Do welders need a license in Idaho?

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

What apprenticeships are available for welders in Idaho?

In Idaho, registered apprenticeships are administered through the Idaho Department of Labor - 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 Idaho (2026)

Q: How much do welders earn in Idaho?

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS data (May 2025), welders in Idaho earned a median annual wage of approximately $50,530. Employment concentration in Idaho is about 1.44 times the national average for this occupation.

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

Idaho currently employs approximately 3,300 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

Idaho welders, cutters, solderers, and brazers earn a median annual wage of $50,530 ($24.30/hr) according to U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS data (May 2025), with about 3,300 workers employed statewide. The state median is approximately -6.0% below the national median of $53,750 for the same occupation.

Key Takeaways

Median annual pay: $50,530 ($24.30/hr)
25th percentile: $46,120 per year
75th percentile: $59,350 per year
Top 10% earn: more than $70,790 per year
Entry-level (bottom 10%): under $40,370 per year
Workers employed in Idaho: 3,300
Versus national median: -6.0% below the U.S. median of $53,750
Job concentration: Location quotient 1.44 - this occupation is more concentrated in Idaho than the national average

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

Idaho employs about 3,300 welders earning a median $50,530 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 Idaho

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	Walla Walla Community College	70.4	$5,279 in-state / $6,700 out-of-state	$56,719	38%	Yes*	198 mi
2	College of Southern Idaho	68.2	$3,360 in-state / $6,840 out-of-state	$46,129	33%	Yes*	113 mi
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3	College of Eastern Idaho	66.6	$3,390 in-state / $6,750 out-of-state	$55,123	39%	Yes*	211 mi
4	Brigham Young University-Idaho	65.8	$4,800	$56,787	55%	Yes*	221 mi
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5	Great Basin College	52.3	$3,923 in-state / $13,883 out-of-state	$57,602	41%	Yes*	193 mi
6	College of Western Idaho	50.7	$3,446 in-state / $7,454 out-of-state	$47,903	31%	Yes*	15 mi
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7	Treasure Valley Community College	45.7	$6,345 in-state / $6,795 out-of-state	$45,354	37%	Yes*	48 mi
8	Blue Mountain Community College	45.3	$7,076 in-state / $9,754 out-of-state	$49,347	30%	Yes*	192 mi
Sponsored Ad

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.

Idaho employs approximately 3,300 welders according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, with a median annual wage of $50,530 ¹. The state’s concentration of welder jobs is 1.44x 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 Idaho, 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 (Idaho): $50,530 per year ¹

Quick Answers About How to Become a Welder in Idaho

How to become a Welder in Idaho? Idaho 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 Idaho? 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 Idaho? The median annual wage for welders in Idaho is $50,530 according to BLS data. Entry-level wages start around $40,370 and experienced professionals can earn $70,790 or more ¹.

How to Become a Welder in Idaho

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

Idaho 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 Idaho for details on certification preparation courses.

Welder Apprenticeship Information in Idaho

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

Contact Information:

Office: Idaho Office of Apprenticeship
Address: 317 W. Main St., Boise, ID 97232
Phone: (208) 332-3570
Email: [email protected]

Welder Wages by Metro Area in Idaho

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

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

Metro Area	Employment	Median Annual Wage	Avg. Annual Wage	Entry Level (10th pctile)	Experienced (90th pctile)
Boise City	1,400	$50,240	$54,780	$40,500	$71,930
Logan	350	$48,920	$51,080	$38,310	$62,590
Twin Falls	290	$45,550	$51,180	$37,680	$68,690
Coeur d'Alene	230	$51,510	$53,250	$41,680	$62,240
Lewiston	210	$55,890	$55,130	$44,050	$63,940
Pocatello	180	$58,140	$55,500	$40,770	$61,580
Idaho Falls	170	$50,770	$55,030	$38,210	$80,040

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 Idaho? Idaho currently employs approximately 3,300 welders ¹. Nationally, welder employment is projected to grow 2.2% from 2024 to 2034 ².

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

How much do welders earn in Idaho compared to the national average? The median annual wage for welders in Idaho is $50,530, which is $470 below the national median of $51,000 according to BLS data ¹.

In Idaho

Best Trade Schools in Idaho (2026)

Top local programs

Explore More Trades in Idaho

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/ ↩︎
Idaho Department of Labor - Registered Apprenticeship: https://labor.idaho.gov/dnn/Job-Seekers/On-the-Job-Training/Apprenticeships ↩︎

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)