Find accredited Welding training programs near you
$53,750
Avg. Salary
2.4%
Job Growth
6-18 months
Program Length
520
Schools Listed
Welders join metal parts using a range of techniques (MIG, TIG, stick, flux-core) for construction, manufacturing, automotive, aerospace, and energy work. The craft rewards precision and offers some of the most varied work in the trades β from a small fabrication shop to a pipeline in West Texas to an underwater rig in the Gulf.
Welding suits people who like producing physical, visible work and who can stay focused on detailed, hands-on tasks for long stretches. Steady hands, good eyesight (correctable), and tolerance for heat, sparks, and PPE are all required.
A shop welder may run the same fixture/joint repeatedly all day. A field welder travels to job sites β pipelines, structural work, tank repair. Pipe welders may work 7-on/7-off rotations on rig work. Inspectors and certified welders for nuclear, aerospace, or pressure vessel work earn premium pay.
Earning certifications like AWS Certification and ASME Certification can increase your employability and qualify you for higher-paying positions. Many Welding training programs include certification prep as part of the curriculum.
Welding is not one job β it's a family of related roles. Choosing a specialization early can shape your training, certifications, and earning ceiling.
Buildings, bridges, infrastructure. AWS-certified work.
Refineries, pipelines, oil & gas. Highest field-welder pay.
TIG-heavy. Tight tolerances. Premium pay with FAA certs.
Commercial diving + welding. Top-tier earnings, intense training.
Programming and tending welding cells. Growing fast.
Local hiring conditions matter more than national averages. These states currently have the strongest combination of employer demand, training infrastructure, and pay.
Pipeline, refinery, and Permian Basin work
Gulf Coast petrochemical and shipbuilding
Shipbuilding (Austal), automotive plants, steel
BlueOval City and OEM manufacturing
EV battery plant construction
$53,750
National median salary
2.4%
10-year job growth
6-18 months
Typical training length
Realistic pay range
$38,000β$80,000
Entry to experienced
Training cost range
$4,000β$17,000
Public to private programs
5700 Southern Boulevard, Virginia Beach, VA 23462
$14,568
15 months (diploma) / 18 months (associate)
View Details β2 Green Tree Drive, Suite 3, South Burlington, VT 05403
$21,500
15 weeks
View Details β2276 Jefferson Davis Hwy, Graniteville, SC 29829
$6,000
12 months
View Details β3405 Highway 231 South, Ozark, AL 36360
$10,150
18-24 months
View Details β1247 Jimmie Kerr Road, Graham, NC 27253
$5,056
2 years
View Details β843 4th Street, Kotzebue, AK 99752
$3,000
1 semester
View Details βShowing 6 of 520 schools. Select a state in the sidebar to view all schools in your area.
National figures for welders, cutters, solderers, and brazers from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The 90th percentile is a better guide to what the trade can pay than the median, which describes the middle of the field.
$53,750
Median pay
$77,530
Top 10% earn above
$39,240
Lowest 10% earn below
416,210
Employed nationally
Employment is projected to grow 2.4% over 2025-2035, with about 40,300 openings a year from growth and retirements combined. The typical way in is high school diploma or equivalent, followed by moderate-term on-the-job training.
Median annual pay varies roughly two to one across states. Cost of living explains part of the gap; union density and local construction demand explain the rest.
| State | Median pay | vs national |
|---|---|---|
| Alaska | $80,840 | +50% |
| Hawaii | $79,000 | +47% |
| Connecticut | $64,880 | +21% |
| Wyoming | $63,820 | +19% |
| Washington | $63,020 | +17% |
| Massachusetts | $62,570 | +16% |
| New Hampshire | $62,360 | +16% |
| Louisiana | $62,250 | +16% |
| Maine | $62,220 | +16% |
| North Dakota | $62,000 | +15% |
| Nevada | $61,520 | +14% |
| Vermont | $60,890 | +13% |
| Maryland | $60,310 | +12% |
| Minnesota | $60,280 | +12% |
| District of Columbia | $60,180 | +12% |
| New Mexico | $59,840 | +11% |
| Oregon | $59,450 | +11% |
| New Jersey | $59,440 | +11% |
| Virginia | $59,180 | +10% |
| New York | $59,140 | +10% |
| Colorado | $58,590 | +9% |
| Wisconsin | $58,410 | +9% |
| Utah | $58,380 | +9% |
| California | $58,060 | +8% |
| Montana | $55,610 | +3% |
| Arizona | $55,600 | +3% |
| Iowa | $55,090 | +2% |
| Texas | $53,340 | -1% |
| Pennsylvania | $52,900 | -2% |
| Nebraska | $52,220 | -3% |
| Missouri | $51,950 | -3% |
| Kentucky | $51,470 | -4% |
| Illinois | $51,320 | -5% |
| Mississippi | $51,100 | -5% |
| Florida | $50,640 | -6% |
| North Carolina | $50,590 | -6% |
| Rhode Island | $50,580 | -6% |
| Idaho | $50,530 | -6% |
| Ohio | $50,340 | -6% |
| Michigan | $49,990 | -7% |
| South Carolina | $49,980 | -7% |
| Indiana | $49,730 | -7% |
| Oklahoma | $49,720 | -7% |
| Kansas | $49,410 | -8% |
| West Virginia | $48,810 | -9% |
| Alabama | $48,490 | -10% |
| Georgia | $48,430 | -10% |
| Tennessee | $48,040 | -11% |
| Arkansas | $47,970 | -11% |
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. States shown are those with schools listed on this site.
Certificate programs run 6-9 months. Diploma programs run 12-18 months. Many entry-level shop jobs only require a basic certificate plus a passing weld test.
Underwater welders ($80k-$150k+), pipeline welders ($70k-$120k), and aerospace TIG welders ($60k-$100k) sit at the top. Code-certified pipe welders consistently earn the most reliable premium.
Not for hobby work, but virtually every paid job requires you to pass a weld test on the specific process and position. AWS, ASME, and API certifications are the most common credentials employers verify.