Do welders need a license in Mississippi?

Yes. Mississippi requires state-level licensing or registration for welders, administered by the MS State Board of Contractors. See the licensing section above for credential types and current requirements.

What apprenticeships are available for welders in Mississippi?

In Mississippi, apprenticeships are typically registered through state apprenticeship agencies and trade union locals. See the apprenticeship section above for current contact information.

How to Become a Welder in Mississippi (2026)

Q: How much do welders earn in Mississippi?

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS data (May 2025), welders in Mississippi earned a median annual wage of approximately $51,100. Employment concentration in Mississippi is about 2.08 times the national average for this occupation.

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

Mississippi currently employs approximately 6,460 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

Mississippi welders, cutters, solderers, and brazers earn a median annual wage of $51,100 ($24.57/hr) according to U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS data (May 2025), with about 6,460 workers employed statewide. The state median is approximately -4.9% below the national median of $53,750 for the same occupation.

Key Takeaways

Median annual pay: $51,100 ($24.57/hr)
25th percentile: $41,000 per year
75th percentile: $63,440 per year
Top 10% earn: more than $64,440 per year
Entry-level (bottom 10%): under $36,800 per year
Workers employed in Mississippi: 6,460
Versus national median: -4.9% below the U.S. median of $53,750
Job concentration: Location quotient 2.08 - this occupation is more concentrated in Mississippi than the national average

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

Mississippi employs about 6,460 welders earning a median $51,100 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 Mississippi

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	Southwest Mississippi Community College	64.8	$4,080 in-state / $6,780 out-of-state	$27,408	56%	Yes*	72 mi
2	Copiah-Lincoln Community College	63.6	$4,000 in-state / $5,000 out-of-state	$36,902	50%	Yes*	44 mi
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3	East Mississippi Community College	57.7	$4,095 in-state / $7,445 out-of-state	$42,022	48%	Yes*	106 mi
4	Hinds Community College	53.6	$4,250 in-state / $7,300 out-of-state	$40,042	43%	Yes*	14 mi
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5	Holmes Community College	53.5	$3,710 in-state / $6,610 out-of-state	$39,984	39%	Yes*	49 mi
6	Pearl River Community College	52.2	$3,700 in-state / $6,100 out-of-state	$43,603	37%	Yes*	107 mi
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7	Meridian Community College	50.6	$4,078 in-state / $6,478 out-of-state	$50,810	34%	Yes*	85 mi
8	East Central Community College	46.4	$4,160 in-state / $6,260 out-of-state	$36,389	36%	—	64 mi
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9	Jones County Junior College	45.6	$4,806 in-state / $6,806 out-of-state	$36,340	41%	Yes*	75 mi
10	Mississippi Delta Community College	41.8	$3,540	$37,960	31%	Yes*	81 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.

Mississippi employs approximately 6,460 welders according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, with a median annual wage of $51,100 ¹. The state’s concentration of welder jobs is 2.08x 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 Mississippi, 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
Licensing authority: MS State Board of Contractors
Median wage (Mississippi): $51,100 per year ¹
Exam requirement: Choice of state or third-party exam

Quick Answers About How to Become a Welder in Mississippi

How to become a Welder in Mississippi? Mississippi requires credentials such as Welding. The licensing authority is the MS State Board of Contractors ³. You also need to complete an approved training program or apprenticeship.

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 Mississippi? Yes. Mississippi has licensing or registration requirements for welders. The MS State Board of Contractors oversees licensing ³. See the licensing section below for details.

What do welders earn in Mississippi? The median annual wage for welders in Mississippi is $51,100 according to BLS data. Entry-level wages start around $36,800 and experienced professionals can earn $64,440 or more ¹.

How to Become a Welder in Mississippi

Finish high school or earn a GED. Most Mississippi 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 Mississippi 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 Mississippi 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 License Requirements in Mississippi

The MS State Board of Contractors oversees welder licensing in Mississippi ³.

License Types

License	Requirements
Welding

Additional Requirements

Background check: Specific type of conviction prohibited
Exam: Choice of state or third-party exam
Experience: Work experience required

License information sourced from CareerOneStop ⁴.

Welder Apprenticeship Information in Mississippi

Apprenticeships combine paid on-the-job training with classroom instruction and typically last 3 to 5 years.

Contact Information:

Office: Mississippi Apprenticeship Program
Address: 1235 Echelon Pkwy, Jackson, MS 39213
Phone: (601) 321-6000
Email: [email protected]

Welder Wages by Metro Area in Mississippi

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

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

Metro Area	Employment	Median Annual Wage	Avg. Annual Wage	Entry Level (10th pctile)	Experienced (90th pctile)
Gulfport-Biloxi	2,220	$63,440	$58,380	$38,960	$63,440
Memphis	1,590	$48,600	$51,050	$38,620	$65,280
Jackson	530	$52,220	$53,010	$37,220	$70,180
Hattiesburg	160	$49,500	$53,870	$38,030	$88,730

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 Mississippi? Mississippi currently employs approximately 6,460 welders ¹. Nationally, welder employment is projected to grow 2.2% from 2024 to 2034 ².

Can I work as a welder in Mississippi with an out-of-state license? Contact the MS State Board of Contractors for details on reciprocity and credential transfer.

What training programs are available in Mississippi? Options include trade schools, community colleges, and apprenticeship programs. Use the school finder above to search for programs in Mississippi.

How much do welders earn in Mississippi compared to the national average? The median annual wage for welders in Mississippi is $51,100, which is $100 above the national median of $51,000 according to BLS data ¹.

In Mississippi

Best Trade Schools in Mississippi (2026)

Top local programs

Explore More Trades in Mississippi

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/ ↩︎ ↩︎
MS State Board of Contractors - Licensing Information: https://www.msboc.us/ ↩︎ ↩︎ ↩︎
CareerOneStop - Licensed Occupations: https://www.careeronestop.org/Toolkit/Training/find-licenses.aspx ↩︎

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)