Do welders need a license in Georgia?

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

What apprenticeships are available for welders in Georgia?

In Georgia, apprenticeships are typically registered through state apprenticeship agencies and trade union locals. See the apprenticeship section above for current contact information.

How to Become a Welder in Georgia (2026)

Q: How much do welders earn in Georgia?

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS data (May 2025), welders in Georgia earned a median annual wage of approximately $48,430.

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

Georgia currently employs approximately 13,130 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

Georgia employs about 13,130 welders earning a median $48,430 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 Georgia

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	Gwinnett Technical College	55.0	$3,524 in-state / $6,092 out-of-state	$50,469	32%	Yes*	24 mi
2	Southern Crescent Technical College	54.3	$3,516 in-state / $6,084 out-of-state	$47,009	58%	Yes*	35 mi
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3	Chattahoochee Technical College	52.1	$3,540 in-state / $6,108 out-of-state	$45,209	38%	Yes*	16 mi
4	Lanier Technical College	51.3	$3,980 in-state / $7,190 out-of-state	$44,754	34%	Yes*	53 mi
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5	West Georgia Technical College	51.0	$3,410 in-state / $5,978 out-of-state	$43,835	35%	Yes*	46 mi
6	Atlanta Technical College	47.9	$3,382 in-state / $5,950 out-of-state	$40,964	49%	Yes*	3 mi
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7	Aviation Institute of Maintenance-Atlanta	46.2	$16,657	$69,646	46%	—	22 mi
8	Georgia Piedmont Technical College	44.5	$3,386 in-state / $5,954 out-of-state	$46,601	44%	Yes*	9 mi
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9	Fortis College-Smyrna	34.9	$15,543	$40,980	59%	—	13 mi
10	Lincoln College of Technology-East Point	34.1	Contact school for pricing	Not reported	Not reported	—	10 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.

Georgia employs approximately 13,130 welders according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, with a median annual wage of $48,430 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 Georgia, 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 (Georgia): $48,430 per year ¹

Quick Answers About How to Become a Welder in Georgia

How to become a Welder in Georgia? Georgia 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 Georgia? 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 Georgia? The median annual wage for welders in Georgia is $48,430 according to BLS data. Entry-level wages start around $38,030 and experienced professionals can earn $65,160 or more ¹.

How to Become a Welder in Georgia

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

Georgia 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 Georgia for details on certification preparation courses.

Welder Apprenticeship Information in Georgia

Apprenticeships combine paid on-the-job training with classroom instruction and typically last 3 to 5 years.

Contact Information:

Office: Chatham Apprentice Program - StepUp Savannah
Address: 428 Bull Street, Savannah, GA 31401
Phone: (912) 232-6747

Welder Wages by Metro Area in Georgia

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

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

Metro Area	Employment	Median Annual Wage	Avg. Annual Wage	Entry Level (10th pctile)	Experienced (90th pctile)
Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell	5,240	$49,630	$53,310	$39,100	$69,300
Chattanooga	1,850	$49,220	$51,920	$37,500	$69,320
Gainesville	890	$48,430	$49,710	$41,740	$58,230
Augusta-Richmond County	680	$50,800	$52,940	$38,520	$71,010
Savannah	460	$56,410	$54,340	$38,230	$67,210
Athens-Clarke County	370	$47,970	$52,140	$38,170	$60,190
Warner Robins	340	$50,170	$51,520	$37,380	$62,400
Columbus	330	$40,100	$42,370	$31,650	$57,020
Macon-Bibb County	210	$46,420	$48,320	$37,040	$65,420
Valdosta	180	$47,240	$48,780	$38,450	$61,200
Albany	170	$47,180	$50,970	$37,430	$74,300
Rome	160	$42,280	$44,900	$38,310	$56,960
Dalton	120	$47,190	$47,300	$35,620	$58,900
Brunswick-St. Simons	80	$48,380	$50,780	$38,650	$61,930

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 Georgia? Georgia currently employs approximately 13,130 welders ¹. Nationally, welder employment is projected to grow 2.2% from 2024 to 2034 ².

What training programs are available in Georgia? Options include trade schools, community colleges, and apprenticeship programs. Use the school finder above to search for programs in Georgia.

How much do welders earn in Georgia compared to the national average? The median annual wage for welders in Georgia is $48,430, which is $2,570 below the national median of $51,000 according to BLS data ¹.

In Georgia

Best Trade Schools in Georgia (2026)

Top local programs

Explore More Trades in Georgia

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/ ↩︎

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)