Best Welding Schools in Nevada (2026)

Compare accredited Welder schools across Nevada below, then review pay, licensing steps, and training paths for the trade.

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Best Welder Schools in Nevada

How We Rank Schools

We first gather the schools closest to the city or state page you are viewing, then rank that local group by BOC Score, with the highest at the top. The BOC Score is computed from federal IPEDS and College Scorecard data; schools without enough data to score appear last.

Location / proximity to this page
Defines the local group
Graduation rate
30%
Median earnings, 10 years after entry
25%
Average net price (lower is better)
20%
Retention rate
15%
Fully online availability
10%

Schools without enough federal outcome data appear after ranked schools, without a score. Advertising never affects these rankings. Read the full methodology.

#1

Truckee Meadows Community College

Reno, NV In-state option BOC Score 63.0
Tuition Contact school for pricing
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Key stats
  • Completion rate: 30.4% (College Scorecard)
  • Programs offered: 73
  • Annual completions: 2659
  • Median graduate earnings, 4 yrs after completing (all majors, not a single program): $55,261 (College Scorecard)
  • Online programs available

Source: ACCSC IPEDS College Scorecard

#2

Western Nevada College

Carson City, NV In-state option BOC Score 56.1
Tuition Contact school for pricing
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Key stats
  • Completion rate: 38.8% (College Scorecard)
  • Programs offered: 55
  • Annual completions: 721
  • Median graduate earnings, 4 yrs after completing (all majors, not a single program): $50,403 (College Scorecard)
  • Online programs available

Source: ACCSC IPEDS College Scorecard

#3

Great Basin College

Elko, NV In-state option BOC Score 52.3
Tuition Contact school for pricing
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Key stats
  • Completion rate: 45.9% (College Scorecard)
  • Programs offered: 41
  • Annual completions: 865
  • Median graduate earnings, 4 yrs after completing (all majors, not a single program): $57,602 (College Scorecard)
  • Online programs available

Source: ACCSC IPEDS College Scorecard

#4

College of Southern Nevada

Las Vegas, NV In-state option BOC Score 46.6
Tuition Contact school for pricing
Contact
Key stats
  • Completion rate: 18.6% (College Scorecard)
  • Programs offered: 111
  • Annual completions: 3247
  • Median graduate earnings, 4 yrs after completing (all majors, not a single program): $51,080 (College Scorecard)
  • Online programs available

Source: ACCSC IPEDS College Scorecard

Compare Welder Schools in Nevada

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 Nevada.
#SchoolBOC Score (0–100)TuitionMedian grad earnings (all majors)Graduation rateOnlineDistance
163.0Contact school for pricing$55,26130%Yes*In-state
256.1Contact school for pricing$50,40339%Yes*In-state
352.3Contact school for pricing$57,60246%Yes*In-state
446.6Contact school for pricing$51,08019%Yes*In-state

Schools closest to the main population center in Nevada are gathered first, then ranked by BOC Score; distance from the main population center in Nevada 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 Nevada
Median graduate earnings by school, Best Welding Schools in Nevada (2026) (College Scorecard)Great Basin College $57602; Truckee Meadows Community College $55261; College of Southern Nevada $51080; Western Nevada College $50403.Great Basin College$57,602Truckee Meadows Community Co...$55,261College of Southern Nevada$51,080Western Nevada College$50,403
Source: 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 Nevada (2026)
SchoolMedian graduate earnings
Great Basin College$57,602
Truckee Meadows Community College$55,261
College of Southern Nevada$51,080
Western Nevada College$50,403

Welder Pay and Job Outlook

Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and Brazers annual wage by percentile: $39,240 at the 10th percentile, $53,750 median, $77,530 at the 90th. Source: U.S. BLS OEWS, May 2025 release.
What welders, cutters, solderers, and brazers earn across the pay scale
Projected job growth for welders, cutters, solderers, and brazers: 457,300 jobs in 2024 to 467,200 in 2034, +2.2% change. Source: U.S. BLS Employment Projections, 2024-2034.
Projected job growth for welders, cutters, solderers, and brazers
Top-paying states for welders, cutters, solderers, and brazers - Alaska leads at $80,840. Source: U.S. BLS OEWS, May 2025 release.
Top-paying states for welders, cutters, solderers, and brazers

Nevada Quick Facts

MetricValueSource
State median annual wage$61,520BLS OEWS, May 2025
State employment1,600 workersBLS OEWS, May 2025
State location quotient0.39BLS OEWS, May 2025
State unemployment rate5.7%BLS LAUS (2024)

Top Cities for Welder Training in Nevada

The cities below have the highest concentration of welder training programs and population centers within Nevada. Click through for school listings near each:

Steps to Become a Welder in Nevada

  1. Choose an accredited training path. Options include trade schools, community colleges, and registered apprenticeships.
  2. Complete classroom instruction in code, safety, and trade theory.
  3. Log on-the-job training hours under a licensed or experienced professional.
  4. Pass any required state or local exam.
  5. Apply for licensure or certification, then maintain it through continuing education as required by the state.

Apprenticeship Programs in Nevada

In Nevada, registered apprenticeships are coordinated through the Nevada Office of the Labor Commissioner (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 Nevada

Welders join metal parts using heat, pressure, and filler material in construction, manufacturing, shipbuilding, and pipeline work.

In Nevada, the BLS reports a median annual wage of $61,520, about 1,600 workers in the occupation, a location quotient of 0.39 (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 Nevada

In Nevada, Welder programs train for an occupation with a median wage of about $61,520 per year, and most earn between $44,530 and $95,050 (BLS OEWS, May 2025). Nevada employs roughly 1,600 workers in this occupation, a workforce concentration of about 0.39 times the national average (BLS OEWS, May 2025).

Trade-relevant schools serving Nevada include Truckee Meadows Community College, Western Nevada College, and Great Basin College. Compare tuition, program length, and graduation outcomes in the table above (IPEDS and College Scorecard).

Welder Training and Licensing in Nevada

Licensing for Welder varies by state and locality. Confirm current training, exam, and credential requirements with the appropriate Nevada 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 Nevada involve?

Welder training in Nevada 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 Nevada?

According to BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (May 2025), welders in Nevada earned a median annual wage of approximately $61,520. Pay varies with experience, certification, and employer; the 10th to 90th percentile range was approximately $44,530 to $95,050 (BLS OEWS, May 2025).

What is the Nevada license or certification process for welders?

Licensing for welder work is handled at the state level in Nevada. Consult Nevada'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.

DataProviderVintage
Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS)U.S. Bureau of Labor StatisticsMay 2025
Employment ProjectionsU.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics2024-2034
Integrated Postsecondary Education Data SystemNational Center for Education Statistics (IPEDS)2024
College Scorecard (school-level outcomes)U.S. Department of Educationlatest release
College Scorecard (field-of-study earnings)U.S. Department of Educationlatest release (updated 2026-06-12)
Occupational licensing requirementsCareerOneStop (U.S. Department of Labor)latest release (updated 2026-02-22)
Registered apprenticeship programsCareerOneStop / Apprenticeship.gov (U.S. Department of Labor)latest release (updated 2025-10-25)