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Certified Welding Inspector (CWI) Salary: United States

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The median annual wage for Certified Welding Inspector (CWI) in the United States was $48,570 in May 2025 (BLS). The middle half of workers earned between $39,890 and $61,440.

Broader occupation Our title "Certified Welding Inspector (CWI)" is reported by BLS as SOC 51-9061 Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and Weighers. BLS groups Certified Welding Inspector (CWI) within Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and Weighers; it does not publish this niche title or credential level separately.

Annual wages

Certified Welding Inspector (CWI), the United States, annual wages: 10% earned less than $35,510, half earned less than the median of $48,570, 90% earned less than $77,860 (BLS, May 2025).Median $48,570$35,510$77,860$20,000$100,000

Certified Welding Inspector (CWI), the United States, annual wages: 10% earned less than $35,510, half earned less than the median of $48,570, 90% earned less than $77,860 (BLS, May 2025).

annual wage percentiles, Certified Welding Inspector (CWI), the United States, May 2025
MeasureAnnual wageWhat it means
10th percentile$35,51010% of workers in this occupation and area earned less than this.
25th percentile$39,89025% earned less than this.
Median (50th)$48,570Half earned less, half earned more.
75th percentile$61,44075% earned less than this.
90th percentile$77,86090% earned less than this.
Mean$53,450Arithmetic average of reported wages.

Hourly wages

Certified Welding Inspector (CWI), the United States, hourly wages: 10% earned less than $17.07, half earned less than the median of $23.35, 90% earned less than $37.44 (BLS, May 2025).Median $23.35$17.07$37.44$10.00$40.00

Certified Welding Inspector (CWI), the United States, hourly wages: 10% earned less than $17.07, half earned less than the median of $23.35, 90% earned less than $37.44 (BLS, May 2025).

hourly wage percentiles, Certified Welding Inspector (CWI), the United States, May 2025
MeasureHourly wageWhat it means
10th percentile$17.07 per hour10% of workers in this occupation and area earned less than this.
25th percentile$19.18 per hour25% earned less than this.
Median (50th)$23.35 per hourHalf earned less, half earned more.
75th percentile$29.54 per hour75% earned less than this.
90th percentile$37.44 per hour90% earned less than this.
Mean$25.70 per hourArithmetic average of reported wages.

Employment: BLS estimates 597,370 workers in this occupation nationally.

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. SOC 51-9061 Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and Weighers, National.

What BLS wages include. Base pay plus any guaranteed or production-based incentive pay. They leave out overtime, discretionary bonus, benefits, per diem and relocation.

BLS definitions, verbatim
wages
Base rate; cost-of-living allowances; guaranteed pay; hazardous-duty pay; incentive pay, including commissions and production bonuses; and tips are included. Excluded are overtime pay, severance pay, shift differentials, nonproduction bonuses, employer cost for supplementary benefits, and tuition reimbursements.
hours
Annual wages have been calculated by multiplying the hourly wages by 2,080 hours; for occupations where hourly wages are not published, annual wages were taken directly from the reported survey data.

Target metros

Certified Welding Inspector (CWI) by metro area, annual wages, May 2025
MetroMedian25th to 75th percentileEmploymentLocation quotient
Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, FL$46,820$36,760 to $59,7606,8300.63
Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, FL$47,180$38,420 to $57,6203,7600.68
Orlando-Kissimmee-Sanford, FL$45,630$37,230 to $59,0602,7900.51
Raleigh-Cary, NC$49,460$44,150 to $59,6101,4200.5
New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ$50,160$41,120 to $62,72016,3700.45
New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ$50,160$41,120 to $62,72016,3700.45
Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX$46,210$38,390 to $59,28016,4401.06
Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX$46,630$38,270 to $60,06016,5201.31
Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN$48,230$41,620 to $60,34023,0801.33

Related roles

Pipefitter / SteamfitterIndustrial PipefitterProcess / Sanitary PipefitterPipe Welder

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Download the BLS rows for this role (CSV)

How does Certified Welding Inspector (CWI) pay differ by industry?

These are national industry estimates for SOC 51-9061, not local offers or separate estimates for the niche title. Industry names are exactly as BLS publishes them.

Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and Weighers by national industry, May 2025
IndustryNAICSMedianBasisEmployment
Utilities22$83,630Annual1,720
Utilities221000$83,630Annual1,720
Electric Power Generation, Transmission and Distribution221100$95,900Annual820
Natural Gas Distribution221200$81,420Annual600
Water, Sewage and Other Systems221300$51,940Annual300
Construction23$61,010Annual7,410
Construction of Buildings236000$69,600Annual1,310
Residential Building Construction236100$61,200Annual240
Nonresidential Building Construction236200$71,520Annual1,080
Heavy and Civil Engineering Construction237000$59,480Annual3,010
Utility System Construction237100$59,480Annual1,630
Highway, Street, and Bridge Construction237300$58,510Annual1,170
Other Heavy and Civil Engineering Construction237900$68,870Annual210
Specialty Trade Contractors238000$60,520Annual3,080
Foundation, Structure, and Building Exterior Contractors238100$62,100Annual560
Building Equipment Contractors238200$62,180Annual1,820
Building Finishing Contractors238300$52,800Annual240
Other Specialty Trade Contractors238900$47,480Annual460
Food Manufacturing311000$46,100Annual46,600
Animal Food Manufacturing311100$48,100Annual2,240
Grain and Oilseed Milling311200$51,860Annual1,530
Sugar and Confectionery Product Manufacturing311300$50,000Annual1,160
Fruit and Vegetable Preserving and Specialty Food Manufacturing311400$44,870Annual6,050
Dairy Product Manufacturing311500$52,070Annual4,590
Animal Slaughtering and Processing311600$41,070Annual17,210
Seafood Product Preparation and Packaging311700$44,840Annual540
Bakeries and Tortilla Manufacturing311800$46,260Annual4,190
Other Food Manufacturing311900$47,770Annual9,100
Beverage and Tobacco Product Manufacturing312000$53,620Annual4,100
Beverage Manufacturing312100$53,390Annual3,690
Tobacco Manufacturing312200$55,770Annual410
Textile Mills313000$38,610Annual4,020
Fiber, Yarn, and Thread Mills313100$37,420Annual830
Fabric Mills313200$39,000Annual2,280
Manufacturing31-33$49,270Annual382,920
Textile and Fabric Finishing and Fabric Coating Mills313300$38,710Annual920
Textile Product Mills314000$41,500Annual2,110
Textile Furnishings Mills314100$43,240Annual1,070
Other Textile Product Mills314900$37,560Annual1,040
Apparel Manufacturing315000$36,080Annual2,130
Apparel Knitting Mills315100$35,500Annual410
Cut and Sew Apparel Manufacturing315200$36,390Annual1,340
Apparel Accessories and Other Apparel Manufacturing315900$36,280Annual380
Leather and Allied Product Manufacturing316000$36,580Annual430
Leather and Hide Tanning and Finishing316100$45,450Annual120
Footwear Manufacturing316200$30,870Annual210
Other Leather and Allied Product Manufacturing316900$34,550Annual100
Wood Product Manufacturing321000$47,830Annual6,120
Sawmills and Wood Preservation321100$49,840Annual1,240
Veneer, Plywood, and Engineered Wood Product Manufacturing321200$47,270Annual1,300
Other Wood Product Manufacturing321900$47,550Annual3,580
Paper Manufacturing322000$47,420Annual6,680
Pulp, Paper, and Paperboard Mills322100$61,330Annual1,160
Converted Paper Product Manufacturing322200$45,750Annual5,520
Printing and Related Support Activities323000$41,720Annual4,850
Printing and Related Support Activities323100$41,720Annual4,850
Petroleum and Coal Products Manufacturing324000$64,420Annual2,570
Petroleum and Coal Products Manufacturing324100$64,420Annual2,570
Chemical Manufacturing325000$55,250Annual32,480
Chemical Manufacturing (3251, 3252, 3253, and 3259 only)3250A1$51,060Annual9,420
Chemical Manufacturing (3255 and 3256 only)3250A2$49,100Annual5,620
Pharmaceutical and Medicine Manufacturing325400$59,260Annual17,440
Plastics and Rubber Products Manufacturing326000$45,820Annual35,730
Plastics Product Manufacturing326100$45,630Annual29,910
Rubber Product Manufacturing326200$47,600Annual5,830
Nonmetallic Mineral Product Manufacturing327000$51,620Annual10,330
Primary Metal Manufacturing331000$54,510Annual13,430
Iron and Steel Mills and Ferroalloy Manufacturing331100$59,190Annual2,010
Steel Product Manufacturing from Purchased Steel331200$54,140Annual2,020
Alumina and Aluminum Production and Processing331300$55,320Annual1,550
Nonferrous Metal (except Aluminum) Production and Processing331400$56,280Annual2,290
Foundries331500$50,350Annual5,560
Fabricated Metal Product Manufacturing332000$49,410Annual47,990
Fabricated Metal Product Manufacturing (3321, 3322, 3325, 3326, and 3329 only)3320A1$48,640Annual17,830
Fabricated Metal Product Manufacturing (3323 and 3324 only)3320A2$57,110Annual10,030
Machine Shops; Turned Product; and Screw, Nut, and Bolt Manufacturing332700$50,680Annual13,800
Coating, Engraving, Heat Treating, and Allied Activities332800$45,960Annual6,330
Machinery Manufacturing333000$54,760Annual28,190
Machinery Manufacturing (3331, 3332, 3334, and 3339 only)3330A1$53,970Annual18,660
Commercial and Service Industry Machinery Manufacturing333300$53,440Annual2,140
Metalworking Machinery Manufacturing333500$49,330Annual4,060
Engine, Turbine, and Power Transmission Equipment Manufacturing333600$61,140Annual3,330
Computer and Electronic Product Manufacturing334000$50,120Annual32,800
Computer and Peripheral Equipment Manufacturing334100$45,200Annual2,390
Communications Equipment Manufacturing334200$57,780Annual2,070
Audio and Video Equipment Manufacturing334300$47,170Annual400
Semiconductor and Other Electronic Component Manufacturing334400$48,570Annual17,190
Navigational, Measuring, Electromedical, and Control Instruments Manufacturing334500$58,360Annual10,570
Manufacturing and Reproducing Magnetic and Optical Media334600$47,790Annual180
Electrical Equipment, Appliance, and Component Manufacturing335000$49,940Annual14,050
Electric Lighting Equipment Manufacturing335100$48,770Annual450
Household Appliance Manufacturing335200$47,980Annual1,640
Electrical Equipment Manufacturing335300$52,060Annual5,710
Other Electrical Equipment and Component Manufacturing335900$49,640Annual6,240
Transportation Equipment Manufacturing336000$60,620Annual63,910
Motor Vehicle Manufacturing336100$73,310Annual7,030
Motor Vehicle Body and Trailer Manufacturing336200$47,900Annual4,020
Motor Vehicle Parts Manufacturing336300$47,070Annual21,920
Aerospace Product and Parts Manufacturing336400$74,450Annual26,120
Railroad Rolling Stock Manufacturing336500$60,820Annual880
Ship and Boat Building336600$64,560Annual2,980
Other Transportation Equipment Manufacturing336900$51,740Annual940
Furniture and Related Product Manufacturing337000$41,160Annual4,940
Furniture and Related Product Manufacturing (3371 and 3372 only)3370A1$41,850Annual4,440
Other Furniture Related Product Manufacturing337900$37,860Annual510
Miscellaneous Manufacturing339000$48,480Annual19,460
Medical Equipment and Supplies Manufacturing339100$49,520Annual13,840
Other Miscellaneous Manufacturing339900$44,670Annual5,620
Air Transportation481000$92,990Annual210
Scheduled Air Transportation481100$99,500Annual60
Nonscheduled Air Transportation481200$76,090Annual150
Rail Transportation482000$78,350Annual60
Rail Transportation482100$78,350Annual60
Truck Transportation484000$47,190Annual740
Pipeline Transportation486000$85,470Annual640
Pipeline Transportation of Natural Gas486200$81,550Annual390
Other Pipeline Transportation486900$94,100Annual210
Support Activities for Transportation488000$58,250Annual5,040
Support Activities for Air Transportation488100$62,020Annual3,170
Support Activities for Rail Transportation488200$56,640Annual490
Support Activities for Water Transportation488300$64,240Annual470
Freight Transportation Arrangement488500$40,510Annual360
Other Support Activities for Transportation488900$43,840Annual520
Couriers and Messengers492000$42,240Annual60
Local Messengers and Local Delivery492200$59,990Annual40
Warehousing and Storage493000$47,350Annual16,410
Warehousing and Storage493100$47,350Annual16,410
Real Estate and Rental and Leasing53$47,980Annual1,710
Rental and Leasing Services532000$47,010Annual1,330
Rental and Leasing Services (5322, 5323, and 5324 only)5320A1$46,970Annual1,220
Automotive Equipment Rental and Leasing532100$50,990Annual120
Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services54$52,350Annual57,860
Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services541000$52,350Annual57,860
Architectural, Engineering, and Related Services541300$51,430Annual31,350
Specialized Design Services541400$49,260Annual200
Computer Systems Design and Related Services541500$57,130Annual1,400
Management, Scientific, and Technical Consulting Services541600$49,050Annual9,590
Scientific Research and Development Services541700$71,860Annual5,370
Advertising, Public Relations, and Related Services541800$40,370Annual400
Other Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services541900$49,710Annual9,250
Services to Buildings and Dwellings561700$45,880AnnualNot published by BLS
Waste Management and Remediation Services562000$42,180Annual2,570
Waste Collection562100$37,620Annual1,100
Waste Treatment and Disposal562200$57,160Annual470
Remediation and Other Waste Management Services562900$43,220Annual1,000
Repair and Maintenance811000$44,560Annual4,920
Automotive Repair and Maintenance811100$49,240Annual1,310
Electronic and Precision Equipment Repair and Maintenance811200$37,990Annual2,090
Commercial and Industrial Machinery and Equipment (except Automotive and Electronic) Repair and Maintenance811300$58,660Annual1,260
Personal and Household Goods Repair and Maintenance811400$38,340Annual260

Industry estimates are national. Do not combine an industry median with a local percentile to invent an industry-specific local rate.

Which related roles have a different BLS occupation?

A supervisory occupation is not an experience percentile for the craft. Compare the actual responsibilities and the published SOC.

Pipefitter Foreman (47-1011)Welding Foreman (51-1011)Pipe Fabrication Shop Foreman (49-1011)Pipefitting General Foreman (47-1011)Pipefitting Superintendent (11-9021)

Which metros publish the highest and lowest medians?

This ranking uses the May 2025 annual median for Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and Weighers. It is not adjusted for living costs. A metro is a BLS statistical area, not just the city limits. Top-coded or suppressed medians are not ranked.

Highest and lowest published metro medians
MetroMedianEmploymentLocation quotientTrade median / all-occupations median
Lexington Park, MD$92,0001000.371.44
Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA$76,8008,1901.021.06
Savannah, GA$72,8001,1101.461.54
Bremerton-Silverdale-Port Orchard, WA$71,9502000.551.14
Anchorage, AK$71,470800.121.19
Mount Vernon-Anacortes, WA$68,0601800.871.14
Flagstaff, AZ$65,8402701.051.39
Bismarck, ND$63,910900.341.22
Lake Charles, LA$63,5704901.261.39
Gulfport-Biloxi, MS$63,5206000.991.46
Dothan, AL$36,4403001.270.95
Tyler, TX$36,3504400.990.85
Sebring, FL$36,230400.410.90
Brownsville-Harlingen, TX$35,7903700.610.98
Laredo, TX$35,1201500.360.94
Victoria, TX$33,2401100.760.77
Arecibo, PR$29,0402501.91.11
Ponce, PR$28,6004601.881.06
Aguadilla, PR$25,13019010.95
Mayaguez, PR$22,2402401.180.88

The wage ratio is simple arithmetic: this occupation's median divided by the all-occupations median in the same area and unit. It is not a cost-of-living measure. Location quotient describes the concentration of employment, not relative pay. Neither predicts what a particular candidate will accept.

Full metro ranking and local wage ratios

What do these published wages mean for an offer?

Skilled Trades Headhunters reads the May 2025 figures for Certified Welding Inspector (CWI) in National as an offer reference, not a quote for a particular candidate. For Certified Welding Inspector (CWI) in National, the published median for SOC 51-9061, Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and Weighers, is $48,570 per year. The middle half of the Certified Welding Inspector (CWI) in National wage distribution runs from $39,890 to $61,440, a width of $21,550 per year; that spread shows how much published pay varies within the occupation and area, without assigning experience levels.

For the national Certified Welding Inspector (CWI) comparison, Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN reports $48,230 per year while Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA reports $51,560 per year; these are the largest-employment metros with published medians for the occupation, rather than neighboring places to a national estimate. The United States Certified Welding Inspector (CWI) figure pools markets with different work scopes and schedules, so use the area table before setting a local offer.

The highest published medians among the selected national industry rows for Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and Weighers, read alongside Certified Welding Inspector (CWI) in National, are Scheduled Air Transportation at $99,500 per year (NAICS 481100); Electric Power Generation, Transmission and Distribution at $95,900 per year (NAICS 221100); Other Pipeline Transportation at $94,100 per year (NAICS 486900). Those Certified Welding Inspector (CWI) in National industry comparisons are national cross-sections, not local industry estimates; BLS does not give us a metro-by-industry wage cut here, and overlapping industry groups should not be added together.

The Certified Welding Inspector (CWI) in National median was $47,460 per year in May 2024, compared with $48,570 in May 2025, a published difference of $1,110. That Certified Welding Inspector (CWI) in National comparison is between separate BLS releases, not the raise paid to the same workers or a projection of next year's offer. Read the $47,460 and $48,570 Certified Welding Inspector (CWI) in National estimates with both dates visible, because the employers and workers represented by the survey can change.

Before offering $48,570 per year for Certified Welding Inspector (CWI) in National, separate overtime, per diem, lodging and mobilization separately; prevailing wage obligations and union scale depend on the assignment and agreement, not a special BLS traveling-worker percentile. The Certified Welding Inspector (CWI) in National BLS comparison includes ordinary wages and qualifying incentive pay, but leaves overtime, discretionary bonuses, benefits and relocation outside this wage figure. A candidate's take-home pay and the employer's total cost for Certified Welding Inspector (CWI) in National can therefore differ from the median without either number being an error.

The mapping for Certified Welding Inspector (CWI) in National is broader: BLS groups Certified Welding Inspector (CWI) within Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and Weighers; it does not publish this niche title or credential level separately. When calibrating a Certified Welding Inspector (CWI) in National opening, the work checks include Current AWS CWI; D1.1/ASME/API 1104; ask for evidence of that scope instead of using a percentile as a substitute for qualification. A broader occupation can combine jobs that a Certified Welding Inspector (CWI) in National buyer would screen separately, which is why the badge and SOC remain beside the figures.

Questions about this occupation and area

What does the middle-half band tell a Certified Welding Inspector (CWI) in National buyer?

Certified Welding Inspector (CWI) in National has a published middle-half band of $39,890 to $61,440, a width of $21,550 per year, with median $48,570. An offer inside that Certified Welding Inspector (CWI) in National band is not automatically competitive for every scope; match the required work and the separate pay terms first.

Which areas should I compare before hiring Certified Welding Inspector (CWI) in National?

Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN and Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA are the largest-employment comparison markets used for Certified Welding Inspector (CWI) in National. Comparing those Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and Weighers tables with the $48,570 Certified Welding Inspector (CWI) in National median does not measure commuting costs or predict what a particular applicant will accept.

Are the industry figures local to Certified Welding Inspector (CWI) in National?

Certified Welding Inspector (CWI) in National uses national industry rows for SOC 51-9061, not local sector-specific wages. Scheduled Air Transportation leads the selected sortable rows at $99,500 per year, but that national industry figure is not a quoted offer for Certified Welding Inspector (CWI) in National.

What changed between the releases for Certified Welding Inspector (CWI) in National?

Certified Welding Inspector (CWI) in National moved from $47,460 in May 2024 to $48,570 in May 2025. These Certified Welding Inspector (CWI) in National published medians do not describe an individual raise or establish a future wage trend.

What changed since May 2024

SOC 51-9061. Published annual median: $47,460 (May 2024) and $48,570 (May 2025). These are two BLS releases, not a projection.