Welders fuse metals together using torches and welders to build, repair, and fabricate metal structures.
Although tasks vary depending on the industry of employment, a welder’s job description typically includes:
- Reading blueprints
- Preparing materials
- Joining metals
- Performing weld inspections for quality and strength
- Maintaining equipment
They also have to know and follow safety protocols.
As a worker in this profession, you can expect to earn anywhere between less than $40,000 and more than $75,000
Before being ready to perform all the above tasks, you have to complete some specialized training at a trade school or community college.
Classes take between a few months and two years to complete, depending on the credential you are targeting.
Costs also vary, but many schools offer financial aid options to students who qualify.
That being said, if this career path sounds interesting to you, we invite you to read our selection of the best welding schools in New Hampshire.
#1Advanced Trade School
About the School
Advanced Trade School helps students build an essential future today.
Students learn about fuel gas, HVAC, plumbing, and welding.
The school offers welding camps for kids, introductory courses, and MIG and TIG welding courses.
Courses Offered
The Introduction to Welding course covers the following topics:
- Oxy/Acetylene Cutting
- Plasma Cutting and Gouging
- Shielded Metal Arc Welding
- Gas Metal Arc Welding
During class, students understand the safety aspects of welding, the theory behind the processes, and how to execute the processes effectively.
The class consists of 10-15% of classroom lectures and 85-90% hands-on training to maximize the amount of skills training.
Contact Information
- Address: 35 Route 125, Unit 1C, Brentwood, NH 03833
- Phone: 603-785-2491
- Website: https://www.advancedtradeschool.com
#2Manchester Community College
About the School
Manchester Community College offers a Welding Technology, Associate in Applied Science degree, and two certificate options:
- Welding Technology Certificate
- Welding Technology Professional Certificate
Courses Offered
The Welding Technology Certificate includes the following courses:
- Fundamentals of Welding
- Gas and Arc Welding Lab
- Gas and Arc Welding Theory
- Technical Blueprint Reading
- MIG and TIG Welding Laboratory
- MIG and TIG Welding Theory
- Blueprint Reading for Welders
In total, students need 21 credits for a certificate.
Completion of this program fulfills some of the academic program’s first-year credit requirements and can be applied toward the two-year degree.
Contact Information
- Address: 1066 Front Street, Manchester, NH 03102
- Phone: (603) 206-8000
- Website: https://mccnh.edu
#3New England Trade School
About the School
New England Trade School is an online trade school dedicated to preparing students for a successful career in high-demand trades.
The school offers a variety of hands-on, career-focused programs that help students gain the skills and certifications they need in weeks, not years.
Courses Offered
The following programs are available at the school:
- HVAC
- Appliance Repair
- Facility Maintenance
- Commercial Refrigeration Program
- Building Automation Systems
- Mini-Splits Program
- NATE Heat Pump Certified Technician Program
- NATE Air Conditioning Certified Technician Program
- NATE Oil Certified Technician Program
Contact Information
- Address: 25 Roxbury St Ste 116 Keene, NH 03431
- Phone: 508-456-9498
- Website: https://newenglandtradeschool.com
#4Great Bay Community College
About the School
Great Bay Community College offers a Welding Technologies program that leads to a Certificate.
This certificate provides students with the ability to meet the needs of entry and intermediate skill levels to acquire sustainable jobs in welding.
Graduates may be proficient in the use of welding equipment, setup, and operation for the five major processes: MIG, TIG, Stick, Oxy-fuel, and plasma, as well as FCAW, Aluminum– TIG, spool guns, etc.
The curriculum also provides a solid range of welding theory, blueprint reading, electricity, and fabrication techniques.
Those who complete the program are also prepared for AWS Certification Testing.
The program is offered in the evening and consists of three consecutive semesters.
Students need 18 credits to complete the program.
The curriculum includes:
- Basic Welding
- Intermediate Welding
- Advanced Welding
Contact Information
- Address: 320 Corporate Drive, Portsmouth, NH 03801
- Phone: 603-427-7600 |1-800-522-1194
- Website: https://www.greatbay.edu
#5White Mountains Community College
About the School
White Mountains Community College offers training programs in Berlin and Littleton, New Hampshire.
Among many other programs, the college provides an Advanced Welding Technology curriculum that leads to a Certificate.
Courses Offered
The curriculum includes the following courses:
- Blueprint Reading
- Math for Welders
- Fundamental Welding Safety Skills and Principles
- Introduction to Metallurgy
- Tools and Tool Safety
- Plasma Cutting Technology
- And more
In total, the certificate includes 36 credits.
The Advanced Welding certificate provides students with the skills and knowledge needed to achieve American Welding Safety industry-recognized certifications in multiple processes.
Students learn, through a combination of classroom-based theory and hands-on laboratory training, SMAW, GMAW, FCAW, Submerged Arc Welding (SAW), and GTAW.
Contact Information
- Address: 2020 Riverside Drive, Berlin, NH 03570
- Phone: (603) 752-1113
- Website: https://www.wmcc.edu
#6Postsmouth Career and Technical Education
Portsmouth CTE offers a Welding program that can be completed in two years and offers students the opportunity to earn numerous industry-recognized credentials while broadening and improving their welding skills and knowledge.
Courses Offered
The program is divided into:
- Welding Year One- a course that covers the basics of shielded metal arc, oxy-acetylene welding, and flame cutting with blueprint reading, mathematics, and operation of metal fabrication machinery.
- Welding Year Two- students continue to improve and refine their welding skills while working towards mastery
Students learn about SMAW, GMAW, GTAW, and FCAW and practice these techniques in fillet and groove welds.
Those who successfully complete the two-year program are eligible to earn college credit from Great Bay Community College.
Contact Information
- Address: 50 Andrew Jarvis Drive, Portsmouth, NH 03801
- Phone: (603) 436-7100 x2903
- Website: https://www.portsmouthnh.gov
#7NHTI
About the School
NHTI offers a Welder Technician program that is available fully online.
This self-paced program costs $2,245 and can be completed in 12 months.
It includes 125 hours of training.
The course is an intensive overview of skills relating to welding techniques, from the basic principles of metal cutting and rigging to safety guidelines and manufacturing management.
Courses Offered
The program includes:
- Welding safety, processes, and applications
- Troubleshooting
- Inspection methods
- Metallurgy
- Rigging
- Fabrication processes
The syllabus covers:
- Grinding processes
- Grinding Safety
- Safety for Assembly
- Basic Measurement
- Blueprint Reading
- Process Flow Charting
- Introduction to Physical Properties
- Safety for Metal Cutting
- And more
Contact Information
- Address: 31 College Drive, Center for Training & Business Development, Concord, NH 03301 US
- Phone: 855.520.6806
- Website: https://careertraining.nhti.edu
#8New Hampshire School of Mechanical Trades
About the School
New Hampshire School of Mechanical Trades helps students build a hands-on future and specializes in hands-on training for heating, air conditioning, plumbing, and electrical jobs.
The school also provides licensing requirement courses, exam prep courses, and continuing education seminars for professionals who want to renew their license.
Courses Offered
The following programs are available at the school:
- Oil Heat Technician
- Air Conditioning Technician
- HVAC Equipment Installer
- HVAC Service Technician
- Plumbing 101
- Electrical 101
- Gas Licensing Courses
- Plumbing Apprentice Courses
- Electrical Apprentice Courses
Contact Information
- Address: 7 Perimeter Rd, Manchester, NH 03103
- Phone: (603) 622-6544
- Website: https://www.nhtradeschool.com
#9Kirtland Community College
About the School
Kirtland Community College offers in-district students the opportunity to earn their skills certificate or degree tuition-free.
Courses Offered
Among many other options, Kirtland Community College offers a Welding and Fabricating program that teaches various welding techniques, such as:
- Metal Inert Gas
- Tungsten Inert Gas
- Shielded Metal Arc
- Reading blueprints
- Work with metal materials
- Fabricate structural components
The hands-on training prepares students to create precise metal structures.
The Welding and Fabricating program includes:
- Welding and Fabricating (Associate in Applied Science)
- Welding and Fabricating (CC)
The curriculum includes courses such as:
- Technical Mathematics
- Applied Technical Mathematics
- Welding, Fabrication, and Blueprints
- Welding Fundamentals
- GMAW, FCAW, & SMAW Welding
- Advanced GMAW Welding
- Material Science
- GTAW Welding
- And more
Contact Information
- Address: 4800 W 4 Mile Road, Grayling, MI 49738
- Phone: 989-275-5000
- Website: https://www.kirtland.edu
#10Minuteman Technical Training
About the School
Minuteman Technical Training offers a Welding program that provides students with real-world experience and the ability to graduate with certifications sought by employers.
The curriculum offers practical skills in welding theory and practice.
Students learn a wide range of skills related to welding and sheet metal.
They learn how to use up-to-date equipment and are trained in many forms of welding.
Courses Offered
The following courses are available at the school:
- Safety
- Hand and power tools
- Shielded Metal Arc Welding
- Oxy Acetylene
- Plasma Cutting
- Gas Metal Arc Welding
- Gas Welding
- Arc Welding
- Weld and Fabricate using SMAW and GMAW
- And more
The 290-hour program includes the following industry certifications:
- MTI Metal Fabrication/Welding Certificate
- OSHA 30-Hour Construction Safety
- American Welding Society (AWS) D1.1
- Mass. Highway D1.5 (pending)
- Stainless Steel
Contact Information
- Address: 758 Marrett Road, Lexington, MA 02421
- Phone: (781) 861-6500
- Website: https://www.minutemanti.org
Schools Summary Table
Welding Average Salary in New Hampshire
Estimated Earnings Range:| Item | Percent |
|---|---|
|
$46K
|
|
|
$60K
|
|
|
$78K
|
Welding Salary by Metro Area in New Hampshire
| Metro Area | Employed | Avg. Annual | Avg. Hourly | Top 10% | Bottom 10% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Manchester-Nashua, NH | 210 | $59,060 | $28.40 | $79,740 | $43,720 |
* Employment opportunities may differ based on your location.
Final Thoughts
Welding classes are available at several community colleges in New Hampshire.
Now that you have read our selection of the top welding schools in your state, the next step is to continue the research and apply for the program that best fits your learning style and career aspirations.
This is an important step, so make sure you take your time and do thorough research.
