Do welders need a license in Minnesota?

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

What apprenticeships are available for welders in Minnesota?

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

Q: How much do welders earn in Minnesota?

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS data (May 2025), welders in Minnesota earned a median annual wage of approximately $60,280. Employment concentration in Minnesota is about 1.17 times the national average for this occupation.

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

Minnesota 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

Minnesota employs about 9,270 welders earning a median $60,280 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 Minnesota

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	Dunwoody College of Technology	73.3	$27,836	$69,987	66%	Yes*	1 mi
2	Dakota County Technical College	72.2	$6,679	$59,518	58%	Yes*	19 mi
Sponsored Ad
3	St Cloud Technical and Community College	63.7	$6,124	$58,691	45%	Yes*	61 mi
4	South Central College	60.0	$6,146	$52,003	39%	Yes*	68 mi
Sponsored Ad
5	Hennepin Technical College	58.9	$5,940	$59,906	42%	Yes*	11 mi
6	Century College	52.6	$6,214	$54,401	31%	Yes*	14 mi
Sponsored Ad
7	Anoka Technical College	51.7	$6,267	$55,035	66%	Yes*	18 mi
8	Pine Technical & Community College	50.2	$4,738	$52,498	36%	Yes*	60 mi
Sponsored Ad
9	Saint Paul College	48.2	$6,326	$52,870	40%	Yes*	8 mi
10	Minneapolis Community and Technical College	45.5	$6,161	$52,691	20%	Yes*	1 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.

Minnesota employs approximately 9,270 welders according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, with a median annual wage of $60,280 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 Minnesota, 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 (Minnesota): $60,280 per year ¹

Quick Answers About How to Become a Welder in Minnesota

How to become a Welder in Minnesota? Minnesota 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 Minnesota? 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 Minnesota? The median annual wage for welders in Minnesota is $60,280 according to BLS data. Entry-level wages start around $45,690 and experienced professionals can earn $75,710 or more ¹.

How to Become a Welder in Minnesota

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

Minnesota 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 Minnesota for details on certification preparation courses.

Welder Apprenticeship Information in Minnesota

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

Contact Information:

Office: Minnesota Department of Labor and Industry, Apprenticeship Unit
Address: 443 Lafayette Road, St. Paul, MN 55155-4303
Phone: (651) 284-5090
Email: [email protected]

Welder Wages by Metro Area in Minnesota

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

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

Metro Area	Employment	Median Annual Wage	Avg. Annual Wage	Entry Level (10th pctile)	Experienced (90th pctile)
Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington	4,600	$61,880	$63,300	$48,350	$76,650
Sioux Falls	850	$55,200	$57,080	$40,140	$80,120
Fargo	690	$61,140	$60,270	$46,660	$74,230
St. Cloud	620	$62,820	$62,930	$48,510	$80,540
Rochester	510	$60,380	$59,070	$48,550	$72,350
Duluth	370	$57,410	$60,280	$46,390	$81,190
La Crosse-Onalaska	300	$58,800	$63,220	$48,780	$78,320
Mankato	280	$52,940	$55,100	$42,740	$65,410
Grand Forks	190	$58,200	$60,100	$43,660	$81,150

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 Minnesota? Minnesota 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 Minnesota? Options include trade schools, community colleges, and apprenticeship programs. Use the school finder above to search for programs in Minnesota. You can also contact the Apprenticeship Minnesota for apprenticeship opportunities.

How much do welders earn in Minnesota compared to the national average? The median annual wage for welders in Minnesota is $60,280, which is $9,280 above the national median of $51,000 according to BLS data ¹.

In Minnesota

Best Trade Schools in Minnesota (2026)

Top local programs

Explore More Trades in Minnesota

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/ ↩︎
Apprenticeship Minnesota: https://secure.doli.state.mn.us/apprenticeshipsponsor/ ↩︎

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)