Do welders need a license in District of Columbia?

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

What apprenticeships are available for welders in District of Columbia?

In District of Columbia, registered apprenticeships are administered through the Department of Employment Services, 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 District of Columbia (2026)

Q: How much do welders earn in District of Columbia?

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS data (May 2025), welders in District of Columbia earned a median annual wage of approximately $60,180. Employment concentration in District of Columbia is roughly 0.15 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 District of Columbia?

District of Columbia currently employs approximately 280 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

District of Columbia welders, cutters, solderers, and brazers earn a median annual wage of $60,180 ($28.93/hr) according to U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS data (May 2025), with about 280 workers employed statewide. The state median is approximately 12.0% above the national median of $53,750 for the same occupation.

Key Takeaways

Median annual pay: $60,180 ($28.93/hr)
25th percentile: $50,110 per year
75th percentile: $75,580 per year
Top 10% earn: more than $75,580 per year
Entry-level (bottom 10%): under $48,400 per year
Workers employed in District of Columbia: 280
Versus national median: 12.0% above the U.S. median of $53,750
Job concentration: Location quotient 0.15 - this occupation is less concentrated in District of Columbia than the national average

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

District of Columbia employs about 280 welders earning a median $60,180 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 District of Columbia

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	York County School of Technology-Adult & Continuing Education	77.6	Contact school for pricing	$48,902	90%	—	73 mi
2	Blue Ridge Community and Technical College	71.1	$4,752 in-state / $8,808 out-of-state	$45,612	32%	Yes*	63 mi
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3	Thaddeus Stevens College of Technology	67.0	$9,050	$57,788	71%	—	88 mi
4	Lancaster County Career and Technology Center	64.1	Contact school for pricing	$56,037	91%	—	85 mi
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5	North American Trade Schools	63.4	Contact school for pricing	$47,948	69%	—	32 mi
6	Northern Virginia Community College	62.5	$5,891 in-state / $12,409 out-of-state	$57,487	33%	Yes*	12 mi
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7	Germanna Community College	61.1	$5,257 in-state / $11,648 out-of-state	$51,929	46%	Yes*	59 mi
8	Wor-Wic Community College	38.8	$3,840 in-state / $8,400 out-of-state	$55,384	27%	Yes*	86 mi
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9	Lincoln College of Technology-Columbia	37.7	Contact school for pricing	$47,136	68%	—	21 mi
10	Triangle Tech-Chambersburg	Not rated	Contact school for pricing	$41,698	66%	—	82 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.

District of Columbia employs approximately 280 welders according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, with a median annual wage of $60,180 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 District of Columbia, 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 (District of Columbia): $60,180 per year ¹

Quick Answers About How to Become a Welder in District of Columbia

How to become a Welder in District of Columbia? District of Columbia 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 District of Columbia? 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 District of Columbia? The median annual wage for welders in District of Columbia is $60,180 according to BLS data. Entry-level wages start around $48,400 and experienced professionals can earn $75,580 or more ¹.

How to Become a Welder in District of Columbia

Finish high school or earn a GED. Most District of Columbia 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 District of Columbia 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 District of Columbia 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 District of Columbia

District of Columbia 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 District of Columbia for details on certification preparation courses.

Welder Apprenticeship Information in District of Columbia

Apprenticeships combine paid on-the-job training with classroom instruction and typically last 3 to 5 years. District of Columbia’s apprenticeship program is administered by the Department of Employment Services ⁴.

Contact Information:

Office: D.C. Apprenticeship Council
Address: 4058 Minnesota Avenue, NE., Washington, DC 20001
Phone: (202) 724-7000
Email: [email protected]

Welder Wages by Metro Area in District of Columbia

Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and Brazers Wages by Metro Area in District of Columbia

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

Metro Area	Employment	Median Annual Wage	Avg. Annual Wage	Entry Level (10th pctile)	Experienced (90th pctile)
Washington-Arlington-Alexandria	2,000	$60,670	$67,950	$45,150	$114,440

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 District of Columbia? District of Columbia currently employs approximately 280 welders ¹. Nationally, welder employment is projected to grow 2.2% from 2024 to 2034 ².

What training programs are available in District of Columbia? Options include trade schools, community colleges, and apprenticeship programs. Use the school finder above to search for programs in District of Columbia. You can also contact the Department of Employment Services for apprenticeship opportunities.

How much do welders earn in District of Columbia compared to the national average? The median annual wage for welders in District of Columbia is $60,180, which is $9,180 above the national median of $51,000 according to BLS data ¹.

In District of Columbia

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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/ ↩︎
Department of Employment Services: https://does.dc.gov/sites/default/files/dc/sites/does/publication/attachments/DOES_Up-to%20date%20Non-Union%20Sponsors%202011.pdf ↩︎

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)