Welding is one of the few skilled trades where you can prove you’re qualified with a single hands-on test, without years of classroom study. What you can weld, not what degree you hold, decides whether you’re hired. If you’re wondering how to become a welder, here’s how the training works, what certification actually means, and what the job pays according to official data.
Welding in numbers
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), welders, cutters, solderers and brazers held about 437,700 jobs in 2025 and earned a median of $53,750 a year ($25.84 an hour) in May 2025. The lowest-paid 10% earned under $39,240, while the top 10% made more than $77,530.
Employment is projected to grow only 2% from 2025 to 2035, slower than average. That sounds discouraging, but the BLS still expects about 40,300 openings a year, mostly to replace welders who retire or change jobs. The number of openings, not the growth rate, is what matters when you’re looking for your first position.
How to become a welder in four steps
Step 1: Learn the basics
Most welders start with a high school diploma or equivalent, then add technical training. The BLS lists several routes: courses at vocational schools and community colleges, apprenticeships, and training provided by employers. High school shop classes in math, blueprint reading and metalworking give you a head start.
A school program isn’t strictly required, but it’s the fastest way to get supervised practice time, often called “hood time,” on several welding processes. Short certificate programs can take a few months; longer ones, including associate degrees, cover metallurgy, inspection and more advanced processes. If you’d rather earn while you learn, look for an apprenticeship with a manufacturer, a pipeline contractor or a union. Our guide on how paid apprenticeships work explains how to find one.
Step 2: Get comfortable with the main processes
“Welding” covers several techniques, and job ads usually ask for specific ones. These are the four you’ll hear about most:
| Process | Common name | Where it’s typically used |
|---|---|---|
| Shielded metal arc welding (SMAW) | Stick | Construction, repair and outdoor work; simple, portable equipment |
| Gas metal arc welding (GMAW) | MIG | Manufacturing and fabrication; fast and easier to learn |
| Flux-cored arc welding (FCAW) | Flux-core | Structural steel and heavy fabrication, including outdoors |
| Gas tungsten arc welding (GTAW) | TIG | Precise work on thin metals, stainless steel and aluminum; slower and harder to master |
Beginners often start with MIG because it’s the easiest to pick up, but stick and TIG skills tend to open doors to better-paid structural, pipeline and specialty work.
Step 3: Get certified
Welding certification is different from most credentials. The best-known program, the AWS Certified Welder program from the American Welding Society, has no written test. Instead, you go to an AWS Accredited Test Facility and make a weld following a specific welding procedure, under conditions meant to reflect real jobs. A Certified Welding Inspector then checks your test piece against the acceptance criteria.
Three things to know about it:
- You certify for something specific, such as a process, position and material, often tied to a code like structural steel or pipeline welding. Many welders hold several certifications.
- You have to keep it active. AWS requires you to submit maintenance paperwork every six months confirming you’re still using the process you’re certified in.
- Prices vary by test facility, so call around. Many employers also test new hires in-house to their own procedures, and some pay for outside certification.
The BLS notes that some states also require welders to hold a license for certain work, so check your state’s rules.
Step 4: Choose where to work
Manufacturing employs 63% of welders, but it isn’t where the pay is highest:
| Industry | Share of jobs | Median pay (May 2025) |
|---|---|---|
| Manufacturing | 63% | $51,210 |
| Specialty trade contractors | 8% | $59,440 |
| Repair and maintenance | 4% | $56,080 |
| Self-employed | 4% | Not reported |
Contractors in construction and similar work pay more on average, and specialized fields such as pipeline and underwater welding can pay well above the median, often with travel, long shifts and demanding conditions. Factory jobs usually offer steadier hours and a fixed location.
The downsides to consider
Welding is physical and can be hazardous. The BLS notes that welders may work outdoors in any weather or indoors in confined spaces, and they’re exposed to fumes, extreme heat and intense light, which is why helmets, gloves and ventilation are essential. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) publishes safety guidance on welding hazards worth reading before you start. Some jobs also involve overtime or shift work.
If you like the idea of working with your hands but want a trade with faster growth or a higher pay ceiling, compare welding with the trades in our guide to electrician vs. HVAC vs. plumber, or use our guide on how to choose a trade to weigh your options. Welding certification is also covered in our list of quick certifications that pay well.
Last reviewed October 4, 2026. Sources: BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook (May 2025 wage data, 2025–35 projections); American Welding Society; OSHA. Certification rules and costs vary by test facility and employer.