Do welders need a license in Kansas?

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

What apprenticeships are available for welders in Kansas?

In Kansas, registered apprenticeships are administered through the Kansas 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 Kansas (2026)

Q: How much do welders earn in Kansas?

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS data (May 2025), welders in Kansas earned a median annual wage of approximately $49,410. Employment concentration in Kansas is about 1.66 times the national average for this occupation.

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

Kansas currently employs approximately 6,370 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

Kansas welders, cutters, solderers, and brazers earn a median annual wage of $49,410 ($23.75/hr) according to U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS data (May 2025), with about 6,370 workers employed statewide. The state median is approximately -8.1% below the national median of $53,750 for the same occupation.

Key Takeaways

Median annual pay: $49,410 ($23.75/hr)
25th percentile: $45,210 per year
75th percentile: $59,200 per year
Top 10% earn: more than $66,680 per year
Entry-level (bottom 10%): under $37,790 per year
Workers employed in Kansas: 6,370
Versus national median: -8.1% below the U.S. median of $53,750
Job concentration: Location quotient 1.66 - this occupation is more concentrated in Kansas than the national average

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

Kansas employs about 6,370 welders earning a median $49,410 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 Kansas

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	Salina Area Technical College	78.9	$7,128	$45,249	68%	Yes*	78 mi
2	Flint Hills Technical College	75.5	$6,400	$52,442	68%	Yes*	79 mi
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3	Heartland Welding Academy	59.7	Contact school for pricing	Not reported	92%	—	11 mi
4	Hutchinson Community College	57.3	$3,540 in-state / $4,770 out-of-state	$49,591	53%	Yes*	42 mi
Sponsored Ad
5	Pratt Community College	56.9	$4,256 in-state / $4,936 out-of-state	$52,293	45%	Yes*	67 mi
6	Wichita State University-Campus of Applied Sciences and Technology	54.7	$7,238	$47,431	43%	Yes*	8 mi
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7	Pioneer Technology Center	54.4	Contact school for pricing	$37,175	73%	—	68 mi
8	Cowley County Community College	52.2	$4,800 in-state / $6,600 out-of-state	$42,324	45%	Yes*	46 mi
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9	Barton County Community College	50.8	$3,680 in-state / $4,960 out-of-state	$48,242	33%	Yes*	91 mi
10	Butler Community College	44.9	$3,541 in-state / $6,271 out-of-state	$46,569	32%	Yes*	26 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.

Kansas employs approximately 6,370 welders according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, with a median annual wage of $49,410 ¹. The state’s concentration of welder jobs is 1.66x 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 Kansas, 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 (Kansas): $49,410 per year ¹

Quick Answers About How to Become a Welder in Kansas

How to become a Welder in Kansas? Kansas 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 Kansas? 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 Kansas? The median annual wage for welders in Kansas is $49,410 according to BLS data. Entry-level wages start around $37,790 and experienced professionals can earn $66,680 or more ¹.

How to Become a Welder in Kansas

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

Kansas 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 Kansas for details on certification preparation courses.

Welder Apprenticeship Information in Kansas

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

Contact Information:

Office: Kansas Department of Commerce, Apprenticeship Program
Address: 1000 Southwest Jackson Street, Topeka, KS 66612-1354
Phone: (785) 296-4161
Email: [email protected]

Welder Wages by Metro Area in Kansas

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

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

Metro Area	Employment	Median Annual Wage	Avg. Annual Wage	Entry Level (10th pctile)	Experienced (90th pctile)
Kansas City	2,710	$57,370	$59,250	$42,850	$78,150
Wichita	1,460	$54,190	$55,730	$39,020	$71,890
St. Joseph	610	$66,060	$60,610	$47,040	$66,060
Joplin	570	$45,770	$48,560	$37,170	$60,930
Topeka	330	$51,390	$53,830	$37,440	$71,510
Manhattan	180	$50,550	$50,550	$38,500	$62,780
Lawrence	70	$48,180	$51,370	$37,840	$64,050

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 Kansas? Kansas currently employs approximately 6,370 welders ¹. Nationally, welder employment is projected to grow 2.2% from 2024 to 2034 ².

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

How much do welders earn in Kansas compared to the national average? The median annual wage for welders in Kansas is $49,410, which is $1,590 below the national median of $51,000 according to BLS data ¹.

In Kansas

Best Trade Schools in Kansas (2026)

Top local programs

Explore More Trades in Kansas

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/ ↩︎
Kansas Registered Apprenticeship: 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)