🔧 Skilled Trades ↑ 3% growth · Average

Welder / Welding Technician

Welders fuse metal together using heat and electricity to build everything from bridges and pipelines to aircraft and auto frames. Certified underwater welders and pipeline welders can earn $100K–$200K+. It's pure craftsmanship that never goes offshore.

$47,010 Median Salary
452K US Jobs
6 months–2 years Training
$5,000–$20,000 Typical Cost

💰 Salary & Earning Potential

Salary data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). Figures represent national averages — local wages vary by state, city, and employer.

Entry Level
$34,000
Median
$47,010
Experienced
$70,000
Want your state's salary? Select a state below to see local wage data, demand, and training programs.

📈 Job Outlook

3%
Projected Growth (10yr)
Average
452K
Total US Jobs
Active positions nationwide
AWS Certified Welder
Required Credential
AWS Certified Welder (CW) — industry standard

🎓 Training & Education

Typical Program
Welding Certificate or Diploma
Program Length
6 months–2 years
Typical Tuition
$5,000–$20,000
Work Setting
Construction, manufacturing, oil and gas, shipbuilding, aerospace
🏆 Credential Required: AWS Certified Welder (CW) — industry standard

☀️ Day in the Life

A typical day as a Welder / Welding Technician involves working closely with clients and colleagues in a Construction environment. You'll apply your training daily while building expertise and advancing your career.

⚖️ Pros & Cons

Advantages

  • ✅ Strong job security
  • ✅ Rewarding work
  • ✅ Clear career progression
  • ✅ Growing demand

Challenges

  • ⚠️ Can be physically demanding
  • ⚠️ May require ongoing certification
  • ⚠️ Entry-level wages vary by region

🏫 Schools Offering This Program

Public State College
⭐ 93

Hillsborough Community College (HCC)

📍 Tampa, FL

Major Tampa Bay area college with extensive allied health and trades programs. Multiple campus locations across Hillsbor...

Nursing (RN)Dental HygieneRadiographySonographyPhysical Therapist Assistant
Public Technical College
⭐ 90

Atlantic Technical College

📍 Coconut Creek, FL

Broward County's technical school — one of the most affordable pathways to healthcare and trades certifications in South...

LPNMedical AssistingDental AssistingCNAPharmacy Tech
Public Technical College
⭐ 89

Manatee Technical College

📍 Bradenton, FL

Manatee County's technical school offering some of the most affordable career training in the Tampa Bay region....

LPNMedical AssistingCNADental AssistingHVAC
Public Technical College
⭐ 91

Georgia Piedmont Technical College

📍 Clarkston, GA

Part of Georgia's Technical College System (TCSG) serving DeKalb and Rockdale counties in metro Atlanta. Highly affordab...

LPN/Practical NursingMedical AssistingCNAEMSHVAC

🗺️ Welder / Welding Technician by State

See local salary data, licensing requirements, and schools in your state: