If you want to start a rewarding career in trades without spending four years in higher education, this page is for you.
Welders fuse metals together using torches and welders to build, repair, and fabricate metal structures.
Job descriptions vary depending on the industry of employment, but they typically include:
- Reading blueprints
- Preparing materials
- Joining metals
- Performing weld inspections for quality and strength
- Maintaining equipment
- Following safety protocols.
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.
An associate of applied science takes two years to complete, while a certificate can be obtained in one year or less of training.
Costs also vary, but financial aid options may also be available for 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 Texas.
#1Texas State Technical College
About the School
Texas State Technical College offers a Welding program that is available in an in-person and a hybrid program.
Costs range from $11,000-$19,000.
Day and night classes are available.
The following award types are available:
- Associate Degree
- Certificate
Students train in professional welding processes, blueprint reading, and quality inspection.
They earn the credentials that prepare them for work in a high-demand industry defined by precision and discipline.
Courses Offered
The following degree plans are available:
- Welding Technology- a program that leads to an Associate in Applied Science and takes 16 months to complete
- Structural Welding- a 12-month program that leads to a Certificate of Completion
- Welding Advanced Pipe Specialization- a 16-month Certificate of Completion program
The Structural Welding program includes courses such as:
- Technical Calculations
- Introduction to Blueprint Reading for Welders
- Introduction to Welding Using Multiple Processes
- Introduction to Layout and Fabrication
- Introduction to Gas Tungsten Arc Welding
- Intermediate Welding Using Multiple Processes
- And more
Contact Information
- Address: 3801 Campus Dr. Waco, TX 76705
- Phone: 800-792-8784
- Website: https://www.tstc.edu
#2Tulsa Welding School
About the School
Tulsa Welding School helps students start their path to a strong career in skilled trades at its Houston campus.
TWSTC offers hands-on trade training programs in welding, HVAC/R, electrical systems, and industrial maintenance.
Students prepare for a career in in-demand roles.
Courses Offered
The following welding programs are available at the school:
- Professional Welder- a seven-month curriculum that covers structural, MIG, and TIG welding
- Welding Specialist with Pipefitting- a 9.5-month, more advanced track that combines welding skills with pipefitting
The Professional Welder program covers:
- Shielded Metal Arc Welding
- Metal Inert Gas welding
- Tungsten Inert Gas welding
- High-Frequency TIG welding
- Flux-Cored Arc welding
- Pipe welding
- Aircraft welding
- And more
Contact Information
- Address: 243A Greens Rd. Houston, TX 77060
- Phone: (855) 232-0586
- Website: https://www.tws.edu
#3Northeast Texas Community College
Northeast Texas Community College offers university transfer courses, specialized workforce training, dual credit for high school, outreach programs, adult education, as well as personal enrichment courses and a variety of other training opportunities.
Courses Offered
The Welding program available at Northwest Texas Community College offers hands-on training that leads to real-world jobs fast.
One-semester micro credentials, associate degrees, as well as other course opportunities are available to help students gain the skills employers are looking for.
The following degrees are available:
- Welding Specialization, AAS
- Basic Structure Welding Certificate
- Basic Welding Certificate
- Fab-Auto Body/Auto Tech Welding Certificate
- Pipe Welding Fabrication Certificate
The Basic Welding Certificate includes courses such as:
- Introduction to Welding Fundamentals
- Introduction to Oxy-Fuel Welding and Cutting
- Introduction to Shielded Metal Arc Welding
- Introduction to Flux Cored Arc Welding
- Introduction to Blueprint Reading for Welders
- And more
Contact Information
- Address: 2886 FM 1735, Chapel Hill Rd. Mt. Pleasant, TX 75455
- Phone: 903-434-8100
- Website: https://www.ntcc.edu
#4Precision Welding Academy
About the School
Precision Welding Academy is an accredited welding school in Katy, Texas.
Career education is available for beginning, intermediate, and advanced welders.
Federal financial aid is available for students who qualify.
Students attend school during the daytime for eight hours a day, five days a week.
This allows students to develop welding skills faster than most other schools.
More flexible options, such as part-time afternoon and night shifts, are also available.
After completing the advanced welding programs, students may be eligible to take an AWS certification test to become a certified welder.
Courses Offered
The following programs are available at the academy:
- Fundamentals of Welding- a 376-hour program that costs $7,520
- Intermediate Welding- a 560-hour program that costs $11,200
- Advanced Welding- a 1,040-hour program that costs $21,840
- Advanced Structural and Pipe Welding- a 1,200-hour program that costs $25,200
The curriculum depends on the program you choose, but all programs include:
- Intro to GMAW
- Intro to Blueprints
- Safety
- Oxyfuel
- Intro to SMAW
- Capstone
Contact Information
- Address: 18830 Gummert Road, Katy, TX, 77449
- Phone: 832-427-6587
- Website: https://www.precisionweldingacademy.com
#5Houston Welding Academy
Houston Welding Academy is an accredited welding school that offers hands-on training designed to prepare students for the high-demand welding industry.
Courses Offered
The following courses are available at the academy:
- MIG & Flux-Cored Pipe Welding course
- MIG & Flux-Cored Plate Welding
- Stainless Steel Welding
- Stick Pipe Welding
- Stick Plate Welding
- TIG & Stick Combo Welding
- TIG Welding
Costs range from $500 to $5,000, depending on the path you choose.
The Structural FCAW and GMAW course covers FCAW and GMAW welding processes and welding codes, as well as hands-on training with plate welding using the FCAW and GMAW processes for horizontal 2G, vertical 3G, and overhead 4G positions.
After completing the program, students receive a certificate of completion and may seek employment as welders.
Contact Information
- Address: 1522 Preston Ave, Pasadena, TX 77503
- Phone: 832-729-3322
- Website: https://houstonweldingacademy.com
#6Western Texas College
About the School
Western Texas College offers a Welding program that focuses on practical experience and applications from business and industry.
Classes are taught with a hands-on approach, giving students the opportunity to apply the knowledge gained in the program and prepare them for successfully entering welding careers.
Students may choose a two-year Associate in Applied Science degree curriculum or one of the two one-year certificates.
Courses Offered
The following programs are available at the college:
- Advanced Welding
- Beginning Welding Certificate
- Introduction to Welding Technology
The programs are designed to be completed in one year and cost $2,790 each for in-state students.
Health insurance is required for all students entering the program.
Students take classes such as:
- Welding Safety, Tools, and Equipment
- Intro to Oxy-Fuel Welding & Cutting
- Intro to Shielded Metal Arc Welding
- Intro to Blueprint Reading
- Intermediate Shielded Metal Arc Welding
- And more
Contact Information
- Address: 6200 College Avenue, Snyder, TX 79549
- Phone: 325-573-8511
- Website: https://www.wtc.edu
#7North Central Texas College
About the School
North Central Texas College offers a Welding program that gives students the opportunity to pursue a degree in a high-demand field.
The program turns students into highly qualified employees, meeting the needs of the most desired employers.
The Welding Technology program is designed to prepare students for the precise field of welding and for work with aluminum, stainless steel, and mild metals.
Courses Offered
The following programs are available at the college:
- Welding Technology Basic Certificate- a program that can be completed in one 16-week semester through a mix of face-to-face, hybrid, and online classes
- Welding Technology Certificate- a program that can be completed in 42 weeks and combines face-to-face, hybrid, and online classes.
- Welding Technology AAS- a program that takes two years to complete and includes a mix of face-to-face, hybrid, and online classes
The Welding Technology Basic Certificate includes courses such as:
- Introduction to Blueprint Reading for Welders
- Introduction to Welding Using Multiple Processes
- Intermediate Welding Using Multiple Processes
- Welding Codes
Contact Information
- Address: 1525 West California St., Gainesville, TX 76240
- Phone: (940) 668-7731
- Website: https://www.nctc.edu
#8Texas Southmost College
About the School
Texas Southmost College offers more than 50 associate degree programs, certificates, and workforce training courses.
Among many other programs, the college offers a Welding course designed to prepare students with in-depth training and skills for entry-level employment in various careers.
The training focuses on the theory and application needed to provide students with essential skills in:
- Shielded Metal Arc Welding
- Flux Cored Arc Welding
- Gas Metal Arc Welding
- Carbon Arc Gouging
- Oxy-Acetylene/Beveling
- Plasma Arc Cutting/Beveling
- Shearing
Students also receive an OSHA 10 Safety Certification and a Certificate of Completion.
Contact Information
- Address: 301 Mexico Blvd. Brownsville, Texas
- Phone: (956) 295-3725
- Website: https://www.tsc.edu
#9Dallas College
About the School
Dallas College offers fast, flexible credentials designed with local employers to help students quickly start or advance their careers.
The following workforce credentials are available:
- CE Gas Metal Arc Welding Certificate
- CE Gas Tungsten Arc Welding Certificate
- CEU Shielded Metal Arc Welding Certificate
- CEU Welding Certificate
- Fabrication Welding Fundamentals
Programs take between four and eight months to complete and cost between $4,320 and $8,736
A two-year Welding Applications A.A.S. is also available.
Contact Information
- Address: 1601 Botham Jean Blvd., Dallas, TX 75215
- Phone: 214-378-1500
- Website: https://www.dallascollege.edu
#10Midland College
About the School
Midland College offers a variety of degrees and certificates as well as continuing education programs.
The Welding Technology program available at the college leads to an Associate of Applied Science in Welding Technology that prepares students to pursue a career in welding fabrication, welding manufacturing, and/or welding repair.
The welding curriculum includes oxy-fuel welding and cutting, gas metal arc welding, gas tungsten arc welding, and shielded metal arc welding.
Students also receive training in welding safety, blueprint reading, metallurgy, and layout and fabrication.
Instruction is available in all positions on carbon and stainless steel plate and pipe, using the following multiple processes:
- Shielded Metal Arc Welding
- Stick Gas Metal Arc Welding
- Gas Tungsten Arc Welding
- Flux Cored Arc Welding processes
- Oxy-Fuels
Contact Information
- Address: 3600 N. Garfield, Midland, TX 79705
- Phone: (432) 685-4500
- Website: https://www.midland.edu
Schools Summary Table
Welding Average Salary in Texas
Estimated Earnings Range:| Item | Percent |
|---|---|
|
$36K
|
|
|
$54K
|
|
|
$78K
|
Welding Salary by Metro Area in Texas
| Metro Area | Employed | Avg. Annual | Avg. Hourly | Top 10% | Bottom 10% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Abilene, TX | 290 | $48,660 | $23.39 | $60,260 | $36,370 |
| Amarillo, TX | 540 | $50,280 | $24.17 | $74,520 | $37,030 |
| Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos, TX | 2,760 | $54,630 | $26.27 | $74,290 | $36,470 |
| Beaumont-Port Arthur, TX | 1,960 | $57,840 | $27.81 | $78,760 | $37,900 |
| Brownsville-Harlingen, TX | 660 | $43,310 | $20.82 | $57,470 | $28,420 |
| College Station-Bryan, TX | 340 | $51,020 | $24.53 | $74,650 | $35,220 |
| Corpus Christi, TX | 1,140 | $55,220 | $26.55 | $75,690 | $36,970 |
| Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX | 11,870 | $54,050 | $25.98 | $76,140 | $37,440 |
| El Paso, TX | 710 | $41,940 | $20.17 | $59,740 | $28,070 |
| Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX | 17,750 | $56,540 | $27.18 | $79,410 | $36,700 |
| Killeen-Temple, TX | 420 | $48,190 | $23.17 | $63,030 | $36,260 |
| Laredo, TX | 130 | $44,510 | $21.40 | $61,360 | $30,120 |
| Longview, TX | 1,380 | $52,870 | $25.42 | $71,240 | $36,920 |
| Lubbock, TX | 540 | $47,170 | $22.68 | $61,700 | $34,630 |
| McAllen-Edinburg-Mission, TX | 460 | $44,300 | $21.30 | $68,000 | $26,000 |
| Midland, TX | 1,010 | $61,990 | $29.80 | $87,800 | $40,920 |
| Odessa, TX | 800 | $62,490 | $30.04 | $79,410 | $39,570 |
| San Angelo, TX | 260 | $47,570 | $22.87 | $66,970 | $31,470 |
| San Antonio-New Braunfels, TX | 2,340 | $51,110 | $24.57 | $73,580 | $35,270 |
| Sherman-Denison, TX | 280 | $46,890 | $22.54 | $59,260 | $37,460 |
| Texarkana, TX-AR | 630 | $45,400 | $21.83 | $60,150 | $31,960 |
| Tyler, TX | 640 | $47,750 | $22.96 | $66,110 | $37,370 |
| Victoria, TX | 190 | $53,790 | $25.86 | $65,070 | $40,470 |
| Waco, TX | 760 | $47,770 | $22.97 | $61,890 | $35,860 |
| Wichita Falls, TX | 300 | $46,550 | $22.38 | $63,220 | $32,070 |
* Employment opportunities may differ based on your location.
Final Thoughts
Welding classes are available at many community colleges and trade schools in Texas.
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 complete thorough research.
