Welder vs Roofer
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
Roofer
$52,290
National Median Salary
Total Jobs168,500
Annual Openings16,700
Training3 yr apprenticeship
Metric
Welder
Roofer
Median Salary National, BLS 2023 | $51,000 | $52,290* |
Total Jobs Current employment | 457,300* | 168,500 |
Annual Job Openings New + replacement | 47,600* | 16,700 |
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 Roofers
Illinois$82,430
New York$78,560
Alaska$74,320
Hawaii$71,890
Massachusetts$70,120