Welder Hourly Pay in Great Falls, MT: $27.86 (2026)
Quick Answer:Hourly pay for a welder working in Great Falls, MT runs $27.86 at the median for 2026 — annualizing to $57,943 at a standard 2,080-hour year. Figures projected from BLS OEWS 2025 (SOC 51-4121). Weighted against Great Falls's regional price level (BEA RPP 96.8, 3% below national), each hour of work buys what $28.77 nationally would. A 24-hour part-time schedule grosses $34,768 per year.
Official BLS data · View source
Welding professionals in Great Falls, Montana, can expect a median hourly rate of $27.86, which surpasses the national average of $26.87 per hour. This competitive wage offers opportunities for part-time workers who may opt for three-day work weeks; a welder in this scenario would earn approximately $1,344 weekly. Furthermore, per-diem welders, particularly those engaged in fabrication or oil and gas pipeline projects, often see substantial daily earnings from their work environments, including fabrication shop production lines and nuclear plant maintenance. The hourly pay range for welders in Great Falls spans from $23.77 for entry-level positions to $49.78 for the most experienced professionals, reflecting the diverse skill sets and certifications sought by employers in various sectors. This data is based on 2025 BLS OEWS data, projected to 2026.
Welder Hourly Wage Breakdown
| Percentile | Hourly Rate | Per 8hr Shift |
|---|---|---|
| Entry Level (P10) | $23.77 | $190.18 |
| Lower Range (P25) | $25.26 | $202.07 |
| Median (P50) | $27.86 | $222.87 |
| Upper Range (P75) | $31.94 | $255.48 |
| Top Earners (P90) | $49.78 | $398.24 |
Estimated Annual Income by Work Schedule in Great Falls
Based on $27.86/hr median hourly rate · 2026 est.
At $27.86/hr, a welder working full-time (40 hr/wk) in Great Falls, MT can expect to earn approximately $57,947 per year (2026 est.). Part-time hygienists working 24 hours per week would earn around $33,431. With a cost-of-living index of 96.84 (below the national average), these earnings stretch further in Great Falls.
Hourly Rate Calculator
Schedule Comparison in Great Falls
| Schedule | Weekly | Monthly | Annual |
|---|---|---|---|
| Full-Time (40 hrs) | $1,114.36 | $4,829 | $57,947 |
| Part-Time (24 hrs) | $668.61 | $2,897 | $34,768 |
| Per Diem (16 hrs) | $445.74 | $1,932 | $23,179 |
Compare WLD Wages With Similar Roles
| Role | Median Hourly |
|---|---|
| Welder (Great Falls) | $27.86 |
| 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 Great Falls, MT earn a median of $57,943 per year (2026 est.), which is 3.66% higher than the national median of $55,895 and 7.80% above the Montana state average of $53,751.
Welder Hourly Pay vs. Cost of Living
Working 24h/week at $27.86/hr = $34,768/year (purchasing power: $35,901).
Working 40h/week (full-time) = $57,947/year (purchasing power: $59,834).
CoL index: 96.845 (100 = national average). Your dollars stretch further here.
2019 BLS Actual
$21.16/hr
2025 BLS Actual
$26.79/hr
2026 Current Est.
$27.86/hr
2019–2027 Growth
+36.9%
Hourly Rate Trajectory for Welders in Great Falls (2019–2027)
2019–2025: actual BLS OEWS data for this metro area. 2026+: CAGR 3.99% projection.
| Year | Hourly Rate | Status |
|---|---|---|
| 2019 | $21.16/hr | Actual |
| 2020 | $19.74/hr | Actual |
| 2021 | $18.23/hr | Actual |
| 2022 | $18.82/hr | Actual |
| 2023 | $22.27/hr | Actual |
| 2024 | $23.34/hr | Actual |
| 2025 | $26.79/hr | Actual |
| 2026(current) | $27.86/hr | Estimated |
| 2027 | $28.97/hr | Projected |
Based on 7 years of BLS OEWS metropolitan area data, the median hourly rate for welders in Great Falls grew 26.6% from $21.16/hr (2019) to $26.79/hr (2025). At a 3.99% projected growth rate, hourly pay is expected to reach $28.97/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 Great Falls 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 Great Falls
For those contemplating part-time opportunities, earnings can significantly differ when compared to full-time positions. A welder working 24 hours a week takes home approximately $69,024 annually, while a full-time counterpart earns $57,943. The reality for traveling welders often includes per-diem pay, which can range from $80 to $175 daily, in addition to hourly rates that can reach between $40 and $70. Special projects, such as refinery shutdowns, can yield $50 to $80 per hour, sometimes even doubling rates on weekends. Employers across Great Falls cover a variety of sectors, including structural steel fabrication, pipeline welding, and shipbuilding. The trade-off between hourly pay and benefits is essential; some welders may accept lower hourly wages in exchange for health insurance. Negotiation strategies are vital in this industry, and local welders should emphasize any specialized certifications, especially those recognized by AWS or NQA-1, when discussing pay rates.
More salary data for Great Falls, MT:
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 Great Falls. 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