Welcome to our selection of the best welding schools in the state of Washington.
The institutions included in our list can prepare you for entry-level employment in this field quickly, through a combination of classroom education and hands-on training.
According to the United States Bureau of Labor Statistics, Louisiana welders reportedly earned $62,150 on average, as of May 2023, higher than the national average for this profession.
Salaries vary depending on many factors and increase as workers gain more experience.
Experienced welders can earn more than $80,000 per year, while entry-level salaries are typically less than $50,000.
Before being ready to start your welding career, the first step is to get your high school diploma or equivalent and then complete technical and on-the-job training that teaches you the skills needed for entry into this profession.
During your training, you will learn about:
- Materials used in welding and their application
- Welding symbols
- Types of welding joints performed in pipe welding
- Welding Processes
- Welding Safety
- And more
Most programs teach, hands-on, the following processes: SMAW, GTAW, GMAW, and FCAW.
Program duration varies between a few months and a few years, depending on the school and the credential you want to obtain.
We invite you to read our list and choose the format that best meets your needs.
#1Green River College
About the School
Green River College offers a Welding Technology program that trains students in a variety of welding techniques, preparing them for employment in this high-demand field.
Students can choose from two paths:
- Associate in Applied Science degree
- The Welder program
The Trade Welder program is a faster path that focuses on helping students pass industry certification tests, such as those from the American Welding Society or WABO.
The program is also a good fit for those who already work in metal fabrication and want to learn specialized welding skills.
Students are encouraged to complete a high school diploma or GED and a recent general math class.
The Welding program offers the opportunity to earn three certificates:
- Basic Arc and Flame
- Intermediate Arc and Flame
- Advanced Arc Welding
Contact Information
- Address: 12401 SE 320th Street, Auburn, WA 98092
- Phone: 253-833-9111
- Website: https://www.greenriver.edu
#2Bates Technical College
About the School
Bates Technical College offers a variety of educational paths that can lead students to a rewarding career.
The Welding program available at Bates Technical College prepares students for employment in many industries, including aerospace, maritime, energy, construction, and transportation.
Students receive training from Certified Welding Inspectors.
They can complete their studies with an associate’s degree and multiple welding certifications, including WABO.
The program emphasizes hands-on training and equips graduates with both classroom knowledge and work experience.
Practical training in all aspects of welding is included as students work in the shop on a variety of welding projects.
After completing the program, students are encouraged to take the certification tests for the American Welding Society and the Washington Association of Building Officials.
Courses Offered
The following programs are available at Bates Technical College:
- Associate of Applied Science: Welding- a six-quarter program
- Certificate of Competency: Welder- a seven-quarter program
- Certificate of Training: Welder I and Welder II- a two-quarter program
Contact Information
- Address: 1101 S. Yakima, Tacoma, WA 98405
- Phone: 253.680.7000
- Website: https://www.batestech.edu
#3Clover Park Technical College
About the School
Clover Park Technical College offers a Welding Technology program that includes evening and weekend classes.
The program provides students with technical skills and knowledge that put them ahead of others in the welding industry, metal fabrication, and related occupations.
Courses Offered
The following courses are available at the college:
- Welding Technology Degree- a five-quarter program
- Basic Welding Certificate- a two-quarter program
- Gas Tungsten Arc Welding Certificate- a two-quarter program
- Gas Tungsten Arc Welding Pipe Certificate- a two-quarter program
- Layout & Fabrication Welding Certificate- a two-quarter program
- And more
The Basic Welding Certificate includes the following courses:
- Welding Theory
- Thermal Cutting & Gouging
- Industrial Machinery
- Shielded Metal Arc Welding I
- Gas Metal Arc Welding
- College Success for All
In total, the program costs 29 credit hours.
Clover Park Technical College is a member institution of the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities.
Contact Information
- Address: 4500 Steilacoom Blvd. SW Lakewood WA 98499
- Phone: 253-589-5800
- Website: https://www.cptc.edu
#4Lake Washington Institute of Technology
About the School
Lake Washington Institute of Technology offers a Welding Technology pathway that teaches the latest processes and techniques crucial for a prosperous career in the welding industry.
Students benefit from small class settings, diverse teaching styles and methods, personalized attention, and hands-on training.
They grasp fundamental welding principles, access state-of-the-art facilities, and develop expertise in blueprint interpretation and weld symbols.
Courses Offered
The following programs are available at the institute:
- Welding Technology, AAS
- Welding Introduction Certificate of Completion
- Welding Technology Certificate of Proficiency
- WABO Welding Certification
The Welding Technology Certificate of Proficiency includes 72 credits and courses such as:
- Shielded Metal Arc Welding and Cutting Lecture and Lab
- Wire Feed Welding Lecture and Lab
- Layout and Fabrication Lecture and Lab
- Applied Math
- And more
Contact Information
- Address: 11605 132nd Avenue NE, Kirkland, WA 98034
- Phone: (425) 739-8100
- Website: https://www.lwtech.edu
#5Skagit Valley College
About the School
Skagit Valley College offers a Welding Technology program that prepares students for work as entry-level welders, fitters, or metal fabricators in a variety of industries.
Students receive hands-on training led by experienced faculty to develop high-demand skills that employers are looking for.
The program takes place in a state-of-the-art facility that features a spacious metal fabrication area and individual welding booths.
The curriculum covers a variety of layout, fabrication, and metal joining techniques using steel, stainless steel, and aluminum.
The processes include:
- Oxyfuel cutting
- Shielded metal arc welding
- Gas metal arc welding
- Flux-cored arc welding
- Gas tungsten arc welding
SVC is accredited through the American Welding Society entry-level welder training program.
The following degrees are available:
- Welding Technology, AAS
- Welding Technology Certificate
- Aluminum Welding Specialty Certificate
- Flux-Cored Arc Welding Specialty Certificate
- Shielded Metal Arc Welding Specialty Certificate
- WABO Certification
Contact Information
- Address: 2405 East College Way, Mount Vernon, WA 98273-5899
- Phone: 360.416.7600
- Website: https://www.skagit.edu
#6South Seattle College
About the School
South Seattle College offers a Welding Fabrication Technology program.
The program is designed to increase students’ employability by training them in all facets of welding and fabrication.
The following degrees and certificates are available:
- Welding Fabrication Technology Associate in Applied Science
- Welding Fabrication Technology Certificate
The Certificate includes the following requirements:
- Welding Theory
- Print Reading and Welding Symbols
- Materials and Testing
- Intro to Welding OxyAcetylene/Shielded Metal Arc
- SMAW Shielded Metal Arc Welding
- Gas Metal Arc Welding
- FCAW Flux Cored Arc Welding
- Gas Tungsten Arc Welding
- Fabrication Carbon Arc/Plasma Arc Cutting
- And more
Contact Information
- Address: 6000 16th Avenue SW, Seattle, WA 98106
- Phone: 206.934.5300
- Website: https://southseattle.edu
#7Grays Harbor College
About the School
Grays Harbor College offers students the opportunity to complete their freshman and sophomore coursework at GHC before transferring to universities as juniors.
The college also offers workforce education credit and training for community members who want to prepare for new careers or upgrade their work skills.
Courses Offered
Among many other paths, the college offers a Welding program that provides foundational skills in welding, cutting, gouging, blueprint reading, welding symbols, layout, measuring, fabrication, and applied math.
Three emphasis options are available for the Associate in Technology- Welding Technology degree:
- Structural Welding
- Construction Welding
- Pipe Welding
The program includes a mixture of the most common welding, cutting, and gouging processes, including:
- Shielded Metal Arc Welding with F1, F2, F3, and F4 group electrodes
- Gas Metal Arc Welding in spray transfer mode
- Gas Metal Arc Welding in short-circuit transfer mode
- Gas Metal Arc Welding in Pulsed spray transfer mode
- Alternating Current Gas Tungsten Arc Welding
- And more
Contact Information
- Address: 1620 Edward P. Smith Dr, Aberdeen, WA 98520
- Phone: 360-532-9020
- Website: https://www.ghc.edu
#8Wenatchee Valley College
About the School
Wenatchee Valley College district covers more than 10,000 square miles of Chelan, Douglas, and Okanogan counties.
The skilled trades division provides a Welding program that leads to a welding and fabrication 55-credit certificate and a certificate of completion.
Students learn the skills to perform welding duties in construction, repair, maintenance, and fabrication fields.
The program includes hands-on instruction in core welding techniques- including MIG, TIG, and pipe welding, as well as metal fabrication with a variety of materials.
Students also learn safe working habits through lectures and demonstrations.
The industrial safety course includes training and certification in first aid/CPR, flagging, forklift/industrial truck operation, OSHA-10, and hazardous materials awareness.
The program also includes practice in preparation for the Washington Association of Building Officials welding certification exam.
Contact Information
- Address: 1300 Fifth Street, Wenatchee, WA 98801
- Phone: (509) 682-6800
- Website: https://www.wvc.edu
#9Olympic College
Olympic College offers certificates in career-focused fields as well as associate degrees that transfer to universities in Washington and around the country.
Courses Offered
The Welding program available at Olympic College is available at the state-of-the-art John Bremer Welding Center- hosted by the Shelton Campus.
Besides a two-year Associate in Technical Arts: Welding, the college also offers four certificate programs:
- Certificate of Proficiency: Welding Technology
- Certificate of Specialization: Welding Technology
- Certificate of Recognition: Aluminum Welding
- Certificate of Recognition: Precision Metal Cutting
The Certificate of Proficiency: Welding Technology program includes 59 credits and courses such as:
- Orientation to Manufacturing
- Manufacturing Methodologies
- First Aid
- Oxyacetylene Welding
- Arc Welding
- Welding Technical Orientation
- And more
Contact Information
- Address: 1600 Chester Ave. Bremerton, WA 98337-1699
- Phone: 360-792-6050
- Website: https://www.olympic.edu
#10Walla Walla Community College
About the School
Walla Walla Community College offers a Welding Technology program that can give students the skills, confidence, and work ethic to become welders.
They learn different types of welding, with special emphasis on construction and fabrication.
The following degree types are available:
- Welding Technology, AAS
- Specialized Metals Welding Certificate
- Welding Technology Certificate
The Welding Technology Certificate focuses on producing graduates who are educated and certified in Shielded Metal Arc Welding, Flux Cored Arc Welding, and Gas Metal Arc Welding.
The program also covers safety standards for all processes and equipment, as well as blueprint reading.
Contact Information
- Address: 500 Tausick Way, Walla Walla, WA 99362
- Phone: 509.522.2500
- Website: https://www.wwcc.edu
Schools Summary Table
Welding Average Salary in Washington
Estimated Earnings Range:| Item | Percent |
|---|---|
|
$47K
|
|
|
$64K
|
|
|
$83K
|
Welding Salary by Metro Area in Washington
| Metro Area | Employed | Avg. Annual | Avg. Hourly | Top 10% | Bottom 10% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bellingham, WA | 310 | $63,140 | $30.36 | $78,540 | $47,810 |
| Bremerton-Silverdale-Port Orchard, WA | 770 | $70,160 | $33.73 | $87,530 | $50,450 |
| Kennewick-Richland, WA | 230 | $71,660 | $34.45 | $102,940 | $46,770 |
| Longview-Kelso, WA | 160 | $58,860 | $28.30 | $77,080 | $44,980 |
| Mount Vernon-Anacortes, WA | 370 | $62,930 | $30.26 | $83,300 | $48,420 |
| Olympia-Lacey-Tumwater, WA | 120 | $58,640 | $28.19 | $75,200 | $46,120 |
| Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | 3,270 | $67,390 | $32.40 | $88,200 | $49,210 |
| Spokane-Spokane Valley, WA | 680 | $58,460 | $28.11 | $72,010 | $46,050 |
| Walla Walla, WA | 70 | $57,200 | $27.50 | $75,400 | $44,200 |
| Wenatchee-East Wenatchee, WA | 70 | $54,530 | $26.22 | $72,800 | $39,350 |
| Yakima, WA | 260 | $54,910 | $26.40 | $66,230 | $44,920 |
* Employment opportunities may differ based on your location.
Final Thoughts
Skilled welders will continue to be needed in the future to help rebuild the nation’s aging infrastructure.
If you want to prepare for a rewarding career without spending four years in a university, learning how to weld is the first step.
Now that you have read our selection of the best welding programs in Washington, it’s time to continue the research and choose the one that best meets your learning style and career aspirations.
