Welder vs Mason
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
Mason
$53,480
National Median Salary
Total Jobs211,600
Annual Openings19,200
Training3 yr apprenticeship
Metric
Welder
Mason
Median Salary National, BLS 2023 | $51,000 | $53,480* |
Total Jobs Current employment | 457,300* | 211,600 |
Annual Job Openings New + replacement | 47,600* | 19,200 |
Training Time | 7 mo - 2 yr certificate | 3 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 Masons
Illinois$87,320
New York$83,450
New Jersey$79,870
Massachusetts$76,540
Alaska$74,210