Updated May 2026 · BLS OEWS 2024
Structural Welder Salary in Milwaukee
2024 BLS OEWS Data · Welding · COL Index: 96
Structural Welders in Milwaukee, WI earn a median annual wage of $57,370 per 2024 BLS OEWS data, with the 10th percentile at $47,690 and the 90th at $65,440. After cost of living, that translates to $59,760 in U.S.-average purchasing power. Trade Pay Score: C (59/100).
What Structural Welders Take Home in Milwaukee
The $17,750 spread between entry-level and top-decile structural welders in Milwaukee is relatively narrow — about 31% of the median. That tight band usually signals a trade where pay scales primarily with experience rather than employer or specialization. New entrants can expect to climb steadily toward median pay over their first 5-10 years.
Milwaukee's cost-of-living index of 96 is within a few points of the U.S. average, so the $57,370 median for structural welders here translates almost directly into real purchasing power — roughly $59,760 in U.S.-average terms. What you see is what you take home, with no significant adjustment up or down.
With a Trade Pay Score of 59 (C), structural welders in Milwaukee are mid-tier — neither standout strong nor materially weak. The combination earns a reasonable nominal wage but is dragged down by either flatter wage growth, a higher cost of living that erodes purchasing power, or thinner employment depth. Workers should compare the per-trade pages to see if a different metro improves the grade.
Salary Distribution
Percentile Breakdown
| Level | Salary | COL-Adjusted |
|---|---|---|
| 10th Percentile (Apprentice / Entry) | $47,690 | $49,677 |
| 25th Percentile (Early Career) | $49,650 | $51,719 |
| 50th Percentile (Journeyman / Median) | $57,370 | $59,760 |
| 75th Percentile (Experienced) | $61,000 | $63,542 |
| 90th Percentile (Master / Foreman) | $65,440 | $68,167 |
How These Numbers Are Calculated
Every wage figure here comes from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) program at bls.gov/oes — a survey of about 1.2 million employers per release covering more than 800 occupations and every U.S. metropolitan statistical area. The Trade Pay Score combines raw median pay (30%), 5-year wage growth (25%), employment depth (25%), and cost-of-living-adjusted purchasing power (20%) into a single 0-100 grade. Read the full methodology.
Career outlook detail — projected 2032 employment levels for structural welders, typical entry-level requirements, on-the-job training expectations — comes from the BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook at bls.gov/ooh. Apprenticeship programs in Milwaukee are listed at apprenticeship.gov. All three are public-domain federal data sources.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does a Structural Welder make in Milwaukee?
Per 2024 BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics data, the median structural welder salary in Milwaukee, WI is $57,370. The 10th percentile is $47,690 (typical for entry-level or apprentice-tier positions); the 90th percentile reaches $65,440 (master, foreman, or specialty roles).
How does Milwaukee pay compare for Structural Welders?
With a Trade Pay Score of 59/100 and a grade of C, the Milwaukee-Structural Welder pairing is a mid-tier combination that is neither standout strong nor materially weak.
What is the apprenticeship path for Structural Welders in Milwaukee?
Structural Welders typically complete a 3-year registered apprenticeship before reaching journeyman pay, starting around the 10th percentile ($47,690) and progressing toward the median. Registered apprenticeship programs in the area are listed at https://www.apprenticeship.gov/.
How does cost of living affect Structural Welder pay in Milwaukee?
Milwaukee has a cost-of-living index of 96. The median structural welder salary of $57,370 translates to $59,760 in U.S.-average purchasing power — an upward adjustment because the metro is less expensive than average.
Where does this salary data come from?
Every wage figure on this page is a real BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics median or percentile from the 2024 release at https://www.bls.gov/oes/, which surveys roughly 1.2 million U.S. employers per release. Career outlook context (projected employment growth through 2032) comes from the BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook at https://www.bls.gov/ooh/. Both are public-domain U.S. government data sources.
Structural Welders in Milwaukee, WI earn a median annual wage of $57,370 per 2024 BLS OEWS data, with the 10th percentile at $47,690 and the 90th at $65,440. After cost of living, that translates to $59,760 in U.S.-average purchasing power. Trade Pay Score: C (59/100).
For this entity, the underlying data on this page comes from the BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) survey. The breakdown above is the federal record; the paragraphs below add the per-entity context that makes the headline numbers usable for a real decision rather than just a data lookup.
Every number on this page links back to the BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) survey; the methodology page describes the inputs, refresh cadence, and known limitations of the underlying data product.
For readers using this page as a decision input, the related-entity pages elsewhere on the site provide the comparison set. The most useful comparison for this entity is typically a peer within U.S. trades, cities, and states with similar size, similar exposure, or similar geography — not the national-level summary alone.