How to Become a Welding Engineer in Minnesota: Salary & Requirements (2026)

Q: "How much does a welding engineer make in Minnesota?"

"The median annual wage for materials engineers in Minnesota is $106,220 (BLS OEWS, May 2025), 6% below the national median of $112,860."

Q: "How do I become a welding engineer in Minnesota?"

"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."

Q: "How many welding engineers work in Minnesota?"

"BLS counts about 150 materials engineers employed in Minnesota (BLS OEWS, May 2025)."

Updated July 23, 2026 | TradeCareerPath Editorial Team

Minnesota materials engineers earn a median annual wage of $106,220 ($51.07/hr) according to U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS data (May 2025), with about 150 workers employed statewide. The state median is approximately -5.9% below the national median of $112,860 for the same occupation.

Key Takeaways

Median annual pay: $106,220 ($51.07/hr)
25th percentile: $100,690 per year
75th percentile: $147,630 per year
Top 10% earn: more than $175,320 per year
Entry-level (bottom 10%): under $84,760 per year
Workers employed in Minnesota: 150
Versus national median: -5.9% below the U.S. median of $112,860
Job concentration: Location quotient 0.34 - this occupation is less concentrated in Minnesota than the national average

Source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025. Last reviewed July 23, 2026.

Quick answer: The median welding engineer salary in Minnesota is $106,220 per year - 6% 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 Minnesota

Wage level	Annual salary
Minnesota entry level (10th percentile)	$84,760
Minnesota 25th-75th percentile	$100,690 - $147,630
Minnesota median	$106,220
Minnesota top earners (90th percentile)	$175,320
U.S. median	$112,860

Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025. State employment: 150.

The Minnesota Job Market: Welding Engineer

Metric	Value
Employed in Minnesota	150
Jobs per 1,000 in the state	0.05
Concentration vs U.S. (location quotient)	0.34
Mean annual wage in Minnesota	$122,710

Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025. With a location quotient of 0.34, Minnesota employs welding engineers at a lower concentration than the national average; expect fewer openings per capita and weigh relocation or remote-friendly specialties.

Requirements in Minnesota

The education path is national - Bachelor’s in welding engineering, materials science, or metallurgical engineering - while licensing runs through Minnesota’s own boards: CWEng/CWI certifications (AWS) valued; PE for some roles. Verify current requirements with the Minnesota 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

Annual Wage by Percentile - Materials Engineers

Source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025

Materials Engineers annual wage percentiles
Percentile	Annual wage
10th	$72,300
25th	$88,080
50th (median)	$112,860
75th	$142,720
90th	$175,720

Job Outlook

Projected employment growth, Materials Engineers, 2024-2034

Source: BLS Employment Projections, 2024-2034

Materials Engineers employment projection 2024 to 2034
Year	Employment
2024	23,000
2034 projected	24,300
Percent change	+5.7%

Frequently Asked Questions

How much does a welding engineer make in Minnesota?

The median annual wage for materials engineers in Minnesota is $106,220 (BLS OEWS, May 2025), 6% below the national median of $112,860.

How do I become a welding engineer in Minnesota?

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 Minnesota?

BLS counts about 150 materials engineers employed in Minnesota (BLS OEWS, May 2025).

Welding Engineer in Nearby States

Sources

U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 - Materials Engineers (SOC 17-2131), Minnesota 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)