Mississippi is home to many trade schools that can prepare you for a new career in less than two years, through a combination of hands-on and classroom training.
Welding is one of the most sought-after skills that you can learn without spending four years in higher education.
The mean wage reported by Mississippi welders was $51,190 on average, as of May 2023, according to the United States Bureau of Labor Statistics.
This profession is projected to grow 2 percent over the next decade, with 45,600 new jobs projected.
Despite the limited job growth, good welders will continue to be needed in order to repair or replace aging infrastructure.
Their skills will also be in demand in manufacturing plants, although automation may limit their employment prospects in this industry.
Before being ready to apply for your first welding job, you have to learn how to:
- Read blueprints
- Interpret welding symbols
- Perform different types of welding joints
- Perform different welding techniques
- Follow safety procedures
- And more
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 Mississippi and the programs they offer.
We invite you to read our list and choose the format that best meets your needs.
#1Northwest Mississippi Community College
Northwest Mississippi Community College offers a variety of degree and non-degree programs, workforce training, and adult education classes.
Courses Offered
The Welding and Cutting program available at the college can be completed in two semesters and is available at the Senatobia and Batesville campuses.
The program leads to a career certificate in Welding and Cutting Technology.
The curriculum includes:
- Shielded Metal Arc Welding
- Gas Metal Arc Welding
- Flux Cored Arc Welding
- Carbon Arc Cutting
- Gas Tungsten Arc Welding
A day and evening program is available in Senatobia, while the Batesville campus offers day classes only.
The curriculum includes courses such as:
- Shielded Metal Arc Welding
- Cutting Processes
- Introduction to Welding & Safety
- Gas Tungsten Arc Welding
- Gas Metal Arc Welding
- Flux Cored Arc Welding
- Blueprint Reading, Welding Symbols, and Metallurgy
Contact Information
- Address: 4975 Highway 51N, Senatobia, MS38668
- Phone: (662) 562-3200
- Website: https://www.northwestms.edu
#2Delta Technical College
Delta Technical College offers hands-on training that prepares students with a valuable set of skills they can build on for a lifetime.
Courses Offered
The Welding training programs available at the college teach welding as well as pipefitting skills.
DTC offers two accelerated welding training options:
- Seven-month Welding program- a program available at the Horn Lake and Ridgeland
- Ten-month Welding & Pipefitting program- offered at the Horn Lake campus
The program includes hands-on training in a real shop environment.
Flexible daytime and evening class schedules are available.
Financial aid is available to all qualifying students.
Contact Information
- Address: 113 Marketridge Drive, Ridgeland, MS 39157
- Phone: 866-733-6652
- Website: https://www.deltatechnicalcollege.com
#3East Mississippi Community College
About the School
East Mississippi Community College offers welding training at its Golden Triangle and Scooba campuses, as well as West Point labs.
The college offers Industrial Welding- an introductory course in Shielded Metal Arc Welding, Gas Metal Arc Welding, and Flux Core Arc Welding.
This course is designed for those who want to get a basic understanding of these three welding processes.
The 40-hour course also covers welding safety, equipment, filler metal, and basic fillet welds on T-joints welded in the four welding positions.
Students may also participate in the following customized industry training courses:
- Pipe Welding
- Pipefitting
- Shielded Metal Arc Welding
- Gas Metal Arc Welding
- Flux-Core Arc Welding
Contact Information
- Address: 1512 Kemper St., Scooba, MS 39358
- Phone: 662.476.5000
- Website: https://www.eastms.edu
#4Hinds Community College
About the School
Hinds Community College provides a Welding and Cutting Technology program that prepares students for entry-level jobs in the welding industry.
Students learn shielded metal arc welding, gas metal arc welding, flux-cored arc welding, pipe welding, plasma arc cutting, carbon arc cutting, oxyfuel cutting, gas metal arc aluminum welding, and gas tungsten arc welding.
The program coursework also includes math, metallurgy, welding inspection, and destructive and non-destructive testing.
Courses Offered
The following degrees/certificates are available:
- Associate in Applied Science: 60-63 hours
- Career Certificate 30 hours
- Technical Certificate- 45-46 hours
For a career certificate, students complete courses such as:
- Shielded Metal Arc Welding
- Gas Metal Arc Welding
- Gas Tungsten Arc Welding
- Flux Cored Arc Welding
- Introduction to Welding and Safety
- Blueprint Reading, Welding, and Metallurgy
- And more
Contact Information
- Address: P.O. Box 1100, Raymond, MS 39154
- Phone: 800-HINDSCC
- Website: https://www.hindscc.edu
#5Pearl River Community College
About the School
Pearl River Community College is Mississippi’s first public two-year institution of higher learning.
For generations, the college has provided high-quality, affordable education.
The college has four campuses throughout Mississippi: Poplarville, Forrest County, Hancock, and Woodall.
Courses Offered
The college offers a variety of construction and manufacturing programs, including:
- Automotive Mechanics Technology
- Construction Equipment Operation
- Drafting & Design Technology
- Manufacturing Maintenance Technology
- Precision Manufacturing and Machining
- Welding and Cutting Technology
The Welding and Cutting Technology program leads to an Associate degree and teaches proper methods of welding and cutting with multiple processes currently used in the trade.
Students also learn how to apply safety procedures as per industry standards.
A Technical Certificate and Career Certificate option is also available.
Contact Information
- Address: 101 Highway 11 North, Poplarville, MS 39470
- Website: https://prcc.edu
#6Southwest Mississippi Community College
About the School
Southwest Mississippi Community College offers affordable academic and technical programs designed to meet students’ needs.
90 programs of study are available at the college.
Courses Offered
The Welding & Cutting Technology program is designed to prepare students for entry-level employment in the field of welding.
The curriculum includes:
- Shielded Metal Arc Welding
- Gas Metal Arc Welding
- Flux Cored Arc Welding
- Pipe Welding
- Plasma Arc Cutting
- Air Carbon Arc Cutting
- Gas Metal Arc Aluminum Welding
- Gas Tungsten Arc Welding
The following awards are available:
- Associate in Applied Science Degree- a four-semester program
- Certificate of Completion- a two-semester program
AWS Sense Certification is also offered.
Students need 31 credit hours for a Certificate and 62 credit hours for an Associate Degree.
Contact Information
- Address: 1156 College Dr, Summit, MS 39666
- Phone: 601.276.2000
- Website: https://www.smcc.edu
#7Mississippi Delta Community College
About the School
Mississippi Delta Community College offers a Welding program designed to develop skills in various methods of welding.
During the first semester, students are taught the use of the arc welder, oxyacetylene torch, and plasma arc cutter.
Classroom instruction is also provided in:
- Blueprint reading
- Welding metallurgy
- Welding theory
- Types of welding machines
During the second semester, students are taught the use of the MIG welder and tungsten inert gas techniques on both ferrous and non-ferrous materials.
Students learn flux core arc welding in all positions as well as welding inspection and testing principles.
Contact Information
- Address: PO Box 668, Hwy 3 & Cherry St., Moorhead, MS 38761
- Phone: 662-246-MDCC
- Website: https://www.msdelta.edu
#8Jones College
About the School
Jones College provides a Welding program that includes two, three, and four-semester options.
The following degrees are offered:
- Career certificate
- Technical certificate
- Associate in Applied Science
Students begin their training by learning elementary welding procedures and progress through advanced procedures.
In the more advanced courses, students are taught the use of:
- Metal Inert Gas
- Aluminum Welding
- Tungsten Inert Gas
- Welding on aluminum and stainless steel for special purposes
Contact Information
- Address: 900 South Court Street, Ellisville, MS 39437
- Phone: (601) 477-4000
- Website: https://www.jcjc.edu
#9Meridian Community College
About the School
Meridian Community College offers more than 40 Career and Technical Education programs, a University transfer program, Adult Education courses, workforce development, and more.
The well-rounded curriculum caters to a wide range of students, from those seeking to complete the first two years of college coursework to those eager to gain job-ready skills or upgrade their capabilities.
The Welding and Cutting Technology program at Meridian Community College prepares students for entry-level employment in the field of welding and cutting.
Students learn how to use the arc welder, oxyacetylene torch, and plasma arc cutter.
The program also covers:
- Blueprint reading
- Welding metallurgy
- Welding theory
Upon completing the program, students receive advanced NCCER and OSHA certifications.
The Welding and Cutting Technology program is offered as a 30-hour Technical Certificate program, a 45-hour Career Certificate program, and a two-year Associate of Applied Science degree program.
Contact Information
- Address: 910 Highway 19 North, Meridian, MS 39307
- Phone: 601.483.8241
- Website: https://meridiancc.edu
#10Holmes Community College
About the School
Holmes Community College offers a Welding and Cutting Technology curriculum designed to prepare students for entry-level employment in the field of welding and cutting.
Students develop skills in:
- Use of arc welders
- Oxyacetylene torches
- Plasma cutting machines
The program also covers gas tungsten arc welding techniques on both ferrous and nonferrous materials.
Classroom instruction is provided in blueprint reading, welding, welding theory, and welding machines.
The program leads to a Technical Certificate, an Advanced Technical Certificate, or an Associate of Applied Science Degree.
Tuition at the college is $160 per hour, while fees are $17 per hour.
Holmes Community College is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges to award associate degrees and certificates.
Contact Information
- Address: 412 West Ridgeland Avenue, Ridgeland, MS 39157
- Website: https://holmescc.edu
Schools Summary Table
Welding Average Salary in Mississippi
Estimated Earnings Range:| Item | Percent |
|---|---|
|
$35K
|
|
|
$51K
|
|
|
$63K
|
Welding Salary by Metro Area in Mississippi
| Metro Area | Employed | Avg. Annual | Avg. Hourly | Top 10% | Bottom 10% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gulfport-Biloxi, MS | 2,400 | $57,100 | $27.45 | $62,360 | $37,730 |
| Hattiesburg, MS | 170 | $48,180 | $23.16 | $63,080 | $36,790 |
| Jackson, MS | 440 | $55,940 | $26.89 | $72,230 | $37,780 |
* 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, 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 Mississippi, it’s time to decide if this is the path you want to pursue and which program best fits your needs.
