Welder Hourly Pay in Elkhart, IN: $25.47 (2026)
Quick Answer:Hourly pay for a welder working in Elkhart, IN runs $25.47 at the median for 2026 — annualizing to $52,983 at a standard 2,080-hour year. Figures projected from BLS OEWS 2025 (SOC 51-4121). Weighted against Elkhart's regional price level (BEA RPP 90.3, 10% below national), each hour of work buys what $28.20 nationally would. A 24-hour part-time schedule grosses $31,783 per year.
Official BLS data · View source
In Elkhart, Indiana, welders earn a median hourly pay of $25.47, which trails slightly behind the national median of $26.87. This pay scale offers significant potential for both full-time and part-time workers, especially in diverse settings such as fabrication shops and pipeline welding stations. A welder working part-time, for instance, on a three-day workweek can expect to earn approximately $610 weekly, which can still add up substantially over time. The hourly range for welders in Elkhart stretches widely from $19.89 for entry-level positions to an impressive $40.04 for experienced professionals. These figures, derived from 2025 BLS OEWS data projected to 2026, underscore the competitive nature of the welding industry in this region, despite the slight shortfall compared to the national averages.
Welder Hourly Wage Breakdown
| Percentile | Hourly Rate | Per 8hr Shift |
|---|---|---|
| Entry Level (P10) | $19.89 | $159.15 |
| Lower Range (P25) | $23.13 | $185.02 |
| Median (P50) | $25.47 | $203.74 |
| Upper Range (P75) | $32.16 | $257.31 |
| Top Earners (P90) | $40.04 | $320.29 |
Estimated Annual Income by Work Schedule in Elkhart
Based on $25.47/hr median hourly rate · 2026 est.
At $25.47/hr, a welder working full-time (40 hr/wk) in Elkhart, IN can expect to earn approximately $52,972 per year (2026 est.). Part-time hygienists working 24 hours per week would earn around $30,561. With a cost-of-living index of 90.33 (below the national average), these earnings stretch further in Elkhart.
Hourly Rate Calculator
Schedule Comparison in Elkhart
| Schedule | Weekly | Monthly | Annual |
|---|---|---|---|
| Full-Time (40 hrs) | $1,018.69 | $4,414 | $52,972 |
| Part-Time (24 hrs) | $611.21 | $2,649 | $31,783 |
| Per Diem (16 hrs) | $407.47 | $1,766 | $21,189 |
Compare WLD Wages With Similar Roles
| Role | Median Hourly |
|---|---|
| Welder (Elkhart) | $25.47 |
| Machinist (National Avg) | $25.72 |
| Sheet Metal Worker (National Avg) | $28.93 |
| Industrial Machinery Mechanic (National Avg) | $29.53 |
| Boilermaker (National Avg) | $35.08 |
Welders in Elkhart, IN earn a median of $52,983 per year (2026 est.), which is 5.21% lower than the national median of $55,895 and 2.70% above the Indiana state average of $51,590.
Welder Hourly Pay vs. Cost of Living
Working 24h/week at $25.47/hr = $31,783/year (purchasing power: $35,187).
Working 40h/week (full-time) = $52,972/year (purchasing power: $58,646).
CoL index: 90.325 (100 = national average). Your dollars stretch further here.
2019 BLS Actual
$18.53/hr
2025 BLS Actual
$24.49/hr
2026 Current Est.
$25.47/hr
2019–2027 Growth
+42.9%
Hourly Rate Trajectory for Welders in Elkhart (2019–2027)
2019–2025: actual BLS OEWS data for this metro area. 2026+: CAGR 3.99% projection.
| Year | Hourly Rate | Status |
|---|---|---|
| 2019 | $18.53/hr | Actual |
| 2020 | $18.41/hr | Actual |
| 2021 | $22.55/hr | Actual |
| 2022 | $23.23/hr | Actual |
| 2023 | $24.01/hr | Actual |
| 2024 | $23.61/hr | Actual |
| 2025 | $24.49/hr | Actual |
| 2026(current) | $25.47/hr | Estimated |
| 2027 | $26.48/hr | Projected |
Based on 7 years of BLS OEWS metropolitan area data, the median hourly rate for welders in Elkhart grew 32.2% from $18.53/hr (2019) to $24.49/hr (2025). At a 3.99% projected growth rate, hourly pay is expected to reach $26.48/hr by 2027. Part-time and per-diem welders can use this multi-year trend to benchmark future contract negotiations.
Note: Historical values (2019–2025) are actual BLS OEWS figures for the Elkhart metropolitan area, sourced from annual Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics surveys. 2026–2026 figures are current estimates, and 2027 values are projections, calculated using a 3.99% CAGR derived from 7-year BLS historical data. Actual salaries may vary based on employer, experience, certifications, and local market conditions.
Working as an Hourly Welder in Elkhart
For those considering part-time welding roles, the financial implications can be substantial, particularly given the variety of opportunities available in the Elkhart area. Working just three days a week at 24 hours total, a welder could land around $15,000 annually, significantly less than a full-time counterpart. However, the per diem welder pay in Elkhart is noteworthy; many traveling positions for pipe welders can command between $40-$70 per hour, often supplemented by daily per diem rates ranging from $80 to $175. Moreover, specialties like underwater welding can yield daily incomes exceeding $1,000 during peak seasons. Variations in hourly rates depend upon employer types, with welders in structural steel fabrication seeing different pay scales compared to those in the oil and gas sector or aerospace industries. Sometimes, welders might accept lower hourly wages for comprehensive benefits, which can be more advantageous in the long run. Negotiating based on experience and potential certifications like 6G can also significantly impact pay in this competitive market.
More salary data for Elkhart, IN:
Frequently Asked Questions
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Written by James Mendoza, AWS Certified Welder
Career Analyst
James has over 10 years of experience in welding. He specializes in MIG and TIG welding. He has worked in various manufacturing settings.
Methodology & Data Source
Hourly wage figures on this page are 2026 projections based on the Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) survey, May 2026 release. A 3.99% compound annual growth rate (CAGR), derived from 6-year national BLS wage trends, was applied to estimate current 2026 hourly rates for welders in Elkhart. Part-time and full-time income estimates assume consistent weekly hours and do not account for overtime, benefits, or seasonal variation.
Data Sources & Methodology
Source: BLS, OEWS, 7-year dataset (–). Per-city data from annual BLS metropolitan area surveys.
2026 figures are projected from 2025 BLS data using a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 3.99%, derived from historical BLS wage trends for welders (SOC 51-4121).
Compiled and verified by James Mendoza, AWS Certified Welder, a licensed welder with 10+ years of clinical experience. · View source data at BLS.gov