What apprenticeships are available for welders in New York?

In New York, registered apprenticeships are administered through the New York Office of 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 New York (2026)

Q: How much do welders earn in New York?

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS data (May 2025), welders in New York earned a median annual wage of approximately $59,140. Employment concentration in New York is roughly 0.32 of the national average, meaning fewer workers per capita than the U.S. as a whole.

Q: Do welders need a license in New York?

Yes. New York requires state-level licensing or registration for welders, administered by the NYS Department of Transportation - Metal Engineering Division. See the licensing section above for credential types and current requirements.

Q: What is the job outlook for welders in New York?

New York currently employs approximately 8,310 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

New York welders, cutters, solderers, and brazers earn a median annual wage of $59,140 ($28.43/hr) according to U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS data (May 2025), with about 8,310 workers employed statewide. The state median is approximately 10.0% above the national median of $53,750 for the same occupation.

Key Takeaways

Median annual pay: $59,140 ($28.43/hr)
25th percentile: $49,050 per year
75th percentile: $71,960 per year
Top 10% earn: more than $87,110 per year
Entry-level (bottom 10%): under $43,840 per year
Workers employed in New York: 8,310
Versus national median: 10.0% above the U.S. median of $53,750
Job concentration: Location quotient 0.32 - this occupation is less concentrated in New York than the national average

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

New York employs about 8,310 welders earning a median $59,140 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 New York

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	Bergen Community College	63.9	$4,913 in-state / $9,294 out-of-state	$51,761	21%	Yes*	17 mi
2	Hohokus School of Trade and Technical Sciences	59.6	Contact school for pricing	$41,843	81%	—	16 mi
Sponsored Ad
3	Ocean County Vocational-Technical School	59.5	Contact school for pricing	$42,510	65%	—	51 mi
4	Apex Technical School	59.1	Contact school for pricing	$46,910	78%	—	4 mi
Sponsored Ad
5	Sussex County Community College	53.8	$5,544 in-state / $9,024 out-of-state	$41,662	37%	Yes*	46 mi
6	Lincoln Technical Institute-Mahwah	51.9	Contact school for pricing	$51,742	79%	—	27 mi
Sponsored Ad
7	Lincoln Technical Institute-South Plainfield	50.7	Contact school for pricing	$51,742	77%	—	24 mi
8	Universal Technical Institute-Bloomfield	47.7	Contact school for pricing	$57,080	67%	—	13 mi
Sponsored Ad
9	Porter & Chester Institute	47.5	$14,349	$46,863	45%	Yes*	54 mi
10	Passaic County Community College	38.3	$6,300 in-state / $10,560 out-of-state	$47,350	19%	Yes*	16 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.

New York employs approximately 8,310 welders according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, with a median annual wage of $59,140 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 New York, 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: NYS Department of Transportation - Metal Engineering Division
Median wage (New York): $59,140 per year ¹
Exam requirement: State exam required

Quick Answers About How to Become a Welder in New York

How to become a Welder in New York? New York requires credentials such as Field Welder. The licensing authority is the NYS Department of Transportation - Metal Engineering Division 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 New York? Yes. New York has licensing or registration requirements for welders. The NYS Department of Transportation - Metal Engineering Division oversees licensing ³. See the licensing section below for details.

What do welders earn in New York? The median annual wage for welders in New York is $59,140 according to BLS data. Entry-level wages start around $43,840 and experienced professionals can earn $87,110 or more ¹.

How to Become a Welder in New York

Finish high school or earn a GED. Most New York 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 New York 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 New York 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 New York

The NYS Department of Transportation - Metal Engineering Division oversees welder licensing in New York ³.

License Types

License	Requirements
Field Welder	This Certification allows a person to be able to weld on New York State Department of Transportation bridges in the field. They will be allowed to weld in the welding position that they certify for.

Additional Requirements

Background check: No criminal record prohibitions
Exam: State exam required

License information sourced from CareerOneStop ⁴.

Welder Apprenticeship Information in New York

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

Contact Information:

Office: Apprenticeship Training Unit, New York State Department of Labor
Address: State Campus Building, Albany, NY 12240
Phone: (518) 457-4497
Email: [email protected]

Welder Wages by Metro Area in New York

Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and Brazers Wages by Metro Area in New York

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

Metro Area	Employment	Median Annual Wage	Avg. Annual Wage	Entry Level (10th pctile)	Experienced (90th pctile)
New York-Newark-Jersey City	5,780	$61,680	$67,430	$44,890	$95,920
Buffalo-Cheektowaga	970	$55,420	$56,810	$41,880	$74,110
Rochester	650	$57,130	$55,910	$38,800	$70,520
Albany-Schenectady-Troy	550	$59,390	$60,440	$45,730	$77,580
Syracuse	430	$55,660	$58,550	$44,630	$75,870
Utica-Rome	230	$49,630	$52,700	$36,710	$72,830
Kiryas Joel-Poughkeepsie-Newburgh	200	$58,460	$60,680	$44,810	$78,590
Kingston	120	$57,600	$58,350	$40,030	$76,230
Binghamton	110	$50,560	$53,380	$39,570	$69,750
Glens Falls	110	$59,140	$60,020	$48,290	$74,050
Elmira	90	$48,820	$52,780	$46,040	$72,030
Ithaca	30	$54,170	$55,300	$43,830	$64,580

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 New York? New York currently employs approximately 8,310 welders ¹. Nationally, welder employment is projected to grow 2.2% from 2024 to 2034 ².

Can I work as a welder in New York with an out-of-state license? Contact the NYS Department of Transportation - Metal Engineering Division for details on reciprocity and credential transfer.

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

How much do welders earn in New York compared to the national average? The median annual wage for welders in New York is $59,140, which is $8,140 above the national median of $51,000 according to BLS data ¹.

In New York

Best Trade Schools in New York (2026)

Top local programs

Explore More Trades in New York

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/ ↩︎ ↩︎
NYS Department of Transportation - Metal Engineering Division - Licensing Information: https://www.dot.ny.gov/index ↩︎ ↩︎ ↩︎
CareerOneStop - Licensed Occupations: https://www.careeronestop.org/Toolkit/Training/find-licenses.aspx ↩︎
New York Office of Apprenticeship: https://www.labor.ny.gov/apprenticeship/sponsor/index.shtm ↩︎

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)