How to Become a Welder

Welders join metal for pipelines, ships, bridges, factories and buildings. You can start with a high school diploma and a welding program that takes 7 months to 2 years, then build your skills and certifications on the job. The work is physical and precise, and good welders who can pass a weld test are in steady demand.

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Updated October 2026

5 steps to become a welder

  1. Finish high school or get your GED

    Most employers and welding schools want a high school diploma or GED. Shop class, math, and blueprint or drafting courses help a lot. If your school offers a welding class or a career and technical education (CTE) program, take it.

  2. Complete a welding training program

    A certificate or diploma program at a trade school or community college teaches stick (SMAW), MIG (GMAW), flux-core (FCAW) and TIG (GTAW) welding, plus cutting, blueprint reading and shop safety. Programs typically run 7 months to 2 years. Look for one that puts you in the booth for most of your class time.

  3. Practice positions and pass a weld test

    Employers hire based on what you can do, so you will practice flat, horizontal, vertical and overhead welds on plate and, later, pipe. Most jobs require you to pass a weld test, where an inspector bends or cuts your sample to check for defects. Passing a test under a recognized code, such as AWS D1.1 for structural steel, is a big step.

  4. Get hired as an entry-level welder or helper

    First jobs are often in fabrication shops, manufacturing plants or as a welder's helper on construction sites. You may start on simpler welds and grow into harder work as you prove yourself. Some union trades, like pipefitters, ironworkers and boilermakers, also offer paid apprenticeships that include welding.

  5. Add certifications and specialize

    Each new process, position or code you certify in makes you more valuable. Pipe welding, combination (TIG and stick) welding and code work on pressure vessels usually pay more. With experience, you can move into inspection, supervision or your own mobile welding business.

What does a welder do?

A welder uses heat to join pieces of metal so they act as one solid part. That sounds simple, but doing it right means choosing the correct process, rod or wire, heat setting and technique for the metal and the job. A bad weld can crack under pressure, so good welders are careful and consistent.

On a normal job, a welder reads blueprints and weld symbols, measures and fits parts together, cleans and preps the metal, then welds it in place. Afterward they check the weld, grind it smooth if needed, and fix any defects. Many welders also cut metal with torches or plasma cutters.

Common tools include stick, MIG and TIG welding machines, grinders, plasma cutters, oxy-fuel torches, clamps, levels and measuring tools. Protective gear is part of the job: a welding hood, gloves, flame-resistant clothes, safety glasses and steel-toe boots.

Welders work in many places:

  • Fabrication and machine shops
  • Factories that build vehicles, equipment or appliances
  • Construction sites, bridges and steel buildings
  • Pipelines, refineries and power plants
  • Shipyards and repair yards

A typical day

  • Review the blueprint or work order and gather materials
  • Set up the machine and check gas, wire and ground connections
  • Fit and tack parts in place, then run the final welds
  • Inspect welds, grind, and repair any flaws
  • Clean the work area and log completed work

Is welding a good career?

Welding is a solid choice if you like working with your hands and want a skill you can take almost anywhere. Here is an honest look.

Pros

  • According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, welders earn a median of $53,750 a year ($25.84 an hour).
  • About 40,300 job openings are expected each year, mostly as experienced welders retire.
  • You can start school with just a high school diploma, and programs are fairly short.
  • Your skill is portable. Welders are needed in many industries and in every state.
  • There is room to grow into pipe welding, inspection, supervision or your own business.

Cons

  • Overall job growth is slow, projected at 2% from 2025 to 2035, so competition for the best jobs can be real.
  • The work is physical and can be hot, loud and dirty.
  • Fumes, sparks and UV light are real hazards that demand safe habits.
  • Some of the highest-paying work means travel, long shifts or outdoor conditions.

Trade school vs. apprenticeship

Most new welders start with a trade school or community college program. A typical program runs 7 months to 2 years and costs about $5,000 to $20,000, though cost varies by school and by how many processes you learn. Shorter programs focus on one or two processes. Longer programs, including associate degrees, add pipe welding, metallurgy and more test prep.

The big advantage of school is booth time. You get to burn rod every day with an instructor checking your work, which is the fastest way to get good enough to pass a weld test.

Apprenticeships are the other path. Welding by itself is rarely a standalone union apprenticeship, but trades like pipefitting, ironwork, boilermaking and sheet metal teach welding as part of a paid, multi-year apprenticeship. These are competitive and may have waitlists. Some large manufacturers and shipyards also run their own paid training programs.

Many welders mix the two: they finish a short program, pass a weld test, then use that skill to get into an apprenticeship or a shop that trains them further.

Specializations and where they lead

  • Structural welding. Steel buildings, bridges and heavy equipment. A common starting point, often tested to the AWS D1.1 code.
  • Pipe welding. Welding pipe in all positions, including the tough 6G test. Pipe welders work in refineries, power plants and pipelines and usually earn more.
  • TIG and specialty metals. Precise work on stainless steel, aluminum and thin metals for food plants, aerospace and racing.
  • Underwater welding. Requires commercial diver training on top of welding skills. It pays well but is demanding and risky.
  • Inspector or supervisor. With experience, you can become a Certified Welding Inspector, a shop foreman, or start a mobile welding and repair business.

How to choose a welding school

The right school gets you into the booth often and prepares you for real weld tests. Ask these questions before you sign up:

  • Is the school accredited, and is it eligible for federal financial aid (FAFSA)? Accreditation affects aid, credit transfer and how employers view your training.
  • How many hours will I actually weld? Ask for the split between classroom time and hands-on booth time. More booth time is better.
  • Which processes and positions do you teach? Make sure stick, MIG, flux-core and TIG are covered, and ask whether pipe welding is included.
  • Do you prepare students for AWS certification testing? Ask if the school is an AWS Accredited Test Facility or partners with one, and whether test fees are included.
  • What equipment and materials will I use? Modern machines and plenty of practice metal matter. Ask if you have to buy your own hood, gloves and tools.
  • How big are the classes? Smaller groups mean more one-on-one feedback from instructors.
  • What job placement help do you offer? Ask which local shops and contractors hire graduates and how many students find welding work after finishing.

Certifications and licenses

  • AWS Certified Welder

    A performance-based test from the American Welding Society, taken at an AWS Accredited Test Facility. You certify for a specific process, position and material, and you keep it active by welding regularly and keeping your records up to date.

  • ASME Section IX and API 1104 qualifications

    Code qualifications used for pressure piping, boilers and pipelines. They are usually tested and issued through an employer or project, so they matter most once you are working in pipe or energy jobs.

  • AWS Certified Welding Inspector (CWI)

    A step up for experienced welders who want to inspect and approve welds instead of making them. It requires work experience plus a multi-part exam.

  • OSHA 10 or OSHA 30

    Short safety courses that many construction and industrial employers expect. Some welding programs include OSHA 10 as part of the training.

Where welders earn the most

  1. Alaska$80,840
  2. Hawaii$79,000
  3. Connecticut$64,880
  4. Wyoming$63,820
  5. Washington$63,020

Welder salary in every state

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Welder FAQ

How long does it take to become a welder?

Most welding programs take 7 months to 2 years, and some short certificates are faster. After that, expect a few years of on-the-job experience before you are trusted with complex code work. Many welders are earning a paycheck within a year of starting school.

Do welders make good money?

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the median pay for welders is $53,750 a year, or $25.84 an hour. Pay rises with skill, certifications, overtime and travel. Pipe welders and welders willing to work on the road often earn well above the median.

Is welding school worth it?

For most people, yes. Programs typically cost $5,000 to $20,000, depending on the school, and you graduate with booth hours and test prep that employers want to see. Before you enroll, ask how many hours you will actually weld and whether the school helps you test for AWS certification.

Can I become a welder with no experience?

Yes. Welding programs are built for beginners, and you need only a high school diploma or GED to start. Some employers will train helpers on the job, but you will usually move faster with formal training and a passed weld test.

Is welding hard on your body?

It can be. You may work in hot, loud or cramped spaces, bend or kneel for long periods, and wear heavy protective gear. Good ventilation, proper PPE and safe habits learned in school go a long way toward a long, healthy career.

How many welding jobs are there?

The BLS counts about 437,700 welding, cutting, soldering and brazing jobs in the U.S. Overall growth is projected at 2% from 2025 to 2035, but there are still about 40,300 openings a year, mostly from workers retiring or leaving the field.

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