by our College Data Analytics TeamA degree in Welding Technology/Welder covers Welding Technology/welder. A Program That Prepares Individuals To Apply Technical Knowledge And Skills To Join Or Cut Metal Surfaces. Includes Instruction In Arc Welding, Resistance Welding, Brazing And Soldering, Cutting, High-Energy Beam Welding And Cutting, Solid State Welding, Ferrous And Non-Ferrous Materials, Oxidation-Reduction Reactions, Welding Metallurgy, Welding Processes And Heat Treating, Structural Design, Safety, And Applicable Codes And Standards. Examples: [Arc Welding], [Pipe Welding], [Wire Welding], [Industrial Welder], [Welder], [Metal Inert Gas (Mig) Welding], [Flux-Core Arc Welding], [Gas Metal Arc Welding], [Gas Tungsten Arc Welding], [Shielded Metal Arc Welding], [Structural Steel Welding], [Tungsten Inert Gas (Tig) Welding]. Read on to learn the key facts every welding technology/welder student should know — including career paths, salary data, the skills you will develop, and the best colleges offering welding technology/welder programs.
Nationwide, welding technology/welder is a popular field of study, with 57,768 degrees awarded annually.
Our 2026 Best Welding Technology/Welder Schools ranking analyzes these 902 schools to determine the best overall colleges for welding technology/welder students. Continue reading to check out one of our many unbiased rankings of welding technology/welder programs later in this article.
Studies in Welding Technology/Welder emphasize a specific mix of skills, knowledge, and abilities — derived from O*NET surveys of workers in the occupations welding technology/welder graduates commonly enter.
The skill set built by a welding technology/welder program reflects the day-to-day work of related occupations:
Per O*NET surveys, a welding technology/welder major emphasizes the following knowledge areas:
There are several welding technology/welder degree levels. The table below shows the typical length of the most common levels, and how many graduates earn each one.
| Degree | Typical Program Length | Graduates Annually |
|---|---|---|
| Certificate | Varies | 18,737 |
| Associate Degree | 2 years | 3,671 |
| Bachelor’s Degree | 4 years | 4 |
| Master’s Degree | 1-3 years | 29,707 |
People currently working in careers related to welding technology/welder tend to have obtained the following education levels.
| Level of Education | Percentage of Workers |
|---|---|
| High school diploma or equivalent | 42.8% |
| Postsecondary certificate | 23.7% |
| Less than a high school diploma | 21.3% |
| Some college courses | 10.8% |
| Associate’s degree (or other 2-year) | 0.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree | 0.5% |
See the chart below to get an idea of what level of education most of those in welding technology/welder careers hold.
Source: ONET Online education / training / experience requirements.*
Studying welding technology/welder opens doors to many career paths. These are some of the most common occupations related to welding technology/welder.
The following options are some of the most in-demand careers related to welding technology/welder.
| Occupation | Projected Jobs | Expected Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Welding, Soldering, and Brazing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders | 258,298 | 12.7% |
| Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and Brazers | 221,841 | -4.1% |
College Scorecard reports median earnings of welding technology/welder graduates 1, 4, and 5 years after completion. These numbers tend to grow as graduates gain experience.
| Years Out | Median Earnings |
|---|---|
| 1 year | $33,800 |
| 4 years | $39,416 |
| 5 years | $44,203 |
Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, field-of-study earnings tracker.
Salaries for welding technology/welder graduates vary widely by occupation. The following table shows the top highest-paying careers welding technology/welder grads often go into.
| Occupation | Median Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and Brazers | $60,230 |
| Welding, Soldering, and Brazing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders | $50,993 |
With 902 different welding technology/welder programs to choose from, finding the best fit can be a challenge. We have analyzed these schools to produce unbiased welding technology/welder school rankings to help you.
If you are interested in welding technology/welder, you may also want to explore other closely related fields of study within the same broad area.
| Related Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Machine Tool Technology/Machinist | 3,539 |
| Computer Numerically Controlled (CNC) Machinist Technology/CNC Machinist | 2,174 |
| Machine Shop Technology/Assistant | 1,634 |
| Metal Fabricator | 552 |
| Tool and Die Technology/Technician | 509 |
| Sheet Metal Technology/Sheetworking | 386 |
| Precision Metal Working, Other | 340 |
| Ironworking/Ironworker | 161 |
More about our data sources and methodologies.
