How to Become a Welder
Join and fabricate metal across construction, manufacturing, and energy, where certified skill travels well. It typically requires a postsecondary certificate, with a median salary of $53,750 per year and slower than average projected job growth.
Median pay
$53,750/yr
Middle half
$46,790 to $63,010
Job growth
Slower than average
Openings / yr
45,600
Majors that lead here
Common majors include Welding Technology, Manufacturing Technology.
Key skills
- MIG/TIG/Stick Welding
- Blueprint Reading
- Metal Fabrication
- Quality Inspection
- Safety Practices
Helpful certifications
- AWS Certified Welder
Is this career a fit?
Work-life balance
56/100
Stress level
55/100
Related careers
- Electrical Engineering Technician$78,190 median
- Mechanical Engineering Technician$74,510 median
- Civil Engineering Technician$64,950 median
- Wind Turbine Technician$64,120 median
- Plumber$63,800 median
- Electrician$63,190 median
Frequently asked questions
How much does a Welder make?
The median pay for a Welder is $53,750 a year, and the middle half of workers earn between $46,790 and $63,010 (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, May 2025). That covers everyone in the job, not only people starting out, so newer workers sit toward the lower end.
What degree do you need to become a Welder?
The usual entry point is a postsecondary certificate. Common majors are Welding Technology and Manufacturing Technology.
Is Welder a growing field?
Projected job growth for this role from 2024 to 2034 is slower than average (BLS projections via O*NET), with roughly 45,600 U.S. openings a year.
What skills does a Welder use most?
Common skills for this role are MIG/TIG/Stick Welding, Blueprint Reading, Metal Fabrication, Quality Inspection, and Safety Practices.
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Take the major quizWhere these pay figures come from
Career pay is the annual wage of everyone working in that occupation, not only recent graduates, so it includes people who have done the job for decades. The middle half is the 25th to the 75th percentile. U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics and O*NET OnLine (median and percentile annual wages May 2025; employment projections 2024-2034).
All figures are national. What you earn depends on where you work, who you work for, and how far you take the degree.
Job-growth figures: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics and O*NET OnLine (median and percentile annual wages May 2025; employment projections 2024-2034).