Oregon 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 Oregon welders was $51,120 on average, as of May 2023, according to the United States Bureau of Labor Statistics– higher than the national average for this profession.
Employment opportunities in the United States for welders are 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.
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
- Perform quality testing
- 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 fits your learning style, we have compiled a selection of the best welding schools in Ohio and the programs they offer.
We invite you to read our list and choose the format that works best for you.
#1Rogue Community College
Rogue Community College provides lifelong learning opportunities designed to enhance the fulfillment and personal success of students.
Courses Offered
The Industrial Welding program available at Rogue Community College provides students with experience and practice with oxyacetylene, electric arc, gas metal arc, and gas tungsten arc welding.
Students also learn about the various processes from layout to setup and final inspection.
After completing the program, students will be qualified to test for American Welding Society certification.
The following certificates and career pathways are available:
- Industrial Welding
- GTAW Welder
- WIRE Welder
- SMAW Welder
- Welder’s Helper
Contact Information
- Address: 3345 Redwood Hwy. Grants Pass, OR 97527
- Phone: 541-956-7500
- Website: https://www.roguecc.edu
#2Linn-Benton Community College
About the School
Linn-Benton Community College offers training programs in more than 90 areas of study.
The student-to-instructor ratio is 15 to 1.
Programs are available for students who want to earn a degree, transfer to a university, improve their job skills, or find a new hobby.
Courses Offered
The Welding program at Linn-Benton Community College includes training in all the commonly used welding and cutting processes.
The course teaches stick, TIG, wire-feed welding, oxy-fuel cutting, and plasma arc cutting.
Students also receive training in blueprint reading, layout, fabrication skills, structural welding, and pipe welding, along with many other welding-related subjects.
The following degrees and certificates are available:
- Industrial Pipe Trades: Fitting and Welding, Associate of Applied Science
- Industrial Pipe Trades: Fitting and Welding, One-Year Certificate
- Welding and Fabrication Technology, Associate of Applied Science
- Welding and Fabrication Technology, One-Year Certificate
Contact Information
- Address: 6500 Pacific Blvd. SW, Albany, Oregon 97321
- Phone: 541-917-4999
- Website: https://www.linnbenton.edu
#3Klamath Community College
About the School
Klamath Community College offers apprenticeship programs that provide students with the hands-on skills needed in a variety of trades.
The instructor-to-student ratio is 1 to 17.
100 programs are available across diverse fields.
Courses Offered
The Welding program available at Klamath Community College presents students with two tailored pathways to help them dive into the world of welding.
The first pathway hones in on specific welding techniques such as stick, TIG, or MIG, empowering students with specialized skills in just two terms.
An accelerated pathway is also available to give students the opportunity to earn a comprehensive welding certificate in just one year.
Students learn arc welding, stick welding, Tig welding, how to read blueprints, and basic fabrication.
The following degrees and certificates are available:
- Welding Certificate
- Welding- Gas Metal Arc/Wire Feed Welding Career Pathway Certificate
- Shield Metal Arc/Stick Welding
- Shield Metal Arc/Stick Welding of Pipe
- Tig/Aluminum Stainless Steel Flat Welding
Contact Information
- Address: 7390 South 6th Street | Klamath Falls, OR 97603
- Phone: 541-882-3521
- Website: https://www.klamathcc.edu
#4Clackamas Community College
About the School
Clackamas Community College provides students with the opportunity to learn welding and prepare for a career in a high-demand field.
A variety of welding programs are available to fit students’ goals and schedules.
Students get started with an introductory welding course.
They can earn a career pathway certificate in just six months or continue to earn an associate degree.
CCC’s programs are hands-on and designed to prepare students for multiple industry-recognized welding certifications.
The programs are taught by certified welding professionals with real-world experience.
The programs align with American Welding Society standards and the needs of employers.
The following welding programs are available:
- Associate of Applied Science degrees
- One-Year Certificate of Completion
- Certificate of Completion (6 months- part-time)
Contact Information
- Address: 19600 Molalla Avenue, Oregon City, Oregon 97045
- Phone: 503-594-6000
- Website: https://www.clackamas.edu
#5Portland Community College
About the School
Portland Community College offers 95 academic programs with hundreds of options students can choose from.
In total, 239 degrees and certificates are available.
Short-term, two-year, and four-year programs are available.
Courses Offered
The Welding Technology program gives students the opportunity to learn in facilities developed to teach them the hands-on skills employers seek.
The PCC welding program offers flexible scheduling with an open-entry/open-exit, self-paced format.
A variety of awards are available:
- Associate Degree: Welding Technology
- Certificate: Maritime Welding
- Career Pathway Certificate: Flux Core Arc Welding Certification Preparation
- Career Pathway Certificate: Maritime Aluminum Welding and Ship Fitting
- Career Pathway Certificate: Maritime Pipe Fitting
- Career Pathway Certificate: Maritime Welding
- And many more
Contact Information
- Address: 5555 N Channel Ave, Portland, OR 97217 (Maritime Welding Training Center)
- Phone: 971-722-7665
- Website: https://www.pcc.edu
#6Chemeketa Community College
About the School
Chemeketa Community College offers a Welding Fabrication program that provides degree and certificate options to help students start a career in welding.
Students can complete a welding fabrication degree in just 21 months or pursue a 10-month certificate with advanced techniques and instruction.
The program covers the fundamentals leading to a career, as well as advanced arc, MIG, and TIG welding, precision measurement, blueprint reading and sketching, fabrication processes, and metallurgy.
The program includes lab work as well as cooperative work experiences that help them earn credits and money.
Students learn:
- How to set up and operate manual and semi-automatic welding and cutting equipment
- Perform basic layout and fabrication skills
- Read and interpret engineering drawings to AWS standards
- Use welding processes
- Perform basic set-up and operations
- Select tools and equipment
- And more
Contact Information
- Address: 4000 Lancaster Drive NE Salem, Oregon 97305
- Phone: 503.399.5000
- Website: https://www.chemeketa.edu
#7Oregon Coast Community College
About the School
Oregon Coast Community College offers a Welding Technology program in partnership with the Port of Toledo.
The program is hosted in a state-of-the-art Welding Training Lab at the Port of Toledo Shipyard.
Students learn from a faculty of teachers with real-world experience.
The welding program offers students the ability to register for part-time instruction and complete up to three courses per term.
Students can start during any term, except summer.
Oregon Coast Community College offers a Shipbuilding & Repair Level II certificate.
The certificate is comprised of four individual stepped certificates that culminate in one 48 credit hour Shipbuilding & Repair Level II certificate.
The Ship Building and Repair Level II Certificate allows students to develop entry-level skills in stick and wire feed welding.
Only the Shipbuilding & Repair Level II Certificate is eligible for Federal and State Aid.
Contact Information
- Address: Central County Campus, Newport, 400 SE College Way
- Phone: 541-867-8501
- Website: https://oregoncoast.edu
#8Blue Mountain Community College
About the School
Blue Mountain Community College offers Agriculture, Diesel, & Welding programs.
Students enrolled in these programs build the hands-on skills needed to enter a dynamic career in a high-demand field.
They develop problem-solving skills and the technical knowledge that will prepare them for immediate entry into a rewarding career.
Courses Offered
The Welding Certificate program at Blue Mountain Community College includes the following courses:
- Metals and Welding
- Basic Gas and Arc Welding
- Advanced Arc Welding
- TIG Welding
- Pipe Welding for Certification
- Welding Practices for Certification
Contact Information
- Address: 2411 NW Carden Ave. Pendleton, OR 97801
- Phone: (541) 276-1260
- Website: https://bluecc.edu
#9Umpqua Community College
About the School
Umpqua Community College offers a Welding program that leads to an Associate of Applied Science degree and helps students gain hands-on experience in the school’s state-of-the-art facility to learn the principles of welding, fabrication, production, and piping.
A one-year Welding certificate is also available and designed to provide study in the areas of general welding and operations.
The Aluminum Only Pathway Certificate program is designed to provide study in the area of Aluminum Fabrication to prepare students for entry-level employment in the Aluminum Manufacturing industry.
Students learn in a state-of-the-art welding facility, including virtual welding equipment.
Courses Offered
The Welding Aluminum Only, Pathway Certificate includes the following program requirements:
- Blueprint Reading
- GTAW I
- Aluminum Arc Welding
- And more
Contact Information
- Address: 1140 Umpqua College Rd. P.O. Box 967, Roseburg, OR 97470
- Phone: 541-440-4600
- Website: https://umpqua.edu
#10Union Pacific
About the School
Union Pacific has been delivering the goods that families and businesses use every day.
It aims to be the safest railroad in North America.
Union Pacific offers a Mobile Welding training center that prepares the next generation in Oregon.
The traveling training center, part of Portland Community College’s Career Technical Education program, provides high school and college students with experience and skills for future careers.
Students learn four types of welding processes during the program.
Those graduating with a certificate from the mobile welding center’s program are eligible for a variety of welding positions on the railroad.
Contact Information
- Phone: 888-877-7267
- Website: https://www.up.com
Schools Summary Table
Welding Average Salary in Oregon
Estimated Earnings Range:| Item | Percent |
|---|---|
|
$45K
|
|
|
$59K
|
|
|
$79K
|
Welding Salary by Metro Area in Oregon
| Metro Area | Employed | Avg. Annual | Avg. Hourly | Top 10% | Bottom 10% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Albany, OR | 220 | $58,450 | $28.10 | $73,270 | $45,240 |
| Bend, OR | 260 | $55,960 | $26.90 | $68,270 | $47,030 |
| Corvallis, OR | 60 | $55,990 | $26.92 | $74,830 | $38,710 |
| Eugene-Springfield, OR | 570 | $56,810 | $27.31 | $72,820 | $44,510 |
| Grants Pass, OR | 90 | $52,680 | $25.33 | $58,920 | $46,230 |
| Medford, OR | 190 | $55,440 | $26.65 | $70,650 | $42,730 |
| Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA | 3,010 | $62,980 | $30.28 | $82,930 | $47,330 |
| Salem, OR | 400 | $55,950 | $26.90 | $73,930 | $39,480 |
* Employment opportunities may differ based on your location.
Final Thoughts
Before being ready to apply for your first job in a welding shop, 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 your state, it’s time to decide if this is the path you want to pursue and which program best fits your needs.
