Welder training program requirements and job requirements are not the same everywhere and can vary by State, school and employer. Most technical colleges and employers require high school diploma or GED. And employers will often require certification or an undergraduate degree from a technical college.

Though some companies do offer excellent apprenticeships that will take you through the entire process.

Courses in a welding program

Not just heating and shaping pipes and metals, some of the classes you’ll take in your welding program include:

  • Introduction to Blueprint Reading for Welders
  • Introduction to Oxy-Fuel Welding and Cutting
  • Introduction to Shielded Metal Arc Welding
  • Read more

In your classes you’ll learn to master soldering, brazing, casting, and bronzing too.

A vocational school program in welding helps you achieve a Certificate of Achievement. A technical college can help you expand your education and earn an Associate of Science in Welding or even further, a Bachelor of Science in Welding Engineering.

Welder Salary Information

The mean annual salary for a welder in 2021 was $48,290.

Percentile wage estimates for Welders:

Percentile 10% 25% 50%
(Median)
75% 90%
Hourly Wage $ 15.07 $ 18.20 $ 22.60 $ 27.33 $ 30.61
Annual Wage $ 31,350 $ 37,860 $ 47,010 $ 56,850 $ 63,660

The pay information was updated in March of 2022.

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