Do welders need a license in Arkansas?

No statewide license is required for welders in Arkansas. Most employers expect industry certifications such as AWS Certified Welder (CW), and OSHA 10/30 Safety Certification.

What apprenticeships are available for welders in Arkansas?

In Arkansas, registered apprenticeships are administered through the Arkansas Department of Career Education - Registered Apprenticeship, which works with employers and trade union locals to register programs. See the apprenticeship section above for office contact details.

How to Become a Welder in Arkansas (2026)

Q: How much do welders earn in Arkansas?

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS data (May 2025), welders in Arkansas earned a median annual wage of approximately $47,970. Employment concentration in Arkansas is about 1.76 times the national average for this occupation.

Q: What is the job outlook for welders in Arkansas?

Arkansas currently employs approximately 6,150 workers, and the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics projects 2.2% national employment change for this occupation from 2024 to 2034.

Updated June 8, 2026 | TradeCareerPath Editorial Team

Arkansas welders, cutters, solderers, and brazers earn a median annual wage of $47,970 ($23.06/hr) according to U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS data (May 2025), with about 6,150 workers employed statewide. The state median is approximately -10.8% below the national median of $53,750 for the same occupation.

Key Takeaways

Median annual pay: $47,970 ($23.06/hr)
25th percentile: $42,950 per year
75th percentile: $55,280 per year
Top 10% earn: more than $62,830 per year
Entry-level (bottom 10%): under $37,380 per year
Workers employed in Arkansas: 6,150
Versus national median: -10.8% below the U.S. median of $53,750
Job concentration: Location quotient 1.76 - this occupation is more concentrated in Arkansas than the national average

Source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025. Last reviewed June 8, 2026.

Arkansas employs about 6,150 welders earning a median $47,970 a year (BLS OEWS, May 2025). No statewide license is required; most welders train through a certificate program and earn an industry certification before employers will hire them.

Compare Welder Schools in Arkansas

BOC Score, tuition, graduation rate, and median graduate earnings from federal IPEDS and U.S. Dept. of Education College Scorecard data. Tuition is the published annual figure for the latest reported year and excludes room, board, books and fees. Earnings are reported across all programs at the school (all majors), not a single trade. Distance is measured from the page's primary location.
#	School	BOC Score (0–100)	Tuition (published, per year)	Median grad earnings (all majors)	Graduation rate	Online	Distance
1	Arkansas Tech University	58.4	$8,674 in-state / $14,668 out-of-state	$49,759	49%	Yes*	61 mi
2	Arkansas Welding Academy	55.7	Contact school for pricing	$47,615	94%	—	13 mi
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3	University of Arkansas Community College-Batesville	54.5	$3,630 in-state / $4,662 out-of-state	$45,597	66%	Yes*	82 mi
4	Southern Arkansas University Tech	54.0	$5,040 in-state / $6,480 out-of-state	$50,478	62%	Yes*	81 mi
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5	Arkansas State University Three Rivers	53.0	$3,788 in-state / $4,388 out-of-state	$33,964	26%	Yes*	40 mi
6	Arkansas State University-Beebe	49.5	$3,336 in-state / $5,232 out-of-state	$41,404	42%	Yes*	32 mi
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7	University of Arkansas Community College-Morrilton	49.1	$3,648 in-state / $4,728 out-of-state	$43,385	42%	Yes*	38 mi
8	University of Arkansas-Pulaski Technical College	41.7	$6,300 in-state / $9,450 out-of-state	$41,807	36%	Yes*	3 mi
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9	National Park College	40.4	$5,600 in-state / $7,280 out-of-state	$45,799	35%	Yes*	47 mi
10	Southeast Arkansas College	35.4	$5,200 in-state / $8,650 out-of-state	$42,328	28%	Yes*	40 mi
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Schools closest to the page's primary location are gathered first, then ranked by BOC Score; distance from the page's primary location 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.

Arkansas employs approximately 6,150 welders according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, with a median annual wage of $47,970 ¹. The state’s concentration of welder jobs is 1.76x the national average, indicating strong demand. Nationally, welder employment is projected to grow 2.2% from 2024 to 2034, with about 45,600 openings per year ². This page covers how to become a Welder in Arkansas, including certification options, training programs, and salary data.

At a Glance

Training paths: trade school, community college, or apprenticeship
Typical timeline: 1 to 5 years depending on the path
Median wage (Arkansas): $47,970 per year ¹

Quick Answers About How to Become a Welder in Arkansas

How to become a Welder in Arkansas? Arkansas does not require a state license for welders, but employers typically expect industry certifications such as AWS Certified Welder (CW) and OSHA 10/30 Safety Certification. Complete a training program to prepare.

How long does it take? Most paths into the welder field take 1 to 5 years, depending on whether you complete a trade school program, a registered apprenticeship, or a combination of both.

Do I need a license in Arkansas? No state license is required, but certifications such as AWS Certified Welder (CW) and OSHA 10/30 Safety Certification are expected by most employers.

What do welders earn in Arkansas? The median annual wage for welders in Arkansas is $47,970 according to BLS data. Entry-level wages start around $37,380 and experienced professionals can earn $62,830 or more ¹.

How to Become a Welder in Arkansas

Finish high school or earn a GED. Most Arkansas training programs and registered apprenticeships require a high school diploma or GED to enroll.
Complete a training program or apprenticeship. Enroll in an approved trade school program or a registered apprenticeship in Arkansas that combines classroom instruction with supervised hands-on hours.
Gain supervised work experience. Build documented on-the-job hours under a qualified supervisor; confirm the exact total currently required with the licensing board.
Earn an industry certification. While Arkansas does not require a statewide license, earn AWS Certified Welder (CW) to meet employer expectations and improve hiring prospects.

Steps and hour totals vary by credential level; confirm current requirements with the state board before you apply.

Welder Certification Options in Arkansas

Arkansas does not require a state license to work as a welder. However, industry certifications can strengthen your resume and may be required by employers.

Common certifications for welders include:

AWS Certified Welder (CW)
OSHA 10/30 Safety Certification

For more information, visit the American Welding Society (AWS) ³. Contact training programs in Arkansas for details on certification preparation courses.

Welder Apprenticeship Information in Arkansas

Apprenticeships combine paid on-the-job training with classroom instruction and typically last 3 to 5 years. Arkansas’s apprenticeship program is administered by the Arkansas Department of Career Education - Registered Apprenticeship ⁴.

Contact Information:

Office: Arkansas Office of Skills Development
Address: 1 Commerce Way, Little Rock, AR 72202
Phone: (501) 683-1152
Email: [email protected]

Welder Wages by Metro Area in Arkansas

Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and Brazers Wages by Metro Area in Arkansas

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics ( OES data), welders, cutters, solderers, and brazers wages in Arkansas vary by metro area.

Metro Area	Employment	Median Annual Wage	Avg. Annual Wage	Entry Level (10th pctile)	Experienced (90th pctile)
Memphis	1,590	$48,600	$51,050	$38,620	$65,280
Little Rock-North Little Rock-Conway	1,190	$47,440	$49,180	$38,340	$60,250
Texarkana	590	$41,920	$46,020	$33,000	$61,990
Fayetteville-Springdale-Rogers	570	$47,740	$49,140	$37,580	$61,920
Fort Smith	400	$46,630	$47,400	$36,900	$58,140
Jonesboro	340	$51,900	$50,980	$38,610	$59,800
Hot Springs	110	$46,400	$45,660	$35,540	$57,950

Wages reflect survey data and vary based on experience, credentials, employer, and local market conditions. Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May .

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the job outlook for welders in Arkansas? Arkansas currently employs approximately 6,150 welders ¹. Nationally, welder employment is projected to grow 2.2% from 2024 to 2034 ².

What training programs are available in Arkansas? Options include trade schools, community colleges, and apprenticeship programs. Use the school finder above to search for programs in Arkansas. You can also contact the Arkansas Department of Career Education - Registered Apprenticeship for apprenticeship opportunities.

How much do welders earn in Arkansas compared to the national average? The median annual wage for welders in Arkansas is $47,970, which is $3,030 below the national median of $51,000 according to BLS data ¹.

In Arkansas

Best Trade Schools in Arkansas (2026)

Top local programs

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Citations

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/.

References

Bureau of Labor Statistics - Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics: https://www.bls.gov/oes/ ↩︎ ↩︎ ↩︎ ↩︎ ↩︎
Bureau of Labor Statistics - Employment Projections: https://www.bls.gov/emp/ ↩︎ ↩︎
American Welding Society (AWS): https://www.aws.org/certification/ ↩︎
Arkansas Department of Career Education - Registered Apprenticeship: https://www.apprenticeship.gov/ ↩︎

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)
O*NET occupation profiles (skills, tasks, tools, job zones)	U.S. Department of Labor (O*NET / Employment & Training Admin.)	O*NET 29.1 (updated 2026-06-13)