Do welders need a license in Oregon?

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

What apprenticeships are available for welders in Oregon?

In Oregon, registered apprenticeships are administered through the Oregon Apprenticeship and Training Division, 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 Oregon (2026)

Q: How much do welders earn in Oregon?

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS data (May 2025), welders in Oregon earned a median annual wage of approximately $59,450.

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

Oregon currently employs approximately 5,240 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

Oregon employs about 5,240 welders earning a median $59,450 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 Oregon

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	Lower Columbia College	66.5	$4,626 in-state / $6,003 out-of-state	$52,301	23%	Yes*	45 mi
2	Clark College	63.1	$5,233 in-state / $11,183 out-of-state	$49,337	39%	Yes*	8 mi
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3	Clackamas Community College	57.1	$6,345 in-state / $14,265 out-of-state	$54,462	23%	Yes*	14 mi
4	Tillamook Bay Community College	51.1	$4,896 in-state / $5,616 out-of-state	$46,973	17%	Yes*	55 mi
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5	Chemeketa Community College	49.9	$6,345 in-state / $14,040 out-of-state	$50,594	21%	Yes*	40 mi
6	Mt Hood Community College	48.8	$5,247 in-state / $9,819 out-of-state	$52,184	24%	Yes*	14 mi
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7	Portland Community College	46.0	$5,220 in-state / $10,440 out-of-state	$55,238	18%	Yes*	6 mi
8	Columbia Gorge Community College	42.2	$5,940 in-state / $10,260 out-of-state	$53,750	29%	—	72 mi
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9	Clatsop Community College	35.7	$5,110 in-state / $9,610 out-of-state	$48,572	29%	—	72 mi
10	Linn-Benton Community College	28.6	$7,317 in-state / $15,901 out-of-state	$48,548	29%	—	66 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.

Oregon employs approximately 5,240 welders according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, with a median annual wage of $59,450 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 Oregon, 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 (Oregon): $59,450 per year ¹

Quick Answers About How to Become a Welder in Oregon

How to become a Welder in Oregon? Oregon 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 Oregon? 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 Oregon? The median annual wage for welders in Oregon is $59,450 according to BLS data. Entry-level wages start around $46,070 and experienced professionals can earn $79,230 or more ¹.

How to Become a Welder in Oregon

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

Oregon 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 Oregon for details on certification preparation courses.

Welder Apprenticeship Information in Oregon

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

Contact Information:

Office: Apprenticeship and Training Division, Oregon State Bureau of Labor and Industries
Address: 1800 SW 1st Ave, Portland, OR 97201
Phone: (971) 245-3844
Email: [email protected]

Welder Wages by Metro Area in Oregon

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

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

Metro Area	Employment	Median Annual Wage	Avg. Annual Wage	Entry Level (10th pctile)	Experienced (90th pctile)
Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro	3,300	$62,050	$64,170	$48,050	$83,940
Eugene-Springfield	530	$54,670	$55,790	$45,560	$71,730
Salem	410	$57,180	$56,570	$46,110	$72,650
Bend	330	$56,910	$56,870	$47,690	$71,590
Albany	280	$62,790	$61,850	$46,980	$78,310
Medford	200	$50,270	$53,540	$45,660	$66,090
Grants Pass	100	$51,330	$54,530	$47,200	$64,400
Corvallis	60	$57,350	$57,710	$40,000	$74,720

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 Oregon? Oregon currently employs approximately 5,240 welders ¹. Nationally, welder employment is projected to grow 2.2% from 2024 to 2034 ².

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

How much do welders earn in Oregon compared to the national average? The median annual wage for welders in Oregon is $59,450, which is $8,450 above the national median of $51,000 according to BLS data ¹.

In Oregon

Best Trade Schools in Oregon (2026)

Top local programs

Explore More Trades in Oregon

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/ ↩︎
Oregon Apprenticeship and Training Division: https://www.oregon.gov/boli/apprenticeship/pages/apprenticeship-opportunities.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)