Welder Salary in Idaho Falls, ID: $52,796 (2026)
Quick Answer:A full-time welder in Idaho Falls, ID earns a median $52,796/year (≈ $25.38/hour) in nominal terms for 2026 — projected from BLS OEWS 2025 (SOC 51-4121). Once you factor in Idaho Falls's price level (6% below national, BEA RPP 94.4), that paycheck buys what $55,921 would nationally. Nominal pay sits 0.7% below the Idaho state average.
Official BLS data · View source
In Idaho Falls, the welder salary in Idaho Falls is projected to be a median of $52,796 in 2026, which reflects a slight decline compared to the national median of $55,895. This market reveals a notable pay gradient among specializations, with pipe welders often earning the highest compensation due to their advanced skills, particularly those holding 6G certifications. Meanwhile, structural welders generally command a lower range of pay than their counterparts engaged in oil and gas pipeline work. The 2026 salary range spans from $39,735 at the lower end to $83,234 at the upper percentiles, encapsulating the variance that can exist based on skills and industry sector. This data is derived from the official Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Employment and Wage Statistics and highlights the dynamics of labor demand within this sector in Idaho Falls.
Salary Breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Entry Level (P10) | $39,735 | $19.10 |
| Lower Range (P25) | $47,045 | $22.62 |
| Median (P50)(typical) | $52,796 | $25.38 |
| Upper Range (P75) | $59,701 | $28.70 |
| Top Earners (P90) | $83,234 | $40.02 |
Median Salary Position
5.54% below the national average
2026 Salary Percentile Distribution in Idaho Falls
In Idaho Falls, ID, the welder salary spread from the 10th to 90th percentile is $43,499 (2026 est.). At $52,796, the local median is 5.54% below the national median of $55,895.
Salary Calculator
At 40 hours/week in Idaho Falls: You'd be in the lower-middle range
How Idaho Falls Welder Pay Compares
Idaho Falls median: $52,796/year (2026)
| Compared To | Median Salary | Idaho Falls Pays |
|---|---|---|
| Idaho Average | $53,168 | -0.70% less |
| National Average | $55,895 | -5.54% less |
Welders in Idaho Falls, ID earn a median of $52,796 per year (2026 est.), which is 5.54% lower than the national median of $55,895 and 0.70% below the Idaho state average of $53,168.
Cost-of-Living Adjusted Salary
Idaho Falls has a cost of living 5.59% below the national average, meaning your salary goes further here.
Adjusted salary = nominal × (100 / CoL index). CoL index: 100 = national average.
Idaho Falls, ID has a cost-of-living index of 94.412 (below the national average of 100). A welder earning $52,796 nominally has purchasing power equivalent to $55,921 in an average-cost city — an effective 5.92% boost.
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2019 BLS Actual
$35,640
2025 BLS Actual
$50,770
2026 Current Est.
$52,796
2019–2027 Growth
+54.0%
Salary Trajectory for Welders in Idaho Falls (2019–2027)
2019–2025: actual BLS OEWS data for this metro area. 2026+: CAGR 3.99% projection.
| Year | Annual Salary | Status |
|---|---|---|
| 2019 | $35,640 | Actual |
| 2020 | $38,400 | Actual |
| 2021 | $46,310 | Actual |
| 2022 | $49,120 | Actual |
| 2023 | $45,780 | Actual |
| 2024 | $49,960 | Actual |
| 2025 | $50,770 | Actual |
| 2026(current) | $52,796 | Estimated |
| 2027 | $54,902 | Projected |
Based on 7 years of BLS OEWS data for the Idaho Falls metropolitan area, the median welder salary grew 42.5% from $35,640 (2019) to $50,770 (2025). At a 3.99% compound annual growth rate, salaries are projected to reach $54,902 by 2027 — a total increase of $19,262 (54.05%) from 2019.
Note: Historical values (2019–2025) are actual BLS OEWS figures for the Idaho 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.
Salary by Experience Level
| Experience | Estimated Salary Range |
|---|---|
| 0-2 years (New Graduate) | $39,735 – $47,045 |
| 3-5 years (Mid Career) | $47,045 – $52,796 |
| 5+ years (Experienced) | $52,796 – $59,701 |
| 10+ years (Top Earner) | $59,701 – $83,234 |
WLD salary ranges estimated from BLS percentile data. Individual welder compensation varies by employer, certifications, and specialization.
Welder Job Market in Idaho Falls
With 170 welders currently employed in the Idaho Falls area, the local job market demonstrates promising growth potential, evidenced by a projected annual growth rate of 3.99%. The cost of living index, recorded at 94.412, indicates that wages often stretch farther for local welders, enhancing their take-home purchasing power relative to coastal cities. Employers such as structural steel fabrication shops and those working in the oil, gas, and petrochemical sectors tend to provide the highest compensation packages. A combination of factors drives the disparity between wage earners: experience level, specific certifications, specialty areas, and whether welders are engaged in local employment or traveling jobs, with many traveling welders able to command significant per-diem allowances. To maximize pay in Idaho Falls, welders should focus on acquiring specialized certifications, such as those from AWS or ASME, and consider opportunities for traveling work, which can offer considerable financial benefits over local positions.
More salary data for Idaho Falls, ID:
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
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 $50,770 for weldersin the Idaho Falls 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
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