Welder Hourly Pay in St. Joseph, MO: $33.03 (2026)
Quick Answer:Hourly pay for a welder working in St. Joseph, MO runs $33.03 at the median for 2026 — annualizing to $68,696 at a standard 2,080-hour year. Figures projected from BLS OEWS 2025 (SOC 51-4121). Weighted against St. Joseph's regional price level (BEA RPP 86.4, 14% below national), each hour of work buys what $38.23 nationally would. A 24-hour part-time schedule grosses $41,218 per year.
Official BLS data · View source
In St. Joseph, Missouri, the welder hourly pay is projected to reach $33.03 by 2026, significantly surpassing the national median of $26.87. This competitive wage allows for a decent living for both full-time and part-time welders, the latter typically working around three days a week or on per-diem arrangements. Welders in this region, particularly in fabrication shops, pipeline welding, and structural work, benefit from a pay range that starts at about $23.51 for entry-level positions and can exceed $33.03 for experienced professionals. The opportunities for part-time welders can be particularly lucrative in settings such as manufacturing production cells or mobile rig setups, where labor demands can fluctuate based on project needs and industry trends. The hourly data provided here comes directly from the Bureau of Labor Statistics’ estimates for the welding profession in 2026.
Welder Hourly Wage Breakdown
| Percentile | Hourly Rate | Per 8hr Shift |
|---|---|---|
| Entry Level (P10) | $23.51 | $188.10 |
| Lower Range (P25) | $27.92 | $223.37 |
| Median (P50) | $33.03 | $264.22 |
| Upper Range (P75) | $33.03 | $264.22 |
| Top Earners (P90) | $33.03 | $264.22 |
Estimated Annual Income by Work Schedule in St. Joseph
Based on $33.03/hr median hourly rate · 2026 est.
At $33.03/hr, a welder working full-time (40 hr/wk) in St. Joseph, MO can expect to earn approximately $68,697 per year (2026 est.). Part-time hygienists working 24 hours per week would earn around $39,633. With a cost-of-living index of 86.38 (below the national average), these earnings stretch further in St. Joseph.
Hourly Rate Calculator
Schedule Comparison in St. Joseph
| Schedule | Weekly | Monthly | Annual |
|---|---|---|---|
| Full-Time (40 hrs) | $1,321.09 | $5,725 | $68,697 |
| Part-Time (24 hrs) | $792.65 | $3,435 | $41,218 |
| Per Diem (16 hrs) | $528.44 | $2,290 | $27,479 |
Compare WLD Wages With Similar Roles
| Role | Median Hourly |
|---|---|
| Welder (St. Joseph) | $33.03 |
| 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. Joseph, MO earn a median of $68,696 per year (2026 est.), which is 22.90% higher than the national median of $55,895 and 26.60% above the Missouri state average of $54,262.
Welder Hourly Pay vs. Cost of Living
Working 24h/week at $33.03/hr = $41,218/year (purchasing power: $47,716).
Working 40h/week (full-time) = $68,697/year (purchasing power: $79,527).
CoL index: 86.382 (100 = national average). Your dollars stretch further here.
2019 BLS Actual
$21.29/hr
2025 BLS Actual
$31.76/hr
2026 Current Est.
$33.03/hr
2019–2027 Growth
+61.3%
Hourly Rate Trajectory for Welders in St. Joseph (2019–2027)
2019–2025: actual BLS OEWS data for this metro area. 2026+: CAGR 3.99% projection.
| Year | Hourly Rate | Status |
|---|---|---|
| 2019 | $21.29/hr | Actual |
| 2020 | $22.23/hr | Actual |
| 2021 | $21.83/hr | Actual |
| 2022 | $23.18/hr | Actual |
| 2023 | $23.84/hr | Actual |
| 2024 | $30.76/hr | Actual |
| 2025 | $31.76/hr | Actual |
| 2026(current) | $33.03/hr | Estimated |
| 2027 | $34.35/hr | Projected |
Based on 7 years of BLS OEWS metropolitan area data, the median hourly rate for welders in St. Joseph grew 49.2% from $21.29/hr (2019) to $31.76/hr (2025). At a 3.99% projected growth rate, hourly pay is expected to reach $34.35/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. Joseph 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. Joseph
Exploring the earnings potential for part-time welders reveals interesting insights. A welder working three days a week for a total of 24 hours might see an annual income of approximately $41,000, compared to full-time welders who earn close to $68,696, illustrating a considerable difference in financial stability. Per-diem welders often pad their income with additional daily allowances, ranging from $80 to $175, depending on location and employer. Traveling welders, especially those working on refinery turnarounds or underwater tasks, can command substantial hourly rates, between $40 and $160, not factoring in per-diem payments. The type of employer heavily influences these rates—structural steel fabrication shops and oil and gas companies frequently offer different compensation structures. Some welders opt for higher hourly rates without benefits, while others may choose positions that provide health security despite lower pay. Understanding the local dynamics in St. Joseph, MO, and honing negotiation skills can significantly impact earning potential in this field.
More salary data for St. Joseph, 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 St. Joseph. 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