How to Become a Welding Engineer in Michigan: Salary & Requirements (2026)
Quick answer: The median welding engineer salary in Michigan is $94,050 per year - 17% below the national median of $112,860 (BLS OEWS, May 2025). The career requires a 4-year degree: Bachelor’s in welding engineering, materials science, or metallurgical engineering.
Welding Engineer Salary in Michigan
| Wage level | Annual salary |
|---|---|
| Michigan entry level (10th percentile) | $62,640 |
| Michigan 25th-75th percentile | $75,010 - $123,180 |
| Michigan median | $94,050 |
| Michigan top earners (90th percentile) | $139,690 |
| U.S. median | $112,860 |
Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025. State employment: 810.
The Michigan Job Market: Welding Engineer
| Metric | Value |
|---|---|
| Employed in Michigan | 810 |
| Jobs per 1,000 in the state | 0.18 |
| Concentration vs U.S. (location quotient) | 1.25 |
| Mean annual wage in Michigan | $98,980 |
Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025. With a location quotient of 1.25, Michigan employs welding engineers at a noticeably higher concentration than the national average: a strong local market for the credential.
Requirements in Michigan
The education path is national - Bachelor’s in welding engineering, materials science, or metallurgical engineering - while licensing runs through Michigan’s own boards: CWEng/CWI certifications (AWS) valued; PE for some roles. Verify current requirements with the Michigan licensing authority before enrolling, as details change. The step-by-step path (degree, exams, first role, advancement) is covered in the national guide: How to Become a Welding Engineer.
Salary Nationwide
| Percentile | Annual wage |
|---|---|
| 10th | $72,300 |
| 25th | $88,080 |
| 50th (median) | $112,860 |
| 75th | $142,720 |
| 90th | $175,720 |
Job Outlook
| Year | Employment |
|---|---|
| 2024 | 23,000 |
| 2034 projected | 24,300 |
| Percent change | +5.7% |
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does a welding engineer make in Michigan?
The median annual wage for materials engineers in Michigan is $94,050 (BLS OEWS, May 2025), 17% below the national median of $112,860.
How do I become a welding engineer in Michigan?
The core path is the same nationwide - Bachelor's in welding engineering, materials science, or metallurgical engineering - with licensing administered at the state level: CWEng/CWI certifications (AWS) valued; PE for some roles. See the steps below.
How many welding engineers work in Michigan?
BLS counts about 810 materials engineers employed in Michigan (BLS OEWS, May 2025).
Welding Engineer in Nearby States
- Welding Engineer in Maryland
- Welding Engineer in Massachusetts
- Welding Engineer in Minnesota
- Welding Engineer in Mississippi
Related
Sources
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 - Materials Engineers (SOC 17-2131), Michigan and national
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections, 2024-34
About this guide: Researched and written by the TradeCareerPath Editorial Team. Our editorial team researches and sources every trade school and career guide using federal labor and education data, including BLS OEWS and Employment Projections, DOL apprenticeship records, IPEDS, College Scorecard, and state licensing boards. We follow the editorial standards documented at /editorial-policy/.
Data sources
Figures on this page are sourced from the federal and state datasets below. Methodology: how we rank and source data.
| Data | Provider | Vintage |
|---|---|---|
| Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) | U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics | May 2025 |
| Employment Projections | U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics | 2024-2034 |
| Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System | National Center for Education Statistics (IPEDS) | 2024 |
| College Scorecard (school-level outcomes) | U.S. Department of Education | latest release |
| College Scorecard (field-of-study earnings) | U.S. Department of Education | latest release (updated 2026-06-12) |
| Occupational licensing requirements | CareerOneStop (U.S. Department of Labor) | latest release (updated 2026-02-22) |
| Registered apprenticeship programs | CareerOneStop / Apprenticeship.gov (U.S. Department of Labor) | latest release (updated 2025-10-25) |
| O*NET occupation profiles (skills, tasks, tools, job zones) | U.S. Department of Labor (O*NET / Employment & Training Admin.) | O*NET 29.1 (updated 2026-06-13) |