Do welders need a license in Maine?

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

What apprenticeships are available for welders in Maine?

In Maine, registered apprenticeships are administered through the Maine Apprenticeship Program, 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 Maine (2026)

Q: How much do welders earn in Maine?

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS data (May 2025), welders in Maine earned a median annual wage of approximately $62,220.

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

Maine currently employs approximately 1,690 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

Maine employs about 1,690 welders earning a median $62,220 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 Maine

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	New England Institute of Technology	62.3	$37,275	$62,151	60%	Yes*	152 mi
2	Kennebec Valley Community College	61.5	$4,156 in-state / $7,036 out-of-state	$52,079	39%	Yes*	72 mi
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3	Manchester Community College	54.0	$7,090 in-state / $15,340 out-of-state	$44,863	41%	Yes*	76 mi
4	Eastern Maine Community College	53.4	$4,156 in-state / $7,036 out-of-state	$48,024	32%	Yes*	110 mi
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5	Great Bay Community College	44.3	$7,200 in-state / $15,450 out-of-state	$54,407	34%	—	49 mi
6	White Mountains Community College	41.1	$7,050 in-state / $15,300 out-of-state	$60,674	62%	—	74 mi
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7	Lincoln Technical Institute-East Windsor	40.4	Contact school for pricing	$47,136	62%	—	169 mi
8	Beal University	37.4	Contact school for pricing	Not reported	36%	Yes*	107 mi
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9	Advanced Welding Institute	Not rated	Contact school for pricing	$51,769	91%	—	153 mi
10	Technology Learning Center	Not rated	Contact school for pricing	Not reported	Not reported	—	135 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.

Maine employs approximately 1,690 welders according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, with a median annual wage of $62,220 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 Maine, 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 (Maine): $62,220 per year ¹

Quick Answers About How to Become a Welder in Maine

How to become a Welder in Maine? Maine 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 Maine? 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 Maine? The median annual wage for welders in Maine is $62,220 according to BLS data. Entry-level wages start around $47,230 and experienced professionals can earn $76,220 or more ¹.

How to Become a Welder in Maine

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

Maine 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 Maine for details on certification preparation courses.

Welder Apprenticeship Information in Maine

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

Contact Information:

Office: Maine Department of Labor, Bureau of Employment Services
Address: 55 State House Station, Augusta, ME 04333-0055
Phone: (207) 623-7969
Email: [email protected]

Welder Wages by Metro Area in Maine

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

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

Metro Area	Employment	Median Annual Wage	Avg. Annual Wage	Entry Level (10th pctile)	Experienced (90th pctile)
Portland-South Portland	1,060	$66,420	$66,410	$51,880	$78,830
Bangor	140	$50,590	$56,100	$43,170	$70,800
Lewiston-Auburn	80	$55,520	$56,390	$46,430	$71,830

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 Maine? Maine currently employs approximately 1,690 welders ¹. Nationally, welder employment is projected to grow 2.2% from 2024 to 2034 ².

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

How much do welders earn in Maine compared to the national average? The median annual wage for welders in Maine is $62,220, which is $11,220 above the national median of $51,000 according to BLS data ¹.

In Maine

Best Trade Schools in Maine (2026)

Top local programs

Explore More Trades in Maine

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/ ↩︎
Maine Apprenticeship Program: https://joblink.maine.gov/ada/r/search/jobs?keywords=apprentice ↩︎

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)