Welder Hourly Pay in Joplin, MO: $22.88 (2026)
Quick Answer:Hourly pay for a welder working in Joplin, MO runs $22.88 at the median for 2026 — annualizing to $47,596 at a standard 2,080-hour year. Figures projected from BLS OEWS 2025 (SOC 51-4121). Weighted against Joplin's regional price level (BEA RPP 85.7, 14% below national), each hour of work buys what $26.69 nationally would. A 24-hour part-time schedule grosses $28,551 per year.
Official BLS data · View source
In Joplin, Missouri, welders earn a median hourly rate of $22.88, a figure that trails behind the national hourly median of $26.87. This discrepancy highlights the local economic conditions and can influence job decisions for part-time and per-diem welders who typically work three days a week in varied environments such as fabrication shops, pipeline welding sites, and shipyards. With entry-level positions starting at approximately $18.58 and top earners reaching up to $30.47 per hour, the range reflects both the skill level required and the type of work done. Official data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) for 2026 emphasizes the diversity of opportunities available within the industry, from structural welding to specialized work in nuclear and aerospace settings.
Welder Hourly Wage Breakdown
| Percentile | Hourly Rate | Per 8hr Shift |
|---|---|---|
| Entry Level (P10) | $18.58 | $148.66 |
| Lower Range (P25) | $20.03 | $160.23 |
| Median (P50) | $22.88 | $183.02 |
| Upper Range (P75) | $27.45 | $219.63 |
| Top Earners (P90) | $30.47 | $243.75 |
Estimated Annual Income by Work Schedule in Joplin
Based on $22.88/hr median hourly rate · 2026 est.
At $22.88/hr, a welder working full-time (40 hr/wk) in Joplin, MO can expect to earn approximately $47,586 per year (2026 est.). Part-time hygienists working 24 hours per week would earn around $27,453. With a cost-of-living index of 85.72 (below the national average), these earnings stretch further in Joplin.
Hourly Rate Calculator
Schedule Comparison in Joplin
| Schedule | Weekly | Monthly | Annual |
|---|---|---|---|
| Full-Time (40 hrs) | $915.11 | $3,965 | $47,586 |
| Part-Time (24 hrs) | $549.07 | $2,379 | $28,551 |
| Per Diem (16 hrs) | $366.04 | $1,586 | $19,034 |
Compare WLD Wages With Similar Roles
| Role | Median Hourly |
|---|---|
| Welder (Joplin) | $22.88 |
| 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 Joplin, MO earn a median of $47,596 per year (2026 est.), which is 14.85% lower than the national median of $55,895 and 12.30% below the Missouri state average of $54,272.
Welder Hourly Pay vs. Cost of Living
Working 24h/week at $22.88/hr = $28,551/year (purchasing power: $33,309).
Working 40h/week (full-time) = $47,586/year (purchasing power: $55,514).
CoL index: 85.718 (100 = national average). Your dollars stretch further here.
2019 BLS Actual
$17.61/hr
2025 BLS Actual
$22.00/hr
2026 Current Est.
$22.88/hr
2019–2027 Growth
+35.1%
Hourly Rate Trajectory for Welders in Joplin (2019–2027)
2019–2025: actual BLS OEWS data for this metro area. 2026+: CAGR 3.99% projection.
| Year | Hourly Rate | Status |
|---|---|---|
| 2019 | $17.61/hr | Actual |
| 2020 | $17.75/hr | Actual |
| 2021 | $18.39/hr | Actual |
| 2022 | $18.38/hr | Actual |
| 2023 | $21.88/hr | Actual |
| 2024 | $22.96/hr | Actual |
| 2025 | $22.00/hr | Actual |
| 2026(current) | $22.88/hr | Estimated |
| 2027 | $23.79/hr | Projected |
Based on 7 years of BLS OEWS metropolitan area data, the median hourly rate for welders in Joplin grew 24.9% from $17.61/hr (2019) to $22.00/hr (2025). At a 3.99% projected growth rate, hourly pay is expected to reach $23.79/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 Joplin 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 Joplin
Examining part-time earnings, a welder working 24 hours a week in Joplin would gross an annual income distinctly different from their full-time counterparts. For instance, per-diem welders on jobs like refinery turnarounds can earn additional compensation, ranging from $80-$175 daily for travel expenses, alongside base hourly rates between $50-$80, especially during shutdown periods. Rig welder owner-operators have a different earning model that allows them to charge between $90-$160 per hour, which can significantly boost overall income. Conversely, while some may accept lower hourly rates for extra benefits like health insurance, others maneuver through contract negotiations to maximize take-home pay. Factors such as employer type significantly affect pay scales, with positions in construction, manufacturing, and petrochemical industries all offering varied compensation structures, making it crucial for welders in Joplin to understand local market dynamics to successfully negotiate their welder hourly pay.
More salary data for Joplin, MO:
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 Joplin. 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