Texas welders earn a median $53,340 a year, and you can train near Abilene through a 6–12 month certificate or a registered apprenticeship. The state employs roughly 52,000 welders. Employers value American Welding Society (AWS) and NCCER credentials over any state license.
Key Facts
Texas median welder wage: $53,340/yr (Source: BLS OEWS, 2025)
National median welder wage: $53,750/yr (Source: BLS OEWS May 2025, 2025)
Schools below are sorted by distance from Abilene (closest first). Compare program length, schedule, and credential alignment.
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Local school lists are ordered by location first, using the distance from the city or state page you are viewing.
Each eligible school also shows a BOC Score, computed from federal IPEDS and College Scorecard data.
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Graduation rate
30%
Median earnings, 10 years after entry
25%
Average net price (lower is better)
20%
Retention rate
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Licensing: No statewide welding license; employers require AWS/NCCER qualification tests.
How to become a welder in Texas
Finish high school or earn a GED. Most welding programs and apprenticeships require a high school diploma or GED; shop math and blueprint reading help.
Complete an accredited welding program or apprenticeship. Enroll in a certificate, diploma, or associate program (about 6–12 months for a certificate, two years for a degree) or a registered apprenticeship to build core SMAW, GMAW, FCAW, and GTAW skills.
Pass hands-on qualification tests. Complete bend, visual, and performance tests on practice plates and pipe coupons to prove you can weld to code.
Earn industry certifications. Earn AWS (Certified Welder, CWI) or NCCER credentials and code qualifications such as AWS D1.1 or API 1104 that match your target employers.
Apply for welding jobs and keep credentials current. Apply to construction, manufacturing, energy, and fabrication employers across Texas, then maintain your qualifications with periodic retests as required.
Welding certifications & code work in Texas
Earn AWS Certified Welder (CW) or NCCER Welding to signal core skill.
Pass code qualifications such as AWS D1.1 (structural steel) or API 1104 (pipeline) for specialized work.
Keep practice plates and procedure logs to re-qualify when employers or inspectors require it.
Welding Apprenticeships & Pathways in Texas
Registered apprenticeships combine paid on-the-job training with classroom instruction. Welding apprenticeships commonly target several thousand hours of on-the-job training plus related technical instruction, but program totals vary — confirm exact hour requirements with the sponsor or the state apprenticeship agency before enrolling.
Texas welders earn a median $53,340 per year (BLS OEWS, 2025). Pay rises with AWS or NCCER certifications and specialty processes such as pipe and TIG welding.
How long is welding school in Abilene, Texas?
Most welding certificate or diploma programs run 6–12 months, while an associate degree takes about two years (IPEDS program data, 2023). Length depends on whether you train full or part time.
Do I need a license to weld in Texas?
Welding is not state-licensed like the electrical or plumbing trades; employers instead require performance qualification tests and value American Welding Society (AWS) or NCCER credentials. Confirm specific code requirements with the employer or inspector.
What welding certifications matter most to employers?
The AWS Certified Welder and Certified Welding Inspector (CWI) credentials, NCCER Welding, and code qualifications such as AWS D1.1 (structural steel) and API 1104 (pipeline) are the most widely recognized by employers.
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)
