If you live in New York and you want to start a career in welding or metalworking, this page is for you.
Here we have compiled information about the best training options in your state.
Learning how to weld can be the first step towards a hands-on career that is in demand and pays well.
According to the United States Bureau of Labor Statistics, as of May 2023, the mean annual wage for New York welders was $44,140, but salaries range from less than $34,000 to more than $57,000 depending on experience level, education, and employer, among other factors.
However, before applying for your first welding job, you have to complete a specialized program at a trade school or community college.
Programs are available for both adult learners and high school students.
They can be completed in a few months or a few years, depending on the credential they lead to.
Most programs focus on safety, blueprint reading, welding techniques, and more, and include hands-on training to allow students to apply the skills they learn in class to real-world scenarios.
To help you choose the school and the program that best fit your needs, on this page, we have compiled information about the best welding schools in your state.
#1Apex Technical School
About the School
Apex Technical School has offered hands-on training programs for over 60 years.
Programs are available in auto repair, AC & Refrigeration, Welding Technology, Electrical, Construction, and Plumbing.
Courses Offered
The Combination Welding Technology program at Apex Technical School teaches gas and electric welding processes, manual and automatic cutting techniques, and blueprint reading for metal layout and fabrication.
Each division of this program combines concepts taught in the classroom and practice in the shop.
In total, students receive 900 hours of training in skills that are needed on the job.
Welding training classes are available full-time and part-time to meet student needs.
Students can graduate in as few as seven months.
Day and evening options are available to help students fit welding courses into their busy schedules.
The following combination welding classes are available:
- Blueprint reading and fabrication
- Oxyacetylene welding, cutting, and brazing
- Basic shielded metal arc welding
- Gas metal arc welding
- Gas Tungsten arc welding
- Advanced shielded metal arc welding
Contact Information
- Address: 11-05 44th Drive, Long Island City, NY 11101
- Phone: 212-645-3300
- Website: https://apexschool.com
#2AmeriArc Welding Academy
About the School
AmeriArc Welding Academy is a training facility that prepares skilled workers by offering hands-on and employment-focused specialized training and testing in both piping and structural steel welding.
Students learn from instructors who have several years of field experience in fabrication shops, refineries, and pipeline welding.
Daytime and evening classes are available.
Courses Offered
Beginners can earn up to four certificates of completion, one for each completed module:
- Safety and Health for Workers
- Drawing & Welding Symbol Interpretation
- Thermal Cutting Processes
- Welding Processes
Advanced and mid-level welders can earn up to 10 certificates of completion, including:
- Trade Math
- Welding Metallurgy
- Welding Inspection & Testing Methods
- Thermal Cutting Processes
- Plate Welding Processes
- And more
Contact Information
- Address: 250 S. Van Brunt Street, Englewood, NJ 07631
- Phone: 201-367-9700
- Website: https://trainawa.com
#3The New York Harbor School
About the School
The New York Harbor School offers a variety of CTE programs.
Ninth graders are introduced to the various CTE programs via Harbor Class.
In the 10th grade, students enroll in one of the eight career and technical education programs of study.
Courses Offered
The New York Harbor School provides a Welding & Fabrication program that offers an entryway into these exciting, hands-on, and highly technical career fields.
The program prepares students for work as welders and fabricators.
The curriculum is based on the American Welding Society’s Fundamentals of Welding platform.
It covers subjects such as:
- Welding safety
- Four arc welding processes
- Three thermal cutting processes
- Reading welding symbols
- Weld inspection
- And more
Contact Information
- Address:10 South Street Slip 7, NY 10004
- Phone: 212-458-0800
- Website: https://www.newyorkharborschool.org
#4HAUN Welding Supply Specialty Classes
About the School
HAUN Welding Supply Specialty Classes provides a wide range of welding training classes tailored to suit different needs.
Courses Offered
The following classes are available at the school:
- Blacksmithing classes
- The basic welding course
- Advanced welding course
- Custom welding course
- Free training Friday
- Intermediate Welding Course
- Nigh School
- Watertown courses
The Intermediate Welding course is a 32-hour class designed for the welder with some experience and covers Stick and Mig welding with a concentration on equipment setup, out of position welding, arc manipulation, and gas selection.
Night school is a 12-hour class limited to six participants.
Classes meet the same night for four consecutive weeks.
Class hours are 6 p.m. to 9 p.m.
The classes offered at night school are:
- Introductory to Welding
- Advanced TIG Aluminum
Contact Information
- Address: 5921 Court Street Road, Syracuse, NY, 13206
- Phone: (315) 463-5241
- Website: https://haunweldingsupply.com
#5Welder Underground
About the School
Welder Underground is a paid apprenticeship program that teaches young adults the art of welding and metal fabrication.
WUG aims to build a community of new welders throughout the country and to create a network of AWS-certified welders.
Welder Underground graduates participate in community projects and artistic collaborations.
They teach each other and collaborate with other teams of like-minded individuals to shape the world they imagine.
Through project-based learning, apprentices tackle real-world challenges and foster skills for personal growth and professional excellence.
Apprentices become equipped not only with welding craftmanship skills but also with personal development tools essential for professional growth.
Contact Information
- Website: https://www.welderunderground.org
#6The State University of New York
About the School
The State University of New York is the largest comprehensive university system in the United States.
It serves nearly 1.3 million students in credit-bearing courses and programs and through continuing education and an online learning network.
The State University of New York offers welding and machining programs that develop expertise in metal fabrication, structural welding, and CNC machining.
Students receive hands-on training in various welding techniques and machining, and prepare to enter high demand industries.
The following welding-related programs are available:
- Welding Technology AAS
- Welding Technology AOS
- Welding Technology- WNY Workforce Training Center
- Welding Technology: Pipefitting
- Welding and Fabrication
The Welding and Fabrication program includes courses in CAD, metrology and metallurgy, as well as fabrication and welding courses, and provides instruction in advanced topics not available in other welding programs.
This program is designed for those who wish to enter the workforce immediately following graduation.
Contact Information
- Address: State University Plaza, 353 Broadway, Albany, NY 12246
- Phone: (518) 320-1100
- Website: https://www.suny.edu
#7Modern Welding School
Modern Welding School offers training for individuals who desire to enter the welding field by using tested techniques and practices in both theoretical and hands-on applications.
Courses Offered
The following courses are available:
- Combination Welding: a 900-hour full-time program
- Electric & Acetylene welding, Structural Welding, Pipe, MIG, Structural Steel & Comprehensive TIG welding- a 665-hour part-time program that takes place in the evening.
- The Combination Welding program costs $21,700 in total and can be completed in 30 weeks.
The program includes courses such as:
- Safety in welding & electric arc
- T-joints in all positions
- Electric Arc Groove 3/8-1 inch plates
- Hand cutting acetylene and propane
- Oxy Acetylene welding
- And more
Contact Information
- Address: 1842 State Street, Schenectady, NY 12304
- Phone: 800.396.6810
- Website: https://modernwelding.com
#8New York City District Council of Carpenters
About the School
The New York City District Council of Carpenters offers apprenticeship programs designed to equip carpenters with hands-on training.
The highly successful trade school is sponsored by the members and contributing signatory contractors of the New York City District Council of Carpenters.
Apprentices are trained in six New York State Department of Labor-approved apprenticeship programs.
Those accepted into the NYCDCC Training Center are expected to attend no less than 144 hours of related classroom instruction, which includes:
- Health and safety
- Cabinet making
- Blueprint reading
- Concrete forms
- House framing
- And more
Apprentices also have to perform on-the-job training for at least 1,300 hours per year, practicing what they have learned in school and perfecting their skills.
The council also offers Welding classes for journey-level members interested in learning how to weld.
Contact Information
- Address: 395 Hudson Street, 2nd Floor, Clarkson Street Entrance, New York, NY 10014
- Phone: 212-727-2224
- Website: https://www.nyccarpenterstrainingcenter.org
#9SJ Welding Studio
About the School
SJ Welding Studio helps students become certified welders in Staten Island.
The school offers:
- Beginner classes with no experience required
- Intermediate classes
- Advanced classes
- Private one-on-one instruction
- Hands-on training
Classes are kept small, and students have access to one-on-one instruction based on their needs.
Available is TIG, MIG, and stick welding training.
TIG welding is an arc welding process that uses a non-consumable tungsten electrode to produce the weld.
MIG welding is an arc welding process that uses a continuous solid wire electrode fed into the weld pool from a welding gun.
Contact Information
- Address: 2589 Richmond Terrace, Staten Island, NY 10303
- Phone: (718) 354-7417
- Website: https://www.sjweldingstudio.com
#10Craftsman Ave
About the School
Craftsman Ave opened in 2015 and is focused on teaching the skills needed to help trainees make some pretty cool works of art.
Available are classes on knife making, woodworking, welding, leather-working, stained glass, and more.
Workshops are approximately four hours long and are taught by experienced makers who live and thrive in Brooklyn.
The number of guests is limited to ensure everyone receives personalized attention from instructors.
Each class is designed for beginners or experienced artisans alike.
No prior experience is necessary.
The following welding and metalworking classes are available:
- Create a Legendary Damascus Steel Knife
- Build a Custom Copper Lamp
- Learn to Weld a Steel Plater Box
- Weld a Steel Rose
- Design and Build a Giant Halloween Spider
- Pimp Your Side Table
Contact Information
- Address: 68 34th St Building 6, 1st Floor, Ste B124 Brooklyn, NY
- Phone: 929 266-3494
- Website: https://craftsmanave.com
Schools Summary Table
Welding Average Salary in New York
Estimated Earnings Range:| Item | Percent |
|---|---|
|
$40K
|
|
|
$60K
|
|
|
$80K
|
Welding Salary by Metro Area in New York
| Metro Area | Employed | Avg. Annual | Avg. Hourly | Top 10% | Bottom 10% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Albany-Schenectady-Troy, NY | 530 | $60,690 | $29.18 | $77,180 | $47,430 |
| Binghamton, NY | 100 | $49,170 | $23.64 | $68,800 | $35,320 |
| Buffalo-Cheektowaga, NY | 960 | $55,080 | $26.48 | $71,500 | $38,690 |
| Elmira, NY | 80 | $52,710 | $25.34 | $69,770 | $36,810 |
| Glens Falls, NY | 110 | $58,450 | $28.10 | $67,840 | $49,290 |
| Kingston, NY | 100 | $61,220 | $29.43 | $79,640 | $46,120 |
| Kiryas Joel-Poughkeepsie-Newburgh, NY | 220 | $60,330 | $29.00 | $80,530 | $38,110 |
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | 4,930 | $67,830 | $32.61 | $96,590 | $41,550 |
| Rochester, NY | 670 | $53,640 | $25.79 | $67,630 | $36,350 |
| Syracuse, NY | 420 | $55,920 | $26.88 | $71,960 | $42,390 |
| Utica-Rome, NY | 280 | $51,630 | $24.82 | $66,320 | $35,530 |
* Employment opportunities may differ based on your location.
Final Thoughts
If you want to start a rewarding career in welding, the schools included in our list can equip you with the skills needed for entry-level employment in this field.
Now that you have read our selection, the next step is to continue the research and apply for the program that best meets your learning style and career aspirations.
