Do you get paid for welding school?

The question of “Do you get paid for welding school? Is actually a fairly straightforward one. I have personally seen nowhere a place that allows a person to get paid for just going to take classes on welding. But, that may very well be a thing. What I have seen however is that welders can get paid for apprenticeships. Welding apprenticeships will vary with the state you live in (or will be living in). 

How do you find a welding apprenticeship? 

One way to find a welding apprenticeship would be through a company that has a need for welders as these companies may be willing to train their employees on the job (have an apprenticeship program of their own). Another great place to start would be on sites such as:

• Indeed
• Careeronestop.org (US Department of Labor Website)
• Apprenticeship.gov (US Department of Labor website)
• Ironworkers.org

For the US websites finding an apprenticeship should be very straightforward. You’ll find the date each position is posted, contact information, requirements for the company, the company and the welding process required. 

Applying should also be pretty straightforward. Click on the apply button and follow the steps from there. 

How long do welding apprenticeships last?

The length of the apprenticeship depends on the program and the company you’re working for. Typically, they require 3-4 years of on-the-job training and 144 hours of classroom instruction. The pay probably won’t be very impressive at the start, but one can gain pay raises as they gain more experience doing the work.

What should you expect as an apprentice?

As a welding apprentice, you’ll be working under the instruction of a licensed journeyman. Expect to do grunt work for the first year though, as the more difficult work will be given to more experienced welders. By the end of the apprenticeship you can expect to be close in skill to the average journeyman, only without the title.