How to Become a Welder in Texas

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How to Become a Welder in Texas

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If you’re a detail-oriented problem solver seeking an exciting career in the state of Texas, consider the field of welding.

Texas employs the largest number of welders in the country. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), there were 46,580 welders, cutters, solderers and brazers employed in Texas in 2021.³

The welding trade is valuable to countless industries ranging from vehicle manufacturing to shipbuilding. It offers opportunities for continual learning, and with hard work, welders often find new ways to grow in their careers.

Keep reading to learn how to become a welder in Texas, including the training needed, job outlook and frequently asked questions.

Welding School in Texas

Given the high employment rate of welders in Texas, there’s also a variety of well-established welding schools to choose from, including Universal Technical Institute (UTI).

UTI teaches its Welding Technology program in Austin, Dallas/Fort Worth and Houston, Texas. Through classroom instruction and hands-on training led by expert instructors, students graduate prepared to pursue opportunities in industries such as construction, manufacturing, fabrication, transportation and agriculture.¹

UTI has crafted its curriculum with the help of Lincoln Electric, ensuring students learn current industry standards, best safety practices, various types of welding, and how to use the tools, machinery and equipment seen in the workforce.

Upon graduating, students will be ready to take their first step toward pursuing an career they’re excited about.

Welding Job Outlook in Texas

As previously mentioned, Texas holds the highest employment level of welders, cutters, solderers and brazers in the country, making it an excellent state to pursue a welding career.

The BLS predicts welding skills will be in demand as the nation’s infrastructure ages because they carry the expertise needed to rebuild major roadways, like bridges and highways. They also believe their skills will be in demand at manufacturing plants.

Types of Welding Jobs in Texas

There are various paths for an aspiring welder to take. Most of our grads start out working as entry-level technicians or in other entry-level roles. As with any industry, over time, you may be able to advance in your career with hard work. Some of the most popular welding careers include:⁷⁷

Structural steel and iron welder: These welders help construct large commercial buildings, highways and bridges, and usually work for construction companies.
Pipeline welder: These welders help construct, install, repair and maintain pipes. The pipes they work on can carry anything from water to oil. Therefore, they can work in various industries.
Shipyard welder: These welders assist in the construction, maintenance and reparation of ships. They typically work in naval yards or on cargo ships.
Military support welder: These welders often work on a military base. They contribute their skills to maintaining and repairing various supplies used by the military, ranging from weapons to vehicles.
Underwater welder: These welders have specialized training as they utilize heavy machinery underwater to perform fitting and rigging, cutting, non-destructive testing and more. They typically work on oil rig platforms or at shipyards.
Oil rig welder: These welders help build, maintain and repair structures that extract oil or gas. They typically work on oil rig platforms and are trained in underwater welding.
Manufacturing welder: These welders use metal to build specific products, meaning they can work in numerous industries.

How to Become a Welder in Texas in 4 Steps

1. Determine Your Goals and Desired Jobs

Before pursuing a career in welding, it’s important to determine whether the role is right for you. After understanding a welder's duties, research common welder traits.

Welders have or develop specific characteristics that make them successful in their roles. These skills include:

Creative problem-solving skills: Repairing metal structures is a significant portion of welders' jobs, and not every obstacle they face will be the same. Therefore, they must be able to think outside the box.
A talent for math and science: Welders rely on their math and science skills daily. They must know how to calculate gas pressure and volume, measure and weld accurate proportions, and more.
A desire to learn: Like most trades, welding is continually changing with the help of technology and requires a dedication to staying up to date on current industry best practices.
Mental and physical endurance: Welding requires utilizing heavy machinery and equipment and sometimes working in less-than-ideal environments. It also calls for critical thinking at nearly every corner. For this reason, welders often develop mental and physical endurance.

If you think you and a welding career are a match made in heaven, start researching technical schools in Texas.

2. Research Various Schools

Once you’ve decided welding is for you, begin searching for welding training schools.

There are a few hallmark characteristics of a high-quality trade school. The first is accreditation by an organization recognized by the U.S. Department of Education.

UTI is accredited by the Accrediting Commission of Career Schools and Colleges (ACCSC), ensuring a quality education.

You should also seek out a trade school with relevant brand relationships. UTI collaborates with industry leader Lincoln Electric to craft and maintain a curriculum that is relevant to current industry standards.

Once you’ve found a school to meet your needs, it’s time to enroll.

3. Attend a Welding School or Program

While attending a trade school isn’t required, it can assist you in training to become a welder as it teaches you proper techniques and safety procedures.

The BLS states that most welders need a high school diploma combined with technical training to enter the workforce.

During the UTI Welding Technology program, students will build skills through the following welding courses:

Introduction to Welding, Safety & Careers
Principles of Welding
Gas Metal Arc Welding I and II (GMAW)
Shielded Metal Arc Welding I and II (SMAW)
Engineering & Fabrication
Flux-Cored Arc Welding (FCAW)
Gas Tungsten Arc Welding (GTAW)
Pipe Welding
Welding Applications I (GMAW and FCAW)
Welding Applications II (SMAW and GTAW)

These are the skills that employers are looking for when hiring entry-level welders.

4. Gain Experience Through Jobs or Apprenticeships

Now that you have the education, you’re ready to pursue a career. If you need assistance seeking employment, take advantage of UTI’s Career Services. The department is comprised of specialists who maintain a network of employers across Texas.

A welding career can be an excellent opportunity for anyone who loves to learn. In a job or apprenticeship, welders build on entry-level skills gained in a welding program, and with enough hard work, they may be able to grow in the field.

How to Become a Welder in Texas FAQ

How Much Money Does a Welder Make in Texas?

According to the BLS, the median annual salary for welders, cutters, solderers, and brazers in Texas was $48,180 in May 2022.²⁶This means half of welders, cutters, solderers, and brazers earned more and half earned less. Keep in mind that salary depends on several factors, including experience, employer, demand and cost of living in the area.

Is Welding Worth a Career?

Welding can be an excellent choice of career. As mentioned above, the trade is relevant to multiple industries, permitting room for trying new things.

Additionally, according to the BLS, there are 47,000+ estimated average annual welding job openings in the United States.⁴² Therefore, the value of your skills is transferrable.

How Long Is Welding School in Texas?

The time it takes to complete welding school in Texas depends on which school you attend. UTI’s Welding Technology program can be completed in just 36 weeks, meaning it would take less than nine months to graduate. Upon graduating from one of UTI’s welding schools in Texas, students receive a diploma that proves their training.

How Much Does Welding School Cost in Texas?

The cost of tuition depends on several factors, including where you enroll, how long the program is and the cost of living. Some welding schools may offer scholarships and grants. For instance,

UTI makes $15 million in scholarships and grants available to those who qualify and are enrolled to attend any program, including welding.¹⁰

If you have questions about cost, the Financial Aid team can help.

Train to Become a Welder in Texas at UTI

We hope this 4-step guide has answered questions you had about how to become a welder in Texas. Welding is a valuable skill to build. Not only is it relevant to numerous industries, but the career can offer opportunities to continue learning.

Ready to take the first step toward an exciting career? Request info or fill out a welding training school application online.

In less than nine months, you can be ready to pursue a career with the skills you gained at one of UTI’s Texas campuses!

UTI Campuses That Offer Welding Training

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1) UTI is an educational institution and cannot guarantee employment or salary.

2) For program outcome information and other disclosures, visit www.uti.edu/disclosures.

3) U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics estimate of total employment for Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and Brazers, May 2021. U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, www.bls.gov, viewed March 10, 2023. UTI is an educational institution and cannot guarantee employment or salary.

10) Financial aid, scholarships and grants are available to those who qualify. Awards vary due to specific conditions, criteria and state.

26) UTI’s Welding Technology Training Program prepares graduates for entry-level positions using the provided training, primarily as welders. Estimated annual salary shown above is for Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and Brazers as published in the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics’ May 2022 Occupational Employment and Wages. Entry-level salaries are lower for UTI graduates. UTI is an educational institution and cannot guarantee employment or salary. UTI graduates’ achievements may vary. Individual circumstances and wages depend on economic factors, personal credentials, work experience, industry certifications, the location of the employer, and their compensation programs. Some UTI graduates get jobs within their field of study in positions other than as a welding technician, such as inspector and quality control. Salary information for the Commonwealth of Massachusetts: The average annual entry-level salary range for persons employed as Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and Brazers (51-4121) in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts is $36,160 to $50,810 (Massachusetts Labor and Workforce Development, May 2020 data https://lmi.dua.eol.mass.gov/lmi/OccupationalEmploymentAndWageSpecificOccupations#). Salary information for North Carolina: The U.S. Department of Labor estimates the hourly median wage for skilled welders in North Carolina is $22.69 (Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, May 2022 Occupational Employment and Wages, Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and Brazers). The Bureau of Labor Statistics does not publish entry-level salary data. However, the 25th and 10th percentile of hourly earnings in North Carolina are $18.91 and $17.16, respectively.

42) For Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and Brazers, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics projects an annual average of 47,600 job openings between 2021 and 2031. Job openings include openings due to net employment changes and net replacements. See Table 1.10 Occupational separations and openings, projected 2021-31, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, www.bls.gov, viewed October 13, 2022. UTI is an educational institution and cannot guarantee employment or salary.

77) UTI is an educational institution and cannot guarantee employment or salary. UTI prepares graduates for entry-level careers using the provided training. UTI graduates’ achievements may vary. Some UTI graduates get jobs within their field of study in positions other than those listed.

Universal Technical Institute of Illinois, Inc. is approved by the Division of Private Business and Vocational Schools of the Illinois Board of Higher Education.

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