How Do You Become a Welding Engineer?
- BLS reports materials engineers typically need a bachelor's in materials science and engineering or a related field, and value internship experience.
- Median pay: $122,930 a year for engineers, all other (BLS, May 2025); highest in New Mexico at $162,070.
- Typical entry education, per BLS: bachelor's degree.
- Outlook: +3.7% projected employment change over 2025–35, with about 8,800 openings a year.
What Does a Welding Engineer Do?
Welding engineers design welded structures and components, choose materials and processes, write procedures and control quality. BLS groups them with engineers, all other; the closely related materials engineers also need a bachelor's degree in materials science and engineering.
Welding engineers are engineers first. The closest BLS profile is materials engineers, who develop, process and test the materials used to create products, and metallurgical engineers, who specialize in metals such as steel and aluminum. The work typically includes:
- Planning and evaluating projects with other engineers and managers
- Designing procedures to process, test and deploy materials
- Choosing materials and processes for a welded product
- Monitoring how materials perform and degrade over time
- Finding the causes of material failures and ways to prevent them
- Evaluating technical and quality control specifications
- Preparing proposals and budgets and writing reports
- Supervising technicians, technologists and other engineers
AWS describes welding engineering as spanning design, materials, processes and quality control: developing welded structures and components that meet the conditions in drawings, codes and contracts. In practice that means writing and qualifying welding procedures, choosing filler metals and processes, and investigating when a weld fails.
BLS notes that materials engineers use computer software to predict material properties and weigh factors such as weight, cost and how materials interact, often alongside aerospace, chemical and electrical engineers.
Where Welding Engineers Work and What the Job Is Like
Materials engineers work in offices, factories and research laboratories, often on teams with other scientists and engineers. BLS lists transportation equipment manufacturing as the largest employer (17%), followed by research and development and engineering services.
Most work full time, and some work more than 40 hours a week.
| Largest employers (BLS OOH) | Share of jobs, 2025 |
|---|---|
| Transportation equipment manufacturing | 17% |
| Research and development | 10% |
| Engineering services | 9% |
| Federal government | 7% |
| Computer and electronic product manufacturing | 6% |
How to Become a Welding Engineer: Step by Step
- 1Earn an engineering bachelor's degree
BLS reports materials engineers typically need a bachelor's in materials science and engineering or a related field, and value internship experience.
- 2Gain welding-based experience
AWS's Certified Welding Engineer program accepts a bachelor's or higher in engineering with one year of welding-based work, or an engineering technology bachelor's with two years.
- 3Consider licensure
BLS notes experienced engineers may earn a Professional Engineering (PE) license, which requires an engineering degree, the FE exam, experience and the PE exam.
This is a degree pathway. Welding school prepares you for the field, but the job itself requires the engineering degree described above.
How to Become a Welding Engineer: Training and Education
This is a bachelor's-degree career. BLS says entry-level materials engineering jobs typically require a bachelor's in materials science and engineering or another engineering field, and research jobs may require a master's or Ph.D. Degree programs combine calculus, chemistry and courses on the structure, processing and properties of materials.
Employers value practical experience, which students often get through internships and cooperative programs with industry. High school students aiming at this career should take algebra, trigonometry, calculus, chemistry, physics and computer programming.
A welding certificate is useful background, especially for understanding how procedures behave on the shop floor, but it doesn't lead to the engineering job on its own.
Licenses and Credentials
Licensure isn't required for entry-level jobs. Experienced engineers may earn a Professional Engineering (PE) license, which lets them oversee other engineers and sign off on projects. It typically requires an engineering degree, a passing score on the Fundamentals of Engineering (FE) exam, several years of work experience and a passing score on the PE exam.
Welding Engineer Certification
The AWS Certified Welding Engineer (CWEng) credential documents knowledge of welding design, materials, processes and quality control. Eligibility depends on education: a bachelor's or higher in engineering needs one year of welding-based work experience; an engineering technology bachelor's needs two; another related bachelor's needs five; an A.A.S. needs ten; and a high school diploma needs fifteen.
Qualifying experience can come from design, manufacturing, fabrication, construction, research and development, or training. Holders of a state PE license in welding engineering or an IIW or EWF diploma may receive special consideration. The credential is valid for five years, and renewal requires showing relevant education.
Skills That Matter in This Job
- Analytical skills
- Evaluating materials and their properties to decide how to use them.
- Math skills
- Calculus and statistics for analysis, design and troubleshooting.
- Computer skills
- Using and writing code for software that predicts material properties.
- Problem solving
- Anticipating manufacturing problems and devising fixes.
- Communication
- Explaining findings to teams and in written reports.
Where the Career Leads
BLS says materials engineers may advance to technical specialist roles or supervise teams of engineers and technicians, and some become engineering managers.
Welding Engineer Salary and Job Outlook
Half of engineers, all other earned more than $122,930 in May 2025, about $59.1 an hour. The middle half earned between $90,970 and $158,090, across 154,070 jobs in the wage survey. BLS projects employment to change +3.7% from 2025 to 2035, about as fast as the 3.5% projected for all occupations, with about 8,800 openings a year as workers retire or change jobs.
| Employment, 2025 | 166,700 |
|---|---|
| Projected employment, 2035 | 173,000 |
| Projected change, 2025–35 | +3.7% (all occupations: +3.5%) |
| Openings per year | 8,800 |
| Related: Materials Engineers | Median $112,860, +7.5% projected |
National annual wages for engineers, all other (SOC 17-2199). Sources: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025; BLS Employment Projections 2025–35.
Welding Engineer Salary by State
New Mexico pays engineers, all other the most, a median of $162,070, and Kansas the least, $76,100. The top 10% earn the most in California (more than $212,130).
| State | Median pay | Top 10% earn more than | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| New Mexico | $162,070 | $203,280 | 2,190 |
| Alabama | $152,550 | $195,190 | 3,460 |
| District of Columbia | $151,920 | $195,190 | 3,560 |
| Virginia | $148,160 | $195,190 | 5,060 |
| Alaska | $142,390 | $186,940 | 200 |
| Washington | $134,570 | $196,120 | 3,580 |
| Colorado | $132,590 | $195,190 | 2,540 |
| New Jersey | $132,450 | $195,190 | 4,540 |
| Massachusetts | $131,260 | $187,010 | 2,850 |
| Idaho | $130,970 | $195,360 | 560 |
| California | $130,850 | $212,130 | 28,610 |
| Maryland | $129,770 | $195,190 | 7,340 |
| New Hampshire | $128,130 | $187,910 | 610 |
| Vermont | $126,550 | $174,900 | 390 |
| Connecticut | $124,110 | $164,430 | 2,430 |
| Oregon | $123,220 | $184,920 | 2,030 |
| Hawaii | $122,800 | $176,410 | 1,100 |
| Michigan | $121,000 | $166,360 | 7,700 |
| Indiana | $120,880 | $163,380 | 1,540 |
| Ohio | $120,470 | $175,340 | 7,000 |
| Maine | $120,430 | $155,150 | 590 |
| Oklahoma | $119,810 | $158,040 | 860 |
| West Virginia | $118,800 | $169,500 | 660 |
| New York | $117,600 | $192,900 | 5,760 |
| Rhode Island | $117,080 | $199,410 | 380 |
| Texas | $115,810 | $177,780 | 10,820 |
| Wyoming | $113,050 | $144,040 | 110 |
| North Carolina | $112,450 | $173,370 | 4,270 |
| Georgia | $112,260 | $163,210 | 4,120 |
| South Dakota | $112,260 | $156,890 | 110 |
| Illinois | $111,930 | $168,770 | 2,520 |
| Mississippi | $111,030 | $166,000 | 480 |
| South Carolina | $110,490 | $180,960 | 1,280 |
| Wisconsin | $110,360 | $155,460 | 690 |
| Utah | $110,320 | $163,340 | 1,750 |
| Pennsylvania | $108,950 | $164,650 | 3,250 |
| Minnesota | $108,850 | $167,120 | 1,290 |
| Florida | $105,410 | $167,950 | 8,600 |
| Nevada | $103,780 | $189,750 | 870 |
| Delaware | $103,580 | $144,250 | |
| Iowa | $103,090 | $129,760 | 1,100 |
| Missouri | $102,980 | $168,530 | 1,850 |
| Arizona | $102,280 | $167,380 | 1,720 |
| North Dakota | $100,250 | $154,910 | 220 |
| Kentucky | $99,830 | $152,970 | 500 |
| Louisiana | $99,070 | $162,000 | 6,310 |
| Montana | $97,470 | $136,990 | 240 |
| Tennessee | $96,640 | $155,960 | 4,400 |
| Nebraska | $88,490 | $136,260 | 300 |
| Puerto Rico | $81,370 | $136,930 | 890 |
| Arkansas | $76,940 | $147,980 | 820 |
| Kansas | $76,100 | $139,360 | 780 |
Engineers, All Other, SOC 17-2199, May 2025. Source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, state estimates. States where BLS suppressed the median are omitted; blank cells were suppressed.
Best-Paying Metro Areas: San Jose–Sunnyvale–Santa Clara Leads
Among metro areas with at least 100 engineers, all other jobs, San Jose–Sunnyvale–Santa Clara (CA) has the highest median pay, $169,650 a year.
| Metro area | Median pay | Jobs |
|---|---|---|
| San Jose–Sunnyvale–Santa Clara (CA) | $169,650 | 4,970 |
| Lexington Park (MD) | $166,230 | 1,020 |
| Albuquerque (NM) | $163,630 | 1,110 |
| San Francisco–Oakland–Fremont (CA) | $159,800 | 4,850 |
| Huntsville (AL) | $155,630 | 3,110 |
| Atlantic City–Hammonton (NJ) | $151,760 | 230 |
| Washington–Arlington–Alexandria (DC–VA–MD–WV) | $151,340 | 9,230 |
| Kennewick–Richland (WA) | $142,920 | 280 |
| Bremerton–Silverdale–Port Orchard (WA) | $142,130 | 440 |
| Dayton–Kettering–Beavercreek (OH) | $142,080 | 1,650 |
Engineers, All Other, SOC 17-2199. Source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, metropolitan area estimates, May 2025.
Is Welding Engineer a Good Career?
What Works in Its Favor
- It's the highest-paid career on our welding list, with a median above $120,000 for engineers in this BLS group.
- Materials engineering employment is projected to grow 7.5% over 2025–35.
- The work is mostly in offices, labs and factories rather than the weld booth.
What to Weigh First
- It requires an engineering bachelor's degree; welding school alone won't get you there.
- Research jobs may require a master's degree or Ph.D.
- A PE license, if you want one, takes the FE exam, years of experience and the PE exam.
Welding Engineer vs. Related Welding Careers
| Career | Median pay | Growth 2025–35 | Typical entry education |
|---|---|---|---|
| Welding engineerDegree pathway | $122,930 | +3.7% | Bachelor's degree |
| Welding inspectorExperience first | $48,570 | +2.5% | High school diploma or equivalent |
| Welding supervisorExperience first | $74,450 | +1.8% | High school diploma or equivalent |
| WelderTrain directly | $53,750 | +2.4% | High school diploma or equivalent |
For comparison, welders, cutters, solderers, and brazers earn a median $53,750.
Welding Engineer FAQ
What Is the Average Welding Engineer Salary?
BLS estimates a median of $122,930 a year (about $59.1 an hour) for engineers, all other (May 2025), with the lowest-paid 10% under $66,810 and the top 10% above $189,950.
Is Welding Engineer a Growing Career?
BLS projects employment of engineers, all other to change +3.7% from 2025 to 2035, compared with 3.5% for all occupations, with about 8,800 openings a year from growth and replacement.
Can a Welding Engineer Make $100,000 a Year?
Some do. In California, the top 10% of engineers, all other earn more than $212,130 (BLS, May 2025); nationally the 90th percentile is $189,950.
Which State Pays Welding Engineers the Most?
New Mexico, where the median for engineers, all other is $162,070 a year, against $76,100 in Kansas (BLS, May 2025).
How Many Welding Engineers Are There?
BLS counts about 166,700 jobs for engineers, all other in 2025; the largest employer group is transportation equipment manufacturing (17% of jobs, BLS OOH).
Can a Welder Become a Welding Engineer Without a Degree?
The engineering role itself needs a degree. AWS's CWEng credential does allow a high school diploma path, but it requires 15 years of welding-based work experience.
What Degree Does a Welding Engineer Need?
An engineering bachelor's degree, usually in welding engineering or materials science and engineering. AWS's CWEng accepts other paths only with much longer welding-based experience.
Do Welding Engineers Weld?
Some hands-on welding knowledge helps, but the job is engineering: procedures, materials, design and failure analysis rather than production welding.
Latest Posts From the Blog
All posts
National · Careers
Is Welding a Good Career? Jobs, Pay and Growth to 2035
Welding offers 40,300 openings a year and a $53,750 median wage, but slow growth. See BLS projections to 2035, the pay spread and related careers.
Pennsylvania · Salary
How Much Do Welders Make in Pennsylvania?
Pennsylvania welders earned a $52,900 median in May 2025, $25.43 an hour. See pay in Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, Erie and 13 more metros, plus related careers.
New Jersey · Salary
How Much Do Welders Make in New Jersey?
New Jersey welders earned a median $59,440 in May 2025 ($28.58 an hour). See pay by metro, starting and top pay, and the jobs welding leads to.
Explore Welding Schools and Careers
Sources
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025, national and state estimates, SOC 17-2199 and 17-2131.
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections 2025–35.
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Outlook Handbook, materials engineers.
- American Welding Society, AWS Certified Welding Engineer (CWEng).