Welder Salary in Elizabethtown, KY: $62,290 (2026)
Quick Answer:A full-time welder in Elizabethtown, KY earns a median $62,290/year (≈ $29.95/hour) in nominal terms for 2026 — projected from BLS OEWS 2025 (SOC 51-4121). Once you factor in Elizabethtown's price level (9% below national, BEA RPP 90.6), that paycheck buys what $68,774 would nationally. Nominal pay sits 13.7% above the Kentucky state average.
Official BLS data · View source
In 2026, the welder salary in Elizabethtown is projected to reach a median of $62,290, indicating a strong local market for this profession, especially when compared to the national median of $55,895. Welders in the region can expect salaries to range from $50,914 to $73,937, reflecting the diversity in welding roles from structural to more specialized pipe welding. With higher-paying opportunities often found in specialized fields, such as pipeline construction or petrochemical industries, the compensation reflects not only the nature of the work but also the skill level required. This data is derived from official BLS OEWS surveys, highlighting how the prevailing demand for skilled welders shapes the pay scale in Elizabethtown.
Salary Breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Entry Level (P10) | $50,914 | $24.48 |
| Lower Range (P25) | $53,524 | $25.73 |
| Median (P50)(typical) | $62,290 | $29.95 |
| Upper Range (P75) | $67,781 | $32.59 |
| Top Earners (P90) | $73,937 | $35.55 |
Median Salary Position
11.44% above the national average
2026 Salary Percentile Distribution in Elizabethtown
In Elizabethtown, KY, the welder salary spread from the 10th to 90th percentile is $23,023 (2026 est.). At $62,290, the local median is 11.44% above the national median of $55,895.
Salary Calculator
At 40 hours/week in Elizabethtown: You'd be in the lower-middle range
How Elizabethtown Welder Pay Compares
Elizabethtown median: $62,290/year (2026)
| Compared To | Median Salary | Elizabethtown Pays |
|---|---|---|
| Kentucky Average | $54,785 | +13.70% more |
| National Average | $55,895 | +11.44% more |
Welders in Elizabethtown, KY earn a median of $62,290 per year (2026 est.), which is 11.44% higher than the national median of $55,895 and 13.70% above the Kentucky state average of $54,785.
Cost-of-Living Adjusted Salary
Elizabethtown has a cost of living 9.43% below the national average, meaning your salary goes further here.
Adjusted salary = nominal × (100 / CoL index). CoL index: 100 = national average.
Elizabethtown, KY has a cost-of-living index of 90.572 (below the national average of 100). A welder earning $62,290 nominally has purchasing power equivalent to $68,774 in an average-cost city — an effective 10.41% boost.
Compare Purchasing Power
Select a city to see how your salary compares after cost of living
Select a city above to compare purchasing power
2019 BLS Actual
$48,160
2025 BLS Actual
$59,900
2026 Current Est.
$62,290
2019–2027 Growth
+34.5%
Salary Trajectory for Welders in Elizabethtown (2019–2027)
2019–2025: actual BLS OEWS data for this metro area. 2026+: CAGR 3.99% projection.
| Year | Annual Salary | Status |
|---|---|---|
| 2019 | $48,160 | Actual |
| 2020 | $52,220 | Actual |
| 2021 | $37,440 | Actual |
| 2022 | $43,370 | Actual |
| 2023 | $44,910 | Actual |
| 2024 | $50,170 | Actual |
| 2025 | $59,900 | Actual |
| 2026(current) | $62,290 | Estimated |
| 2027 | $64,775 | Projected |
Based on 7 years of BLS OEWS data for the Elizabethtown metropolitan area, the median welder salary grew 24.4% from $48,160 (2019) to $59,900 (2025). At a 3.99% compound annual growth rate, salaries are projected to reach $64,775 by 2027 — a total increase of $16,615 (34.50%) from 2019.
Note: Historical values (2019–2025) are actual BLS OEWS figures for the Elizabethtown 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) | $50,914 – $53,524 |
| 3-5 years (Mid Career) | $53,524 – $62,290 |
| 5+ years (Experienced) | $62,290 – $67,781 |
| 10+ years (Top Earner) | $67,781 – $73,937 |
WLD salary ranges estimated from BLS percentile data. Individual welder compensation varies by employer, certifications, and specialization.
Welder Job Market in Elizabethtown
Looking deeper into the job market, approximately 660 welders are currently employed in Elizabethtown, KY, providing a substantial foundation for career growth and competition among employers. With a cost of living index at 90.572, wage earners in the area enjoy a favorable purchasing power compared to the national average. Employers in the sectors of oil and gas pipeline welding, nuclear power maintenance, and aerospace manufacturing tend to offer the highest pay, driven by the complexity of work and the critical skills required, such as 6G pipe certifications or NQA-1 compliance. The variability in wages can be attributed to several factors like certification levels, type of specialty, and the nature of employment, such as local or traveling positions that may include extra per-diem compensation. For welders looking to maximize their earnings, pursuing advanced certifications, seeking travel-based jobs, or entering specialized sectors could prove essential in harnessing the full financial potential available in the Elizabethtown market.
More salary data for Elizabethtown, KY:
Frequently Asked Questions
How much do welders make in Elizabethtown, KY in 2026?
Is Elizabethtown, KY a good place to work as a welder?
Can welders make $100K in Elizabethtown?
What is the cost-of-living adjusted welder salary in Elizabethtown?
How much does a welder make per hour in Elizabethtown?
Related Pages
Compare Salaries
Career Resources
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 $59,900 for weldersin the Elizabethtown 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