Do welders need a license in Oklahoma?

Yes. Oklahoma requires state-level licensing or registration for welders, administered by the Department of Labor. See the licensing section above for credential types and current requirements.

What apprenticeships are available for welders in Oklahoma?

In Oklahoma, 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 Oklahoma (2026)

Q: How much do welders earn in Oklahoma?

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS data (May 2025), welders in Oklahoma earned a median annual wage of approximately $49,720. Employment concentration in Oklahoma is about 2.18 times the national average for this occupation.

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

Oklahoma currently employs approximately 9,960 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

Oklahoma welders, cutters, solderers, and brazers earn a median annual wage of $49,720 ($23.90/hr) according to U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS data (May 2025), with about 9,960 workers employed statewide. The state median is approximately -7.5% below the national median of $53,750 for the same occupation.

Key Takeaways

Median annual pay: $49,720 ($23.90/hr)
25th percentile: $44,920 per year
75th percentile: $60,790 per year
Top 10% earn: more than $70,640 per year
Entry-level (bottom 10%): under $37,860 per year
Workers employed in Oklahoma: 9,960
Versus national median: -7.5% below the U.S. median of $53,750
Job concentration: Location quotient 2.18 - this occupation is more concentrated in Oklahoma than the national average

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

Oklahoma employs about 9,960 welders earning a median $49,720 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 Oklahoma

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	Eastern Oklahoma County Technology Center	78.8	Contact school for pricing	$56,311	92%	—	15 mi
2	Gordon Cooper Technology Center	75.4	Contact school for pricing	$43,075	90%	—	35 mi
Sponsored Ad
3	Mid-America Technology Center	74.9	Contact school for pricing	$33,219	100%	—	40 mi
4	Moore Norman Technology Center	65.2	Contact school for pricing	$42,499	91%	—	14 mi
Sponsored Ad
5	Mid-Del Technology Center	54.7	Contact school for pricing	$32,475	70%	—	6 mi
6	Canadian Valley Technology Center	48.7	Contact school for pricing	$48,081	71%	—	25 mi
Sponsored Ad
7	Metro Technology Centers	45.5	Contact school for pricing	$47,829	35%	—	3 mi
8	Francis Tuttle Technology Center	39.8	Contact school for pricing	$36,657	52%	—	11 mi
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9	Meridian Technology Center	38.3	Contact school for pricing	$39,328	48%	—	50 mi
10	Chisholm Trail Technology Center	37.1	Contact school for pricing	$36,658	71%	—	47 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.

Oklahoma employs approximately 9,960 welders according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, with a median annual wage of $49,720 ¹. The state’s concentration of welder jobs is 2.18x 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 Oklahoma, 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: Department of Labor
Median wage (Oklahoma): $49,720 per year ¹

Quick Answers About How to Become a Welder in Oklahoma

How to become a Welder in Oklahoma? Oklahoma requires credentials such as Welder. The licensing authority is the Department of Labor 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 Oklahoma? Yes. Oklahoma has licensing or registration requirements for welders. The Department of Labor oversees licensing ³. See the licensing section below for details.

What do welders earn in Oklahoma? The median annual wage for welders in Oklahoma is $49,720 according to BLS data. Entry-level wages start around $37,860 and experienced professionals can earn $70,640 or more ¹.

How to Become a Welder in Oklahoma

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

The Department of Labor oversees welder licensing in Oklahoma ³.

License Types

License	Requirements
Welder	See the state licensing board for current requirements.

License information sourced from CareerOneStop ⁴.

Welder Apprenticeship Information in Oklahoma

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

Contact Information:

Office: Oklahoma CareerTech
Address: 1500 West 7th Ave., Stillwater, OK 74074
Phone: (405) 231-4338
Email: [email protected]

Welder Wages by Metro Area in Oklahoma

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

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

Metro Area	Employment	Median Annual Wage	Avg. Annual Wage	Entry Level (10th pctile)	Experienced (90th pctile)
Tulsa	4,520	$53,550	$55,540	$39,960	$72,740
Oklahoma City	2,200	$48,760	$52,120	$37,560	$70,640
Fort Smith	400	$46,630	$47,400	$36,900	$58,140
Enid	90	$49,090	$55,510	$36,330	$80,530
Lawton	80	$49,720	$52,610	$38,190	$79,200

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 Oklahoma? Oklahoma currently employs approximately 9,960 welders ¹. Nationally, welder employment is projected to grow 2.2% from 2024 to 2034 ².

Can I work as a welder in Oklahoma with an out-of-state license? Contact the Department of Labor for details on reciprocity and credential transfer.

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

How much do welders earn in Oklahoma compared to the national average? The median annual wage for welders in Oklahoma is $49,720, which is $1,280 below the national median of $51,000 according to BLS data ¹.

In Oklahoma

Best Trade Schools in Oklahoma (2026)

Top local programs

Explore More Trades in Oklahoma

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/ ↩︎ ↩︎
Department of Labor - Licensing Information: https://www.ok.gov/ ↩︎ ↩︎ ↩︎
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)