If you live in Vermont and you want to start a rewarding career in trades without spending four years in higher education, this page is for you.
According to the United States Bureau of Labor Statistics, welders in Vermont earn $52,330 on average, as of May 2023.
Before being ready to start your welding career, you have to complete technical and on-the-job training that teaches you the skills needed for this profession.
During their training, students typically learn about:
- Materials used in welding and their application
- Welding symbols
- Bevel two pieces of metal properly for a welding application
- Types of welding joints performed in pipe welding
- Welding processes
- Shop safety
- And more
Most programs teach the following welding processes:
- SMAW/Stick
- GTAW/TIG
- GMAW/MIG
- FCAW/Dual Shield
Program duration varies between a few months and a few years, depending on the school and the format you choose.
We invite you to read our list and choose the format that best meets your needs.
#1Vermont State University
About the School
Vermont State University offers a Welder Technician program that is an intensive overview of skills relating to welding techniques.
Students learn from the basic principles of metal cutting and rigging to safety guidelines and manufacturing management.
The program can be completed in 12 months.
Courses Offered
Students enrolled in this program learn:
- Welding safety, processes, and applications
- Troubleshooting
- Inspection methods
- Metallurgy
- Rigging
- Fabrication processes
Students gain confidence in their ability to perform the job and prepare for a career as welder technicians.
The self-paced program costs $2,245.
The curriculum includes:
- Grinding Processes
- Safety for Assembly
- Basic Measurement
- Blueprint Reading
- Introduction to Physical Properties
- Ferrous Metals
- Nonferrous Metals
- Welding Safety Essentials
- And many other topics
Contact Information
- Address: 124 Admin Drive, Randolph Center, VT 05061
- Phone: 855.520.6806
- Website: https://careertraining.vermontstate.edu/training-programs/welding-technician
#2Center for Technology, Essex
About the School
Center for Technology, Essex offers programs in automotive technology, building technology, computer systems technology, cosmetology, and other in-demand fields.
Courses and workshops are taught in the evenings, on weekends, and in the summer.
Courses Offered
The Basic Welding program available at the Center for Technology, Essex, is a 20-hour hands-on introduction to the proper techniques of welding, brazing, and metal cutting using various welding instruments and related tools.
Students learn the properties of different metals as well as the fundamentals of metal fabrication.
The program also includes MIG and Oxyacetylene.
This program costs $375.
Contact Information
- Address: 2 Educational Drive, Suite 200, Essex Junction, VT 05452
- Phone: 802-879-5558
- Website: https://www.ewsd.org
#3Patricia A Hannaford Career Center
About the School
Patricia A Hannaford Career Center offers a two-year, half-day program designed to equip students with hands-on skills, knowledge, and credentials to enter multiple industries as professional welders.
Students gain in-depth, hands-on experience in principles of metallurgy, print reading, measurement, and properties of metal, safety procedures and machine operation, metal fabrication, SMAW, thermal cutting, and other skills.
While designing and managing welding productions, students also hone their creative and technical abilities and gain project management and quality assurance experience.
The program is available for students in grades 11-12.
Students attend the program for 120 minutes daily.
The following industry-recognized credentials are offered:
- American Welding Society
- NCCER
Work-study experiences may be available through SkillsUSA.
Students build the following skills:
- Electrode selection, arc control, and weld deposition
- Metal fabrication
- Grinding
- Cutting processes
- Project test and inspection
- Blueprint reading
Contact Information
- Address: 372 Mainelli Rd, Middlebury, VT 05753
- Phone: 802-382-1012
- Website: https://www.hannafordcareercenter.org
#4Vermont Adult Career & Technical Education Association
About the School
Vermont Adult Career & Technical Education Association offers a wide variety of pathways to high-wage, high-demand jobs through its Skilled Trades program.
The following classes are offered:
- EPA 608/609
- Heavy Equipment Training
- HVACR Technician Training
- Natural Gas Certification
- OSHA 10
- Solar Installation
- Welding
The following Welding programs are available:
- Welding for Women- an Introduction
- Welding- MIG
- Welding- Introduction (Women Only)
The Welding for Women program costs $250 and includes eight class hours in total.
The program is available in person.
The Welding- MIG program includes 25 class hours and costs $799.
The Welding Introduction program for Women costs $699 and includes 25 total class hours.
Contact Information
- Address: 321 Park St, Bennington, VT 05201 (Southwest Tech)
- Phone: (802) 447-0220
- Website: https://vtadultcte.org
#5Stafford Technical Center
About the School
Stafford Technical Center offers an Introduction to Welding for Women program.
This program is available on Tuesdays, from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m.
Students pay $400 for this program.
The course is structured to provide a demonstration of the equipment and fundamentals of each process in combination with a description and discussion of the process limitations and typical applications.
Courses Offered
Students gain an understanding of these processes through hands-on applications of the techniques used in the following:
- Thermal cutting
- Shielded metal arc welding
- Gas metal arc welding
Students are expected to wear leather shoes or boots and a long-sleeved shirt.
They receive glasses, a visor, gloves, and a jacket on the first night of class.
Contact Information
- Address: 8 Stratton Road, Rutland, Vermont 05701
- Phone: (802) 770-1033
- Website: https://staffordonline.org
#6Lyndon Institute
About the School
Lyndon Institute offers a Welding program that teaches students how to fuse different types of metals.
Students implement welding and cutting processes in a real-world shop setting using state-of-the-art welding equipment, such as a Virtual Welder, and plasma cutting equipment.
During the first year of training, students are introduced to basic welding skills in gas welding, brazing, soldering, oxygen cutting, and stick arc welding.
They gain skills in scale drawing and design work, the properties of metals, the use of work orders, inventory sheets, materials lists, and estimation of cost sheets.
Second-year students learn advanced welding skills in MIG, TIG, and Thermoplastic welding as well as sheet metal work.
After completing the program, students can earn their AWSD 1.1. Structural Steel Qualification for both vertical and overhead welding.
Students are able to take nationally recognized welding qualification tests in accordance with the American Welding Society and the American National Standards Institute.
Contact Information
- Address: P.O. Box 127, 168 Institute Circle, Lyndon Center, VT 05850
- Phone: (802) 535-3636
- Website: https://www.lyndoninstitute.org
#7State University of New York
About the School
Welding classes are also available in neighboring states.
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
#8Modern 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
#9Canaan Schools
About the School
Canaan Schools offers welding certificate programs through White Mountains Community College.
Students have the opportunity to earn a certificate in welding and up to three college credits.
They don’t have to be enrolled in a CTE program to participate in this program.
The course includes an introduction to welding using the Gas Metal Arc Welding and the Shielded Metal Arc Welding processes.
Students also cover the basics on Safety in Welding, Oxy-Fuel Cutting, and other Welding-related topics as time permits.
They also learn:
- Safe operation of equipment
- Proper attire and safety procedures
- The skill of cutting and heating through hands-on demonstrations and practice
- How to weld carbon steel coupon joints in all positions according to AWS standards
Students must be 16 years old when the course starts.
Contact Information
- Address: 99 School Street, Canaan, VT 05903
- Phone: 802-266-8910
- Website: https://www.canaanschools.org
#10Advanced Trade 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
Schools Summary Table
Welding Average Salary in Vermont
Estimated Earnings Range:| Item | Percent |
|---|---|
|
$40K
|
|
|
$56K
|
|
|
$71K
|
Welding Salary by Metro Area in Vermont
| Metro Area | Employed | Avg. Annual | Avg. Hourly | Top 10% | Bottom 10% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Burlington-South Burlington, VT | 120 | $60,460 | $29.07 | $74,400 | $46,090 |
* Employment opportunities may differ based on your location.
Final Thoughts
Welding requires a combination of technical hands-on skills and creativity.
Learning how to safely join pieces of metal together can lead to a fulfilling career, but before being ready to apply for your first job as a welder, 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 Vermont, it’s time to continue the research and choose the one that best meets your learning style and career aspirations.
