Welder Salary in St. Joseph, MO: $68,696 (2026)
Quick Answer:A full-time welder in St. Joseph, MO earns a median $68,696/year (≈ $33.03/hour) in nominal terms for 2026 — projected from BLS OEWS 2025 (SOC 51-4121). Once you factor in St. Joseph's price level (14% below national, BEA RPP 86.4), that paycheck buys what $79,526 would nationally. Nominal pay sits 26.6% above the Missouri state average.
Official BLS data · View source
In 2026, welders in St. Joseph, Missouri can expect to earn a median annual salary of $68,696, significantly outpacing the national median of $55,895 and reflecting a notable 22.90% advantage. The salary range for welders in the area spans from $48,917 at the low end (10th percentile) to $68,696 at the high end (90th percentile), driven by factors such as experience, specialization, and industry demand. The presence of various welding disciplines is evident in the local job market, where pipe welders tend to command higher wages than those in structural or production welding roles. This trend is indicative of the specialized skills required in sectors such as oil and gas pipeline welding, which dominate St. Joseph's landscape.
Salary Breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Entry Level (P10) | $48,917 | $23.51 |
| Lower Range (P25) | $58,078 | $27.92 |
| Median (P50)(typical) | $68,696 | $33.03 |
| Upper Range (P75) | $68,696 | $33.03 |
| Top Earners (P90) | $68,696 | $33.03 |
Median Salary Position
22.90% above the national average
2026 Salary Percentile Distribution in St. Joseph
In St. Joseph, MO, the welder salary spread from the 10th to 90th percentile is $19,779 (2026 est.). At $68,696, the local median is 22.9% above the national median of $55,895.
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At 40 hours/week in St. Joseph: You'd be in the top 10% of earners
How St. Joseph Welder Pay Compares
St. Joseph median: $68,696/year (2026)
| Compared To | Median Salary | St. Joseph Pays |
|---|---|---|
| Missouri Average | $54,262 | +26.60% more |
| National Average | $55,895 | +22.90% more |
Welders in St. Joseph, MO earn a median of $68,696 per year (2026 est.), which is 22.90% higher than the national median of $55,895 and 26.60% above the Missouri state average of $54,262.
Cost-of-Living Adjusted Salary
St. Joseph has a cost of living 13.62% below the national average, meaning your salary goes further here.
Adjusted salary = nominal × (100 / CoL index). CoL index: 100 = national average.
St. Joseph, MO has a cost-of-living index of 86.382 (below the national average of 100). A welder earning $68,696 nominally has purchasing power equivalent to $79,526 in an average-cost city — an effective 15.77% boost.
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2019 BLS Actual
$44,290
2025 BLS Actual
$66,060
2026 Current Est.
$68,696
2019–2027 Growth
+61.3%
Salary Trajectory for Welders in St. Joseph (2019–2027)
2019–2025: actual BLS OEWS data for this metro area. 2026+: CAGR 3.99% projection.
| Year | Annual Salary | Status |
|---|---|---|
| 2019 | $44,290 | Actual |
| 2020 | $46,250 | Actual |
| 2021 | $45,400 | Actual |
| 2022 | $48,210 | Actual |
| 2023 | $49,580 | Actual |
| 2024 | $63,990 | Actual |
| 2025 | $66,060 | Actual |
| 2026(current) | $68,696 | Estimated |
| 2027 | $71,437 | Projected |
Based on 7 years of BLS OEWS data for the St. Joseph metropolitan area, the median welder salary grew 49.2% from $44,290 (2019) to $66,060 (2025). At a 3.99% compound annual growth rate, salaries are projected to reach $71,437 by 2027 — a total increase of $27,147 (61.29%) from 2019.
Note: Historical values (2019–2025) are actual BLS OEWS figures for the St. Joseph 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) | $48,917 – $58,078 |
| 3-5 years (Mid Career) | $58,078 – $68,696 |
| 5+ years (Experienced) | $68,696 – $68,696 |
| 10+ years (Top Earner) | $68,696 – $68,696 |
WLD salary ranges estimated from BLS percentile data. Individual welder compensation varies by employer, certifications, and specialization.
Welder Job Market in St. Joseph
With a workforce of approximately 610 welders in St. Joseph, the local job market remains promising, particularly considering the cost of living index stands at 86.382, below the national average. This lower cost of living allows welders greater purchasing power, enhancing their take-home income. Employers in the region span several industries, with higher pay generally found in specialty sectors like oil and gas, nuclear maintenance, and aerospace. The pay disparity among welders often hinges on certification levels—those with 6G pipe welding and specialty skills tend to earn more. To maximize earnings in St. Joseph, welders should focus on obtaining advanced certifications and consider opportunities in traveling positions, where per-diem allowances can significantly boost overall compensation.
More salary data for St. Joseph, MO:
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 $66,060 for weldersin the St. Joseph 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