Welder vs Industrial Mechanic
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
Industrial Mechanic
$60,750
National Median Salary
Total Jobs574,500
Annual Openings54,000
Training4 yr apprenticeship
Metric
Welder
Industrial Mechanic
Median Salary National, BLS 2023 | $51,000 | $60,750* |
Total Jobs Current employment | 457,300 | 574,500* |
Annual Job Openings New + replacement | 47,600 | 54,000* |
Training Time | 7 mo - 2 yr certificate | 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 Industrial Mechanics
Alaska$87,230
Washington$83,450
Connecticut$80,120
Oregon$78,340
Michigan$76,890