As a welder, you will spend your workday joining metals using a variety of techniques and processes.
According to the United States Bureau of Labor Statistics, welders in Alabama earn $47,750 on average, as of May 2023.
Before being ready to start your welding career, the first step is to get your high school diploma or equivalent and then complete technical and on-the-job training that teaches you the skills needed for this profession.
During their training, students typically learn about:
- Materials used in welding and their application
- Welding Symbols
- Bevel two pieces of metal properly for a welding application
- Types of welding joints performed in pipe welding
- Welding Processes
- Welding Safety
- And more
Most programs teach the following processes:
- SMAW/Stick
- GTAW/TIG
- GMAW/MIG
- FCAW/Dual Shield
Program duration varies between a few months and a few years, depending on the school and the format you choose.
We invite you to read our list and choose the format that best meets your needs.
#1Coastal Alabama Community College
About the School
Coastal Alabama Community College offers programs and pathways in a variety of academic areas, including:
- General Studies
- Health Science
- Nursing
- Engineering
- Liberal Arts
- Electrical And Instrumentation
- And more
Courses Offered
The Welding program available at the college is four semesters long and leads to an Associate in Applied Science.
The competency-based program includes both theory and hands-on practical applications.
Instruction covers various processes and techniques of welding and cutting different types of materials.
The program is available at the Thomasville Campus, Monroeville Campus, Atmore Campus, and the Academy at the Fairhope Airport.
Students take classes such as:
- Shielded Metal Arc Fillet/OFC
- NCCER Core
- GTAW Carbon Pipe
- SMAW Carbon Pipe
- GTAW Stainless Pipe
- Computer Applications
- Industrial Blueprint Reading
- And more
Contact Information
- Address: 30755 Highway 43 South, Thomasville, AL 3678
- Phone: (334) 636-9642
- Website: https://www.coastalalabama.edu
#2Gadsden State Community College
About the School
Gadsden State Community College offers an 18 to 1 student to teacher ratio and more than 70 programs of study.
The programs require two years or less to complete and prepare graduates for direct entry into the workforce.
Gadsden State Community College is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges.
Courses Offered
The college offers a Welding Technology Certificate program that includes 59 credits and classes such as:
- SMAW Fillet/OFC
- SMAW Fillet/Pac/Cac
- Industrial Blueprint Reading
- GTAW Carbon Pipe
- GTAW Stainless Pipe
- Robotics Lab
- Consumable Welding Applications
- Flux Core Arc Welding
- Flux Core Arc Welding Lab
- And more
Contact Information
- Address: 1801 Coleman Road, Anniston, AL 36207
- Phone: 256-835-5400
- Website: https://www.gadsdenstate.edu
#3Weld South
About the School
Weld South helps students gain the skills and knowledge to become a Professional Certified Welder.
The school is located in Hoover, Alabama.
Courses Offered
The following welding courses are available at the school:
- Weld South’s Core- the Professional Welder Program
The program teaches the following processes:
- SMAW/Stick
- GTAW/TIG
- GMAW/MIG
- FCAW/Dual Shield
The program also includes the following cutting processes:
- OxyFuel Cutting
- Plasma arc cutting
As part of the completion of this program, students have to pass a welder performance qualification test that will provide them with the certifications that meet industry standards.
Contact Information
- Address: 113-D David Green Rd., Hoover, AL 35244
- Phone: (205) 381-8118
- Website: https://weldsouth.us
#4Jefferson State Community College
Jefferson State Community College offers two-year, college-level programs of study in career and professional programs.
The programs prepare students for occupational, semi-professional, or para-professional jobs.
Courses Offered
The Welding Technology program has a Technology Certificate and an AAS degree option.
The program allows students to earn industry-recognized welding certificates issued through the National Construction Center for Education & Research welding curriculum.
The course option list includes:
- NCCER Core Curriculum
- Principles of Welding & Metal Cutting Techniques
- SMAW Groove Plate
- Flux Core Arc Welding
- Intermediate College Algebra
- Welding Inspection and Testing Theory
- Gas Tungsten Arc Welding
- Blueprint Reading for Fabrication
- And more
Contact Information
- Address: 2601 Carson Road, Birmingham, AL 35215
- Phone: 888-453-3378
- Website: https://www.jeffersonstate.edu
#5Bevill State Community College
About the School
Bevill State Community College offers a Welding Technology program with the following options:
- Long-term Certificate
- Short-term Certificate
The certificate provides students with a foundation on which a rewarding career can be built.
Courses Offered
The following degree and certificate options are available:
- Associate in Applied Science Degree
- Long-term Certificate
- Fitting Short-term Certificate
- GMAW/FCAW Welding Short-Term Certificate
- Pipe Welding Short-term Certificate
- SMAW Welding Technology Short-Term Certificate
- Welding for Fitting Short-Term Certificate
The Long-Term Certificate includes courses such as:
- Industrial Blueprint Reading
- SMAW Fillet/OFC
- Gas Metal Arc/Flux Cored Arc Welding
- Shielded Metal Arc Welding Groove
- Boiler Tube
- And more
Contact Information
- Address: 1481 Military Street S, Hamilton, Alabama 35570
- Phone: 800-648-3271
- Website: https://www.bscc.edu
#6Central Alabama Community College
About the School
Central Alabama Community College offers a variety of programs, including numerous associate degree, certificates, and transfer pathways.
Workforce education is also available in multiple fields.
Courses Offered
The Welding program at Central Alabama Community College provides students with the skills and knowledge needed to join, cut, and shape metal materials using various techniques.
The program teaches, hands-on, processes such as MIG welding, TIG welding, stick welding, and arc welding.
Students also learn about blueprint reading, metallurgy, welding safety, and equipment maintenance.
The curriculum also covers welding tools, inspection techniques, and the ability to work with different metals and alloys.
Graduates have both the technical skills and industry knowledge necessary to excel in the welding profession.
Contact Information
- Address: 1675 Cherokee Rd. Alexander City, AL 35010
- Phone: 800-648-3271
- Website: https://www.cacc.edu
#7Wallace Community College
About the School
Wallace Community College offers a variety of career technical education programs, including a Welding Technology pathway.
The Welding Technology program prepares students for employment in the welding industry as plate and/or pipe welders.
The program includes a wide variety of welding experiences for plate and pipe welders.
Students can exit the program after two semesters with a certificate in plate welding or complete both plate and pipe welding and receive a program certificate as a combination welder.
The Welding program at Wallace Community College is an Accredited Training and Education Facility.
The Wallace and Sparks campus has been designated by the American Welding Society as an Accredited Testing Facility.
Courses Offered
Students take courses such as:
- SMAW Fillet
- Industrial Blueprint Reading
- GTAW Carbon Pipe
- GTAW Stainless Pipe
- Gas Metal Arc/Flux Cored Arc Welding
- SMAW Fillet/OFC Lab
- Consumable Welding Processes
- And more
Contact Information
- Address: 3235 South Eufaula Avenue, Eufaula, AL 36027
- Phone: 334.687.3543
- Website: https://www.wallace.edu
#8Fortis Institute
About the School
Fortis Institute offers a welding technology program designed to train individuals for entry into the field as industrial welders, welding apprentices, or check welders.
Instructors guide students in the mathematics needed and welding print reading to enhance their understanding of the basic requirements of the job.
Students also learn welding symbols as well as the methods of destructive and non-destructive testing used in welding.
To qualify for admission at Fortis Institute, in most cases, you must be a high school graduate or its equivalent.
Applicants are required to complete a personal information sheet.
During a personal interview with the school staff, applicants review their goals and receive help in finding the program that fits their needs.
Courses Offered
The welding program includes 960 contact hours and can be completed in 48 instructional weeks.
The curriculum includes:
- Introduction to Skilled Professions
- Applied Mathematics
- Principles of Welding Technology
- Welding Symbol Interpretation and Inspection
- Cutting Processes
- Shielded Metal Arc-Welding
- Flux Core Arc-Welding
- Gas Tungsten Arc-Welding
- And more
Contact Information
- Address: 100 London Parkway, Suite 150, Birmingham, AL 35211
- Phone: (205) 940-7800
- Website: https://www.fortis.edu
#9Wallace State
About the School
Wallace State offers the most up-to-date training in the welding field, according to its website.
The program can claim a 100 percent job placement rate.
Courses Offered
Available are both a Welding Technology- AAS Degree and a Certificate in Welding pathway.
The programs offer a series of courses that teach students the knowledge and practical hands-on skills in the following processes and equipment operation topics: industrial print reading, structural and pipe welding, weld inspection, and testing.
Students learn how to safely set up and perform welding and cutting on carbon steel, aluminum, and stainless steel using the following processes: SMAW, GMAW, FCAW, GTAW, Pulse MIG, Pulse TIG, STT, RMD, AC High Frequency TIG, and more.
The following degrees and certificates are available:
- Welding Technology- Associate in Applied Science
- Welding- Certificate
- Welding- SMAW Structural Welding & PAC/CAC- Short-Term Certificate
- Welding- GMAW/FCAW Welding & Industrial Blueprint- Short-Term Certificate
- Welding- GTAW Structural Welding & Inspection- Short-Term Certificate
The curriculum includes:
- Industrial Blueprint Reading
- Gas Metal Arc/Flux Core Arc Welding
- Carbon Steel Fabrication Methods
- Aluminum Fabrication Methods
- Welding Inspection and Testing
- Blueprint Reading and Fabrication
- Certification Lab
- And more
Contact Information
- Address: 100 London Parkway, Suite 150, Birmingham, AL 35211
- Phone: (205) 940-7800
- Website: https://www.fortis.edu
#10National Welding Academy
About the School
National Welding Academy offers state-of-the-art machinery, guaranteed to give students the best up-to-date training.
The school also includes traditional welding machines to ensure trainees can adapt and overcome everything they face in the field.
The courses are designed to take students through all things welding-related, from novice to advanced SMAW & GTAW pipe welding.
The school guarantees a proper teacher-to-student ratio to ensure the best training possible.
Courses Offered
The following career classes are available at the school:
- Basic SMAW and Oxy-Fuel Cutting
- Advanced Pipe SMAW
- GTAW Basic
- GTAW Advanced
- Advanced Pipe GTAW
- Pipe and Plate Combo
- GMAW/FCAW
- And more
Contact Information
- Address: 16487 Sawmill Rd, Moundville, AL 35475
- Website: https://www.natwelding.com
Schools Summary Table
Welding Average Salary in Alabama
Estimated Earnings Range:| Item | Percent |
|---|---|
|
$33K
|
|
|
$49K
|
|
|
$66K
|
Welding Salary by Metro Area in Alabama
| Metro Area | Employed | Avg. Annual | Avg. Hourly | Top 10% | Bottom 10% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Anniston-Oxford, AL | 420 | $54,900 | $26.39 | $67,350 | $37,710 |
| Auburn-Opelika, AL | 220 | $44,430 | $21.36 | $57,610 | $31,200 |
| Birmingham, AL | 2,170 | $51,660 | $24.84 | $72,250 | $36,680 |
| Daphne-Fairhope-Foley, AL | 200 | $49,280 | $23.69 | $79,680 | $27,670 |
| Decatur, AL | 550 | $51,410 | $24.72 | $81,230 | $28,480 |
| Dothan, AL | 310 | $46,290 | $22.26 | $59,370 | $35,530 |
| Florence-Muscle Shoals, AL | 160 | $44,730 | $21.50 | $66,680 | $32,080 |
| Gadsden, AL | 180 | $46,190 | $22.21 | $57,980 | $32,790 |
| Huntsville, AL | 1,940 | $45,090 | $21.68 | $61,360 | $36,100 |
| Mobile, AL | 1,570 | $58,230 | $28.00 | $69,950 | $39,190 |
| Montgomery, AL | 600 | $48,720 | $23.43 | $66,440 | $32,040 |
| Tuscaloosa, AL | 350 | $52,660 | $25.32 | $76,640 | $31,380 |
* Employment opportunities may differ based on your location.
Final Thoughts
Learning how to safely join pieces of metal together can lead to a fulfilling career, but before being ready to apply for your first job as a welder, you have to become equipped with the technical skills required for this profession.
Now that you have read our selection of the best welding programs in Alabama, it’s time to continue the research and choose the one that best meets your learning style and career aspirations.
