Welder Hourly Pay in St. Cloud, MN: $31.40 (2026)
Quick Answer:Hourly pay for a welder working in St. Cloud, MN runs $31.40 at the median for 2026 — annualizing to $65,327 at a standard 2,080-hour year. Figures projected from BLS OEWS 2025 (SOC 51-4121). Weighted against St. Cloud's regional price level (BEA RPP 87.6, 12% below national), each hour of work buys what $35.84 nationally would. A 24-hour part-time schedule grosses $39,193 per year.
Official BLS data · View source
With a robust median hourly pay of $31.40, welders in St. Cloud, Minnesota, enjoy compensation that significantly outpaces the national median hourly rate of $26.87. This favorable rate reflects the local demand for skilled welders in various sectors, ranging from fabrication shop production lines to pipeline trench welding stations. For part-time workers, typically employed three days a week, this translates to a substantial income, particularly when compared to entry-level positions that start at an hourly rate of $24.25 and can reach up to $40.26 for top earners. Given that these figures stem from official Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) projections, they represent a promising outlook for prospective welders seeking employment in the area.
Welder Hourly Wage Breakdown
| Percentile | Hourly Rate | Per 8hr Shift |
|---|---|---|
| Entry Level (P10) | $24.25 | $194.00 |
| Lower Range (P25) | $28.41 | $227.28 |
| Median (P50) | $31.40 | $251.24 |
| Upper Range (P75) | $34.08 | $272.62 |
| Top Earners (P90) | $40.26 | $322.12 |
Estimated Annual Income by Work Schedule in St. Cloud
Based on $31.40/hr median hourly rate · 2026 est.
At $31.40/hr, a welder working full-time (40 hr/wk) in St. Cloud, MN can expect to earn approximately $65,322 per year (2026 est.). Part-time hygienists working 24 hours per week would earn around $37,686. With a cost-of-living index of 87.63 (below the national average), these earnings stretch further in St. Cloud.
Hourly Rate Calculator
Schedule Comparison in St. Cloud
| Schedule | Weekly | Monthly | Annual |
|---|---|---|---|
| Full-Time (40 hrs) | $1,256.20 | $5,444 | $65,322 |
| Part-Time (24 hrs) | $753.72 | $3,266 | $39,193 |
| Per Diem (16 hrs) | $502.48 | $2,177 | $26,129 |
Compare WLD Wages With Similar Roles
| Role | Median Hourly |
|---|---|
| Welder (St. Cloud) | $31.40 |
| 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 St. Cloud, MN earn a median of $65,327 per year (2026 est.), which is 16.87% higher than the national median of $55,895 and 4.00% above the Minnesota state average of $62,814.
Welder Hourly Pay vs. Cost of Living
Working 24h/week at $31.40/hr = $39,193/year (purchasing power: $44,725).
Working 40h/week (full-time) = $65,322/year (purchasing power: $74,542).
CoL index: 87.632 (100 = national average). Your dollars stretch further here.
2019 BLS Actual
$23.25/hr
2025 BLS Actual
$30.20/hr
2026 Current Est.
$31.40/hr
2019–2027 Growth
+40.5%
Hourly Rate Trajectory for Welders in St. Cloud (2019–2027)
2019–2025: actual BLS OEWS data for this metro area. 2026+: CAGR 3.99% projection.
| Year | Hourly Rate | Status |
|---|---|---|
| 2019 | $23.25/hr | Actual |
| 2020 | $22.66/hr | Actual |
| 2021 | $23.37/hr | Actual |
| 2022 | $24.72/hr | Actual |
| 2023 | $27.74/hr | Actual |
| 2024 | $29.06/hr | Actual |
| 2025 | $30.20/hr | Actual |
| 2026(current) | $31.40/hr | Estimated |
| 2027 | $32.66/hr | Projected |
Based on 7 years of BLS OEWS metropolitan area data, the median hourly rate for welders in St. Cloud grew 29.9% from $23.25/hr (2019) to $30.20/hr (2025). At a 3.99% projected growth rate, hourly pay is expected to reach $32.66/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 St. Cloud 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 St. Cloud
Examining the earning potential more closely reveals that part-time welders in St. Cloud might take home approximately $47,000 annually by working 24 hours each week, compared to their full-time counterparts who are on track to make around $65,327. For welders engaged in per-diem or agency work, the financial rewards can be even more impressive; traveling pipe welders may receive $80-$175 per day in per diem alongside a competitive hourly wage ranging from $40 to $70. This is particularly true for refinery turnaround welders, who can earn between $50 and $80 per hour, sometimes doubling their rates on weekends. Variability in hourly pay exists among different employer types, including structural steel shops and aerospace manufacturers, where workers might opt for lower hourly rates that provide health insurance benefits over higher pay with no additional perks. For welders in St. Cloud, negotiating effectively is key, particularly with the current shortage projected by AWS indicating a need for 360,000 more welders by 2027, making skilled negotiation a crucial asset in securing the best possible welder hourly rate in MN.
More salary data for St. Cloud, MN:
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 St. Cloud. 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