Welder
State-by-state licensing requirements, salary data, and career ROI
What Is a Welder?
Welders join metal parts together using heat, pressure, or both — working with techniques like MIG, TIG, stick, and flux-core welding. They work in manufacturing, construction, shipbuilding, pipeline, and aerospace industries. Welding certification is skill-based rather than degree-based: most welders earn AWS or ASME certifications by passing hands-on welding tests specific to the materials and positions they'll work with.
The Landscape
While the national median for welders is $51,000, salary distribution shows distinct regional patterns and surprising outliers. The highest earnings often cluster in states with specialized industrial demand or unique economic conditions. For example, Hawaii ($76,970) and Alaska ($75,140) top the list due to their isolated markets, high cost of living, and focus on demanding sectors like maritime, oil and gas, or infrastructure projects that require highly skilled, often certified, labor.
Similarly, states in the Northeast like Connecticut ($64,520) and Massachusetts ($61,710) show elevated median salaries, driven by established manufacturing and specialized construction needs. In contrast, many states across the Southeast and Midwest, like West Virginia ($47,000) or Alabama ($47,170), tend to fall below the national median, reflecting regional differences in industrial composition and overall cost of living.
A critical insight for aspiring welders is understanding what 'no license required' truly signifies in over 30 states. This typically means there isn't a general statewide occupational license for welders, but it absolutely does not imply an absence of professional standards or requirements. In practice, welders in these states will still frequently need specific certifications for specialized work—such as on boilers, pressure vessels, or structural steel—often mandated by industry bodies like AWS or ASME. So, while you might not need a state 'license,' project-specific certifications are almost always essential for securing higher-paying, specialized roles regardless of a state's general licensing stance.
Welder by State
Click any state for detailed requirements, salary percentiles, and ROI analysis.
| State | License Required | Median Salary | vs. National | Time to Complete |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | No | $47,170 | -7.5% | 9-12 months for certificate programs; 2 years for associate degree |
| Alaska | No | $75,140 | +47.3% | Varies depending on certification type and individual progress |
| Arizona | Yes | $53,770 | +5.4% | Varies (minimum 1-2 years experience for contractor license) |
| Arkansas | No | $47,100 | -7.6% | Varies (performance test is typically a few hours, training programs 6 months to 2 years) |
| California | No | $57,940 | +13.6% | Varies (weeks to years depending on certification and training) |
| Colorado | No | $57,200 | +12.2% | Certificate programs can be completed in 7 to 12 months; 1 to 5 years for trade school, community college, or apprenticeship. |
| Connecticut | Yes | $64,520 | +26.5% | 3-5 weeks for application processing; apprenticeship programs typically 2-4 years |
| Delaware | No | $56,510 | +10.8% | Not specified (certification process varies) |
| District of Columbia | Yes | $58,700 | +15.1% | — |
| Florida | No | $49,430 | -3.1% | Not specified (depends on training and certification path) |
| Georgia | No | $48,000 | -5.9% | Varies (training programs typically 6 months to 2 years; AWS certification process is performance-based) |
| Hawaii | No | $76,970 | +50.9% | — |
| Idaho | No | $49,190 | -3.5% | — |
| Illinois | No | $49,730 | -2.5% | 4-12 months for certificate program; 2 years for associate's degree |
| Indiana | No | $48,460 | -5.0% | Varies (e.g., 6-12 months for certificate programs, 1-5 years for apprenticeships) |
| Iowa | No | $49,450 | -3.0% | 1-5 years (depending on training path, e.g., trade school, community college, or apprenticeship) |
| Kansas | No | $49,040 | -3.8% | 1-5 years (depending on training path) |
| Kentucky | No | $49,260 | -3.4% | Varies depending on training and certifications sought (e.g., 6 months to 2 years for vocational programs, 3-4 years for apprenticeships) |
| Louisiana | No | $59,860 | +17.4% | Varies (e.g., 2 years for a technical diploma, 1-5 years for apprenticeship, 2-4 weeks for DOTD certification) |
| Maine | No | $58,340 | +14.4% | Varies (vocational programs typically 6 months to 2 years; certification testing a few weeks to months) |
| Maryland | No | $56,420 | +10.6% | Varies (e.g., 12 weeks for some programs, 1-5 years for apprenticeships) |
| Massachusetts | No | $61,710 | +21.0% | — |
| Michigan | No | $48,930 | -4.1% | 6-18 months for training, plus certification time |
| Minnesota | Yes | $58,730 | +15.2% | 1 week (processing time after passing exam) |
| Mississippi | Yes | $49,490 | -3.0% | Approximately 7 working days after passing exams and submitting a complete application |
| Missouri | No | $49,460 | -3.0% | Varies by certification; performance tests can be completed relatively quickly after training, while CWI requires 5+ years experience. |
| Montana | No | $51,280 | +0.5% | Varies (e.g., AWS CW performance tests can be maintained every 6 months; boiler operator licenses have varying experience requirements). |
| Nebraska | No | $50,550 | -0.9% | Varies (e.g., 6 months to 2 years for training programs, 3-5 years for apprenticeships) |
| Nevada | No | $59,370 | +16.4% | 1-5 years (for training and certification); 3-5 years (apprenticeship) |
| New Hampshire | No | $57,700 | +13.1% | Not specified (AWS certification process) |
| New Jersey | No | $59,630 | +16.9% | Varies (training programs can be 7-36 months; certification testing takes weeks to months) |
| New Mexico | No | $52,460 | +2.9% | — |
| New York | No | $57,230 | +12.2% | Varies (depends on obtaining AWS or NYSDOT certification and background investigation) |
| North Carolina | No | $49,860 | -2.2% | Varies depending on training program and certification type |
| North Dakota | No | $60,270 | +18.2% | Not specified |
| Ohio | No | $49,410 | -3.1% | Varies depending on training program and testing schedule; certification card typically received 2-3 weeks after AWS receives application and test results. |
| Oklahoma | No | $48,490 | -4.9% | — |
| Oregon | Yes | $58,590 | +14.9% | 2-4 weeks (application processing) + time for education and testing |
| Pennsylvania | No | $50,860 | -0.3% | 6 months to 2 years for training programs; certification test duration varies |
| Rhode Island | Yes | $57,000 | +11.8% | 3-5 weeks (application processing) |
| South Carolina | No | $49,120 | -3.7% | — |
| South Dakota | No | $48,340 | -5.2% | — |
| Tennessee | No | $47,280 | -7.3% | Varies depending on certification type and training program (e.g., AWS CW is performance-based with no prerequisites; vocational programs can be 6-12 months). |
| Texas | No | $49,830 | -2.3% | Varies (e.g., 9-10 months for some welding programs; certification test is performance-based) |
| Utah | No | $56,050 | +9.9% | 1-2 years for education program, plus certification time |
| Vermont | No | $57,520 | +12.8% | 3-5 weeks for application processing, 1-5 years for training and certification |
| Virginia | No | $57,350 | +12.5% | 6-12 months for a certificate program; 2 years for an associate's degree |
| Washington | No | $61,730 | +21.0% | 2-4 weeks (for processing after testing) |
| West Virginia | No | $47,000 | -7.8% | 1-5 years (depending on training path, e.g., trade school or apprenticeship) |
| Wisconsin | Yes | $55,630 | +9.1% | Not specified |
| Wyoming | No | $66,070 | +29.5% | Varies depending on certification and training |
Highest-Paying States for Welders
| # | State | Median Salary | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Hawaii | $76,970 | 570 |
| 2 | Alaska | $75,140 | 650 |
| 3 | Wyoming | $66,070 | 1,900 |
| 4 | Connecticut | $64,520 | 2,030 |
| 5 | Washington | $61,730 | 7,680 |
| 6 | Massachusetts | $61,710 | 3,080 |
| 7 | North Dakota | $60,270 | 2,720 |
| 8 | Louisiana | $59,860 | 12,360 |
| 9 | New Jersey | $59,630 | 3,300 |
| 10 | Nevada | $59,370 | 2,080 |
Find a Training Program
Compare welder programs at trade schools across the country — ranked by graduate earnings, ROI, and AI resilience.