If you want to start a rewarding career in trades without spending four years in higher education, the welding profession is worth exploring.
The mean wage reported by Maine welders was $55,780 on average, as of May 2023, according to the United States Bureau of Labor Statistics.
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-level employment in this profession.
The programs take between a few months and two years to complete.
Although the curriculum varies depending on the program duration and the credential it leads to, welding students typically learn about:
- Blueprint reading
- Materials used in welding
- Welding symbols
- Types of welding joints performed in pipe welding
- Welding processes
- Welding safety
- And more
Programs are available for adults and high school students.
Most programs teach, hands-on, the following processes: SMAW, GTAW, GMAW, FCAW, and plasma cutting.
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 Maine and the programs they offer.
We invite you to read our list and choose the format that best meets your needs.
#1Great Bay Community College
Great Bay Community College offers over 50 degree and certificate programs, plus fast-track career programs.
Courses are offered during the day and evening, online and on campus, and give students the flexibility to build the schedule that works for them.
Courses Offered
The following welding programs are available at the college:
- Basic Welding Technologies
- Intermediate Welding Technologies
- Advanced Welding Technologies
The Basic Welding Technologies program includes six credit hours.
It consists of five lecture hours and three lab hours.
The Intermediate Welding Technologies program consists of six lab hours and three lecture hours.
The Advanced Welding Technologies program consists of six lab hours and three lecture hours.
Contact Information
- Address: 320 Corporate Drive, Portsmouth, NH 03801
- Phone: 603-427-7600 |1-800-522-1194
- Website: https://www.greatbay.edu
#2New England School of Metalwork
About the School
New England School of Metalwork is a non-profit educational facility devoted to the promotion and strengthening of metalworking skills.
The concept of the school was developed by Maine Oxy, a local welding distributor, and Dereck Glaser, a local artisan Metalsmith.
Courses Offered
The NESM Welding Program offers training in the following processes:
- SMAW
- GMAW
- GTAW
- FCAW
- Oxy-fuel and plasma arc cutting
- Carbon arc gouging
Classes never exceed twelve students.
The program covers both the technical and hands-on sides of welding.
Students learn about process theory and technique, electrode classification and use, gas selection, and troubleshooting.
The following welding classes are available:
- 13-week comprehensive welding program
- 13-week pipe welding program
- Welders took a bucket
- MIG Master class
- Intro to Aluminum
Contact Information
- Address: 7 Albiston Way, Auburn, ME 04210
- Phone: (207) 777-3375
- Website: https://newenglandschoolofmetalwork.com
#3People's Inclusive Welding
About the School
People’s Inclusive Welding offers a safe and supportive environment for underserved and underrepresented communities.
The school offers four to ten-week intensive courses.
The 10-week 320-hour welding program costs $5,000.
Students learn key positions, weld joints, and techniques for each of the four welding processes in accordance with AWS Structural Code D1.1.
They also learn how to set up, dial in, and troubleshoot welding machines for each process.
Alongside skill building, the school offers daily safety talks, equipment demonstrations, and jobsite tours.
The course runs for 32 hours a week for 10 weeks, Monday to Thursday from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Contact Information
- Address: 20 Park Ave, South Portland, ME, USA
- Phone: 207-370-2070
- Website: https://www.piwsopo.org
#4Southern Maine Community College
About the School
Southern Maine Community College offers two courses for those looking to learn welding:
- Introduction to Welding
- Mechanical Welding
The Introduction to Welding program focuses on the operation and safety of basic equipment associated with Shielded Metal Arc Welding, Gas Metal Arc Welding, and Oxy-Acetylene Cutting.
The Mechanical Welding program includes 60 hours of training that provides introduction, intermediate, or advanced instruction in mechanical TIG welding and includes combined classroom and hands-on lab instruction.
During their training, students work with a variety of metals, including aluminum, steel, and stainless steel.
The course includes a bend test.
Non-destructive testing is also included in the curriculum.
Contact Information
- Address: 2 Fort Road, South Portland, Maine 04106
- Phone: 207-741-5500
- Website: https://www.smccme.edu
#5Eastern Maine Community College
About the School
The Welding Technology program at Eastern Maine Community College offers students a modular-based curriculum that is available in a one or two-year format.
The curriculum includes technical courses in basic and pipe welding, and/or advanced welding.
The first-year welding curriculum offers training in basic and pipe welding techniques utilizing the shielded metal arc welding process.
The second-year curriculum offers training in advanced and pipe welding techniques utilizing the gas metal arc welding and gas tungsten arc welding processes.
The program combines technology theory courses with a variety of general education courses.
Math, communication, physical science, and social science courses are included in the program‘s curriculum.
Special courses in welding, metallurgy, and quality assurance/quality control are also required within the technology.
Contact Information
- Address: 354 Hogan Road, Bangor, Maine
- Phone: (207) 974-4600
- Website: https://www.emcc.edu
#6Northern Maine Community College
About the School
Northern Maine Community College offers a Structural Welding program that leads to a certificate.
The program is designed to prepare students for the American Welding Society structural welding qualification test numbers D1-SM-F4-P-A-L, a national certification.
During their time in the program, students learn about the materials being used in welding, hand and power tools needed for the job, safety in the workplace, and the correct procedures for the tasks designed.
Courses Offered
The following courses are included in the Welding program:
- Print Reading for Machinists & Welders
- Technical Mathematics
- Introduction to Welding
- Electric Welding
- Structural Welding
- Plasma Table Operations
- Industrial Safety
- Open Root Welding
- And more
Contact Information
- Address: 33 Edgemont Drive, Presque Isle, Maine 04769
- Phone: 207-768-2700
- Website: https://www.nmcc.edu
#7Somerset Career & Technical Center
About the School
If you want to follow a career and technical education program, Somerset Career & Technical Center gives you this opportunity.
Unlike traditional education, CTE programs allow students to explore real-world careers while earning certifications and college credit at little or no cost.
Courses Offered
Somerset Career & Technical Center in Skowhegan, Maine, offers a Welding Technology program that teaches the techniques students need to know when they weld different metals.
Students gain valuable skills and certifications that set them apart in the welding industry.
Two programs are available: one at the Madison Junior Senior High School and one at the Cianbro training facility.
Both programs train students in structural welding processes to prepare them to earn a welding certification through the American Welding Society.
The following certifications are available:
- OSHA 10
- NCCER
- Cianbro stick
- Carbon fluxcore
- Stainless fluxcore certifications
- AWS
Contact Information
- Address: 61 Academy Circle, Skowhegan, Maine 04976
- Phone: 207-474-2151
- Website: https://skowhegan.mainecte.org
#8Kennebec Valley Community College
About the School
The Welding program at Kennebec Valley Community College consists of a nine-month certificate.
The Welding Certificate program prepares graduates for employment as welders in a variety of industries.
Graduates become proficient in oxy-acetylene welding and cutting, arc welding, MIG, and fabrication.
Students have the opportunity to become American Welding Society certified when they successfully complete the tests that measure their welding skills.
They gain a foundation in multiple processes of welding.
Trained welders can find employment in manufacturing and repair shops, in construction firms, within the shipbuilding and aerospace industries, as well as in power plants, refineries, and many other industries.
Contact Information
- Address:92 Western Avenue, Fairfield, ME 04937
- Phone: (207) 453-5822
- Website: https://www.kvcc.me.edu
#9Hancock County Technical Center
About the School
Hancock County Technical Center offers an AWS-based Welding Technology I and a Welding Technology II course that addresses safety concerns and the value and widespread use of metals in manufacturing.
Students in Welding Technology I use the latest welding and cutting machine technology.
They learn skills in technical drawing, design, AC/DC welding, as well as MIG and TIG welding.
They experience gas welding, heating, forging, brazing, cutting with oxy- acetylene torches, as well as laying out designs and cutting them out with a plasma cutter.
The following credentials and certifications are included in the program:
- OSHA 10-Hour General Industry
- AWS Certification
The Welding Technology II program gives students the opportunity to continue to work on the same skills as year one, but at a more advanced level.
Contact Information
- Address: 112 Boggy Brook Rd, Ellsworth, ME 04605
- Phone: (207) 667-9729
- Website: https://www.ellsworthschools.org
#10United Technologies Center
About the School
Career and Technical education programs are also available at the United Technologies Center.
Among other paths, the United Technologies Center offers a Welding program that is provided in a state-of-the-art facility filled with students and adults who thrive in building a better world together.
During the program, students are immersed in the artistry of welding.
The following skills are developed in this program:
- Blueprint Reading
- Interpretation: types, drawing, weld symbols, fabrication drawings, and more
- OSHA training
- Safe and Effective Welding Techniques: SMAW, GMAW, FCAW, GTAW
- Oxi-Acetylene Torch and Plasma Cutter
- And more
Contact Information
- Address: 200 Hogan Road, Bangor, ME 04401
- Phone: (207) 942-5296
- Website: https://www.utc4me.org
Schools Summary Table
Welding Average Salary in Maine
Estimated Earnings Range:| Item | Percent |
|---|---|
|
$43K
|
|
|
$58K
|
|
|
$73K
|
Welding Salary by Metro Area in Maine
| Metro Area | Employed | Avg. Annual | Avg. Hourly | Top 10% | Bottom 10% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bangor, ME | 150 | $52,250 | $25.12 | $64,630 | $44,530 |
| Lewiston-Auburn, ME | 100 | $52,090 | $25.04 | $67,390 | $42,260 |
| Portland-South Portland, ME | 1,070 | $64,110 | $30.82 | $77,150 | $49,660 |
* 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 in construction, repair shops, manufacturing, and many other industries.
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 Maine, it’s time to decide if this is the path you want to pursue and which program best fits your needs.
