Do welders need a license in Washington?

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

What apprenticeships are available for welders in Washington?

In Washington, registered apprenticeships are administered through the Washington State of Labor and Industry - 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 Washington (2026)

Q: How much do welders earn in Washington?

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS data (May 2025), welders in Washington earned a median annual wage of approximately $63,020. Employment concentration in Washington is roughly 0.81 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 Washington?

Washington currently employs approximately 7,720 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

Washington employs about 7,720 welders earning a median $63,020 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 Washington

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	Skagit Valley College	72.9	$5,400 in-state / $7,500 out-of-state	$48,533	36%	Yes*	57 mi
2	Lake Washington Institute of Technology	68.9	$5,997 in-state / $12,062 out-of-state	$55,891	37%	Yes*	10 mi
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3	Everett Community College	66.5	$5,032 in-state / $11,171 out-of-state	$54,647	37%	Yes*	28 mi
4	Bates Technical College	65.2	$6,027 in-state / $12,165 out-of-state	Not reported	43%	Yes*	25 mi
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5	Clover Park Technical College	63.9	$6,634	$51,699	43%	Yes*	31 mi
6	Renton Technical College	63.3	$6,308 in-state / $7,369 out-of-state	$56,466	46%	Yes*	11 mi
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7	Olympic College	60.1	$4,197 in-state / $9,740 out-of-state	$57,634	31%	—	14 mi
8	South Puget Sound Community College	59.0	$5,252 in-state / $5,813 out-of-state	$50,185	44%	—	49 mi
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9	Green River College	56.8	$4,711 in-state / $5,263 out-of-state	$60,643	39%	—	22 mi
10	South Seattle College	47.7	$5,238 in-state / $5,796 out-of-state	$50,142	31%	—	4 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.

Washington employs approximately 7,720 welders according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, with a median annual wage of $63,020 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 Washington, 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 (Washington): $63,020 per year ¹

Quick Answers About How to Become a Welder in Washington

How to become a Welder in Washington? Washington 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 Washington? 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 Washington? The median annual wage for welders in Washington is $63,020 according to BLS data. Entry-level wages start around $47,980 and experienced professionals can earn $86,250 or more ¹.

How to Become a Welder in Washington

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

Washington 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 Washington for details on certification preparation courses.

Welder Apprenticeship Information in Washington

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

Contact Information:

Office: Washington State Department of Labor & Industries
Address: 7273 Linderson Way SW, Tumwater, WA 98501-5414
Phone: (360) 902-5320
Email: [email protected]

Welder Wages by Metro Area in Washington

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

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics ( OES data), welders, cutters, solderers, and brazers wages in Washington 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
Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue	3,230	$66,240	$68,440	$50,270	$89,630
Washington-Arlington-Alexandria	2,000	$60,670	$67,950	$45,150	$114,440
Bremerton-Silverdale-Port Orchard	740	$71,720	$76,990	$53,770	$101,360
Spokane-Spokane Valley	630	$59,350	$58,650	$45,090	$74,450
Mount Vernon-Anacortes	430	$62,800	$63,350	$49,150	$84,480
Bellingham	320	$63,720	$65,100	$49,910	$80,970
Yakima	290	$57,450	$56,860	$45,800	$71,550
Kennewick-Richland	260	$64,720	$70,830	$50,010	$95,400
Lewiston	210	$55,890	$55,130	$44,050	$63,940
Olympia-Lacey-Tumwater	140	$58,680	$62,740	$49,400	$83,830
Longview-Kelso	120	$59,860	$60,090	$46,440	$76,600
Wenatchee-East Wenatchee	90	$49,780	$54,070	$39,450	$73,930
Walla Walla	80	$59,380	$59,170	$46,290	$71,490

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 Washington? Washington currently employs approximately 7,720 welders ¹. Nationally, welder employment is projected to grow 2.2% from 2024 to 2034 ².

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

How much do welders earn in Washington compared to the national average? The median annual wage for welders in Washington is $63,020, which is $12,020 above the national median of $51,000 according to BLS data ¹.

In Washington

Best Trade Schools in Washington (2026)

Top local programs

Explore More Trades in Washington

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/ ↩︎
Washington State of Labor and Industry - Apprenticeship: https://secure.lni.wa.gov/arts-public/#/ ↩︎

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)