Welding, like other skilled trades, is suffering from a shortage of new welders as the experienced ones retire. That means companies across industries all over the U.S. are scrambling for skilled welders.
Couple that with the post COVID-19 pandemic labor shortage, and it’s one of the best times in history to get into the welding profession.
The American Welding Society is the professional organization that serves the welding industry and offers the basic Certified Welder certificate. AWS certifications are the gold standard throughout the U.S.; even public high schools consult closely with the AWS to keep their technical curriculum up-to-date.
Some municipalities across the US require special licenses to work within the city, even if you have a statewide certification. In Texas, for the most part, you can work in any city with a state certification.
The AWS also has certification waiver programs if you are already certified by organizations like the International Institute of Welding, for example.
What Welding Certifications are Available?
AWS credentials are transferable across the U.S., but you may need additional licenses depending on which locality you plan to work in.
Here are certifications the AWS offers and a little bit about what new skills and jobs will open up to you with each:
Certified Welder
This is the basic certification you need from the AWS to be a welder in the U.S. There are no prerequisites to apply, but you will have a set of requirements to submit your application and test results for certification. You can refer to the current AWS QC7 standards here and once you are ready you just have to pay the current application fee of $70 and take and pass the associated exam. The exam is written and practical and will likely include some form of plate welding or pipe welding test, or a combination of the two. You can find a list of accredited schools that will administer a test in your area on AWS.org or sources such as gowelding.org.
Certified Welding Inspector
All welding projects need quality control. Welds are the structural crux of many large structures like cell phone towers, bridges, skyscrapers, airframes and more. Weld failures can be catastrophic.
An inspector certification allows you to understand the nuances of different materials and how they react in different conditions, and how all those factors relate to the quality and integrity of any weld.
The inspector certification comes in three levels each with their own costs and perks for certifying with AWS:
- Associate Certified Welding Inspector - $1,520
- Certified Welding Inspector - $1,520
- Senior Certified Welding Inspector - $185
While some of these costs may give you a bit of sticker shock, keep in mind that these are for higher skilled roles that can often earn much higher wages. In additon, all of these certification costs include a 3 year AWS membership that will give you discounts on some future certifications even further up the welders' career ladder. Not that the latter two certifications here also require a number of years of experience at the previous level.
Certified Welding Educator
Lots of school districts, municipalities and companies that want to offer continuing education internally look for this certification. It’s a handy one to have if you enjoy mentoring younger professionals. Given the shortage of skilled welders entering the field, you can help the grow the profession with this certification, too.
AWS Certification Application cost - $1,175
Certified Resistance Welding Technician
Resistance welding uses pressure and electrical current to join two pieces of material. This is a handy technique as no extra material is needed to execute the weld. This certification is a useful tool to have in your belt as this more efficient technique is gaining traction in more industrial applications.
AWS Certification Seminar and Exam cost - $1,355
Certified Radiographic Interpreter
Understand readouts from radiographic (X-ray) scans and ultrasonic scans of welds. This expertise will let you discover whether a particular weld is faulty or structurally sound by observing images. This is a handy certification to pair with any of the weld inspector certifications.
AWS Certification Exam cost - $1,270
Certified Robotic Arc Welder
Control a robotic welder. This specialized technique requires its own skillset. The robotic welder is necessary because of the huge amount of heat and precision involved in these welds often being done at fast paces on assembly lines of in construction settings.
AWS Certification Exam cost - $745
Certified Welding Engineer
Thorough understanding of welding procedures, methods and the related trades is required for this welding certification. Engineers can read inspection reports and interface with production-level welders, inspectors, project managers and structural engineers, alike, to ensure they use the right kind of welds, and that those welds are guaranteed to be structurally sound throughout any project. This certification is rather rigorous and consists of a four part exam.
AWS Certification Exam cost (All Parts) - $1,550
Certified Welding Supervisor
Welding supervisors have a lot of hats to wear. The most important is the helmet; supervisors coordinate job site safety for production-level workers. “To be effective, they need to have and use a wide range of knowledge, including welding safety, supervision, planning, fabrication, inspection, documentation, and economics,” according to the AWS.
AWS Certification Exam cost - $756
Certified Welding Sales Rep
You can’t sell services or products without thorough knowledge, literally. Welding sales reps “relay information concerning new technologies that can improve the productivity, reliability, and quality of welding processes,” according to the AWS. Being a Welding Sales Representative takes just as much know-how, if not more in some cases, as becoming an actual welder. So naturally it comes with its own certification and exams.
AWS Certification Exam cost - $536
What are the Requirements for Being a Welder in Texas?
You’ll likely have to take classes through your technical program at your high school to get the necessary classroom and basic practical skills. If you’re switching into welding as an adult, the AWS offers all sorts of seminars and curriculum, depending on where you are in your career and what path you want to take.
These educational programs are not included with certification costs and exams in many cases and can run as long as 18 months and cost from a few thousand bucks to more than $50,000 depending on the source of training, according to WeldingTroop, an online trade magazine. You should pick a program through the AWS or a local/state licensing body to be sure your time is being put to good use.
The market for such educational programs across professions is filled with firms trying to get easy money without providing much value. Do your research and, ideally, get tips on picking an educational program from someone who is already in the industry. For more information on picking the right program, a good bet is to always defer to the information available from the American Welding Association, being the nationwide standard bearer.
How Much Money Can You Make as a Welder in Texas?
Salary averages for basic welding positions throughout the metro areas of Texas run from $43,000 per year to about $61,000 per year, depending on the part of Texas you're working in and your level of experience.
If you're right out of school or your apprenticeship, don't expect to make $30 an hour right away, however. The average for a mid-career welder in Austin and Dallas is about $50,000 ($24.04/hour), and up to $55,000 ($26.92/hour) in Houston. With the average range being between 40-60,000 in the state of Texas in 2026, according to ZipRecruiter data. Although more skilled roles will only see an increase from there.
Welding Apprenticeships in Texas
As a beginning welder, you’ll need to spend some time learning the ropes while on-the-job. Texas offers register apprenticeship training programs for professions like welding. In Texas, an employer registered through the state must sponsor your apprenticeship. You can find one through apprenticeship programs throughout the state -- start with the Texas Workforce Commission (TWC).
Here are the apprenticeship requirements listed by the TWC of apprenticeships over other educational programs for welding:
- Hazardous jobs require an 18-year-old, but some programs accept apprentices as young as 16.
- High school diploma or equivalent. You may also be in secondary school during your apprenticeship.
- Physical strength and endurance in keeping with the welding job you're doing as an apprentice.
Some programs require previous work experience, aptitude testing and/or decent school grades. Here is a resource to hunt for apprenticeship opportunities in welding and other trades: ApprenticeshipUSA.gov
Here is a list of certified Texas welding schools from GoWelding.org:
- Amarillo College Welding Technology
- Angelina College Welding Technology
- ATI Career Training Center Welding
- Austin Community College Welding Technology
- Eastfield College Welding Technology
- El Centro College Welding Technology
- El Paso County Community College Welding Program
- Frank Phillips College
- Gary Jobs Corp Center
- Grayson County College
- Hill College Welding Department
- Kilgore College Welding Program
- Lincoln Group of Schools – Welding
- Lone Star College System Welding Technology
- Laredo Community College
- Laredo Jobs Corp
- Lee College
- Mountain View College Welding
- Odessa College Welding
- Ponola College Welding Technology
- Ranger College Welding Program
- San Jacinto College Welding Technology
- South Plains College Welding Technology
- Tarrant County College Welding Technology
- Texarkana College Welding Program
- Texas State Technical College Welding Technology Program
- Trinity Valley Community College Welding Program
- Tulsa Welding School Houston
- Tyler Jonior College Welding Program
- Vernon College
- Western Technical College Advanced Welding
- Western Texas College Welding Programs
How Do You Get a Welding License in Texas?
The American Welding Society certifications are recognized throughout the U.S., and is the certification recognized statewide in Texas. If you have completed your welding training at one of the above schools, you will need to take the test at an accredited testing facility. According to the American Welding Society, they include:
- Alamo Colleges: St. Philip's College SW Campus
- Bill J. Priest Institute
- McAllen Careers Institute
- Pearland ISD
- South Texas College Technology Campus
- Tulsa Welding School, Houston Campus
If you want to work for the State of Texas, building freeways for the transportation department, for example, you'll need specific structural welding certification.
"A certified welder has passed the ... Bridge Welding Code qualification ... 'Certified Steel Structures Welder," states the Texas Department of Transportation website. "All welding for certification must be performed in the presence of testing lab personnel. The welder is responsible for all costs associated with testing required for certification. The certification remains in effect as long as the welder performs acceptable work for TxDOT as determined by the Bridge Division."
In conclusion, welding may seem like a straightforward job, but getting into it requires hard work, dedication, and knowing what you want to go after. For those just considering entering the field, while it may seem overwhelming at first, just know that this is a career with plenty of room for growth and advancement in a number of directions that will pay dividends if you invest yourself into it.
Frequently Asked Questions
Due to a shortage of new welders as experienced workers retire, combined with post-COVID-19 pandemic labor shortages still lingering, companies across all industries are actively searching for qualified welding talent.
The American Welding Society (AWS) basic Certified Welder credential is the national gold standard, and it is broadly recognized statewide across Texas for most municipal work.
The AWS exam includes both a written portion and a practical test, which typically involves plate welding, pipe welding, or a combination of the two, administered through accredited facilities.
Because weld failures on critical structures (like bridges, cell phone towers, skyscrapers, and airframes) can be catastrophic, hiring personnel with AWS Associate, Certified, or Senior Inspector credentials ensures deep expertise in material nuances, quality control, and standard practices for weld safety.
Robotic arc welders are necessary for managing the huge amounts of heat and precision required on fast-paced assembly lines and construction settings, making this specialized skill set crucial for modern automated production.
AWS-certified welding supervisors coordinate job site safety for production-level workers, managing a wide range of responsibilities including site safety, supervision, planning, fabrication, inspection, documentation, and economics. They are the overseer and primary role responsible for making sure things go smoothly.
Welding engineers possess a thorough understanding of welding procedures, methods, and related trades. They can read inspection reports and interface with production-level welders, inspectors, project managers, and structural engineers to guarantee structural integrity.
Salary averages for basic welding positions across Texas metro areas generally run from $43,000 to $61,000 per year. Mid-career welders average about $50,000 in Austin and Dallas, and up to $55,000 in Houston, with more specialized and experienced roles earning significantly more.
For work involving the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT)—such as building freeways—welders must pass the Bridge Welding Code qualification to become a "Certified Steel Structures Welder," which requires testing in the presence of lab personnel.
Employers looking to sponsor registered apprentices can start through the Texas Workforce Commission (TWC) or ApprenticeshipUSA.gov, and should look to AWS-approved technical schools (such as Texas State Technical College or local community colleges) to ensure candidates receive valid, high-value training.
The AWS inspector credentials are split into Associate Certified Welding Inspector, Certified Welding Inspector, and Senior Certified Welding Inspector. These higher-skilled roles require varying years of experience at previous levels and equip inspectors to evaluate material reactions and ensure structural integrity.
Resistance welding uses pressure and electrical current to join materials without needing extra filler material. Hiring a technician with this certification gives your operation an efficient, modern joining technique that is increasingly popular in industrial manufacturing.
Radiographic interpreters are certified to read X-ray and ultrasonic scans of welds, allowing them to spot internal flaws or verify structural soundness. This is a critical expertise to pair with your welding inspectors.
To host an apprentice through Texas-registered programs, employers must be registered with the state (via the Texas Workforce Commission). Apprentices must generally be at least 18 for hazardous tasks (though some accept 16-year-olds), possess a high school diploma or equivalent, demonstrate physical fitness, and sometimes pass aptitude testing or previous coursework.
If an employer performs work for the Texas Department of Transportation (such as building freeways), their welders must pass the Bridge Welding Code qualification to become a "Certified Steel Structures Welder." Testing must occur in the presence of lab personnel, and the certification remains valid as long as the worker's performance satisfies TxDOT's Bridge Division.
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