Do welders need a license in Nevada?

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

What apprenticeships are available for welders in Nevada?

In Nevada, registered apprenticeships are administered through the Nevada Office of the Labor Commissioner, 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 Nevada (2026)

Q: How much do welders earn in Nevada?

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS data (May 2025), welders in Nevada earned a median annual wage of approximately $61,520. Employment concentration in Nevada is roughly 0.39 of the national average, meaning fewer workers per capita than the U.S. as a whole.

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

Nevada currently employs approximately 1,600 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

Nevada welders, cutters, solderers, and brazers earn a median annual wage of $61,520 ($29.58/hr) according to U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS data (May 2025), with about 1,600 workers employed statewide. The state median is approximately 14.5% above the national median of $53,750 for the same occupation.

Key Takeaways

Median annual pay: $61,520 ($29.58/hr)
25th percentile: $48,700 per year
75th percentile: $76,670 per year
Top 10% earn: more than $95,050 per year
Entry-level (bottom 10%): under $44,530 per year
Workers employed in Nevada: 1,600
Versus national median: 14.5% above the U.S. median of $53,750
Job concentration: Location quotient 0.39 - this occupation is less concentrated in Nevada than the national average

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

Nevada employs about 1,600 welders earning a median $61,520 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 Nevada

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 Technical College	73.4	Contact school for pricing	$40,193	95%	—	155 mi
2	Dixie Technical College	58.7	Contact school for pricing	$46,064	77%	—	108 mi
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3	Yavapai College	57.1	$2,948 in-state / $9,486 out-of-state	$57,288	34%	Yes*	188 mi
4	College of the Desert	47.4	$1,326 in-state / $10,174 out-of-state	$44,605	31%	Yes*	181 mi
Sponsored Ad
5	College of Southern Nevada	46.6	$4,358 in-state / $13,024 out-of-state	$51,080	19%	Yes*	5 mi
6	Mohave Community College	45.0	$2,208 in-state / $7,968 out-of-state	$53,142	38%	Yes*	88 mi
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7	Victor Valley College	44.6	$1,425 in-state / $10,125 out-of-state	$44,779	62%	—	168 mi
8	Barstow Community College	43.6	$1,104 in-state / $9,744 out-of-state	$38,095	39%	Yes*	139 mi
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9	Palo Verde College	28.0	$1,288 in-state / $12,880 out-of-state	Not reported	31%	—	175 mi
10	Cerro Coso Community College	20.7	$1,384 in-state / $11,254 out-of-state	$57,300	25%	Yes*	147 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.

Nevada employs approximately 1,600 welders according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, with a median annual wage of $61,520 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 Nevada, 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 (Nevada): $61,520 per year ¹

Quick Answers About How to Become a Welder in Nevada

How to become a Welder in Nevada? Nevada 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 Nevada? 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 Nevada? The median annual wage for welders in Nevada is $61,520 according to BLS data. Entry-level wages start around $44,530 and experienced professionals can earn $95,050 or more ¹.

How to Become a Welder in Nevada

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

Nevada 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 Nevada for details on certification preparation courses.

Welder Apprenticeship Information in Nevada

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

Contact Information:

Office: Office of the Labor Commissioner
Address: 3340 West Sahara Avenue, Las Vegas, NV 89102
Phone: (702) 486-2650
Email: [email protected]

Welder Wages by Metro Area in Nevada

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

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

Metro Area	Employment	Median Annual Wage	Avg. Annual Wage	Entry Level (10th pctile)	Experienced (90th pctile)
Las Vegas-Henderson-North Las Vegas	730	$57,980	$59,110	$41,740	$84,030
Reno	390	$58,800	$61,290	$45,970	$80,250
Carson City	60	$61,520	$63,700	$47,000	$77,950

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 Nevada? Nevada currently employs approximately 1,600 welders ¹. Nationally, welder employment is projected to grow 2.2% from 2024 to 2034 ².

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

How much do welders earn in Nevada compared to the national average? The median annual wage for welders in Nevada is $61,520, which is $10,520 above the national median of $51,000 according to BLS data ¹.

In Nevada

Best Trade Schools in Nevada (2026)

Top local programs

Explore More Trades in Nevada

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/ ↩︎
Nevada Office of the Labor Commissioner: http://owinn.nv.gov/Apprenticeship/Apprenticeship-Home/ ↩︎

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)