Electrician vs Welder
Side-by-side salary, job growth, and training comparison for 2026
Electrician
$62,350
National Median Salary
Total Jobs818,700
Annual Openings79,900
Training4-5 yr apprenticeship
Welder
$51,000
National Median Salary
Total Jobs457,300
Annual Openings47,600
Training7 mo - 2 yr certificate
Metric
Electrician
Welder
Median Salary National, BLS 2023 | $62,350* | $51,000 |
Total Jobs Current employment | 818,700* | 457,300 |
Annual Job Openings New + replacement | 79,900* | 47,600 |
Training Time | 4-5 yr apprenticeship | 7 mo - 2 yr certificate |
* indicates higher/better value. Source: BLS OES 2023.
Top States for Electricians
Illinois$95,340
New York$91,870
Hawaii$87,530
Oregon$84,210
Alaska$82,990
Top States for Welders
Alaska$76,890
Wyoming$67,430
Washington$65,780
North Dakota$64,320
Louisiana$63,450