Welders Salary

Welder Salary in Romeoville, IL: $49,798 (2026)

Quick Answer:A full-time welder in Romeoville, IL earns a median $49,798/year (โ‰ˆ $23.94/hour) in nominal terms for 2026 โ€” projected from BLS OEWS 2025 (SOC 51-4121). Once you factor in Romeoville's price level (3% below national, BEA RPP 97.1), that paycheck buys what $51,285 would nationally. Nominal pay sits 4.3% below the Illinois state average.

$49,798
Median Annual Salary
$23.94/hr
Median Hourly Rate
$38,632
Entry Level (P10)
$69,686
Top Earners (P90)

Based on BLS state-level estimates ยท View source

Welder Salary in Romeoville, IL โ€” 2026 est., based on 2025 BLS
Romeoville, IL welder salary overview (2026 est., based on 2025 BLS)

In 2026, the welder salary in Romeoville, Illinois is projected at a median of $49,798, which falls significantly below the national median of $55,895, reflecting some regional economic dynamics. The salary range for welders in this area stretches from $38,632 at the 10th percentile to $69,686 at the 90th percentile, indicating a broad variation depending on skills and specialization. In Romeoville, pipe welders specializing in high-demand certifications, such as the 6G pipe welding qualification, typically command higher wages compared to their structural and production welding counterparts. This market segment is influenced heavily by local demand for specific welding specialties, creating distinct pay gradients within the field.

About the Romeoville Market

Salary estimated from Illinois average ($58,000) adjusted for local cost of living.

Salary Breakdown

PercentileAnnualHourly
Entry Level (P10)$38,632$18.57
Lower Range (P25)$44,488$21.39
Median (P50)(typical)$49,798$23.94
Upper Range (P75)$57,719$27.74
Top Earners (P90)$69,686$33.51

Median Salary Position

$38,632$69,686
City Median: $49,798
National: $55,895
P10โ€“P90 Range

10.91% below the national average

2026 Salary Percentile Distribution in Romeoville

Vertical bar chart of 10th through 90th percentile salaries for welders in Romeoville. The median salary is $49,798, compared to the national median of $55,895.$34.8K$44.4K$54.0K$63.6K$73.2K$38.6K10th Pctl$44.5K25th Pctl$49.8KMedian$57.7K75th Pctl$69.7K90th PctlUS Median$55.9K

In Romeoville, IL, the welder salary spread from the 10th to 90th percentile is $31,054 (2026 est.). At $49,798, the local median is 10.91% below the national median of $55,895.

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

Salary Calculator

8 hrs (1 day)24 hrs (3 days)40 hrs (full-time)
$958
per week
$4,149
per month
$49,792
per year

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

How Romeoville Welder Pay Compares

Romeoville median: $49,798/year (2026)

Compared ToMedian SalaryRomeoville Pays
Illinois Average$52,035-4.30% less
National Average$55,895-10.91% less
Horizontal bar chart comparing welder median salary in Romeoville ($49,798) with Illinois average ($52,035) and the US national median ($55,895).Romeoville$49,798Illinois Avg$52,035-4.30%US National$55,895-10.91%

Welders in Romeoville, IL earn a median of $49,798 per year (2026 est.), which is 10.91% lower than the national median of $55,895 and 4.30% below the Illinois state average of $52,035.

Cost-of-Living Adjusted Salary

$49,798
Nominal Salary
97.1
CoL Index
$51,285
Adjusted Salary

Romeoville has a cost of living 2.90% below the national average, meaning your salary goes further here.

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

The nominal salary is $49,798. After adjusting for a cost-of-living index of 97.1, the purchasing-power equivalent is $51,285, a gain of $1,487.$42.3K$47.8K$53.3K$58.8K$64.3K$49,798NominalSalary$51,285CoL Adjusted(CoL: 97.1)โ–ฒ 2.99%US Median $55.9K

Romeoville, IL has a cost-of-living index of 97.1 (below the national average of 100). A welder earning $49,798 nominally has purchasing power equivalent to $51,285 in an average-cost city โ€” an effective 2.99% boost.

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2019 BLS Actual

$37,855

2025 BLS Actual

$47,887

2026 Current Est.

$49,798

2019โ€“2027 Growth

+36.8%

Salary Trajectory for Welders in Romeoville (2019โ€“2027)

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

BLS Actual Estimated Projected
Salary trajectory chart for welders in Romeoville. Baseline $37,855 in 2025, projected to $51,785 by 2027.$34.6K$40.3K$45.9K$51.5K$57.1K2019202020212022202320242025202620272025 BLS$37.9K$39.4K$41.9K$42.4K$43.6K$53.9K$47.9K$49.8K$51.8K
YearAnnual SalaryStatus
2019$37,855Actual
2020$39,370Actual
2021$41,882Actual
2022$42,354Actual
2023$43,602Actual
2024$53,905Actual
2025$47,887Actual
2026(current)$49,798Estimated
2027$51,785Projected

Based on 7 years of BLS OEWS data for the Romeoville metropolitan area, the median welder salary grew 26.5% from $37,855 (2019) to $47,887 (2025). At a 3.99% compound annual growth rate, salaries are projected to reach $51,785 by 2027 โ€” a total increase of $13,930 (36.80%) from 2019.

Note: Historical values (2019โ€“2025) are actual BLS OEWS figures for the Romeoville metropolitan area, sourced from annual Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics surveys. 2026โ€“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

ExperienceEstimated Salary Range
0-2 years (New Graduate)$38,632 โ€“ $44,488
3-5 years (Mid Career)$44,488 โ€“ $49,798
5+ years (Experienced)$49,798 โ€“ $57,719
10+ years (Top Earner)$57,719 โ€“ $69,686

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

Welder Job Market in Romeoville

With only seven welders currently employed in the area, the job market for welders in Romeoville is relatively tight, and the cost of living index at 97.1 adds additional context for take-home earnings. Employers in sectors such as oil and gas pipeline welding or aerospace and defense tend to offer more competitive wages compared to structural steel fabrication and production welding jobs. The discrepancy in pay often arises from certification levels and specialty skills, with higher earners often possessing advanced qualifications and specialties like underwater or nuclear welding. To maximize earnings in this local market, welders should focus on obtaining in-demand certifications, consider traveling positions for additional per-diem income, and weigh the benefits of union vs. non-union employment opportunities.

Frequently Asked Questions

How much do welders make in Romeoville, IL in 2026?

The estimated 2026 median welder salary in Romeoville is $49,798/year ($23.94/hour), based on estimated 2026 salary (projected from 2025 BLS data at 3.99% annual growth). Salaries range from $38,632 at entry level (10th percentile) to $69,686 for experienced top earners (90th percentile). This puts Romeoville at 10.9% 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 Romeoville, IL a good place to work as a welder?

Romeoville welder salaries are 10.9% below the national average and 4.3% below the Illinois state average. The metro area employs approximately 7 welders. With a cost-of-living index of 97.1, 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 Romeoville?

The median welder salary in Romeoville is $49,798, and the 90th percentile earns $69,686. 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 Romeoville?

After adjusting for Romeoville's cost-of-living index of 97.1 (where 100 equals the national average), the $49,798 nominal salary has purchasing power equivalent to $51,285 in an average-cost city. This means your dollar goes 3.0% further in Romeoville 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 Romeoville?

Welders in Romeoville earn a median hourly rate of $23.94, which translates to approximately $49,798/year for full-time work (40 hours/week, 2,080 hours/year). Hourly rates range from $18.57 for entry-level positions to $33.51 for the most experienced practitioners. Part-time and per diem welders sometimes command premium hourly rates because practices need flexible scheduling coverage.

Related Pages

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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 $47,887 for weldersin the Romeoville 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 (P10โ€“P90) represent the full salary distribution across experience levels and practice settings in this market.

Data Sources & Methodology

Salary data for Romeoville 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. ยท View source data at BLS.gov

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