Do welders need a license in Delaware?

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

What apprenticeships are available for welders in Delaware?

In Delaware, registered apprenticeships are administered through the Delaware Office of Apprenticeship and Training, 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 Delaware (2026)

Q: How much do welders earn in Delaware?

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS data (May 2025), welders in Delaware earned a median annual wage of approximately $57,270. Employment concentration in Delaware is roughly 0.46 of the national average, meaning fewer workers per capita than the U.S. as a whole.

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

Delaware currently employs approximately 600 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

Delaware welders, cutters, solderers, and brazers earn a median annual wage of $57,270 ($27.54/hr) according to U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS data (May 2025), with about 600 workers employed statewide. The state median is approximately 6.5% above the national median of $53,750 for the same occupation.

Key Takeaways

Median annual pay: $57,270 ($27.54/hr)
25th percentile: $49,830 per year
75th percentile: $61,630 per year
Top 10% earn: more than $75,560 per year
Entry-level (bottom 10%): under $45,550 per year
Workers employed in Delaware: 600
Versus national median: 6.5% above the U.S. median of $53,750
Job concentration: Location quotient 0.46 - this occupation is less concentrated in Delaware than the national average

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

Delaware employs about 600 welders earning a median $57,270 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 Delaware

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	Welder Training and Testing Institute	71.9	Contact school for pricing	$56,121	85%	—	62 mi
2	Thaddeus Stevens College of Technology	67.0	$9,050	$57,788	71%	—	45 mi
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3	Lancaster County Career and Technology Center	64.1	Contact school for pricing	$56,037	91%	—	42 mi
4	Burlington County Institute of Technology-Adult Education	61.2	Contact school for pricing	Not reported	84%	—	43 mi
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5	Camden County College	55.1	$4,320 in-state / $4,416 out-of-state	$55,466	31%	Yes*	27 mi
6	Delaware County Community College	50.1	$6,930 in-state / $15,540 out-of-state	$56,647	24%	Yes*	18 mi
Sponsored Ad
7	Universal Technical Institute of Pennsylvania Inc	49.1	Contact school for pricing	$57,080	63%	—	20 mi
8	Berks Career & Technology Center	44.8	Contact school for pricing	Not reported	62%	—	54 mi
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9	All-State Career School	41.9	Contact school for pricing	$48,534	53%	—	16 mi
10	Philadelphia Technician Training	19.7	Contact school for pricing	$33,267	50%	—	30 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.

Delaware employs approximately 600 welders according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, with a median annual wage of $57,270 ¹. 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 Delaware, 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 (Delaware): $57,270 per year ¹

Quick Answers About How to Become a Welder in Delaware

How to become a Welder in Delaware? Delaware 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 Delaware? 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 Delaware? The median annual wage for welders in Delaware is $57,270 according to BLS data. Entry-level wages start around $45,550 and experienced professionals can earn $75,560 or more ¹.

How to Become a Welder in Delaware

Finish high school or earn a GED. Most Delaware 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 Delaware 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 Delaware 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 Delaware

Delaware 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 Delaware for details on certification preparation courses.

Welder Apprenticeship Information in Delaware

Apprenticeships combine paid on-the-job training with classroom instruction and typically last 3 to 5 years. Delaware’s apprenticeship program is administered by the Delaware Office of Apprenticeship and Training ⁴.

Contact Information:

Office: Apprenticeship and Training Section: Division of Industrial Affairs, Delaware Department of Labor
Address: 4425 N. Market Street, Wilmington, DE 19802
Phone: (302) 761-8328
Email: [email protected]

Welder Wages by Metro Area in Delaware

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

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

Metro Area	Employment	Median Annual Wage	Avg. Annual Wage	Entry Level (10th pctile)	Experienced (90th pctile)
Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington	4,630	$58,380	$60,650	$44,430	$79,960
Dover	90	$48,510	$54,560	$39,350	$76,030

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 Delaware? Delaware currently employs approximately 600 welders ¹. Nationally, welder employment is projected to grow 2.2% from 2024 to 2034 ².

What training programs are available in Delaware? Options include trade schools, community colleges, and apprenticeship programs. Use the school finder above to search for programs in Delaware. You can also contact the Delaware Office of Apprenticeship and Training for apprenticeship opportunities.

How much do welders earn in Delaware compared to the national average? The median annual wage for welders in Delaware is $57,270, which is $6,270 above the national median of $51,000 according to BLS data ¹.

In Delaware

Best Trade Schools in Delaware (2026)

Top local programs

Explore More Trades in Delaware

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/ ↩︎
Delaware Office of Apprenticeship and Training: 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)