FederalPay.org
Welder - Federal Salaries of 2021
Pay Rates for "Welder"
How much does a Welder in the federal government get paid? $69,937.50* *Based on the 2021 average.Welder was the 350th most popular job in the U.S. Government in 2021, with 146 employed. The most common payscale was the nonsupervisory pay schedules - federal wage system payscale.
In 2021, the U.S. Coast Guard hired the most employees titled Welding, with an average salary of $65,840.
Government Welding jobs are classified under the Federal Wage Schedule, Wage Grade (FWS) payscale. The minimum paygrade for a Welding job is FWS-8, and the highest paygrade that can be attained within this job series is FWS-11. Remember that the starting and maximum yearly pay listed above reflect base pay only - your actual salary will be higher based on the Locality Pay Adjustment for the area in which you work.
This standard covers the nonsupervisory work of welding metals and alloys. The work requires knowledge of electric, gas, and other welding processes such as electron beam welding, and the skill to apply these processes in manufacturing, repairing, modifying, rebuilding, and assembling various types of metal and alloy parts, equipment, systems, and structures such as buildings, aircraft, and ships.
Agencies that have hired a Welder
| Agency | Employees Hired | Average Salary |
|---|---|---|
| U.S. Coast Guard | 59 | $65,839.66 |
| Bureau of Prisons/Federal Prison System | 25 | $77,064.52 |
| Forest Service | 17 | $59,890.88 |
| Veterans Health Administration | 14 | $64,812.43 |
| Department of Energy | 8 | $114,337.88 |
| National Park Service | 5 | $64,591.60 |
| Agricultural Research Service | 3 | $53,844.67 |
| Customs and Border Protection | 3 | $0.00 |
| Smithsonian Institution (Exchange Sep Boards of Trust) | 2 | $77,445.00 |
| Indian Affairs | 2 | $63,087.50 |
| St. Lawrence Seaway Development Corporation | 1 | $77,138.00 |
| Bureau of Land Management | 1 | $97,102.00 |
| Bureau of Reclamation | 1 | $60,734.00 |
| Geological Survey | 1 | $66,012.00 |
| International Boundary & Water Commission: U.S. & Mexico | 1 | $70,582.00 |
| Federal Emergency Management Agency | 1 | $75,695.00 |
| Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service | 1 | $69,186.00 |
| National Institute of Standards and Technology | 1 | $67,681.00 |
Welder Pay Distribution
The average pay for a Welder is $69,937.50. The highest paid Welder made $133,267 in 2021.
Common Welder Payscales
| Payscale | Number of Welding Employees |
|---|---|
| WG - Nonsupervisory Pay Schedules - Federal Wage System | 87 |
| WS - Supervisory Pay Schedules - Federal Wage System | 25 |
| WL - Leader Pay Schedule - Federal Wage System | 24 |
| BB - Nonsupervisory - Negotiated Pay Employees | 8 |
| BS - Supervisory - Negotiated Pay Employees | 1 |
| WB - Wage Positions Under The Federal Wage System Not Otherwise Designated | 1 |
| Starting Paygrade: | $10.68 to $28.58 / hour at paygrade FWS-8 |
| Maximum Paygrade: | $12.06 to $34.60 / hour at paygrade FWS-11 |
| Occupation Family: | METAL PROCESSING FAMILY |
Other Jobs at the FWS-8 Paygrade
FWS-8 is the starting paygrade for Welding jobs. Here are some other Federal Government jobs that can be held by employees at the FWS-8 paygrade.
| Occupation | Starting Paygrade | Maximum Paygrade |
|---|---|---|
| Electric Power Controlling | FWS-8 | FWS-10 |
| Engineering Equipment Operating | FWS-8 | FWS-11 |
| Gardening | FWS-4 | FWS-8 |
| Aircraft Electrician | FWS-8 | FWS-10 |
| Electronic Industrial Controls Mechanic | FWS-8 | FWS-12 |
Average Welding Pay Trend from 2004 to 2021
In 2004, the average pay for a Welder was $48,941. Since then, the average pay has increased to $69,938 in 2021.
Data Sources
The information provided on these pages is sourced from the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) 
Enterprise Human Resources Integration (EHRI) dataset. Postal Service data is managed exclusively by the USPS . All information is displayed unmodified and as provided by the source agency.
Federal employee salaries are public information under open government laws (5 U.S.C. § 552). FederalPay provides this data in the interest of government transparency — employee data may not be used for commercial soliciting or vending of any kind. Learn more about the FederalPay Employees Dataset here.
The series code of this occupation is 3703.