How to Become a Welder / Fabricator — Salary, Training & Licensing
If it's made of metal, someone welded it. Bridges, skyscrapers, ships, spacecraft — welders build civilization.
91% High Demand
$45K–$100K+
Salary Range
High
Demand
+12%
Job Growth
℞ Prescribed by data · BLS · WEF · McKinsey
Welder / Fabricator Apprenticeship & Training in Oregon
Licensing & Requirements
No state welding license required. AWS (American Welding Society) certifications are the industry standard. Structural welding on public projects requires certified welders per Oregon Building Code.
Training Programs
Portland Community College welding program, Mt. Hood CC, Clackamas CC, IBEW/Ironworkers Local 29 (Portland), Oregon Apprenticeship programs.
Average Salary
$50K–$80K
Top Employers
Vigor Industrial (shipbuilding, Portland), ESCO Corp, Oregon Iron Works, Zidell Marine, local structural and fabrication shops.
Career Overview
Is this career right for you?
✓You like working with your hands and creating things you can physically see and touch
✓You're fascinated by fire, metal, and how materials behave under extreme heat
✓You'd rather build something real than sit through another lecture
✓You want a career with creative freedom — from structural steel to custom motorcycle frames
Your Roadmap
1
Start HereAge 14-17
Take shop class, metal shop, and any welding electives at your high school
Learn basic welding safety — always protect your eyes, skin, and lungs
Watch Weld.com and ChuckE2009 on YouTube for welding technique breakdowns
Practice with a basic MIG welder if you have access (community maker spaces often have them)
Look into SkillsUSA welding competitions at your school
Understand the 4 main welding processes: MIG, TIG, Stick (SMAW), and Flux-Core
2
Training & EducationAge 17-19
Trade school welding program (6-18 months, $5K-$20K) — the fastest path to employment
Community college welding certificate or AAS degree (1-2 years)
Apprenticeship through a union (Ironworkers, Boilermakers, Pipefitters) — earn while you learn
You'll train on MIG, TIG, Stick, and potentially Flux-Core across multiple positions (flat, vertical, overhead)
Combo welders (certified in multiple processes) earn significantly more
Some programs include blueprint reading, metallurgy, and welding symbols
[Training programs near you — coming soon]
3
Get Certified
AWS (American Welding Society) certifications are the industry standard
Certified Welder (CW) — your entry ticket, tests specific positions and processes
Certified Welding Inspector (CWI) — advanced cert for quality control roles ($80-120K+)
Structural steel, pipe, and pressure vessel certs each require separate testing
Most certifications require passing a hands-on weld test judged by X-ray or bend test
Employers often pay for certification testing
[Certification prep resources — coming soon]
4
Land Your First Job
Entry-level positions: shop welder, fabrication helper, production welder
Starting pay: $16-22/hr ($35-48K/year), rising quickly with certifications
Structural steel shops, manufacturing plants, and fabrication shops are always hiring
The skilled trades shortage means welders are in demand from day one
Be willing to start in a shop before moving to field work — shops build your fundamentals
Average college grad: $59K salary + $37K student debt. Welding trade school: $5K-$20K investment, earning $50-70K within 3-5 years. Specialized welders break $100K with zero debt. Pipeline welders can earn more than many doctors.
The Real Talk
The Good
Creative and tangible — you build things that last decades
Short training time — earning good money within 6-12 months
Massive variety — every day and every job is different
Travel opportunities — pipeline and shutdown work sees the country
Path to artistic welding — custom fabrication, sculptures, furniture
Underwater and aerospace welding pay extraordinary wages
The Hard Parts
Hard on your body — heat, UV exposure, fumes, awkward positions
Safety risks — burns, eye damage, and fume inhalation if you're careless
Shop welding can be repetitive before you gain enough experience to specialize
Pipeline and travel work means time away from home
Hot environments — welding in summer heat is brutal
Is It Worth It?
Welding is one of the most creatively satisfying trades. You literally join metal with fire to build things that last generations. The shortage is severe, the pay scales dramatically with skill, and the specialization options are wild — from building rockets at SpaceX to welding underwater on oil rigs. If you want a career where you can point at a bridge and say "I built that," this is it.
A Career Is Just One Part of Your Story
The best careers don't just pay well — they give you freedom, purpose, and time for the people and things you love. Choose a path that makes your whole life better, not just your resume.