Welder, Cutter, Solderer, or Brazer
Trades/Construction · $47,540 median · 8–156 weeks training · Structurally ineligible for Workforce Pell
How we know this
The wage and outlook figures are verified against the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. We show our sources so you can check every number yourself.
Wages
Earnings by career stage
range · estimatedResearched estimates by experience level, setting, and region — see the full breakdown below. The BLS median is the one figure verified directly against bls.gov.
Pay by stage & setting
- Entry welder helpers $32-42K at general fabrication shops
- Experienced general welder $42-58K
- Certified structural welder (AWS D1.1) $52-75K
- Specialty welders (TIG, pipe, underwater, aerospace) $65-105K+
- Senior pipe welder on industrial/petrochemical projects $85-130K with significant overtime
- Rig welder (oil/gas, owner of own equipment) $90-160K+ in field conditions
- Underwater welder (rare specialty) $80-200K+ depending on conditions
- Welding inspector (CWI) $85-115K transitioning out of physical welding. AWS certifications are the primary credential — D1.1 structural, D1.5 bridge, D1.2 aluminum, all command premiums. Boilermakers and specialty pipe welding are highest-paying specialties.
Workforce Pell eligibility
Not eligible for Workforce Pell
Training
That's a wide span on purpose: you can start working after a short pre-apprenticeship or entry course, while the longer figure reflects a full apprenticeship. The career ladder below breaks the journey into steps.
Ways in
Paid, on-the-job training combined with classroom hours — you get a wage from day one instead of paying tuition.
Common sponsors: Ironworkers, Boilermakers, Pipefitters (UA welding tracks), ABC, individual employers
An associate degree or certificate — usually the fastest accredited credential, far cheaper than a four-year school, and often Workforce Pell–eligible.
Credentials you'll earnwith typical prep time
Certified Welder (per process, e.g., D1.1 Structural Steel)
American Welding Society (AWS)
Most-recognized welding certification. Specific code certs (D1.1 structural, D17.1 aerospace, etc.) commanded by job type.
Source ↗OSHA 10 (General Industry or Construction)
OSHA-authorized trainer
Cost vs. payoff
Cost vs. payoff
- Training cost
- $1,500–$25,000
- Time to start earning
- ~8 weeks
- Pays for itself in
- about 6 months
- Typical debt
- ~$30,000
- Time to start earning
- ~4 years
- Pays for itself in
- varies widely
We're not anti-college — for many careers a degree is the right call. But the honest gap is real: this path starts paying while a 4-year student is still accumulating cost. Degree figures are a national reference (average borrower debt ~$29–38K; sources vary), not a guarantee for any specific school or major.
Getting started — your first moves
- 1
Find an apprenticeship
Apply to a registered apprenticeship — you earn a paycheck from day one while you train, instead of paying tuition.
- 2
Earn your first credential
Study for and pass the Certified Welder (per process, e.g., D1.1 Structural Steel).
- 3
Get hired and grow
Land an entry role and start building experience — pay climbs as you move up the career ladder above.
See it where you live
The figures above are national. Pay and programs vary a lot by state — pick yours and we'll send you straight to the official local data, no guessing.
Career ladder
Welder Helper / Entry Welder
Entry$35,000Entry; fabrication shop work; learning curve 6-12 months
Training: Community college welding program (12-26 weeks) + NCCER Core + AWS basic welder qualification
Certified Structural Welder
Year 2$55,000Certified welder commands premium; D1.1 is the foundational structural cert
Training: AWS D1.1 structural cert (industry standard) + 2 years shop experience
Specialty Welder (TIG, Pipe, Aerospace)
Year 5$75,000TIG, pipe welding, aerospace specialty: 30-50% wage premium over general welding
Training: AWS specialty certs (D1.2 aluminum, D1.5 bridge, ASME B31 pipe) + advanced positions (6G, all-position)
Senior Pipe Welder OR Welding Inspector (CWI)
Year 10$95,000CWI transitions out of physical welding into inspection/QC at ~$95-115K; senior pipe welders at petrochemical sites $100-145K with overtime
Training: Senior pipe welding at industrial sites OR AWS CWI (Certified Welding Inspector) exam
State licensure
No state-specific licensure requirements documented in corpus.
Data limitations
- • BLS OEWS May 2025 per-MSA and per-state welder wage tables not yet inspected
- • Individual Ironworkers and Boilermakers Local application windows not directly verified
- • Specialty wage data (pipeline, underwater, nuclear) not separately quantified
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