Average Welder Salary in Texas
According to BLS data cited across multiple industry sources, Texas welders average approximately $48,500 per year — above the national BLS median of $48,940 (May 2024 data) for welders, cutters, solderers, and brazers. Salary.com places the average for a Welder I in Texas at $44,220 per year as of February 2026, with the range from $37,260 to $52,674 for this entry level.
Glassdoor data for the Dallas-Fort Worth metro shows the average welder salary at $60,431 per year ($29/hr), with top earners at the 90th percentile reaching $81,914. Houston-area data from Salary.com shows Welder I averages of $45,255, slightly above the statewide figure.
Experienced, certified welders in Texas — particularly those with ASME, AWS, or API certifications working on pressure vessels and pipelines — consistently earn $55,000 to $75,000, with rig welders averaging $81,869 (Salary.com, November 2025).
Salary by Specialization
Shop and Fabrication Welders
General shop welders in Texas doing structural steel, light manufacturing, or automotive work typically earn $18 to $24 per hour. This reflects the BLS national median hourly range of $17.71 to $20.56 for welders broadly, with Texas sitting modestly above that floor.
Pipe Welders (SMAW/FCAW)
Pipe welders — qualified under API 1104 or ASME Section IX — earn significantly more. Salary.com shows Pipe Welder I salaries in Texas averaging $45,327 per year for entry level, with journeyman pipe welders commonly reaching $55,000 to $70,000 in active oilfield and refinery work.
Pipeline and Rig Welders
Pipeline welders in Texas are among the highest paid in the state. Salary.com places rig welder salaries in Texas at $81,869 on average, with top earners reaching higher. The "pipeline welder jobs Texas" keyword carries an SEO Difficulty of 9 — the lowest of any US keyword in the research dataset — confirming that this is both high-demand and underserved by digital content.
What Drives Welder Pay in Texas
Oil and Gas Demand
The Permian Basin, Gulf Coast refineries, and Eagle Ford Shale create sustained demand for certified pipe welders, pressure vessel welders, and maintenance welders. Welder salary Texas carries a CPC of $20.52 — the highest commercial intent signal in the entire 86-keyword research dataset — confirming that employers and trade schools are actively spending to reach welders in this market.
Houston Market
"Welder jobs Houston" returned 4,400 monthly searches — the single largest keyword in the entire US dataset. Houston's concentration of petrochemical plants, shipyards, and fabrication shops creates year-round demand for multiple welding disciplines.
Certifications
AWS Certified Welder, ASME qualification, and API 1104 pipeline certification directly increase earning potential. Certified Welding Inspectors (CWI) earn above $86,000 annually on average, according to industry data from the American Welding Society.
Texas Welder Job Market Outlook
BLS data projects welding jobs nationally to grow steadily. Texas tracks above the national average given ERCOT grid modernization, ongoing petrochemical facility expansion, and continued infrastructure spending. The state has no income tax, making nominal wages go further than in comparable high-cost states.
How to Increase Your Welder Salary in Texas
Obtain AWS certification and pursue ASME or API 1104 qualification — pipeline and pressure vessel certifications are the fastest path to the highest wages in the state.
Target Houston and Midland-Odessa for the highest concentration of high-paying welding work in Texas.
Consider CWI (Certified Welding Inspector) certification once you have the required hours — inspectors earn well above field welders.
Union membership through the Boilermakers or UA pipefitters can provide access to premium project rates on refinery shutdowns.
Browse current welder job postings across Texas, including Houston, the Permian Basin, Dallas-Fort Worth, and the Gulf Coast, on our trades job board.