Skilled trades
welder salary in Mississippi
The median welder in Mississippi earns $51,100 a year based on the latest BLS wage release. That is 5% below the national median of $53,750, and the top 10% in the state earns more than $64,440.
STATE MEDIAN
$51,100
Per year, 2025
TOP 10 PERCENT
$64,440
Per year
WORKERS IN STATE
6,460
Reported employment
VS NATIONAL
-5%
Below national median
What do welders, cutters, solderers, and brazers earn in Mississippi?
These percentile cuts show how pay spreads from entry level earnings to top-end specialists in the state.
10TH PERCENTILE
$36,800
Lower end of the pay range
25TH PERCENTILE
$41,000
Early career benchmark
MEDIAN
$51,100
Middle of the market
75TH PERCENTILE
$63,440
Experienced worker benchmark
90TH PERCENTILE
$64,440
Top earning range
How does Mississippi compare to national earnings?
Mississippi pays 5% below the national median for welders, cutters, solderers, and brazers. That makes cost discipline more important, especially if you are choosing between a free apprenticeship path, a community college certificate, and a private program.
Mississippi
$51,100
State median annual wage
National median
$53,750
BLS national median wage
How do you train as a welder in Mississippi?
In Mississippi, the most common routes into welders, cutters, solderers, and brazers are union apprenticeship, non-union contractor apprenticeship, community college certificates, and trade school programs. Apprenticeship usually keeps debt lowest because you work while you train. Mississippi can have its own certification, safety, or licensing rules for this path. Verify the state board and local employer requirements before you commit.
Lowest debt path
Apprenticeship, community college, or employer-sponsored training usually keeps borrowing pressure lowest. That matters more than raw starting pay if you are comparing a free path against a private program.
What to verify before enrolling
Check tuition, licensing hours, exam pass rates, employer placement, and how quickly the program gets you to a paid job in Mississippi.
What is the debt-to-income reality in Mississippi?
The 8% rule says a monthly student loan payment should ideally stay below 8% of gross monthly income.
For a community college style path with an illustrative $10,000 of training debt, a simple 10-year repayment schedule lands near $83 a month. Against a median gross monthly income of $4,258 in Mississippi, that works out to about 1.9%.
This is an illustrative midpoint between a free apprenticeship path and a higher-cost private program. Your exact result depends on tuition, grants, and how long you stay in school.
What else should you read next?
Skilled trades guide
Read the full skilled trades guide for training paths, debt ranges, and employer context.
welder salary in Texas
Compare this trade in Texas against Mississippi.
electrician salary in Mississippi
See how a related trade in the same cluster pays in the same state.
Trade comparison methodology
See how CollegeLens sources BLS wages, training-cost ranges, and debt-to-income examples.
Common questions about welder pay in Mississippi
What is the average welder salary in Mississippi?
The Bureau of Labor Statistics reports a median annual wage of $51,100 for welders, cutters, solderers, and brazers in Mississippi, with the top 10% above $64,440.
Is welder a good career in Mississippi?
Mississippi currently has 6,460 reported jobs in this trade. The path can work well when training cost stays reasonable relative to a median income of $51,100.
How do you become a welder in Mississippi?
In Mississippi, the most common routes into welders, cutters, solderers, and brazers are union apprenticeship, non-union contractor apprenticeship, community college certificates, and trade school programs. Apprenticeship usually keeps debt lowest because you work while you train. Mississippi can have its own certification, safety, or licensing rules for this path. Verify the state board and local employer requirements before you commit.
Where does Mississippi rank for welder earnings?
Mississippi is below the national median for this trade. State median: $51,100. National median: $53,750.
What does welder training cost in Mississippi?
Training cost depends on the path. Apprenticeship can be near $0 out of pocket while you earn. Community college programs often land in the low thousands. Private trade school and certificate routes can be much higher. Always compare program cost against expected earnings in Mississippi.