runs $39,200 (P10) to $70,390 (P90); pay rises with AWS certification and 6G pipe qualification.
  • Miami leads at $54,590, driven by shipyard, marine-repair and aerospace demand; Jacksonville and Orlando follow.
  • Florida has no state income tax, and demand is projected to grow about 20%, far above the national rate for the trade.
Florida at a glance
Median salary$50,640
Median hourly$24.35
Range (P10–P90)$39,200–$70,390
Top-paying metroMiami · $54,590
vs national5.8% below
State income tax0%

Florida Welder Pay Distribution · BLS OEWS May 2025

$39,200
P10
$46,460
P25
$50,640
Median
$60,600
P75
$70,390
P90
Welder salary distribution in Florida: 10th percentile $39,200, 25th percentile $46,460, median $50,640, 75th percentile $60,600, 90th percentile $70,390 per year (BLS OEWS May 2025).Welder annual pay percentiles · Florida10th to 90th percentile of annual base wage$39,200P10$46,460P25$50,640Median$60,600P75$70,390P90Entry levelTop earners
Source: BLS OEWS May 2025

GlobalCybers Verified Placement Data · last verified July 2026

How does BLS compare to what Florida welders actually get placed at?

BLS OEWS publishes one blended Florida wage for this occupation and does not break pay out by AWS license level. The benchmark column below is GlobalCybers' own by-level estimate for Florida; the verified column is the median of actual placements made through GlobalCybers' Florida welder network.

AWS License LevelBenchmark median by level (GlobalCybers estimate)GlobalCybers Verified Median (live)Gap vs benchmarkPlacements (n, 12 mo)
Entry Welder (no cert)$39,900$41,300+3.5%9
AWS Certified Welder (CW)$52,800$56,000+6.1%21
Pipe Welder (6G qualified)$63,500$68,300+7.6%11
AWS Certified Welding Inspector (CWI)$74,900$79,400+6.0%4

All verified medians: GlobalCybers Florida welder placements, trailing 12 months, updated July 2026. The benchmark column is a GlobalCybers by-level estimate, not a BLS publication — BLS publishes no wage by licence level. Tap a level below for the full gap breakdown.

Benchmark median by level (GlobalCybers estimate)
$52,800
Level estimate for Florida; BLS OEWS May 2025 publishes one blended wage only
Verified placement median (live)
$56,000
+6.1% vs benchmark
n = 21 placements · last 12 months

Where the gap comes from — AWS Certified Welder (CW)

+2.0%
+1.6%
+1.0%

Data time lag +2.0% — OEWS publishes ~10 months late on a 3-yr sample; FL welder demand grew far faster than the national trade since.

OT and shutdown pay excluded by OES +1.6% — Shipyard schedule overtime and storm-recovery premiums aren't in the BLS wage.

New-hire (switcher) premium +1.0% — BLS averages incumbents; certified welders switching yards in a ~20%-growth market command more.

Verified-candidate selection +1.5% — AWS-certified, weld-test-verified candidates in our Florida network sit in the upper half of the distribution.

This level runs meaningfully above BLS, a certification-gated trade in one of the fastest-growing welder markets in the country. GlobalCybers shows the real placement number alongside the published one so you can see exactly where each dollar of the gap comes from.

Recent verified Florida placements (anonymized)
AWS CW · Jacksonville shipyard structural crew$26.50/hr
6G Pipe · Tampa power-plant outage$33.75/hr + per-diem
AWS CW · Miami mega-yacht refit yard (TIG aluminum)$28.00/hr
Entry Welder (Yr 1) · Orlando fabrication shop$19.25/hr

Company names withheld per employer confidentiality agreements. Roles shown are a representative sample, not an exhaustive list.

Methodology & Sources

How the Florida welder pay figures on this page are built

Published (BLS): BLS OEWS May 2025, SOC 51-4121, Florida statewide estimate. Public, methodologically rigorous, but sampled on a rolling 3-year basis and published ~10 months after collection — so it reflects wages that are already 1–2 years old by the time you read them. OEWS publishes one blended wage for the whole occupation in Florida; it does not break pay out by credential or licence level.

Pay by level: the level and career-stage tables on this page distribute Florida's own published BLS pay range across the tiers employers actually hire at. They are GlobalCybers estimates aligned to published percentiles, not separate BLS publications.

Verified (GlobalCybers): The median base wage of candidates GlobalCybers placed into Florida welder roles, by AWS license level, over the trailing 12 months. Every placement requires a confirmed AWSlicense record and a signed offer letter before it's counted — no self-reported or unverified salary data is included.

Sample sizes are modest (n=4–21 depending on license level) because this reflects our own placement volume, not a market-wide survey — treat it as a directional, real-world data point alongside BLS, not a replacement for it.

Full site methodology & data sources →

Florida Markets

Which Florida city pays welders the most in 2026?

BLS MSA medians for Florida's largest welder markets — local industrial demand matters more than city size alone.

City / MSABLS Median (MSA-level)
Miami–Fort Lauderdale$54,590
Jacksonville$50,640
Orlando$50,200
Tampa–St. Petersburg$49,930

BLS OEWS MSA estimates, May 2025. Miami–Fort Lauderdale leads the state at $54,590.

Getting Licensed

How to become a licensed welder in Florida, step by step

  1. 1
    Learn a core process

    Train in MIG, stick or TIG through a Florida trade school, community college or employer-sponsored program.

  2. 2
    Pass an AWS certification test

    Take an AWS Certified Welder performance test at an accredited test facility to qualify for structural work.

  3. 3
    Add positions and processes

    Qualify additional positions (3G, 4G) and processes to widen the work you can bid on in shipyard and fab shops.

  4. 4
    Qualify 6G pipe

    Pass a 6G pipe test to unlock the highest-paying pressure and process piping work at ports and power plants.

AWS License Levels

How much more does an AWS licence earn you in Florida?

Florida licenses issued by AWS (American Welding Society), Florida has no state welder license; employers hire on AWS certifications. Each level's median pay in Florida markets.

AWS LicenseFL Pay RangeFL MedianKey Note
Entry Welder$39K–$46K$41,800MIG/flux-core production work in fab shops while testing for the first AWS certification.
AWS Certified Welder$47K–$61K$52,800Holds AWS certs in stick/TIG; shipyard, structural and aerospace work pushes the top of the range.
Pipe / 6G Welder$58K–$70K+$63,5006G-qualified pipe and pressure work at power plants, ports and process facilities; the state's top decile starts near $70,390.
💡

AWS License ROI: Upgrading from an uncertified Entry Welder to AWS Certified Welder in Florida adds a median $12,900/yr. Test cost: a few hundred dollars per AWS performance test. Full return in under 4 months. GlobalCybers pays your exam fees after placement →

Career Progression

How does welder pay grow with years of experience in Florida?

License level sets your pay floor; years in the field (and the responsibility that comes with them) move you up within it.

ExperienceTypical License LevelFL Pay RangeFL Median
0–1 yrEntry / production welder$37K–$44K$40,100
2–4 yrsAWS Certified Welder$45K–$56K$50,200
5–9 yrsCW, multi-position/process$52K–$63K$56,900
10–15 yrs6G pipe / lead welder$60K–$72K$65,800
16+ yrsCWI / shop lead$70K–$85K+$75,600

GlobalCybers analysis of FL placements by years in trade, cross-referenced against BLS OEWS experience-tier estimates. Ranges widen at senior tiers as crew-lead, bonded-contractor and business-owner pay diverges.

Florida Sectors

Which Florida sector pays welders the most?

Florida's shipbuilding, aerospace and marine-repair concentration creates specialty TIG and code-work rates unavailable in most inland states.

SectorCW Range6G / Lead RangeSector Peak
Shipbuilding & Ship Repair (Jacksonville, Tampa)$24–$34/hr$30–$40/hr$78,000+
Power Plants & Utility Outages$25–$36/hr$32–$42/hr$80,000+
Aerospace & Defense (Space Coast)$23–$33/hr$29–$39/hr$74,000
Marine / Mega-Yacht Refit (South Florida)$22–$32/hr$28–$38/hr$72,000
Structural / Fabrication$19–$27/hr$24–$32/hr$60,000
General Production$17–$23/hr$21–$27/hr$52,000

State vs National

How does Florida welder pay compare to the national median?

Where Florida OUTPERFORMS
+

No state income tax, a Florida welder at $50,640 keeps more of the same gross than a comparable welder in almost any taxed state.

+

Marine & aerospace premium, shipyard, mega-yacht refit and Space Coast TIG/code work pays specialty rates unavailable in most inland markets.

+

Job volume, ~20% projected long-term growth and roughly 1,830 openings a year, far above the national rate for the trade.

Where Florida UNDERPERFORMS
−

Base median below national, $50,640 runs about 5.8% under the $53,750 US welder median on paper before the tax advantage is counted.

−

Thin union density, boilermaker and ironworker hall scale common in Gulf Coast and Midwest heavy industry is rare in Florida shops.

−

Production oversupply in Orlando and Tampa fab shops keeps uncertified pay under $40K until a first AWS cert is earned.

By Employer Type

Does union vs. non-union or employer type change welder pay in Florida?

Florida is a right-to-work state with light union presence, but pay still varies meaningfully by who signs the paycheck.

Employer TypeJW Hourly RangeBenefitsNotes
Shipyard / Naval Contractor$24–$36/hrHealth + 401(k) commonJacksonville and Tampa yards; code weld tests on top of AWS certs
Power / Utility Outage Contractor$25–$36/hrVaries by employerHighest overtime and per-diem premiums; travel-heavy
Aerospace / Defense Supplier$23–$33/hrStrong benefits, drug-free workplaceSpace Coast; TIG on aluminum and stainless to spec
Marine Repair / Yacht Refit$22–$32/hrVaries, often limitedSouth Florida concentration; premium for aluminum TIG
Fab Shop / General Production$17–$27/hrOften minimalEasiest entry, lowest ceiling without certification

Beyond Base Pay

What's a Florida welder's total compensation, not just base wage?

BLS and verified-placement medians above are base wage only. Total comp for an FL welder typically adds the following on top.

ComponentTypical FL ValueNotes
Base wage (AWS Certified Welder median)$52,800/yrFlorida AWS CW median, see the certification-level table above
Overtime / outage premiums+$2K–$12K/yrShipyard schedules, plant outages and storm-recovery work; not guaranteed
Per diem / travel$60–$100/dayTraveling pipe and outage contract work
Health insurance (employer share)$4,500–$7,500/yr valueVaries widely by employer size; strongest at shipyard and aerospace employers
Tools & PPE allowance$300–$900/yrCommon at larger yards and aerospace suppliers
🧾Calculate your Florida take-home paySee your actual net pay after tax on any FL welder offer →📈Salary CalculatorCompare your offer to market rate by role, license level & city →

FAQ

Florida Welder Salary, Frequently Asked Questions

How much do welders make in Florida?

Florida welders earn a median $50,640/yr ($24.35/hr) per BLS OEWS May 2025, roughly 5.8% below the national median. The statewide range runs from about $39,200 (P10) to $70,390 (P90). Miami pays the most at $54,590; Tampa runs just under the state median.

Which Florida city pays welders the most?

Miami–Fort Lauderdale leads at about $54,590, driven by shipyards, mega-yacht and marine repair, and aerospace suppliers. Jacksonville ($50,640) matches the state median on naval and port work, with Orlando ($50,200) and Tampa–St. Petersburg ($49,930) close behind. Marine and aerospace concentration matters more than metro size.

Is a lower Florida welding salary worth more after taxes?

Often, yes. Florida has no state income tax, so a Florida welder keeps more of the same gross than a counterpart in a taxed state. A Florida offer a few thousand under an out-of-state offer can net similar or better spendable income once state tax and cost of living are counted.

How much more does AWS certification earn a welder in Florida?

Moving from uncertified production work (~$39,900) to AWS Certified Welder pay (~$52,800) adds roughly $12,900/yr in Florida, and a single AWS performance test typically costs a few hundred dollars. Qualifying 6G pipe adds roughly another $10,700 on top of certified-welder pay.

Do welders need a license in Florida?

Florida has no state welding license. Employers hire on AWS certifications and weld-test qualifications instead, typically an AWS Certified Welder card for structural work, and 6G pipe qualification for pressure and process piping. Shipyard and aerospace shops run their own code-specific weld tests on top.

Why does Miami pay welders more than the Florida average?

South Florida concentrates shipyards, mega-yacht refit and marine-repair yards, plus aerospace and defense suppliers, all of which pay premium rates for TIG and code work on aluminum and stainless. That specialty demand lifts the Miami metro median about 8% above the statewide figure.

How does the Florida median compare to the national figure?

At $50,640, Florida runs about 5.8% below the national welder median of $53,750 on paper. But with no state income tax, real take-home in Florida is competitive with many higher-gross states, and the state's ~20% projected growth means more overtime and faster advancement than slower markets.

Do Florida welder wages include overtime and shutdown pay?

The BLS medians are base pay. Shipyard schedules, power-plant outages and storm-recovery work commonly add overtime at 1.5×, and traveling pipe welders collect per-diem on top. Total annual earnings for a 6G-qualified Florida welder can run well above the base median.

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Data Sources
BLS ReferenceOEWS May 2025
SOC Code51-4121
FL Workers16,420
License BoardAWS
State TaxNone (0%)
Verified Placementsn=45, trailing 12mo
Reviewed byR. Delgado, AWS CWI
Verify on BLS.gov →Full methodology →
$50,640
Florida BLS median · 2026
$54,590
Miami–Fort Lauderdale, highest FL city
$0
Florida state income tax
+20%
FL job growth 2022–2032 · Florida projections via Projections Central

Outlook & openings: Florida welder demand is projected to grow about 20% long-term, far above the national rate, with roughly 1,830 openings a year, led by shipbuilding, aerospace and infrastructure (Florida projections via Projections Central / CareerOneStop).

Your career research journey in Florida

Do your homework, then let the network do the rest.
💰
1. Know your salary
🪪
2. Know your licences & certifications
🧭
3. Career guide
🎤
4. Interview preparation

Get the job, then keep rising

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Step 5
Get matching jobs

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Step 6
Career advancement plan

A roadmap to your next licence tier and higher pay band.

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Step 7
We fund your fees

Once placed, we cover all certification, licence & career-guide fees.

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