How to Become a Welder in Alaska
- Train at one of the 5 welding schools in Alaska that award welding credentials; a certificate takes months, an associate degree about two years.
- Practice the core processes: SMAW, GMAW, GTAW, FCAW, plus blueprint reading and cutting.
- Pass a weld test: an employer's procedure test or the AWS Certified Welder test at an accredited facility.
- Start work: Alaska welders earn a median $80,840 a year, with the top 10% above $109,940 (BLS, May 2025).
Where to Train as a Welder in Alaska, Starting With Alaska Vocational Technical Center
| # | College | Tuition and fees | Welding awards | Graduation rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Alaska Vocational Technical CenterSeward | 22 certificates | ||
| 2 | Charter CollegeAnchorage | $18,375 | 79 certificates | |
| 3 | University of Alaska SoutheastJuneau | $7,056 | 20 certificates | 28% |
| 4 | University of Alaska FairbanksFairbanks | $8,736 | 10 certificates | 38% |
| 5 | University of Alaska AnchorageAnchorage | $7,738 | 6 certificates | 30% |
Tuition is the 2024–25 full-time resident rate and graduation rate is college-wide (NCES College Navigator). Welding awards are credentials conferred in welding (IPEDS). Blank cells mean no federal figure for that college.
Alaska Programs That Train Welders
Charter College, Anchorage, Alaska
Offers a certificate in welding
- Tuition / year
- $18,375 all students, 2024–25
- Welding awards
- 79 conferred 2024–25
Teaches Stick · MIG · TIG · Flux-cored · Cutting · Fabrication
Alaska Vocational Technical Center, Seward, Alaska
Offers a certificate in welding
- Welding awards offered
- 1 certificates and degrees
- Welding awards
- 22 conferred 2024–25
Teaches Stick · MIG · TIG · Flux-cored · Pipe · Cutting
University of Alaska Anchorage, Anchorage, Alaska
Offers 4 certificates in welding
- Tuition / year
- $7,738 in-state, 2024–25
- Welding awards
- 6 conferred 2024–25
Teaches Stick · MIG · TIG · Flux-cored · Pipe · Cutting
University of Alaska Southeast, Juneau, Alaska
Offers 2 certificates in welding
- Tuition / year
- $7,056 in-state, 2024–25
- Welding awards
- 20 conferred 2024–25
Teaches Stick · MIG · TIG · Flux-cored · Cutting
University of Alaska Fairbanks, Fairbanks, Alaska
Offers a certificate in welding
- Tuition / year
- $8,736 in-state, 2024–25
- Welding awards
- 10 conferred 2024–25
Teaches Stick · MIG · TIG · Cutting · Fabrication
Tuition and welding awards: NCES College Navigator, 2024–25. Programs and processes: each school's own welding page, reviewed September 2026.
How to Become a Welder in Alaska, Step by Step
Pick a Certificate or an Associate Degree
A certificate concentrates on shop time and gets you to entry-level work fastest. An associate degree adds advanced processes, metallurgy, inspection and general education, which helps if you're aiming for pipe work, inspection or supervision later. Alaska colleges conferred 117 welding certificates and 0 associate degrees in 2022–23.
Learn the Processes Employers Test
Alaska programs on this page most often list SMAW, GMAW, GTAW, FCAW, plasma cutting, fabrication. Structural work leans on stick and flux-core; pipe and precision work add TIG.
Pass a Weld Test
The AWS Certified Welder program tests you on a specific procedure and code at an AWS Accredited Test Facility, with no education or experience prerequisites. Many employers run their own procedure test instead, so ask which one the jobs you want require.
Build Experience and Pay
Pay grows with the processes and positions you can pass tests in. After years on the job, some welders move into inspection through the AWS Certified Welding Inspector program, which requires work experience plus three exams.
Compare welding careers · Welding certification guide · Compare welding schools in Alaska
Welder Salary in Alaska: The Fairbanks Area Pays the Most
| Metro area | Median pay | Top 10% earn more than | Welding jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fairbanks–College | $80,210 | $109,940 | 70 |
| Anchorage | $74,000 | $96,200 | 250 |
Welder salary: annual wages for welders, cutters, solderers, and brazers in Alaska (790 jobs); U.S. median $53,750. Source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025.
How to Become a Welder in Alaska: FAQ
How Much Do Welding Schools in Alaska Cost?
Full-time tuition and fees for 2024–25 at the Alaska colleges on this page run from $7,056 to $18,375 for residents, before books, tools and protective gear.
How Long Does It Take to Become a Welder in Alaska?
Alaska programs publish awards from short certificates to associate degrees. For example, Alaska Vocational Technical Center lists AVTEC Industrial Welding program certificate (1110 clock hours); University of Alaska Anchorage lists Occupational Endorsement Certificate in Welding (19 credits) and Occupational Endorsement Certificate in Advanced Welding (22 credits); University of Alaska Southeast lists Welding O.E. (9 credit hours) and Advanced Welding O.E. (18 credit hours).
How Much Do Welders Make in Alaska?
BLS estimates a median of $80,840 a year for welders, cutters, solderers, and brazers in Alaska (May 2025), across 790 jobs. The lowest-paid 10% earn under $49,660 and the top 10% earn more than $109,940.
What Is the Best Welding School in Alaska?
On federal data for program size, cost and completion, Alaska Vocational Technical Center ranks first among Alaska colleges with verified welding programs, followed by Charter College. The best fit depends on the credential you want and the campus you can reach.
Do I Need a Certification to Work as a Welder?
Many employers test welders on their own procedure before hiring. The American Welding Society's Certified Welder program is a performance test with no education or experience prerequisites, taken at an AWS Accredited Test Facility.
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More on Welding in Alaska
Sources
- Official welding program pages of the 5 Alaska colleges above (each college name links to its page), reviewed September 2026.
- U.S. Department of Education, IPEDS completions 2022–23 and College Navigator.
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025.
- American Welding Society, Certified Welder program.