How much does a welding make in Chicago?

$46,710a year

Median yearly pay for weldings in the Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro area. That is $22.46 an hour or $3,893 a month.

Hourly: $22.46
Vs. national median: -3%
Rank among cities: 80 of 128
Jobs in the area: 320

Pay range

Lowest 10%: $44,100Median: $46,710Highest 10%: $71,850

Percentile	Yearly	Hourly
10th	$44,100	$21.20
25th	$46,690	$22.45
Median	$46,710	$22.46
75th	$58,840	$28.29
90th	$71,850	$34.54

Other cities in Illinois

Median yearly pay for weldings.

St. Louis, MO	$60,600
Davenport, IA	$51,000

Welding salary in Illinois Welding salary in all states

Related jobs in Chicago

Same field, median yearly pay.

Power Plant Operator	$123,500
Stationary Engineer and Boiler Operator	$115,800
Petroleum Pump System Operator	$111,400
Gas Plant Operator	$102,800
Power Distributor and Dispatcher	$101,600
Plant and System Operator	$80,660
Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operator	$79,290
First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Worker	$76,500
Computer Numerically Controlled Tool Programmer	$69,400
Model Maker	$68,890

Salaries for every job in Chicago, IL

Frequently asked questions

How much does a welding make an hour in Chicago?

The median hourly pay in the Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro area is $22.46 ($46,710 a year).

Do weldings make more in Chicago than the national average?

No: $46,710 against $47,920 nationally, 3% less.

How does Chicago compare with the rest of Illinois?

The median in Illinois is $58,840, so Chicago pays 21% less.

Where does Chicago rank for welding pay?

80 of 128 metro areas with data.

How much does a welding make starting out in Chicago?

The lowest-paid 10% make $44,100 or less a year; the top 10% make $71,850 or more.

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS): pay in May 2025, published by BLS in 2026. Hourly pay is the yearly figure divided by 2,080 hours.