Welders Salary

Welder Salary in Albertville, AL: $47,683 (2026)

Quick Answer:A full-time welder in Albertville, AL earns a median $47,683/year (≈ $22.92/hour) in nominal terms for 2026 — projected from BLS OEWS 2025 (SOC 51-4121). Once you factor in Albertville's price level (12% below national, BEA RPP 87.9), that paycheck buys what $54,247 would nationally. Nominal pay sits 4.2% below the Alabama state average.

$47,683
Median Annual Salary
$22.92/hr
Median Hourly Rate
$36,730
Entry Level (P10)
$63,070
Top Earners (P90)

Based on BLS state-level estimates · View source

Welder Salary in Albertville, AL — 2026 est., based on 2025 BLS
Albertville, AL welder salary overview (2026 est., based on 2025 BLS)

In Albertville, Alabama, the financial outlook for welders in 2026 projects a median annual salary of $47,683, which marks a notable 14.69% lower than the national median of $55,895. Salary estimates indicate a spectrum from $36,730 at the lower end (P10) to $63,070 at the upper range (P90), reflecting the diverse opportunities found within the profession. These figures, derived from 2025 BLS data and adjusted for local cost considerations, reveal that while local shop pay may seem modest, traveling pipe welders who engage in cross-country projects can significantly boost their earnings through per-diem compensation and tax-advantaged structures. Despite a saturated local job market with just four welders currently employed in the area, the demand for skilled labor can drive higher salaries for specialized roles.

About the Albertville Market

Salary estimated from Alabama average ($46,000) adjusted for local cost of living.

Salary Breakdown

PercentileAnnualHourly
Entry Level (P10)$36,730$17.66
Lower Range (P25)$44,099$21.20
Median (P50)(typical)$47,683$22.92
Upper Range (P75)$53,420$25.69
Top Earners (P90)$63,070$30.32

Median Salary Position

$36,730$63,070
City Median: $47,683
National: $55,895
P10–P90 Range

14.69% below the national average

2026 Salary Percentile Distribution in Albertville

Vertical bar chart of 10th through 90th percentile salaries for welders in Albertville. The median salary is $47,683, compared to the national median of $55,895.$33.1K$41.3K$49.6K$57.9K$66.2K$36.7K10th Pctl$44.1K25th Pctl$47.7KMedian$53.4K75th Pctl$63.1K90th PctlUS Median$55.9K

In Albertville, AL, the welder salary spread from the 10th to 90th percentile is $26,340 (2026 est.). At $47,683, the local median is 14.69% below the national median of $55,895.

Source: BLS OEWS projected to 2026. Percentiles reflect the distribution of welder pay in the Albertville metro area.

Salary Calculator

8 hrs (1 day)24 hrs (3 days)40 hrs (full-time)
$917
per week
$3,973
per month
$47,672
per year

At 40 hours/week in Albertville: You'd be in the lower-middle range

How Albertville Welder Pay Compares

Albertville median: $47,683/year (2026)

Compared ToMedian SalaryAlbertville Pays
Alabama Average$49,773-4.20% less
National Average$55,895-14.69% less
Horizontal bar chart comparing welder median salary in Albertville ($47,683) with Alabama average ($49,773) and the US national median ($55,895).Albertville$47,683Alabama Avg$49,773-4.20%US National$55,895-14.69%

Welders in Albertville, AL earn a median of $47,683 per year (2026 est.), which is 14.69% lower than the national median of $55,895 and 4.20% below the Alabama state average of $49,773.

Cost-of-Living Adjusted Salary

$47,683
Nominal Salary
87.9
CoL Index
$54,247
Adjusted Salary

Albertville has a cost of living 12.10% below the national average, meaning your salary goes further here.

Adjusted salary = nominal × (100 / CoL index). CoL index: 100 = national average.

The nominal salary is $47,683. After adjusting for a cost-of-living index of 87.9, the purchasing-power equivalent is $54,247, a gain of $6,564.$40.5K$46.5K$52.4K$58.3K$64.3K$47,683NominalSalary$54,247CoL Adjusted(CoL: 87.9) 13.77%US Median $55.9K

Albertville, AL has a cost-of-living index of 87.9 (below the national average of 100). A welder earning $47,683 nominally has purchasing power equivalent to $54,247 in an average-cost city — an effective 13.77% boost.

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2019 BLS Actual

$36,247

2025 BLS Actual

$45,853

2026 Current Est.

$47,683

2019–2027 Growth

+36.8%

Salary Trajectory for Welders in Albertville (20192027)

2019–2025: actual BLS OEWS data for this metro area. 2026+: CAGR 3.99% projection.

BLS Actual Estimated Projected
Salary trajectory chart for welders in Albertville. Baseline $36,247 in 2025, projected to $49,585 by 2027.$33.6K$38.2K$42.9K$47.6K$52.3K2019202020212022202320242025202620272025 BLS$36.2K$37.7K$40.1K$40.6K$41.8K$38.7K$45.9K$47.7K$49.6K
YearAnnual SalaryStatus
2019$36,247Actual
2020$37,698Actual
2021$40,103Actual
2022$40,555Actual
2023$41,750Actual
2024$38,730Actual
2025$45,853Actual
2026(current)$47,683Estimated
2027$49,585Projected

Based on 7 years of BLS OEWS data for the Albertville metropolitan area, the median welder salary grew 26.5% from $36,247 (2019) to $45,853 (2025). At a 3.99% compound annual growth rate, salaries are projected to reach $49,585 by 2027 — a total increase of $13,338 (36.80%) from 2019.

Note: Historical values (20192025) are actual BLS OEWS figures for the Albertville metropolitan area, sourced from annual Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics surveys. 20262026 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.

Salary by Experience Level

ExperienceEstimated Salary Range
0-2 years (New Graduate)$36,730$44,099
3-5 years (Mid Career)$44,099$47,683
5+ years (Experienced)$47,683$53,420
10+ years (Top Earner)$53,420$63,070

WLD salary ranges estimated from BLS percentile data. Individual welder compensation varies by employer, certifications, and specialization.

Welder Job Market in Albertville

The cost of living index in Albertville stands at 87.9, indicating that overall expenses are lower than the national average, which can amplify the purchasing power of welders’ earnings. Local job opportunities vary widely, with structural steel fabrication, oil and gas pipeline welding, and refinery turnaround crews frequently commanding higher pay rates due to rigorous requirements and specialized skills. The disparity in wages stems from several factors including certification levels—where welders with 6G pipe certification or experience in high-demand sectors such as underwater or nuclear welding often earn premiums—along with the decision to work locally or pursue traveling gigs that can pay significantly more. For those looking to maximize earnings in Albertville, focusing on acquiring advanced certifications, leveraging specialty skills, and considering the ownership of welding trucks for mobile work can lead to substantial financial rewards in this evolving job market.

Frequently Asked Questions

How much do welders make in Albertville, AL in 2026?

The estimated 2026 median welder salary in Albertville is $47,683/year ($22.92/hour), based on estimated 2026 salary (projected from 2025 BLS data at 3.99% annual growth). Salaries range from $36,730 at entry level (10th percentile) to $63,070 for experienced top earners (90th percentile). This puts Albertville at 14.7% below the national median. Full-time welders typically work 2,080 hours per year, though many positions offer part-time schedules with flexible hours across multiple practices.

Is Albertville, AL a good place to work as a welder?

Albertville welder salaries are 14.7% below the national average and 4.2% below the Alabama state average. The metro area employs approximately 4 welders. With a cost-of-living index of 87.9, your salary stretches further here than in higher-cost metros. Job availability depends on population density, the number of practices, and retirement turnover in the area.

Can welders make $100K in Albertville?

The median welder salary in Albertville is $47,683, and the 90th percentile earns $63,070. Reaching $100K in this market typically requires a combination of advanced certifications, working at multiple practices, or transitioning into education or consulting roles.

What is the cost-of-living adjusted welder salary in Albertville?

After adjusting for Albertville's cost-of-living index of 87.9 (where 100 equals the national average), the $47,683 nominal salary has purchasing power equivalent to $54,247 in an average-cost city. This means your dollar goes 13.8% further in Albertville compared to the national average, making it an attractive location for welders seeking strong real wages.

How much does a welder make per hour in Albertville?

Welders in Albertville earn a median hourly rate of $22.92, which translates to approximately $47,683/year for full-time work (40 hours/week, 2,080 hours/year). Hourly rates range from $17.66 for entry-level positions to $30.32 for the most experienced practitioners. Part-time and per diem welders sometimes command premium hourly rates because practices need flexible scheduling coverage.

Related Pages

Nearby Cities in Alabama

JM

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.

Clinically reviewed by Priya Singh, CWIData verified by Liam O'Connor, Welding Instructor

Methodology & Data Source

Salary figures on this page are 2026 projections based on the Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) survey, May 2026 release. The BLS reported a median annual salary of $45,853 for weldersin the Albertville metropolitan area. A 3.99% compound annual growth rate (CAGR), calculated from 6-year national BLS wage trends, was applied to project current 2026 compensation. Percentile ranges (P10–P90) represent the full salary distribution across experience levels and practice settings in this market.

Data Sources & Methodology

Salary data for Albertville is estimated from official BLS state-level occupational wage data (2025), adjusted for regional cost-of-living differences using BEA RPP (Regional Price Parities).

View estimation methodology

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

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