If you want to become a welder in the state of Idaho, we invite you to start your school research process by reading our selection of the top welding programs available in your state.
Idaho workers in this profession reportedly earned $47,750 on average, as of May 2023.
Before being ready to start your welding career, the first step is to complete technical and on-the-job training that teaches you the skills needed for entry into this profession.
During your training, you will typically learn about:
- Materials used in welding and their application
- Welding symbols
- Types of welding joints performed in pipe welding
- Welding processes
- Welding safety
- And more
Most programs teach, hands-on, 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.
To help you choose the format that best meets your learning style, we have compiled a selection of the best welding schools in Idaho and the programs they offer.
We invite you to read our list and choose the format that best meets your needs.
#1Idaho State University
About the School
Idaho State University offers a Welding program at its College of Technology.
The program prepares students who want to become successful in a variety of welding careers, from manufacturing to orbital welding.
The college has a welding lab that is very well equipped and a faculty with extensive backgrounds in welding professions.
Courses Offered
The following degree options are available:
- Associate of Applied Science Degree: Welder-Fitter- Fall
- Associate of Applied Science Degree: Welder-Fitter- Spring
- Advanced Technical Certificate: Welder- Fitter- Fall
- Advanced Technical Certificate: Welder- Fitter- Spring
- Intermediate Technical Certificate: Welder- Fitter- Fall
- Intermediate Technical Certificate: Welder- Fitter- Spring
- Specialized Certificate in Nuclear Welding
- Bachelor of Applied Science
Contact Information
- Address: 921 South 8th Avenue, Pocatello, Idaho, 83209
- Phone: (208) 282-4636
- Website: https://www.isu.edu
#2College of Western Idaho
About the School
The College of Western Idaho offers a Welding and Metal Fabrication program that provides in-depth training in key welding techniques.
The program covers Shielded Metal Arc Welding, Gas Tungsten Arc Welding, Gas Metal Arc Welding, and Flux Cored Arc Welding.
Students also master essential metalworking skills, including layout, cutting, and fabrication.
The program combines theoretical knowledge with extensive hands-on practice in the school’s state-of-the-art workshops.
Students learn from experienced professionals, gaining the skills to work on a wide range of projects, from industrial to metalwork.
The program takes one to two years to complete.
It is available at the Nampa Campus.
Students prepare for the American Welding Society industry-recognized certification.
Courses Offered
The following programs are available at the college:
- Welding and Metal Fabrication- Associate of Applied Science Degree
- Welding and Metal Fabrication- Basic Technical Certificate
- Welding and Metal Fabrication- Intermediate Technical Certificate
Contact Information
- Address: 5500 E. Opportunity Dr., Nampa, ID 83687
- Phone: 208.562.3000
- Website: https://cwi.edu
#3College of Eastern Idaho
About the School
College of Eastern Idaho offers a Welding Technology program designed to provide students with training in SMAW, GMAW, GTAW, and FCAW.
Students also learn various cutting processes such as oxy-fuel cutting, plasma arc cutting, and air carbon arc cutting.
They spend approximately two hours per day in the classroom and four and a half hours per day with hands-on training.
Related courses include blueprint reading, welding mathematics, layout and fabrication projects, metal identification, welding safety, and welding theory.
Courses Offered
The following program options are available:
- Associate of Applied Science
- Advanced Technical Certificate
- Intermediate Technical Certificate
Students take classes such as:
- Safety & Leadership
- Blueprint Reading for Welders
- Welding Theory
- SMAW Practical
- Welding Mathematics
- And more
Contact Information
- Address: 1600 S 25th E, Idaho Falls, ID 83404
- Phone: (208) 524-3000
- Website: https://www.cei.edu
#4North Idaho College
North Idaho College offers a Welding program that covers the fundamentals of metalworking and proper techniques while giving students the opportunity to gain hands-on opportunities to hone their skills and help them succeed and advance their welding careers.
Courses Offered
The following courses are available:
- Introduction to TIG Welding
- Introduction to MIG Welding
- Introduction to Stick Welding
- Introduction to Torch Cutting
- Blueprint Reading for Welders
The Introduction to TIG Welding course is designed to introduce students to the basic skills of gas tungsten arc welding.
Students learn the principles of setting up TIG welding equipment, proper tungsten selection, and shielding gases for this welding process.
The course also teaches the correct welding parameters for the material to be welded.
Contact Information
- Address: 525 Clearwater Loop, Post Falls, ID 83854
- Phone: (208) 769-3333
- Website: https://www.nic.edu
#5Pro-Weld Welding School
About the School
Pro-Weld Welding School offers students the training and experience they need to get a welding job.
Courses Offered
The following courses are available at the school:
- Welder Fabrication Course- $4,000
- Pipe Welding Course- $3,000
- GTAW- $4,000
- Pipe Welding Course0 $4,700
- Certification Only- $250 per test
The curriculum includes topics such as:
- Safety practices and procedures
- Blueprint interpretation
- Weld inspection and testing
- Oxyfuel Cutting
- Air Carbon Arc Cutting
- Gas Tungsten Arc Welding
- Shielded Metal Arc Welding
- Gas Metal Arc Welding
- And more
Contact Information
- Address: 918 South Impressions Ct, Nampa, ID 83686
- Phone: 208-249-4911
- Website: https://dcproweld.com
#6Lewis Clark State College
About the School
Lewis-Clark State College offers a Welding Technology program at its Lewiston campus.
The program is designed to provide training in a sequential pattern for various welding processes, including:
- Shielded metal arc welding
- Gas metal arc welding
- Flux-cored arc welding
- The use of plasma arc cutting equipment
The program produces skilled welders in the millwright, structural welding, and pipe welding areas.
Courses Offered
The following degree options are available:
- Welding Technology Associate- a 75-credit program
- Welding Technology Certificate- a 64-credit option
- Welding Technology Certificate- a 30-credit option
Contact Information
- Address: Reid Centennial Hall 114, 500 8th Avenue, Lewiston, Idaho 83501
- Phone: 208-792-2378
- Website: https://www.lcsc.edu
#7Cassia Regional Technical Center
About the School
Cassia Regional Technical Center offers a Welding program that is part of the Idaho Career and Technical Education’s Trades and Industry program field.
The full program is two years long.
Students gain two credits per semester:
- Welding I- 2 credits
- Welding II- 2 credits
- Welding III- 4 credits
The program is dual credit through the College of Southern Idaho.
Students also learn shop and welding safety, operation of a wide variety of shop equipment, including: metal shears, metal breaks, rollers, drill press, CNC plasma tables, cold saws, chop saws, grinders, and various other power and hand tools.
Students learn arc welding processes such as:
- SMAW
- GMAW
- GTAW
- Fabrication techniques using break, shear, roller, tubing, bender, and more.
Contact Information
- Address: 1143 West 16th Street, Burley, ID 83318
- Phone: (208) 878-6610
- Website: https://www.cassiaschools.org
#8College of Southern Idaho
About the School
The College of Southern Idaho offers training programs that provide students with the hands-on technical experience that prepares them for in-demand jobs.
Programs that provide high school students with the opportunity to earn college credits are also available.
Courses Offered
The Welding Technology program at the College of Southern Idaho is designed to help students develop the necessary mental and manipulative skills needed to enter the welding industry.
Students learn about all the modern welding applications using the latest equipment.
The following degrees and certificates are available at the college:
- Welding Technology, Associate of Applied Science
- Welding Technology, Basic Technical Certificate
- Welding Technology, Intermediate Technical Certificate
Students take classes such as:
- Blueprint Reading for Welders
- GMAW & FCAW
- GTAW
- Pipe Welding
- Sanitary Welding
- Structural Steel Welding
- And more
In total, students need 63 credit hours for an Associate’s Degree.
Contact Information
- Address: 315 Falls Avenue, PO Box 1238, Twin Falls, ID 83303-1238
- Phone: (208) 733-9554 | (800) 680-0274
- Website: https://www.csi.edu
#9Kootenai Technical Education Campus
Kootenai Technical Education Campus is a partnership between business and industry leaders, local school districts, and local manufacturers.
The branch campus provides tuition-free industry and business grade training for students in 11th and 12th grades, while offering dual enrollment credits, industrial certifications, and a new route through applied skilled learning.
Courses Offered
The Industrial Welding and Metal Fabrication program is a two-year program that is based on industry-standard AWS certification standards.
The program is designed to prepare students for entry-level employment as structural, pipe, and production welders.
It complies with the national standards established the AWS and is taught by an AWS certified welding instructor.
Welding Technology combines theory and applied shop practices and is designed to develop welding skills, including:
- Oxy-acetylene cutting
- SMAW
- GMAW
- GTAW
- Blueprint reading
- Layout procedures
- Metallurgy and safety
Contact Information
- Address: 6838 W. Lancaster Rd. Rathdrum, ID 83858
- Phone: (208) 712-4733
- Website: https://www.ktectraining.org
#10Boise State University
About the School
Boise State University offers a Welder Technician program that is an intensive overview of skills relating to welding techniques.
The program covers the basic principles of metal cutting and rigging, as well as safety guidelines and manufacturing management.
Students learn:
- Welding Safety, Processes, and Applications
- Troubleshooting
- Inspection Methods
- Metallurgy
- Rigging
- Fabrication Processes
Students have access to video-based simulation labs for virtual hands-on experience.
The syllabus covers:
- Abrasives
- Fasteners
- Inspection
- Lean
- Materials
- Mechanical Systems
- Metal Cutting
- Quality
- Rigging
- Shop Essentials
- Soldering
- Supervisor Essentials
- Welding
- Workforce Essentials
- Virtual Labs/Simulations
Contact Information
- Address: 220 E Parkcenter Blvd, Boise, ID 83706 US
- Phone: 855.520.6806
- Website: https://careertraining.boisestate.edu/training-programs/welding-technician
Schools Summary Table
Welding Average Salary in Idaho
Estimated Earnings Range:| Item | Percent |
|---|---|
|
$38K
|
|
|
$51K
|
|
|
$65K
|
Welding Salary by Metro Area in Idaho
| Metro Area | Employed | Avg. Annual | Avg. Hourly | Top 10% | Bottom 10% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Boise City, ID | 1,330 | $51,590 | $24.80 | $65,150 | $38,990 |
| Coeur d'Alene, ID | 260 | $51,790 | $24.90 | $61,200 | $38,970 |
| Idaho Falls, ID | 200 | $53,500 | $25.72 | $84,500 | $37,530 |
| Lewiston, ID-WA | 240 | $55,190 | $26.53 | $60,560 | $46,680 |
| Pocatello, ID | 220 | $55,430 | $26.65 | $69,600 | $40,100 |
| Twin Falls, ID | 240 | $49,010 | $23.56 | $66,530 | $37,220 |
* Employment opportunities may differ based on your location.
Final Thoughts
As a welder, you will spend most of your workday joining pieces of metal together using a variety of welding techniques.
The schools included in our list are designed to equip students with the real-world skills needed for this profession.
We invite you to read our list and apply for the program that best meets your learning style and career aspirations.
