Welder Salary in Michigan: $52,535 (2026)

Quick Answer:Across Michigan's 54 metropolitan areas, the average median welder pay sits at $52,535/year heading into 2026 — a figure projected from 2025 BLS OEWS wage data for SOC 51-4121. Because Michigan sits at BEA RPP 93.2 (7% below the U.S. baseline), that statewide median translates to roughly $56,368 in nationally-comparable purchasing power. Highest-paying metros: Bay City ($57,760), Ann Arbor ($54,180), Battle Creek ($52,970).

Welder Salary in Michigan - 2025 BLS Data Infographic — Michigan welder salary overview (2026)

$52,535

Avg Median Salary

$25.26

Avg Hourly Rate

10,367

Metro Employed

Cities

In Michigan, the average median salary for welders is projected to be $52,536 in 2026, which is about 6.0% lower than the national median of $55,895. The highest-paying city in the state is Bay City, offering an average salary of $60,065, while Romulus has the lowest at $47,526. This salary disparity can be attributed to factors such as the local demand for skilled welders, regional industries, and cost of living differences. Michigan's licensing requirements and scope of practice laws may influence earning potential and job opportunities in various regions. The demand for welders is expected to grow at an annual rate of 3.99%, driven by continuous development in automotive manufacturing and construction. In terms of cities with promising salaries, the projected figures for 2026 include Ann Arbor at $56,342, Battle Creek at $55,084, Detroit at $53,877, and Dearborn at $53,600. With a total of 10,367 employed welders in the state, job seekers can anticipate a favorable market supported by ongoing infrastructure projects and industry needs. As the state continues to evolve, welders can expect stable opportunities in Michigan’s job landscape.

Michigan Welder Salary Range

Entry Level (10th %ile)

$40,850

avg across 54 cities

Median

$52,535

state average

Top Earners (90th %ile)

$73,839

avg across 54 cities

Overall salary range in Michigan: $35,174 (lowest entry-level) to $96,856 (highest top earner)

Michigan vs National Average

Michigan

$52,535

National Median

$55,895

Michigan welders earn 6.01% less than the national median ($-3,360/year difference).

Michigan Welder Salary Distribution (2026)

Welder salaries in Michigan range from $40,850 (entry-level, 10th percentile) to $73,839 (top earners, 90th percentile), with a median of $52,535. The Michigan median is $3,360 below the US national median of $55,895. The average hourly rate is $25.26/hr. Approximately 10,367 welders are employed across 54 cities.

2019 BLS Actual

$39,991

2025 BLS Actual

$50,520

2026 Current Est.

$52,535

2019–2027 Growth

+36.6%

Salary Trajectory for Welders in Michigan (2019–2027)

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

BLS Actual Estimated Projected

Year	Annual Salary	Status
2019	$39,991	Actual
2020	$41,401	Actual
2021	$39,844	Actual
2022	$43,658	Actual
2023	$46,973	Actual
2024	$49,439	Actual
2025	$50,520	Actual
2026(current)	$52,535	Estimated
2027	$54,631	Projected

Based on 7 years of BLS OEWS data for the Michigan metropolitan area, the median welder salary grew 26.3% from $39,991 (2019) to $50,520 (2025). At a 3.99% compound annual growth rate, salaries are projected to reach $54,631 by 2027 — a total increase of $14,640 (36.61%) from 2019.

Note: Historical values (2019–2025) are actual BLS OEWS figures for the Michigan 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.

Top 5 Highest Paying Cities in Michigan

Bay City

130 employed · $28.88/hr

$60,065

+14.33% vs avg

Ann Arbor

220 employed · $27.09/hr

$56,342

+7.25% vs avg

Battle Creek

210 employed · $26.49/hr

$55,084

+4.85% vs avg

Detroit

4,580 employed · $25.90/hr

$53,877

+2.55% vs avg

Dearborn

19 employed · $25.77/hr

$53,600

+2.03% vs avg

Lowest Paying Cities in Michigan

City	Median Salary	vs State Avg	Hourly
Romulus	$47,526	-9.53%	$22.85
Ypsilanti	$47,800	-9.01%	$22.98
Mount Pleasant	$47,939	-8.75%	$23.04
Portage	$48,221	-8.21%	$23.18
Ferndale	$48,770	-7.17%	$23.45

Best Value Cities for Welders in Michigan

When adjusted for local cost of living, these Michigan cities offer the most purchasing power for welders.

City	Nominal Salary	CoL Index	Adjusted Salary
Bay City	$60,065	91.921	$65,344
Battle Creek	$55,084	90.541	$60,839
Dearborn	$53,600	93.2	$57,511
Warren	$53,409	93.2	$57,306
Clinton Township	$53,137	93.2	$57,014

Adjusted salary = nominal salary × (100 / CoL index). CoL index: 100 = national average. Lower index = lower cost of living.

Salary by Experience Level in Michigan

Experience Level	Estimated Annual	Est. Hourly	Description
Entry Level (0-2 years)	$40,850	$19.64	10th percentile, new graduates
Mid Career (3-7 years)	$52,535	$25.26	50th percentile, median salary
Experienced (7+ years)	$73,839	$35.50	90th percentile, top earners

Estimates based on BLS percentile data averaged across Michigan metro areas. Individual pay varies by employer, certifications, and specialization.

All 54 Cities in Michigan

#	City	Median Salary	Hourly	Entry (P10)	Top (P90)	Employed
1	Bay City	$60,065	$28.88	$41,430	$88,839	130
2	Ann Arbor	$56,342	$27.09	$41,804	$80,395	220
3	Battle Creek	$55,084	$26.49	$48,231	$63,153	210
4	Detroit	$53,877	$25.90	$40,556	$78,783	4,580
5	Dearborn	$53,600	$25.77	$40,222	$79,616	19
6	Warren	$53,409	$25.68	$39,784	$78,950	27
7	Clinton Township	$53,137	$25.55	$37,901	$76,778	21
8	Sterling Heights	$52,468	$25.23	$36,575	$79,785	29
9	Lansing	$52,380	$25.19	$42,210	$77,036	370
10	West Bloomfield	$51,938	$24.97	$37,708	$73,109	15
11	East Lansing	$51,938	$24.97	$40,704	$75,002	8
12	Shelby Township	$51,820	$24.92	$37,483	$74,759	21
13	Jackson	$51,777	$24.90	$40,244	$96,856	130
14	Troy	$51,710	$24.86	$37,224	$74,377	20
15	Westland	$51,576	$24.79	$36,910	$72,030	14
16	Monroe	$51,548	$24.78	$36,105	$73,271	240
17	Wyoming	$51,501	$24.76	$36,692	$76,804	11
18	Farmington Hills	$51,466	$24.74	$36,442	$76,800	20
19	Traverse City	$51,392	$24.71	$39,402	$69,840	130
20	Dearborn Heights	$51,352	$24.69	$36,388	$76,400	13
21	Southfield	$51,255	$24.65	$36,109	$75,895	19
22	Macomb Township	$51,144	$24.59	$35,908	$75,544	21
23	St. Clair Shores	$51,087	$24.56	$38,162	$75,475	13
24	Rochester Hills	$51,059	$24.55	$35,710	$75,246	12
25	Niles	$50,997	$24.52	$45,152	$73,531	230
26	Norton Shores	$50,972	$24.51	$39,729	$67,935	4
27	Taylor	$50,917	$24.48	$35,174	$71,647	16
28	Grand Rapids	$50,872	$24.46	$41,118	$65,545	2,520
29	Port Huron	$50,773	$24.41	$37,862	$69,128	6
30	Saginaw	$50,768	$24.41	$39,599	$77,473	220
31	Royal Oak	$50,762	$24.41	$39,037	$74,215	12
32	Flint	$50,758	$24.41	$38,996	$73,147	200
33	Lincoln Park	$50,725	$24.39	$37,745	$69,094	8
34	Livonia	$50,623	$24.33	$38,554	$70,651	21
35	Canton	$50,245	$24.16	$37,668	$74,400	25
36	Novi	$50,229	$24.15	$37,837	$72,512	12
37	Auburn Hills	$50,179	$24.13	$36,432	$72,151	4
38	Waterford	$50,151	$24.12	$37,656	$72,247	16
39	Roseville	$50,060	$24.06	$36,094	$68,529	11
40	Midland	$50,040	$24.05	$39,287	$68,009	60
41	Kentwood	$49,970	$24.02	$37,245	$71,515	7
42	Garden City	$49,960	$24.02	$35,860	$71,280	4
43	Muskegon	$49,759	$23.93	$42,574	$62,280	390
44	Allen Park	$49,660	$23.88	$39,090	$70,403	5
45	Pontiac	$49,626	$23.86	$36,442	$70,466	12
46	Marquette	$49,497	$23.79	$38,385	$65,991	4
47	Kalamazoo	$49,458	$23.78	$42,636	$65,056	250
48	Inkster	$49,419	$23.76	$38,350	$67,315	5
49	Holland	$49,110	$23.61	$37,762	$68,571	5
50	Ferndale	$48,770	$23.45	$36,784	$65,199	5
51	Portage	$48,221	$23.18	$36,473	$67,966	7
52	Mount Pleasant	$47,939	$23.04	$38,782	$65,400	6
53	Ypsilanti	$47,800	$22.98	$38,488	$66,705	4
54	Romulus	$47,526	$22.85	$37,807	$64,185	5

More Michigan Salary Data

Hourly Rates

Explore welder hourly pay in Michigan cities.

Bay City →Ann Arbor →Battle Creek →

Entry Level

Starting salaries for new welders.

Bay City →Ann Arbor →Battle Creek →

Senior / Experienced

Top earner salaries for experienced welders.

Bay City →Ann Arbor →Battle Creek →

Compare Cities in Michigan

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View all comparisons →

Explore More Welder Salary Data

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Frequently Asked Questions

How much do welders make in Michigan in 2026?

The average median welder salary in Michigan is $52,535/year across 54 metro areas, based on estimated 2026 (projected from 2025 BLS data). Salaries range from $47,526 in Romulus to $60,065 in Bay City. This makes Michigan 6.01% below the national median of $55,895. The state employs approximately 10,367 welders.

What is the highest paying city for welders in Michigan?

Bay City offers the highest welder salary in Michigan at $60,065/year ($28.88/hr), based on estimated 2026 (projected from 2025 BLS data). The top 3 highest-paying cities are Bay City ($60,065), Ann Arbor ($56,342), Battle Creek ($55,084). Higher pay in these metros is typically driven by cost of living, demand for welding services, and competition among employers for licensed welders.

How does Michigan welder pay compare to the national average?

Michigan's average welder salary of $52,535 is 6.01% below the national median of $55,895 in 2026. The state employs approximately 10,367 welders across 54 metropolitan areas. When comparing salaries, consider cost-of-living differences — a lower nominal salary in an affordable area may provide better purchasing power than a higher salary in an expensive metro.

What is the entry-level welder salary in Michigan?

Entry-level welders (10th percentile) in Michigan earn approximately $40,850/year on average, based on estimated 2026 (projected from 2025 BLS data). Starting salaries range from $35,174 in lower-paying areas to $48,231 in the highest-paying metros. New graduates should expect salaries at the lower end and can typically reach the area median within 3–5 years of clinical experience.

How many welders are employed in Michigan?

Michigan employs approximately 10,367 welders across 54 metropolitan areas, based on the latest BLS data. This makes Michigan one of the larger employers of welders nationally. Demand continues to grow as the welding field expands and the population ages.

Which Michigan city offers the best value for welders?

When adjusted for cost of living, Bay City offers the highest purchasing power for welders in Michigan, with an adjusted salary of $65,344 (nominal: $60,065, CoL index: 91.921). This means your dollar goes 9% further compared to the national average, making it an attractive option for maximizing real income.

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

Statewide 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. A 3.99% compound annual growth rate (CAGR), derived from 6-year national BLS wage trends, was applied to each metro area's reported salary to estimate current 2026 welder compensation across Michigan. State averages are employment-weighted across 54 metro areas — larger metro areas with more welderscontribute proportionally more to the average, producing figures that better reflect typical compensation. Individual pay varies by city, employer, certifications, and experience.

Data Sources & Methodology

Source: BLS, OEWS, 7-year dataset (2019–2025). 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

Last verified: June 9, 2026

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