Welder Hourly Pay in Portland, OR: $31.02 (2026)
Quick Answer:Hourly pay for a welder working in Portland, OR runs $31.02 at the median for 2026 — annualizing to $64,526 at a standard 2,080-hour year. Figures projected from BLS OEWS 2025 (SOC 51-4121). Weighted against Portland's regional price level (BEA RPP 105.4, 5% above national), each hour of work buys what $29.43 nationally would. A 24-hour part-time schedule grosses $38,713 per year.
Official BLS data · View source
Welder hourly pay in Portland, Oregon, is positioned at $31.02 per hour for 2026, reflecting a significant premium over the national median of $26.87 per hour. This wage can be particularly attractive for part-time and per-diem workers who are engaged in various settings such as fabrication shops, pipeline trench welding, or manufacturing production cells. For those working three days a week, the potential take-home can be quite lucrative with hourly earnings stacking up quickly. Entry-level welders can expect to start at around $24.02 per hour, while seasoned professionals, especially those with specialized skills like 6G certification, can command as much as $41.97 per hour. These figures, derived from official Bureau of Labor Statistics data, underscore Portland's competitive welding market.
Welder Hourly Wage Breakdown
| Percentile | Hourly Rate | Per 8hr Shift |
|---|---|---|
| Entry Level (P10) | $24.02 | $192.17 |
| Lower Range (P25) | $26.56 | $212.47 |
| Median (P50) | $31.02 | $248.16 |
| Upper Range (P75) | $36.20 | $289.59 |
| Top Earners (P90) | $41.97 | $335.76 |
Estimated Annual Income by Work Schedule in Portland
Based on $31.02/hr median hourly rate · 2026 est.
At $31.02/hr, a welder working full-time (40 hr/wk) in Portland, OR can expect to earn approximately $64,522 per year (2026 est.). Part-time hygienists working 24 hours per week would earn around $37,224. With a cost-of-living index of 105.42 (above the national average), these earnings may be offset by higher expenses in Portland.
Hourly Rate Calculator
Schedule Comparison in Portland
| Schedule | Weekly | Monthly | Annual |
|---|---|---|---|
| Full-Time (40 hrs) | $1,240.81 | $5,377 | $64,522 |
| Part-Time (24 hrs) | $744.49 | $3,226 | $38,713 |
| Per Diem (16 hrs) | $496.32 | $2,151 | $25,809 |
Compare WLD Wages With Similar Roles
| Role | Median Hourly |
|---|---|
| Welder (Portland) | $31.02 |
| 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 Portland, OR earn a median of $64,526 per year (2026 est.), which is 15.44% higher than the national median of $55,895 and 8.80% above the Oregon state average of $59,307.
Welder Hourly Pay vs. Cost of Living
Working 24h/week at $31.02/hr = $38,713/year (purchasing power: $36,723).
Working 40h/week (full-time) = $64,522/year (purchasing power: $61,204).
CoL index: 105.421 (100 = national average).
2019 BLS Actual
$23.66/hr
2025 BLS Actual
$29.83/hr
2026 Current Est.
$31.02/hr
2019–2027 Growth
+36.3%
Hourly Rate Trajectory for Welders in Portland (2019–2027)
2019–2025: actual BLS OEWS data for this metro area. 2026+: CAGR 3.99% projection.
| Year | Hourly Rate | Status |
|---|---|---|
| 2019 | $23.66/hr | Actual |
| 2020 | $24.02/hr | Actual |
| 2021 | $23.63/hr | Actual |
| 2022 | $25.33/hr | Actual |
| 2023 | $28.69/hr | Actual |
| 2024 | $29.30/hr | Actual |
| 2025 | $29.83/hr | Actual |
| 2026(current) | $31.02/hr | Estimated |
| 2027 | $32.26/hr | Projected |
Based on 7 years of BLS OEWS metropolitan area data, the median hourly rate for welders in Portland grew 26.1% from $23.66/hr (2019) to $29.83/hr (2025). At a 3.99% projected growth rate, hourly pay is expected to reach $32.26/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 Portland 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 Portland
When assessing the financial benefits of welding in Portland, it's crucial to consider part-time earning scenarios. A welder working 24 hours a week at the local median could earn approximately $48,579 annually, a figure that starkly contrasts with full-time earnings. Per-diem options are also prevalent in this profession, with traveling pipe welders typically earning between $40 and $70 per hour along with additional allowances ranging from $80 to $175 per day. Refineries also boost pay during shutdowns, offering between $50 and $80 per hour plus overtime on weekends for turnaround welders. The employer type significantly influences hourly rates in the Portland area, with those in structural steel fabrication or shipyards often providing different compensation structures compared to those in oil and gas welding. Many welders face a trade-off between accepting lower hourly rates for consistent benefits and pursuing higher pay without health insurance. It's advisable for workers to be strategic in negotiations, considering not only the hourly wage but also the associated benefits that can greatly impact overall job satisfaction and security.
More salary data for Portland, OR:
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 Portland. 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