Do welders need a license in Iowa?

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

What apprenticeships are available for welders in Iowa?

In Iowa, registered apprenticeships are administered through the Iowa Office of 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 Iowa (2026)

Q: How much do welders earn in Iowa?

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS data (May 2025), welders in Iowa earned a median annual wage of approximately $55,090. Employment concentration in Iowa is about 2.22 times the national average for this occupation.

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

Iowa currently employs approximately 9,270 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

Iowa welders, cutters, solderers, and brazers earn a median annual wage of $55,090 ($26.49/hr) according to U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS data (May 2025), with about 9,270 workers employed statewide. The state median is approximately 2.5% above the national median of $53,750 for the same occupation.

Key Takeaways

Median annual pay: $55,090 ($26.49/hr)
25th percentile: $48,250 per year
75th percentile: $60,200 per year
Top 10% earn: more than $65,250 per year
Entry-level (bottom 10%): under $45,590 per year
Workers employed in Iowa: 9,270
Versus national median: 2.5% above the U.S. median of $53,750
Job concentration: Location quotient 2.22 - this occupation is more concentrated in Iowa than the national average

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

Iowa employs about 9,270 welders earning a median $55,090 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 Iowa

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	Marshalltown Community College	59.9	$5,496 in-state / $6,504 out-of-state	$52,110	42%	Yes*	47 mi
2	Southwestern Community College	57.2	$8,064 in-state / $8,316 out-of-state	$51,650	59%	Yes*	53 mi
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3	North Iowa Area Community College	57.1	$6,653 in-state / $9,551 out-of-state	$47,068	61%	Yes*	112 mi
4	Kirkwood Community College	56.3	$6,176 in-state / $8,220 out-of-state	$48,663	43%	Yes*	104 mi
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5	Indian Hills Community College	56.1	$5,040 in-state / $6,120 out-of-state	$50,322	40%	Yes*	74 mi
6	Hawkeye Community College	54.6	$6,525 in-state / $6,612 out-of-state	$49,163	43%	Yes*	88 mi
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7	Iowa Central Community College	54.0	$5,496 in-state / $7,788 out-of-state	$46,682	42%	Yes*	69 mi
8	Ellsworth Community College	50.6	$5,496 in-state / $6,504 out-of-state	$41,314	38%	Yes*	68 mi
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9	Des Moines Area Community College	50.0	$5,790 in-state / $6,690 out-of-state	$51,817	39%	Yes*	8 mi
10	Iowa Western Community College	48.3	$6,930 in-state / $7,080 out-of-state	$51,139	40%	Yes*	114 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.

Iowa employs approximately 9,270 welders according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, with a median annual wage of $55,090 ¹. The state’s concentration of welder jobs is 2.22x 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 Iowa, 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 (Iowa): $55,090 per year ¹

Quick Answers About How to Become a Welder in Iowa

How to become a Welder in Iowa? Iowa 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 Iowa? 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 Iowa? The median annual wage for welders in Iowa is $55,090 according to BLS data. Entry-level wages start around $45,590 and experienced professionals can earn $65,250 or more ¹.

How to Become a Welder in Iowa

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

Iowa 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 Iowa for details on certification preparation courses.

Welder Apprenticeship Information in Iowa

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

Contact Information:

Office: Iowa Workforce Development
Address: 1000 East Grand Avenue, Des Moines, IA 50319
Phone: (515) 725-3675
Email: [email protected]

Welder Wages by Metro Area in Iowa

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

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

Metro Area	Employment	Median Annual Wage	Avg. Annual Wage	Entry Level (10th pctile)	Experienced (90th pctile)
Davenport-Moline-Rock Island	1,240	$48,630	$53,840	$39,280	$71,950
Des Moines-West Des Moines	1,170	$59,980	$58,610	$47,220	$74,850
Omaha	1,060	$53,110	$55,840	$44,770	$70,150
Cedar Rapids	560	$56,750	$55,720	$45,550	$66,190
Waterloo-Cedar Falls	540	$51,080	$54,530	$46,300	$63,950
Sioux City	440	$58,230	$56,940	$39,270	$72,800
Dubuque	330	$56,100	$55,190	$47,220	$64,960
Ames	170	$58,560	$55,970	$40,620	$67,110
Iowa City	130	$57,780	$58,500	$46,480	$75,420

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 Iowa? Iowa currently employs approximately 9,270 welders ¹. Nationally, welder employment is projected to grow 2.2% from 2024 to 2034 ².

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

How much do welders earn in Iowa compared to the national average? The median annual wage for welders in Iowa is $55,090, which is $4,090 above the national median of $51,000 according to BLS data ¹.

In Iowa

Best Trade Schools in Iowa (2026)

Top local programs

Explore More Trades in Iowa

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/ ↩︎
Iowa Office of Registered Apprenticeship: https://www.iowaworkforcedevelopment.gov/registered-apprenticeship ↩︎

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)