Best Welding Schools Near You (2026)
Welding training is offered by trade schools, community colleges and career institutes nationwide, and welders, Cutters, Solderers, and Brazers earned a median of $53,750 a year (BLS OEWS, May 2025). Use the program finder above to request information from schools that match your goals, or browse welding schools by state and metro area below.
Key Facts
- National median wage: $53,750/yr (Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025)
- Pay range (10th-90th pct): $39,240 - $77,530 (Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025)
- Projected growth (2024-2034): +2.2%, ~45,600 openings/yr (Source: BLS Employment Projections, 2024-2034)
- U.S. employment: 416,210 workers (Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025)
How to Choose a Welding School
Start with accreditation: confirm the school holds recognized institutional or programmatic accreditation, because it affects credit transfer, eligibility for some certification exams and how employers view the credential. Then compare the credential awarded, total program length and schedule, and how much of the program is hands-on.
Most welding schools award a certificate or diploma after several months of shop-based training; some community colleges add an associate degree in welding technology.
Look for programs that give you substantial booth time across the common processes (SMAW, GMAW, TIG and flux-cored) and on the metals used locally, plus blueprint reading and weld inspection basics. Graduates usually work in fabrication shops, construction, shipyards, pipelines and manufacturing.
Many programs prepare students for AWS certified welder testing; ask whether the school is an accredited test facility or arranges testing nearby.
Before you enroll, ask each school what the schedule looks like week to week, how much time is spent in the lab, shop or clinic, which credential exams the curriculum covers, and how the school supports graduates in their job search. Outcomes vary by program and region, so ask for the school’s own completion figures and how they were measured.
Welding Schools by State
Each state link goes to the most specific welding page we publish for that state: a statewide welding program guide where one exists, otherwise the state’s welding career page or trade school directory.
- Alabama
- Alaska
- Arizona
- Arkansas
- California
- Colorado
- Connecticut
- Delaware
- District of Columbia
- Florida
- Georgia
- Hawaii
- Idaho
- Illinois
- Indiana
- Iowa
- Kansas
- Kentucky
- Louisiana
- Maine
- Maryland
- Massachusetts
- Michigan
- Minnesota
- Mississippi
- Missouri
- Montana
- Nebraska
- Nevada
- New Hampshire
- New Jersey
- New Mexico
- New York
- North Carolina
- North Dakota
- Ohio
- Oklahoma
- Oregon
- Pennsylvania
- Rhode Island
- South Carolina
- South Dakota
- Tennessee
- Texas
- Utah
- Vermont
- Virginia
- Washington
- West Virginia
- Wisconsin
- Wyoming
Top Metro Areas for Welding Training
Large metros usually offer the widest choice of welding schools and the most employers hiring graduates. These city guides list programs within driving distance and local wage data.
- Best Welding Schools in New York City, New York (2026)
- Best Welding Schools in New York, New York (2026)
- Best Welding Schools in Los Angeles, California (2026)
- Best Welding Schools in Chicago, Illinois (2026)
- Best Welding Schools in Houston, Texas (2026)
- Best Welding Schools in Phoenix, Arizona (2026)
- Best Welding Schools in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (2026)
- Best Welding Schools in San Antonio, Texas (2026)
- Best Welding Schools in San Diego, California (2026)
- Best Welding Schools in Dallas, Texas (2026)
- Best Welding Schools in San Jose, California (2026)
- Best Welding Schools in Austin, Texas (2026)
- Best Welding Schools in Jacksonville, Florida (2026)
- Best Welding Schools in Fort Worth, Texas (2026)
- Best Welding Schools in Columbus, Ohio (2026)
Related Careers and Guides
- How to Become a Welder in 2026
- AWS Certified Welder Guide: Test, Cost, Steps (2026)
- How to Choose a Trade School
- Trade Schools by State
Disclaimer: Outcomes vary by location, experience, and local job market conditions. Employment or placement is not guaranteed. Program availability, admissions criteria, timelines, costs, and licensure requirements vary by school and state and may change without notice. Always verify details directly with the school and your state licensing board before enrolling.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long does welding training take?
It depends on the credential. Most welding schools award a certificate or diploma after several months of shop-based training; some community colleges add an associate degree in welding technology. Program length and schedule vary by school, so confirm the details with each program before you enroll.
How much do welders, Cutters, Solderers, and Brazers earn?
According to the BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (May 2025), welders, Cutters, Solderers, and Brazers in the U.S. earned a median annual wage of about $53,750. The 10th-to-90th percentile range was about $39,240 to $77,530 (BLS OEWS, May 2025). Pay varies with location, experience, certification and employer.
Do I need a license or certification?
Requirements vary by state, role and employer. Some fields require a state license earned by completing approved training and passing an exam; others rely on voluntary industry certifications. Always confirm current rules with the licensing board or credentialing body in the state where you plan to work.
What is the job outlook for welders, Cutters, Solderers, and Brazers?
The BLS projects employment of welders, Cutters, Solderers, and Brazers to change about +2.2% nationally from 2024 to 2034, with roughly 45,600 openings expected each year on average (BLS Employment Projections, 2024-2034). Local demand can differ from the national figure.
Can I take welding classes online?
Some coursework may be offered online, but most programs include hands-on lab, shop or clinical components that are completed in person. Ask each school how its program is delivered and what the in-person requirements are.
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) |