How to Become a Welder in Wisconsin (2026)

Updated June 8, 2026 | TradeCareerPath Editorial Team

Wisconsin employs about 15,320 welders earning a median $58,410 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 Wisconsin

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.
#SchoolBOC Score (0–100)Tuition (published, per year)Median grad earnings (all majors)Graduation rateOnlineDistance
166.9$4,819 in-state / $7,084 out-of-state$53,77158%Yes*58 mi
263.9$4,844 in-state / $7,087 out-of-state$50,98550%Yes*62 mi
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362.3$4,872 in-state / $7,115 out-of-state$57,76444%Yes*18 mi
459.2$3,894 in-state / $11,874 out-of-state$56,70448%Yes*67 mi
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558.3$4,162 in-state / $14,399 out-of-state$47,58037%Yes*60 mi
657.2$3,985 in-state / $12,462 out-of-state$53,38837%Yes*68 mi
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756.0$4,956 in-state / $7,199 out-of-state$54,14251%Yes*30 mi
852.5$5,184 in-state / $7,427 out-of-state$52,34625%Yes*1 mi
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947.4$4,788 in-state / $14,400 out-of-state$52,82137%—48 mi
1045.1$4,267 in-state / $6,061 out-of-state$56,99134%—62 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.

Wisconsin employs approximately 15,320 welders according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, with a median annual wage of $58,410 1. The state’s concentration of welder jobs is 1.95x 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 Wisconsin, including certification options, training programs, and salary data.

At a Glance

Quick Answers About How to Become a Welder in Wisconsin

How to become a Welder in Wisconsin? Wisconsin requires credentials such as WELD TEST CONDUCTOR - Physical & Radiographic, WELDER. The licensing authority is the WI Department of Safety and Professional Services - Division of Professional Credential Processing 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 Wisconsin? Yes. Wisconsin has licensing or registration requirements for welders. The WI Department of Safety and Professional Services - Division of Professional Credential Processing oversees licensing 3. See the licensing section below for details.

What do welders earn in Wisconsin? The median annual wage for welders in Wisconsin is $58,410 according to BLS data. Entry-level wages start around $47,060 and experienced professionals can earn $70,720 or more 1.

How to Become a Welder in Wisconsin

  1. Finish high school or earn a GED. Most Wisconsin training programs and registered apprenticeships require a high school diploma or GED to enroll.
  2. Complete a training program or apprenticeship. Enroll in an approved trade school program or a registered apprenticeship in Wisconsin that combines classroom instruction with supervised hands-on hours.
  3. Gain supervised work experience. Build documented on-the-job hours under a qualified supervisor; confirm the exact total currently required with the licensing board.
  4. Earn an industry certification. While Wisconsin 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 Wisconsin

The WI Department of Safety and Professional Services - Division of Professional Credential Processing oversees welder licensing in Wisconsin 3.

License Types

LicenseRequirements
WELD TEST CONDUCTOR - Physical & RadiographicReason for Credential: No person may conduct welding tests for the purpose of qualifying structural welders under s. Comm 5.
WELDERReason for Credential: No person may perform structural welding under ss. Comm 34.39 and Comm 62.2204 unless the person holds a credential issued by the department as a registered welder.

Additional Requirements

  • Background check: No criminal record prohibitions

License information sourced from CareerOneStop 4.

Welder Apprenticeship Information in Wisconsin

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

Contact Information:

  • Office: State of Wisconsin Department of Workforce Development Bureau of Apprenticeship Standards
  • Address: 201 E Washington Ave, Madison, WI 53707
  • Phone: (608) 733-3930
  • Email: [email protected]

Welder Wages by Metro Area in Wisconsin

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

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

Metro AreaEmploymentMedian Annual WageAvg. Annual WageEntry Level
(10th pctile)		Experienced
(90th pctile)
Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington4,600$61,880$63,300$48,350$76,650
Milwaukee-Waukesha3,400$59,390$58,700$48,190$72,370
Madison1,010$59,530$58,900$45,140$71,270
Appleton970$58,920$60,600$46,460$82,680
Wausau930$55,780$55,790$48,130$64,840
Green Bay840$58,850$57,710$47,150$69,880
Sheboygan740$59,460$58,560$51,890$61,630
Oshkosh-Neenah540$60,720$59,510$47,420$67,210
Janesville-Beloit520$60,000$59,810$48,410$70,720
Duluth370$57,410$60,280$46,390$81,190
Racine-Mount Pleasant370$59,200$58,040$46,230$68,130
Eau Claire350$58,110$56,730$46,440$67,820
La Crosse-Onalaska300$58,800$63,220$48,780$78,320
Kenosha250$57,780$57,220$47,860$68,590
Fond du Lac230$60,930$59,210$48,350$70,690

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 Wisconsin? Wisconsin currently employs approximately 15,320 welders 1. Nationally, welder employment is projected to grow 2.2% from 2024 to 2034 2.

Can I work as a welder in Wisconsin with an out-of-state license? Contact the WI Department of Safety and Professional Services - Division of Professional Credential Processing for details on reciprocity and credential transfer.

What training programs are available in Wisconsin? Options include trade schools, community colleges, and apprenticeship programs. Use the school finder above to search for programs in Wisconsin. You can also contact the Wisconsin Bureau of Apprenticeship Standards - Registered Apprenticeships for apprenticeship opportunities.

How much do welders earn in Wisconsin compared to the national average? The median annual wage for welders in Wisconsin is $58,410, which is $7,410 above the national median of $51,000 according to BLS data 1.

In Wisconsin

Top local programs

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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

  1. Bureau of Labor Statistics - Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics: https://www.bls.gov/oes/ ↩︎ ↩︎ ↩︎ ↩︎ ↩︎

  2. Bureau of Labor Statistics - Employment Projections: https://www.bls.gov/emp/ ↩︎ ↩︎

  3. WI Department of Safety and Professional Services - Division of Professional Credential Processing - Licensing Information: https://dsps.wi.gov/Pages/Professions/Default.aspx ↩︎ ↩︎ ↩︎

  4. CareerOneStop - Licensed Occupations: https://www.careeronestop.org/Toolkit/Training/find-licenses.aspx ↩︎

  5. Wisconsin Bureau of Apprenticeship Standards - Registered Apprenticeships: https://dwd.wisconsin.gov/apprenticeship/appr_stats/active_wtt.pdf ↩︎

Data sources

Figures on this page are sourced from the federal and state datasets below. Methodology: how we rank and source data.

DataProviderVintage
Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS)U.S. Bureau of Labor StatisticsMay 2025
Employment ProjectionsU.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics2024-2034
Integrated Postsecondary Education Data SystemNational Center for Education Statistics (IPEDS)2024
College Scorecard (school-level outcomes)U.S. Department of Educationlatest release
College Scorecard (field-of-study earnings)U.S. Department of Educationlatest release (updated 2026-06-12)
Occupational licensing requirementsCareerOneStop (U.S. Department of Labor)latest release (updated 2026-02-22)
Registered apprenticeship programsCareerOneStop / 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)