Best Welding Schools in Ocala, Florida (2026)

Quick answer: Welders in Florida earn a median of $50,640 per year (BLS OEWS, May 2025). This page lists accredited welder schools near Ocala, Florida with local wage data and median graduate earnings for each school.

This guide rounds up welder schools serving Ocala, Florida and the local job-market figures worth checking first. For context, the state median annual wage for this occupation is approximately $50,640 (BLS OEWS, May 2025).

Ocala Quick Facts

MetricValueSource
State median annual wage$50,640BLS OEWS, May 2025
Florida pay range (10th to 90th percentile)$39,200 to $70,390BLS OEWS, May 2025
Ocala, FL metro median wage$48,270BLS OEWS, May 2025
National job outlook (2024 to 2034)+2.2% growth, about 45,600 openings per yearBLS Employment Projections, 2024-2034
State employment16,420 workersBLS OEWS, May 2025
Marion County unemployment rate4.2%BLS LAUS, 2024
Florida location quotient0.62BLS OEWS, May 2025

Nearby Cities

Explore the Welder Career

What You’ll Find Below

The school listings below are sorted by proximity to Ocala. Each entry includes the school name, address, and the credentials offered. Use the Marion County and Florida figures above as a reference point when comparing program length, schedule, and tuition.

Affordable Online Welding Programs Now Accepting Students in Ocala, Florida:


Welding Training Near Ocala

#1

Marion Technical College

Ocala, FL 0.1 miles away
Tuition Contact school for pricing
Contact
Key stats
  • Completion rate: 76.2% (College Scorecard)
  • Programs offered: 42
  • Annual completions: 969
  • Median graduate earnings, 4 yrs after completing: $38,674 (College Scorecard)

Source: ACCSC IPEDS College Scorecard

#3

Withlacoochee Technical College

Inverness, FL 26.4 miles away
Tuition Contact school for pricing
Contact
Key stats
  • Completion rate: 54.6% (College Scorecard)
  • Programs offered: 34
  • Annual completions: 520
  • Median graduate earnings, 4 yrs after completing: $36,110 (College Scorecard)

Source: ACCSC IPEDS College Scorecard

#4

Lake Technical College

Eustis, FL 36.6 miles away
Tuition Contact school for pricing
Contact
Key stats
  • Completion rate: 60.4% (College Scorecard)
  • Programs offered: 36
  • Annual completions: 1178
  • Median graduate earnings, 4 yrs after completing: $40,817 (College Scorecard)

Source: ACCSC IPEDS College Scorecard

#5

Santa Fe College

Gainesville, FL 38.5 miles away
Tuition $2,563 - $14,353
Contact
Key stats
  • Graduation rate: 51.3%
  • Programs offered: 75
  • Annual completions: 1396
  • Median graduate earnings, 4 yrs after completing: $53,155 (College Scorecard)

Source: ACCSC IPEDS College Scorecard

Welder Salary Snapshot

U.S.
U.S. Median Pay $53,750 $25.84 per hour
Job Outlook 2.2% 9,900 jobs (2024–2034)
45,600 openings/yr

Enrollment & Certification Pathway in Florida

Most students in Florida follow this process:

  1. Apply to an accredited welding school or trade program in Ocala.
  2. Complete hands-on labs, pass bend and visual tests, and earn AWS certifications that match your goals.
  3. Gain experience through shop work, construction, or fabrication roles - then pursue NCCER or advanced AWS credentials.

Welder Salary in U.S.

Median Salary $53,750 $25.84/hr
Average Salary $56,760 $27.29/hr

Salary Range

$39,240 10th pctl
$53,750 Median
$77,530 90th pctl
10th Percentile $39,240 $18.87/hr
25th Percentile $46,790 $22.50/hr
75th Percentile $63,010 $30.29/hr
90th Percentile $77,530 $37.28/hr

Employment & Outlook

Total Employed416,210
Growth (2024-2034)2.2%
Annual Openings45,600
Jobs per 1,0002.7

Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and Brazers (51-4121) • BLS OEWS, May 2025 • bls.gov/oes

Next Steps


About this guide: Researched and written by the TradeCareerPath Editorial Team. Our editorial team researches and sources every trade career guide using BLS, DOL, and state licensing data. We follow the editorial standards documented at /editorial-policy/.