<p>If you&rsquo;re a detail-oriented problem solver seeking an exciting career in the state of Texas, consider the field of welding.</p><p>Texas employs the largest number of welders in the country. According to the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.bls.gov/oes/current/oes514121.htm" target="_blank" data-sf-ec-immutable="">Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS</a>), there were 46,580 welders, cutters, solderers and brazers employed in Texas in 2021.<sup>3</sup></p><p>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.</p><p>Keep reading to learn how to become a welder in Texas, including the training needed, job outlook and frequently asked questions.</p><h2>Welding School in Texas</h2><p>Given the high employment rate of welders in Texas, there&rsquo;s also a variety of well-established&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="/programs/welding">welding schools</a>&nbsp;to choose from, including Universal Technical Institute (UTI).</p><p>UTI teaches its Welding Technology program in&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="/locations/texas/austin">Austin</a>,&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="/locations/texas/dallas-fort-worth">Dallas/Fort Worth</a> and&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="/locations/texas/houston">Houston, Texas</a>. 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.<sup>1</sup></p><p>UTI has crafted its curriculum with the help of Lincoln Electric, ensuring students learn current industry standards, best safety practices, various <a target="_blank" href="/programs/welding/types-welding">types of welding</a>, and how to use the tools, machinery and equipment seen in the workforce.</p><p>Upon graduating, students will be ready to take their first step toward pursuing an career they&rsquo;re excited about.</p><h2>Welding Job Outlook in Texas</h2><p>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.</p><p>The&nbsp;<a href="https://www.bls.gov/ooh/production/welders-cutters-solderers-and-brazers.htm#tab-6" target="_blank" data-sf-ec-immutable="">BLS</a>&nbsp;predicts welding skills will be in demand as the nation&rsquo;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.</p><h2>Types of Welding Jobs in Texas</h2><p>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:<sup>77</sup></p><ul><li>Structural steel and iron welder: These welders help construct large commercial buildings, highways and bridges, and usually work for construction companies.</li><li><a href="https://www.uti.edu/blog/welding/pipeline-welder" target="_blank" data-sf-ec-immutable="">Pipeline welder</a>: 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.</li><li><a href="https://www.uti.edu/blog/welding/shipyard-welder" target="_blank" data-sf-ec-immutable="">Shipyard welder</a>: These welders assist in the construction, maintenance and reparation of ships. They typically work in naval yards or on cargo ships.</li><li><a href="https://www.uti.edu/blog/welding/military-support-welder" target="_blank" data-sf-ec-immutable="">Military support welder</a>: 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.</li><li>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.</li><li>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.</li><li>Manufacturing welder: These welders use metal to build specific products, meaning they can work in numerous industries.</li></ul><h2>How to Become a Welder in Texas in 4 Steps </h2><br /><h3>1. Determine Your Goals and Desired Jobs</h3><p>Before pursuing a career in welding, it&rsquo;s important to determine whether the role is right for you. After understanding a&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="/programs/welding/duties-salary">welder's duties</a>, research common welder traits.</p><p>Welders have or develop <a href="/programs/welding/traits">specific characteristics</a> that make them successful in their roles. These skills include:</p><ul><li>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. </li><li>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.</li><li>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.</li><li>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.</li></ul><p>If you think you and a welding career are a match made in heaven, start researching&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="/locations/texas">technical schools in Texas</a>.</p><h3>2. Research Various Schools</h3><p>Once you&rsquo;ve decided welding is for you, begin searching for welding training schools.</p><p>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.</p><p>UTI is accredited by the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.accsc.org/" target="_blank" data-sf-ec-immutable="">Accrediting Commission of Career Schools and Colleges (ACCSC)</a>, ensuring a quality education.</p><p>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.</p><p>Once you&rsquo;ve found a school to meet your needs, it&rsquo;s time to enroll.</p><p><img sf-custom-thumbnail="true" src="/images/default-source/blog/how-to-become-a-welder-in-texas/welder-texas_embed.webp" height="497" sf-size="40044" width="800" alt="" sf-constrain-proportions="false" /></p><h3>3. Attend a Welding School or Program</h3><p>While attending a trade school isn&rsquo;t required, it can assist you in training to become a welder as it teaches you proper techniques and safety procedures. </p><p>The&nbsp;<a href="https://www.bls.gov/ooh/production/welders-cutters-solderers-and-brazers.htm" target="_blank" data-sf-ec-immutable="">BLS</a> states that most welders need a high school diploma combined with technical training to enter the workforce.</p><p>During the UTI Welding Technology program, students will build skills through the following&nbsp;<a href="/programs/welding/welding-courses" target="_blank">welding courses</a>:</p><ul><li>Introduction to Welding, Safety &amp; Careers</li><li>Principles of Welding</li><li>Gas Metal Arc Welding I and II (GMAW)</li><li>Shielded Metal Arc Welding I and II (SMAW)</li><li>Engineering &amp; Fabrication</li><li>Flux-Cored Arc Welding (FCAW)</li><li>Gas Tungsten Arc Welding (GTAW)</li><li>Pipe Welding</li><li>Welding Applications I (GMAW and FCAW)</li><li>Welding Applications II (SMAW and GTAW)</li></ul><p>These are the skills that employers are looking for when hiring entry-level welders.</p><h3>4. Gain Experience Through Jobs or Apprenticeships</h3><p>Now that you have the education, you&rsquo;re ready to pursue a career. If you need assistance seeking employment, take advantage of UTI&rsquo;s <a href="/support-services/employment-assistance">Career Services.</a> The department is comprised of specialists who maintain a network of employers across Texas. </p><p>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.</p><h2>How to Become a Welder in Texas FAQ</h2><br /><h3>How Much Money Does a Welder Make in Texas?</h3><p>According to the BLS, the median annual salary for welders, cutters, solderers, and brazers in Texas was $48,180 in May 2022.<sup>26</sup><sup> </sup>This 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.</p><h3>Is Welding Worth a Career?</h3><p>Welding can be an excellent choice of career. As mentioned above, the trade is relevant to multiple industries, permitting room for trying new things.</p><p>Additionally, according to the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.bls.gov/emp/tables/occupational-separations-and-openings.htm" target="_blank" data-sf-ec-immutable="">BLS</a>, there are 47,000+ estimated average annual welding job openings in the United States.<sup>42</sup> Therefore, the value of your skills is transferrable.</p><h3>How Long Is Welding School in Texas?</h3><p>The time it takes to complete welding school in Texas depends on which school you attend. UTI&rsquo;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&rsquo;s welding schools in Texas, students receive a diploma that proves their training.</p><h3>How Much Does Welding School Cost in Texas?</h3><p>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, </p><p>UTI makes $15 million in&nbsp;<a href="/financial-aid/scholarships-grants" target="_blank">scholarships and grants</a>&nbsp;available to those who qualify and are enrolled to attend any program, including welding.<sup>10</sup></p><p>If you have questions about cost, the&nbsp;<a href="/financial-aid" target="_blank">Financial Aid team</a>&nbsp;can help.</p><h2>Train to Become a Welder in Texas at UTI</h2><p>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.</p><p>Ready to take the first step toward an exciting career?&nbsp;<a href="/request-info" target="_blank">Request info</a>&nbsp;or fill out a&nbsp;<a href="/forms/enroll-now" target="_blank">welding training school application</a>&nbsp;online.</p><p>In less than nine months, you can be ready to pursue a career with the skills you gained at one of UTI&rsquo;s Texas campuses!</p><h2>UTI Campuses That Offer Welding Training</h2><p>Interested in attending welding school elsewhere? Find a campus near you.&nbsp; </p><ul><li><a href="/locations/california/long-beach" target="_blank">Long Beach, California</a></li><li><a href="/locations/california/rancho-cucamonga" target="_blank">Rancho Cucamonga, California</a></li><li><a href="/locations/california/sacramento" target="_blank">Sacramento, California</a>&nbsp;<em>(coming to UTI Sacramento)</em></li><li><a href="/locations/arizona/avondale" target="_blank">Avondale, Arizona</a></li><li><a href="/locations/texas/austin" target="_blank">Austin, Texas</a></li><li><a href="/locations/texas/dallas-fort-worth" target="_blank">Dallas/Fort Worth, Texas</a>&nbsp;</li><li><a href="/locations/texas/houston" target="_blank">Houston, Texas</a></li><li><a href="/locations/illinois/lisle" target="_blank">Lisle, Illinois</a></li><li><a href="/locations/florida/miramar" target="_blank">Miramar, Florida</a></li><li><a href="/locations/north-carolina/mooresville" target="_blank">Mooresville, North Carolina</a></li><li><a href="/locations/pennsylvania/exton" target="_blank">Exton, Pennsylvania</a></li><li><a href="/locations/new-jersey/bloomfield" target="_blank">Bloomfield, New Jersey</a>&nbsp;</li></ul>