If you live in Minnesota and want to start a rewarding career in trades by combining technical skills and creativity, the welding profession is worth exploring.
The mean wage reported by Minnesota welders was $56,130, as of May 2023, according to the United States Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Welders who have many years of experience in the field can earn more than $70,000 per year, while entry-level welders start by making less than $45,000 annually.
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.
Although the curriculum can vary depending on the program duration and the credential it leads to, welding students typically learn about:
- Shop Math
- Materials used in welding
- Welding symbols
- Types of welding joints performed in pipe welding
- Welding processes
- Welding safety
- Weld quality testing
- And more
Most programs teach through a combination of classroom and hands-on training the following processes:
- SMAW
- GTAW
- GMAW
- FCAW
- 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 program that best meets your learning style, we have compiled a selection of the best welding schools in Minnesota, the programs they offer, the curriculum, and the costs.
#1Minnesota North College
Minnesota North College has six campuses located in northeastern Minnesota.
The fully-accredited, award-winning college offers a variety of Associate Degrees, transfer pathways, and certificate programs to help students start their careers in two years or less.
Courses Offered
The Welding program at Minnesota North College has the following options:
- 65 credits advanced diploma
- 33 credits entry diploma
- 12 credits certificate
The entry-level welding diploma program includes the following courses:
- Introduction to Shielded Metal Arc Welding
- Basic Shielded Metal Arc Welding Low Hydrogen Skills
- Shielded Metal Arc Welding Alloyed Metal Skills
- Introduction to Thermal Cutting Processes
- Flame Joining Processes
- Welding Mathematics
- Blueprint Reading
- Gas Metal Arc Welding
- Gas Tungsten Arc Welding
- And more
Contact Information
- Address: 1515 East 25th Street, Hibbing, MN 55746
- Phone: 218.403.9200
- Website: https://minnesotanorth.edu
#2Minneapolis College
About the School
Minneapolis College offers a Welding and Metal Fabrication program that provides students with the technical knowledge and hands-on skills needed to gain entry-level employment in manufacturing, construction, and various other industries.
The program offers a short-term 27-credit Welding certificate, which can be completed in just one year through either day or evening classes.
Classes are small, so students have the opportunity to receive a lot of one-on-one attention from instructors and hands-on learning experiences.
Courses Offered
The following award options are available:
- Welding and Metal Fabrication A.A.S.- a 60-credit program
- Welding and Metal Fabrication Diploma- a 45-credit program
- Welding and Metal Fabrication Certificate- a 27-credit program
The program has the following learning outcomes:
- Perform welder qualification tests
- Understand and safely utilize arc welding equipment
- Understand and safely utilize manual and automated shop fabrication equipment
- Interpret blueprints and welding symbols
- And more
Contact Information
- Address: 1501 Hennepin Avenue, Minneapolis, MN 55403
- Phone: 612-659-6000
- Website: https://minneapolis.edu
#3Anoka Technical College
Anoka Technical College offers multiple options in Welding education.
The Welding program consists of hands-on technical courses, specifically designed to develop exceptional welding skills using major welding processes that are vital to the industry.
Courses Offered
The following program options are available:
- Pipe Welder- Certificate
- Robotic and Laser Welding- Associate in Applied Science degree and Certificate options are available
- Welding Fabricator- Certificate
Students must earn a 2.0 GPA or higher to be eligible for graduation from this program.
The program prepares students for AWS certification.
Contact Information
- Address: 1355 West Highway 10, Anoka, MN 55303
- Phone: 763-433-1100
- Website: https://www.anokatech.edu
#4Minnesota State College Southeast
Minnesota State College Southeast offers students the opportunity to start a new career in nine months with a diploma in welding technology, or in just seven months through the spring/summer accelerated program.
Students get hands-on experience in the welding shop from day one.
Courses Offered
The following degrees in welding are available:
- Welding Technology Diploma- a 34-credit program
- Welding Technology Certificate- a 17-credit program
Diploma students become skilled in several welding and cutting procedures over the course of the year:
- Oxy-Fuel welding and cutting
- Stick welding
- Mig welding
- Tig welding
All students must complete a welding capstone, designing a project from concept through completion.
They also have the option to take an elective on-the-job internship.
After completing the program, students gain the skills to properly set up, complete, and pass the welding bend test to AWS D.1.1. standards.
The estimated total cost for a diploma is $8,982 and includes tuition/fees, minimum tools, and books/supplies.
Contact Information
- Address: 308 Pioneer Road, Red Wing, MN 55066
- Phone: 507-453-2700
- Website: https://www.southeastmn.edu
#5Hennepin Technical College
About the School
Hennepin Technical College provides a Welding and Metal Fabrication program that gives students the hands-on practice and detailed knowledge of welding technology.
The college is accredited through the Higher Learning Commission.
Hennepin Tech Foundation offers scholarships, workforce development programs, and collaborative initiatives that help students achieve their goals while driving economic growth and innovation.
Courses Offered
The following awards and certifications are available:
- Welding Diploma
- GMAW Production Welder Certificate
- GTAW Production Welder Certificate
- Robotic Arc Welding Certificate
- Structural Iron Fabrication & Repair Certificate
Contact Information
- Address: 9000 Brooklyn Boulevard, Brooklyn Park, MN 55445
- Phone: 952-995-1300
- Website: https://hennepintech.edu
#6Ridgewater College
Ridgewater College is a Minnesota community and technical college that offers nearly 100 educational programs in transfer and technical education.
The college has campuses in Willmar, Hutchinson, and online.
Courses Offered
The Welding program available at Ridgewater College prepares students with skills in:
- Blueprint reading and various layout methods
- MIG, TIG, and stick welding
- Fabrication processes
The following degree options are available:
- 16 credit certificate
- 32 or 64 diploma
- 72 credit degree
The Willmar campus offers all degree and award options, while the Hutchinson campus offers only one-year diplomas and certificates.
Program costs sum up to approximately $15,000 for an Associate Degree and to $3,400 for a Certificate.
Contact Information
- Address: 2 Century Avenue SE, Hutchinson, MN 55350
- Phone: 320-234-8500
- Website: https://ridgewater.edu
#7Lake Superior College
Lake Superior College offers high-quality academic programs, online offerings, and affordable tuition.
Tuition is $174.01 per credit, and additional fees bring the total cost to $197.68 per credit for on-campus programs.
Courses Offered
The Welding program available at Lake Superior College leads to a diploma and includes lots of hands-on lab work.
Graduates prepare for the welding certification exam.
The program includes 65 credits and can be completed in two years.
The program teaches the following skills:
- TIG welding
- MIG welding
- FCAW welding
- Welding equipment
- Blueprint reading
- Weld transfers
- Selection of metals
Contact Information
- Address: 2101 Trinity Road, Duluth, MN55811
- Phone: (218) 733-7600
- Website: https://www.lsc.edu
#8Century College
About the School
A two-year public community and technical college, Century College receives funding from the State of Minnesota, which allows it to keep tuition significantly lower than private colleges and universities.
Century College offers a Welding Certificate that prepares students for entry-level positions in the welding industry.
Students learn how to:
- Manipulate the power of fire and electricity to design and construct the metal products people use every day
- Join, cut, bend, and manipulate metal for industrial and artistic applications
- Work independently and in teams to troubleshoot and creatively solve a wide range of industry-based challenges
Century College is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission.
Contact Information
- Address: 3300 Century Ave N, White Bear Lake, MN 55110
- Phone: 651-444-2000
- Website: https://www.century.edu
#9Saint Paul College
About the School
Saint Paul College is a fully accredited, award-winning community and technical college.
The college offers a variety of Associate Degrees, transfer pathways, and certificate programs to help students jump-start their career in two years or less.
54 programs and more than 100 degrees and certificates are available.
Courses Offered
The Welding program at Saint Paul College leads to a diploma and includes training in TIG, MIG, and Stick welding with mild steel, aluminum, and stainless steel on various material thicknesses.
The program has a wide range of metal-working/fabrication equipment, including press brakes for bending metal, CNC plasma cutters for cutting metal, powered slip-roll, shears, punches, and more.
The diploma awards 48 credits and costs between approximately $11,000 and $15,700.
Contact Information
- Address: 235 Marshall Avenue, Saint Paul, MN 55102
- Phone: 651.846.1600
- Website: https://www.saintpaul.edu
#10Riverland Community College
About the School
Riverland Community College offers a 32-credit Welding program that gives students the opportunity to earn a Welding Diploma in two semesters.
Students have easy access to the equipment and tools of the trade.
They learn welding in various positions and joint design.
Hands-on experience and learning welding codes help students work toward becoming certified welders.
Students may maintain their jobs while taking classes.
Courses Offered
The following skills are covered by the program:
- Gas, Metal, Arc Welding I
- Gas Tungsten Arc Welding
- Gas Welding & Cutting
- Arc Welding
Contact Information
- Address: 1900 8th Avenue NW, Austin, MN 55912
- Phone: 507-433-0600
- Website: https://www.riverland.edu
Schools Summary Table
Welding Average Salary in Minnesota
Estimated Earnings Range:| Item | Percent |
|---|---|
|
$46K
|
|
|
$59K
|
|
|
$73K
|
Welding Salary by Metro Area in Minnesota
| Metro Area | Employed | Avg. Annual | Avg. Hourly | Top 10% | Bottom 10% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Duluth, MN-WI | 400 | $59,700 | $28.70 | $78,700 | $46,430 |
| Mankato, MN | 330 | $54,560 | $26.23 | $67,760 | $41,390 |
| Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI | 4,720 | $61,830 | $29.73 | $75,610 | $47,940 |
| Rochester, MN | 370 | $58,920 | $28.33 | $72,210 | $46,420 |
| St. Cloud, MN | 710 | $62,020 | $29.82 | $78,070 | $49,380 |
* Employment opportunities may differ based on your location.
Final Thoughts
If you live in Minnesota and you want to start a career in welding, the schools included in our list can get you employment-ready in less than a year.
Now that you have read our selection of the best welding programs in your region, it’s time to continue the research and choose the one that best meets your budget, learning style, and career aspirations.
