"How long does it take to become a welder in Rhode Island?"

"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."

"What apprenticeships are available for welders in Rhode Island?"

"In Rhode Island, registered apprenticeships are administered through the Rhode Island 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 Rhode Island

Q: "How much do welders earn in Rhode Island?"

"According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS data (May 2025), welders in Rhode Island earned a median annual wage of approximately $50,580. Employment concentration in Rhode Island is about 1.71 times the national average for this occupation."

Q: "Do welders need a license in Rhode Island?"

"Yes. Rhode Island requires state-level licensing or registration for welders, administered by the RI Department of Labor and Training - Professional Regulation. See the licensing section above for credential types and current requirements."

Q: "What is the job outlook for welders in Rhode Island?"

"Rhode Island currently employs approximately 2,300 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

Rhode Island welders, cutters, solderers, and brazers earn a median annual wage of $50,580 ($24.32/hr) according to U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS data (May 2025), with about 2,300 workers employed statewide. The state median is approximately -5.9% below the national median of $53,750 for the same occupation.

Key Takeaways

Median annual pay: $50,580 ($24.32/hr)
25th percentile: $50,580 per year
75th percentile: $68,260 per year
Top 10% earn: more than $81,000 per year
Entry-level (bottom 10%): under $35,560 per year
Workers employed in Rhode Island: 2,300
Versus national median: -5.9% below the U.S. median of $53,750
Job concentration: Location quotient 1.71 - this occupation is more concentrated in Rhode Island than the national average

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

Rhode Island employs approximately 2,300 welders according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, with a median annual wage of $50,580 ¹. The state’s concentration of welder jobs is 1.71x 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 Rhode Island, including certification options, training programs, and salary data.

Quick Answers About Becoming A Welder in Rhode Island

How do I become a welder in Rhode Island? Rhode Island requires credentials such as Welder. The licensing authority is the RI Department of Labor and Training - Professional Regulation ³. You also need to complete an approved training program or apprenticeship.

How long does it take? Most paths take 1 to 5 years depending on whether you choose trade school, an apprenticeship, or a combination of both.

Do I need a license in Rhode Island? Yes. Rhode Island has licensing or registration requirements for welders. The RI Department of Labor and Training - Professional Regulation oversees licensing ³. See the licensing section below for details.

What do welders earn in Rhode Island? The median annual wage for welders in Rhode Island is $50,580 according to BLS data. Entry-level wages start around $35,560 and experienced professionals can earn $81,000 or more ¹.

At a Glance

Training paths: trade school, community college, or apprenticeship
Typical timeline: 1 to 5 years depending on the path
Licensing authority: RI Department of Labor and Training - Professional Regulation
Median wage (Rhode Island): $50,580 per year ¹

Welder License Requirements in Rhode Island

The RI Department of Labor and Training - Professional Regulation oversees welder licensing in Rhode Island ³.

License Types

License	Requirements
Welder	Welders use hand welding and flame-cutting equipment to weld together metal components and parts or to cut, trim, or scarf metal objects to dimensions, as specified by layouts, work orders, or bluepri…

License information sourced from CareerOneStop ⁴.

Welder Apprenticeship Information in Rhode Island

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

Contact Information:

Office: Rhode Island Department of Labor and Training
Address: 1511 Pontiac Avenue, Cranston, RI 02920-0943
Phone: (401) 462-8536
Email: [email protected]

Welder Wages by Metro Area in Rhode Island

Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and Brazers Wages by Metro Area in Rhode Island

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (2025 OES data), welders, cutters, solderers, and brazers wages in Rhode Island vary by metro area.

Metro Area	Employment	Median Annual Wage	Avg. Annual Wage	Entry Level (10th pctile)	Experienced (90th pctile)
Providence-Warwick	2,490	$52,800	$58,800	$35,580	$81,000

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 2025.

Top Metros for Welders in Rhode Island

The metropolitan areas listed below report the highest welder employment within Rhode Island according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (May 2025).

Metro Area	Employment	Median Annual Wage
Providence-Warwick	2,490	$52,800

Explore More Trades in Rhode Island

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the job outlook for welders in Rhode Island? Rhode Island currently employs approximately 2,300 welders ¹. Nationally, welder employment is projected to grow 2.2% from 2024 to 2034 ².

Can I work as a welder in Rhode Island with an out-of-state license? Contact the RI Department of Labor and Training - Professional Regulation for details on reciprocity and credential transfer.

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

How much do welders earn in Rhode Island compared to the national average? The median annual wage for welders in Rhode Island is $50,580, which is $420 below the national median of $51,000 according to BLS data ¹.

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/ ↩︎ ↩︎
RI Department of Labor and Training - Professional Regulation - Licensing Information: https://dlt.ri.gov/regulation-and-safety/professional-regulation ↩︎ ↩︎ ↩︎
CareerOneStop - Licensed Occupations: https://www.careeronestop.org/Toolkit/Training/find-licenses.aspx ↩︎
Rhode Island Office of Apprenticeship: http://www.dlt.ri.gov/apprenticeship/ ↩︎

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)