Compare accredited Welder schools across Kentucky below, then review pay, licensing steps, and training paths for the trade.
Sponsored - request program info.
Best Welder Schools in Kentucky
How we rank schools – graduation rate, graduate earnings, cost and retention.
Advertising plays no part.
This page lists 10 schools
within 90 miles, closest group first, then ordered by
BOC Score with the highest at the top.
10 of them carry a score.
LOCAL RANK
Location / proximity to this page
Defines the local group
Graduation rate how often students finish
30%
Median earnings, 10 years after entry whether it paid off
25%
Average net price what students actually pay after aid; lower ranks higher
20%
Retention rate how many come back for year two
15%
Fully online availability whether you can study while working
10%
Scores come from IPEDS (2024) and the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard.
Earnings are for all graduates of a school, not one program, so treat them as a signal
about the institution rather than about this subject.
Sponsored listings are paid placements and are labelled as such; they are separate from
this ranking and never change it. Read the full methodology.
BOC Score, tuition, graduation rate, and median graduate earnings from
federal IPEDS and U.S. Dept. of Education College Scorecard data. Earnings
are reported across all programs at the school (all majors), not a single
trade. Distance is measured from the main population center in Kentucky.
Schools closest to the main population center in Kentucky are gathered first, then ranked by BOC Score; distance from the main population center in Kentucky is shown for reference.
The BOC Score is an independent measure of school outcomes (graduation,
earnings, net price, retention) expressed as a 0–100 percentile within
each school's peer group; higher is better and advertising never affects it.
*Online availability refers to coursework; hands-on trade training is
completed in person. Read the full methodology.
Median Graduate Earnings at Welder Schools in KentuckySource: U.S. Dept. of Education College Scorecard - median earnings of all graduates at each school (not a single program).
Median graduate earnings by school for schools serving Best Welding Schools in Kentucky (2026)
School
Median graduate earnings
Cincinnati State Technical and Community College
$59,235
Elite Welding Academy LLC
$55,281
Jefferson Community and Technical College
$50,106
Bluegrass Community and Technical College
$48,181
Gateway Community and Technical College
$47,990
Owensboro Community and Technical College
$44,854
Welder Pay and Job Outlook
What welders, cutters, solderers, and brazers earn across the pay scaleProjected job growth for welders, cutters, solderers, and brazersTop-paying states for welders, cutters, solderers, and brazers
Kentucky Quick Facts
Metric
Value
Source
State median annual wage
$51,470
BLS OEWS, May 2025
State employment
6,630 workers
BLS OEWS, May 2025
State location quotient
1.24
BLS OEWS, May 2025
State unemployment rate
5.7%
BLS LAUS (2024)
Top Cities for Welder Training in Kentucky
The cities below have the highest concentration of welder training programs and population centers within Kentucky. Click through for school listings near each:
Choose an accredited training path. Options include trade schools, community colleges, and registered apprenticeships.
Complete classroom instruction in code, safety, and trade theory.
Log on-the-job training hours under a licensed or experienced professional.
Pass any required state or local exam.
Apply for licensure or certification, then maintain it through continuing education as required by the state.
Apprenticeship Programs in Kentucky
In Kentucky, registered apprenticeships are coordinated through the Kentucky Office of Apprenticeship and Training (CareerOneStop, U.S. Department of Labor). Apprenticeships combine paid on-the-job training with related classroom instruction, typically over 3 to 5 years.
About Welding Careers in Kentucky
Welders join metal parts using heat, pressure, and filler material in construction, manufacturing, shipbuilding, and pipeline work.
In Kentucky, the BLS reports a median annual wage of $51,470, about 6,630 workers in the occupation, a location quotient of 1.24 (BLS OEWS, May 2025).
Career outlook varies by region and specialization. Refer to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Outlook Handbook for national projections and Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics for the latest state and metropolitan area data.
Welder Wages and Workforce in Kentucky
In Kentucky, Welder programs train for an occupation with a median wage of about $51,470 per year, and most earn between $39,300 and $69,010 (BLS OEWS, May 2025). Kentucky employs roughly 6,630 workers in this occupation, a workforce concentration of about 1.24 times the national average (BLS OEWS, May 2025).
Trade-relevant schools serving Kentucky include West Kentucky Community and Technical College, Southcentral Kentucky Community and Technical College, and Madisonville Community College. Compare tuition, program length, and graduation outcomes in the table above (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Welder Training and Licensing in Kentucky
Licensing for Welder varies by state and locality. Confirm current training, exam, and credential requirements with the appropriate Kentucky licensing board before you enroll; many employers also look for recognized industry certifications.
Training paths typically range from certificate programs (6 to 12 months) and associate degrees (about 2 years) to registered apprenticeships (3 to 5 years) that combine paid on-the-job training with classroom instruction (TradeCareerPath program data).
Frequently Asked Questions
What does welder training in Kentucky involve?
Welder training in Kentucky is offered through trade school certificate programs (typically 6 to 12 months), community college associate degree programs (about 2 years), and registered apprenticeships that combine paid on-the-job training with related classroom instruction over 3 to 5 years. Coursework generally covers safety, applicable codes and standards, hands-on lab work, and exam preparation for any required credential.
How much do welders earn in Kentucky?
According to BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (May 2025), welders in Kentucky earned a median annual wage of approximately $51,470. Pay varies with experience, certification, and employer; the 10th to 90th percentile range was approximately $39,300 to $69,010 (BLS OEWS, May 2025).
What is the Kentucky license or certification process for welders?
Licensing for welder work is handled at the state level in Kentucky. Consult Kentucky's licensing board for current training, examination, and renewal requirements before enrolling in a program.
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)
