Welder vs Carpenter
Side-by-side salary, job growth, and training comparison for 2026
Welder
$51,000
National Median Salary
Total Jobs457,300
Annual Openings47,600
Training7 mo - 2 yr certificate
Carpenter
$59,310
National Median Salary
Total Jobs959,000
Annual Openings89,000
Training3-4 yr apprenticeship
Metric
Welder
Carpenter
Median Salary National, BLS 2023 | $51,000 | $59,310* |
Total Jobs Current employment | 457,300 | 959,000* |
Annual Job Openings New + replacement | 47,600 | 89,000* |
Training Time | 7 mo - 2 yr certificate | 3-4 yr apprenticeship |
* indicates higher/better value. Source: BLS OES 2023.
Top States for Welders
Alaska$76,890
Wyoming$67,430
Washington$65,780
North Dakota$64,320
Louisiana$63,450
Top States for Carpenters
Illinois$89,560
New York$87,320
Hawaii$85,430
Alaska$82,110
Massachusetts$77,650