Welders Pay Range in Kentucky
Pay distribution across experience levels
- 10th Percentile — Entry Level$39,300
- 25th Percentile — Junior$46,380
- 50th Percentile — Median$51,470
- 75th Percentile — Senior$59,900
- 90th Percentile — Top Earners$69,010
Half of Welders in Kentucky earn more than $51,470. The top 10% make $69,010 or more, while entry-level workers start around $39,300.
Welders in Kentucky: Key Facts
Source: BLS OEWS May 2025
- Kentucky ranks 40th of 51 states for Welders pay, at $53,710 per year (5.4% below the U.S. average of $56,760).
- 6,630 people work as Welders in Kentucky — 1.6% of all U.S. Welders jobs.
- Location quotient 1.24: Welders jobs are more concentrated in Kentucky than in the U.S. overall.
- Pay range: the lowest-paid 10% earn under $39,300; the top 10% earn over $69,010.
- Hourly equivalent: $25.82 per hour (2,080 hours/year).
- The highest-paying state is Alaska at $80,100.
- Among skilled trades jobs in Kentucky, Maintenance Workers Machinery pays the most ($96,450).
Welders Job Market in Kentucky
Key factors affecting compensation
Kentucky's key industries are Manufacturing, Healthcare, Agriculture, and its job market is rated moderate. Welders here earn $53,710 on average, placing the state 40th nationally.
With a cost-of-living index of 0.83 (U.S. = 1.00), a Kentucky salary of $53,710 is roughly equivalent to $64,711 at the national average cost of living.
Compared with nearby states in the pay ranking, Indiana ($54,220), Florida ($54,030), Michigan ($53,820) are the closest alternatives for Welders weighing a move.
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics · Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OES) · May 2025
Other Skilled Trades Jobs in Kentucky
Related career salary benchmarks
- Maintenance Workers Machinery $96,450/yr Kentucky +79.6% vs this role
- Aircraft Mechanics and Service Technicians $81,330/yr Kentucky +51.4% vs this role
- Electrical Power-Line Installers $75,710/yr Kentucky +41.0% vs this role
- Millwrights $68,730/yr Kentucky +28.0% vs this role
- Industrial Machinery Mechanics $66,000/yr Kentucky +22.9% vs this role
- Telecommunications Line Installers $65,330/yr Kentucky +21.6% vs this role
- Telecommunications Equipment Installers $61,880/yr Kentucky +15.2% vs this role
- HVAC Technicians $58,870/yr Kentucky +9.6% vs this role
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about this salary
What is the average Welders salary in Kentucky?
The average Welders salary in Kentucky is $53,710 per year (median $51,470), which is 5.4% below the national average of $56,760.
How does Kentucky rank for Welders pay?
Kentucky ranks 40th out of 51 states. The highest-paying state is Alaska ($80,100/yr).
How much do entry-level Welders make in Kentucky?
The lowest-paid 10% of Welders in Kentucky earn about $39,300 per year and the 25th percentile is $46,380.
How much do Welders make per hour in Kentucky?
About $25.82 per hour, based on the $53,710 annual average and 2,080 working hours per year.
How many Welders work in Kentucky?
BLS counts 6,630 Welders jobs in Kentucky (OEWS May 2025).
Related Salary Pages
Explore more salary data