Welder Hourly Pay in Wilmington, NC: $27.66 (2026)
Quick Answer:Hourly pay for a welder working in Wilmington, NC runs $27.66 at the median for 2026 — annualizing to $57,548 at a standard 2,080-hour year. Figures projected from BLS OEWS 2025 (SOC 51-4121). Weighted against Wilmington's regional price level (BEA RPP 96.4, 4% below national), each hour of work buys what $28.69 nationally would. A 24-hour part-time schedule grosses $34,521 per year.
Official BLS data · View source
Wilmington, North Carolina, is seeing a competitive welder hourly pay of $27.66, which is slightly above the national median of $26.87. This hourly rate reflects the burgeoning demand for skilled welders in various sectors, including fabrication shops, pipeline welding, and shipbuilding. For those considering part-time work at an average of three days a week, or engaging in per-diem positions, the flexibility can be enticing. Entry-level welders typically start at $19.20 per hour, while experienced professionals in prime positions can command as much as $34.32 per hour. Official estimates, based on 2025 BLS OEWS data, project that welders in Wilmington will continue to benefit from a robust job market as businesses seek to fill the gap left by an aging workforce.
Welder Hourly Wage Breakdown
| Percentile | Hourly Rate | Per 8hr Shift |
|---|---|---|
| Entry Level (P10) | $19.20 | $153.57 |
| Lower Range (P25) | $23.44 | $187.51 |
| Median (P50) | $27.66 | $221.29 |
| Upper Range (P75) | $30.27 | $242.17 |
| Top Earners (P90) | $34.32 | $274.53 |
Estimated Annual Income by Work Schedule in Wilmington
Based on $27.66/hr median hourly rate · 2026 est.
At $27.66/hr, a welder working full-time (40 hr/wk) in Wilmington, NC can expect to earn approximately $57,536 per year (2026 est.). Part-time hygienists working 24 hours per week would earn around $33,194. With a cost-of-living index of 96.42 (below the national average), these earnings stretch further in Wilmington.
Hourly Rate Calculator
Schedule Comparison in Wilmington
| Schedule | Weekly | Monthly | Annual |
|---|---|---|---|
| Full-Time (40 hrs) | $1,106.45 | $4,795 | $57,536 |
| Part-Time (24 hrs) | $663.87 | $2,877 | $34,521 |
| Per Diem (16 hrs) | $442.58 | $1,918 | $23,014 |
Compare WLD Wages With Similar Roles
| Role | Median Hourly |
|---|---|
| Welder (Wilmington) | $27.66 |
| 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 Wilmington, NC earn a median of $57,548 per year (2026 est.), which is 2.96% higher than the national median of $55,895 and 9.10% above the North Carolina state average of $52,748.
Welder Hourly Pay vs. Cost of Living
Working 24h/week at $27.66/hr = $34,521/year (purchasing power: $35,802).
Working 40h/week (full-time) = $57,536/year (purchasing power: $59,671).
CoL index: 96.422 (100 = national average). Your dollars stretch further here.
2019 BLS Actual
$20.53/hr
2025 BLS Actual
$26.60/hr
2026 Current Est.
$27.66/hr
2019–2027 Growth
+40.1%
Hourly Rate Trajectory for Welders in Wilmington (2019–2027)
2019–2025: actual BLS OEWS data for this metro area. 2026+: CAGR 3.99% projection.
| Year | Hourly Rate | Status |
|---|---|---|
| 2019 | $20.53/hr | Actual |
| 2020 | $22.83/hr | Actual |
| 2021 | $22.84/hr | Actual |
| 2022 | $22.01/hr | Actual |
| 2023 | $23.13/hr | Actual |
| 2024 | $23.00/hr | Actual |
| 2025 | $26.60/hr | Actual |
| 2026(current) | $27.66/hr | Estimated |
| 2027 | $28.77/hr | Projected |
Based on 7 years of BLS OEWS metropolitan area data, the median hourly rate for welders in Wilmington grew 29.6% from $20.53/hr (2019) to $26.60/hr (2025). At a 3.99% projected growth rate, hourly pay is expected to reach $28.77/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 Wilmington 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 Wilmington
Turning to part-time earnings, welders who work 24 hours over a three-day week can still achieve a significant annual income compared to full-time work. Some per-diem opportunities enable welders to earn between $80 and $175 daily on top of their base hourly rates, particularly for roles such as traveling pipe welders or those participating in refinery turnarounds that pay premium rates of $50 to $80 per hour. Rig welder owner-operators, who often oversee their own rigs, can see pay ranging from $90 to $160 per hour, emphasizing the benefits of entrepreneurial work. Various employers in Wilmington, including structural steel fabricators and nuclear power plants, influence the hourly rates, as welders may find options with or without health benefits, often trading off higher pay for security. For effective negotiations, welders should highlight their credentials—such as AWS or 6G certifications—which can provide leverage for better hourly rates in this competitive environment.
More salary data for Wilmington, NC:
Frequently Asked Questions
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Related Pages
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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 Wilmington. 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