Welder Salary in Charlottesville, VA: $59,711 (2026)
Quick Answer:A full-time welder in Charlottesville, VA earns a median $59,711/year (≈ $28.71/hour) in nominal terms for 2026 — projected from BLS OEWS 2025 (SOC 51-4121). Once you factor in Charlottesville's price level (1% below national, BEA RPP 99.1), that paycheck buys what $60,225 would nationally. Nominal pay sits 0.0% above the Virginia state average.
Official BLS data · View source
In 2026, welders in Charlottesville, Virginia, can expect to earn a median annual salary of $59,711, which slightly surpasses the national figure of $55,895. The salary range for this occupation lies between $43,093 and $81,861, reflecting significant pay variations based on factors like specialization and experience. Pipe welders, especially those with 6G certifications, often secure the highest compensation due to their niche expertise. This salary data, derived from 2025 BLS OEWS surveys, illustrates a competitive local job market where certain skill sets, particularly in specialized fields such as underwater and nuclear welding, are driving demand and wage growth.
Salary Breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Entry Level (P10) | $43,093 | $20.71 |
| Lower Range (P25) | $47,877 | $23.02 |
| Median (P50)(typical) | $59,711 | $28.71 |
| Upper Range (P75) | $68,893 | $33.12 |
| Top Earners (P90) | $81,861 | $39.36 |
Median Salary Position
6.83% above the national average
2026 Salary Percentile Distribution in Charlottesville
In Charlottesville, VA, the welder salary spread from the 10th to 90th percentile is $38,768 (2026 est.). At $59,711, the local median is 6.83% above the national median of $55,895.
Salary Calculator
At 40 hours/week in Charlottesville: You'd be in the lower-middle range
How Charlottesville Welder Pay Compares
Charlottesville median: $59,711/year (2026)
| Compared To | Median Salary | Charlottesville Pays |
|---|---|---|
| National Average | $55,895 | +6.83% more |
Welders in Charlottesville, VA earn a median of $59,711 per year (2026 est.), which is 6.83% higher than the national median of $55,895.
Cost-of-Living Adjusted Salary
Charlottesville has a cost of living 0.85% below the national average, meaning your salary goes further here.
Adjusted salary = nominal × (100 / CoL index). CoL index: 100 = national average.
Charlottesville, VA has a cost-of-living index of 99.146 (below the national average of 100). A welder earning $59,711 nominally has purchasing power equivalent to $60,225 in an average-cost city — an effective 0.86% boost.
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2019 BLS Actual
$49,850
2025 BLS Actual
$57,420
2026 Current Est.
$59,711
2019–2027 Growth
+24.6%
Salary Trajectory for Welders in Charlottesville (2019–2027)
2019–2025: actual BLS OEWS data for this metro area. 2026+: CAGR 3.99% projection.
| Year | Annual Salary | Status |
|---|---|---|
| 2019 | $49,850 | Actual |
| 2020 | $53,290 | Actual |
| 2021 | $47,840 | Actual |
| 2022 | $51,140 | Actual |
| 2023 | $48,320 | Actual |
| 2024 | $54,720 | Actual |
| 2025 | $57,420 | Actual |
| 2026(current) | $59,711 | Estimated |
| 2027 | $62,094 | Projected |
Based on 7 years of BLS OEWS data for the Charlottesville metropolitan area, the median welder salary grew 15.2% from $49,850 (2019) to $57,420 (2025). At a 3.99% compound annual growth rate, salaries are projected to reach $62,094 by 2027 — a total increase of $12,244 (24.56%) from 2019.
Note: Historical values (2019–2025) are actual BLS OEWS figures for the Charlottesville 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) | $43,093 – $47,877 |
| 3-5 years (Mid Career) | $47,877 – $59,711 |
| 5+ years (Experienced) | $59,711 – $68,893 |
| 10+ years (Top Earner) | $68,893 – $81,861 |
WLD salary ranges estimated from BLS percentile data. Individual welder compensation varies by employer, certifications, and specialization.
Welder Job Market in Charlottesville
Charlottesville's employment landscape includes approximately 90 welders, making it a relatively tight-knit community within the industry. The cost-of-living index, at 99.146, suggests that despite higher salaries, such earnings translate to a moderate purchasing power in the area. Employers in sectors such as structural steel fabrication and oil and gas pipeline welding often offer some of the more lucrative positions, with traveling welders in cross-country pipeline roles typically earning more due to per-diem pay structures. Variations in salary are driven by factors like certification level, specialty work, and the economics of rig welder ownership, where an investment of $80,000 to $150,000 in equipment can yield significantly higher pay rates. To maximize earnings in this market, aspiring welders should focus on advanced certifications and explore opportunities that involve travel and specialty work, which consistently yield better compensation.
More salary data for Charlottesville, VA:
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 $57,420 for weldersin the Charlottesville 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