How to Become a Welder in California
- Train at one of the 64 welding schools in California that award welding credentials; a certificate takes months, an associate degree about two years.
- Practice the core processes: SMAW, GTAW, GMAW, 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: California welders earn a median $58,060 a year, with the top 10% above $81,940 (BLS, May 2025).
Where to Train as a Welder in California, Starting With College of the Canyons
| # | College | Tuition and fees | Welding awards | Graduation rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | College of the CanyonsSanta Clarita | $1,166 | 36 certificates, 10 associate | 45% |
| 2 | Butte CollegeOroville | $1,356 | 110 certificates, 11 associate | 45% |
| 3 | Merced CollegeMerced | $1,200 | 167 certificates, 8 associate | 36% |
| 4 | Yuba CollegeMarysville | $1,128 | 19 certificates, 8 associate | 40% |
| 5 | El Camino Community College DistrictTorrance | $1,144 | 10 certificates, 9 associate | 42% |
| 6 | American River CollegeSacramento | $1,288 | 105 certificates, 11 associate | 37% |
| 7 | Santa Ana CollegeSanta Ana | $1,180 | 47 certificates, 10 associate | 31% |
| 8 | Mt San Antonio CollegeWalnut | $1,364 | 40 certificates, 9 associate | 45% |
| 9 | Chabot CollegeHayward | $1,150 | 18 certificates, 1 associate | 47% |
| 10 | Las Positas CollegeLivermore | $1,168 | 17 certificates, 3 associate | 53% |
| 11 | Los Angeles Trade Technical CollegeLos Angeles | $1,238 | 51 certificates, 5 associate | 35% |
| 12 | Cerritos CollegeNorwalk | $1,364 | 225 certificates, 53 associate | 31% |
| 13 | Advanced Career InstituteVisalia | 274 certificates | ||
| 14 | Summit CollegeSan Bernardino | 244 certificates | ||
| 15 | Universal Technical Institute-Southern CaliforniaLong Beach | 207 certificates | ||
| 16 | Cosumnes River CollegeSacramento | $1,288 | 23 certificates, 7 associate | 40% |
| 17 | Universal Technical Institute of California IncRancho Cucamonga | 191 certificates | ||
| 18 | Pasadena City CollegePasadena | $1,180 | 8 certificates, 2 associate | 48% |
| 19 | Reedley CollegeReedley | $1,334 | 37 certificates, 3 associate | 42% |
| 20 | Modesto Junior CollegeModesto | $1,282 | 42 certificates, 7 associate | 30% |
| 21 | College of the SequoiasTulare | $1,394 | 33 certificates, 8 associate | 39% |
| 22 | CET-San DiegoSan Diego | 88 certificates | ||
| 23 | Fresno City CollegeFresno | $1,334 | 74 certificates, 21 associate | 24% |
| 24 | Los Medanos CollegePittsburg | $1,312 | 9 certificates, 7 associate | 41% |
| 25 | Napa Valley CollegeNapa | $1,156 | 2 certificates, 3 associate | 43% |
| 26 | Tri-Community Adult EducationCovina | 55 certificates | ||
| 27 | Long Beach City CollegeLong Beach | $1,556 | 44 certificates, 22 associate | 30% |
| 28 | Palo Verde CollegeBlythe | $1,288 | 35 certificates, 1 associate | 31% |
| 29 | Institute of TechnologyClovis | 35 certificates | ||
| 30 | CET-ColtonColton | 35 certificates | ||
| 31 | Hacienda La Puente Adult EducationLa Puente | 31 certificates | ||
| 32 | Solano Community CollegeFairfield | $1,172 | 4 certificates, 3 associate | 36% |
| 33 | San Joaquin Delta CollegeStockton | $1,180 | 23 certificates | 35% |
| 34 | Glendale Community CollegeGlendale | $1,191 | 6 certificates, 1 associate | 37% |
| 35 | Fullerton CollegeFullerton | $1,150 | 15 certificates | 34% |
| 36 | Riverside City CollegeRiverside | $1,428 | 25 certificates, 4 associate | 37% |
| 37 | Laney CollegeOakland | $1,258 | 10 certificates, 4 associate | 31% |
| 38 | Coalinga CollegeCoalinga | $1,384 | 16 certificates | 43% |
| 39 | San Bernardino Valley CollegeSan Bernardino | $1,196 | 1 certificate, 3 associate | 28% |
| 40 | Madera Community CollegeMadera | $1,378 | 4 certificates, 3 associate | 35% |
| 41 | Sierra CollegeRocklin | $1,446 | 7 certificates | 42% |
| 42 | Columbia CollegeSonora | $1,282 | 7 certificates | 27% |
| 43 | Rio Hondo CollegeWhittier | $1,388 | 7 certificates, 1 associate | 25% |
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.
California Programs That Train Welders
Summit College, San Bernardino, California
Offers one other award in welding
- Welding awards offered
- 1 certificates and degrees
- Welding awards
- 244 conferred 2024–25
Teaches Stick · MIG · TIG · Flux-cored · Cutting · Fabrication
Universal Technical Institute of California Inc, Rancho Cucamonga, California
Offers one other award in welding
- Welding awards offered
- 1 certificates and degrees
- Welding awards
- 191 conferred 2024–25
Teaches Stick · MIG · TIG · Flux-cored · Pipe · Fabrication
Advanced Career Institute, Visalia, California
Offers a certificate in welding
- Welding awards offered
- 1 certificates and degrees
- Welding awards
- 274 conferred 2024–25
Teaches Stick · MIG · TIG · Flux-cored · Pipe · Cutting
Universal Technical Institute-Southern California, Long Beach, California
Offers one other award in welding
- Welding awards offered
- 1 certificates and degrees
- Welding awards
- 207 conferred 2024–25
Teaches Stick · MIG · TIG · Flux-cored
Merced College, Merced, California
Offers an associate degree and 3 certificates in welding
- Tuition / year
- $1,200 in-state, 2024–25
- Welding awards
- 175 conferred 2024–25
Teaches Stick · MIG · TIG · Pipe · Cutting · Fabrication
Butte College, Oroville, California
Offers an associate degree and 4 certificates in welding
- Tuition / year
- $1,356 in-state, 2024–25
- Welding awards
- 121 conferred 2024–25
Teaches Stick · MIG · TIG · Flux-cored · 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 California, 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. California colleges conferred 2,314 welding certificates and 266 associate degrees in 2022–23.
Learn the Processes Employers Test
California programs on this page most often list SMAW, GTAW, GMAW, FCAW, blueprint reading, PIPE. 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 California
Welder Salary in California: The San Francisco Area Pays the Most
For pay by metro area and by welding job, see Welder Salary in California.
| Metro area | Median pay | Top 10% earn more than | Welding jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| San Francisco–Oakland–Fremont | $64,320 | $99,930 | 1,990 |
| San Jose–Sunnyvale–Santa Clara | $64,140 | $92,310 | 1,050 |
| Vallejo | $63,860 | $87,730 | 280 |
| Napa | $62,890 | $87,480 | 70 |
| San Diego–Chula Vista–Carlsbad | $62,560 | $82,470 | 2,940 |
| El Centro | $58,350 | $90,930 | 70 |
| Salinas | $58,240 | $89,330 | 200 |
| Bakersfield–Delano | $57,360 | $78,710 | 800 |
| Sacramento–Roseville–Folsom | $57,290 | $79,950 | 1,530 |
| Santa Rosa–Petaluma | $56,720 | $85,900 | 260 |
Welder salary: annual wages for welders, cutters, solderers, and brazers in California (26,060 jobs); U.S. median $53,750. Source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025.
How to Become a Welder in California: FAQ
How Much Do Welding Schools in California Cost?
Full-time tuition and fees for 2024–25 at the California colleges on this page run from $1,128 to $1,556 for residents, before books, tools and protective gear.
How Long Does It Take to Become a Welder in California?
California programs publish awards from short certificates to associate degrees. For example, Summit College lists Welding (42 credit hours; 600 lab hours; 36 weeks (9 months)); Universal Technical Institute of California Inc lists Welding Technology (36 weeks); Advanced Career Institute lists Certificate of Completion (Welding) (760 clock hours (38 weeks)).
How Much Do Welders Make in California?
BLS estimates a median of $58,060 a year for welders, cutters, solderers, and brazers in California (May 2025), across 26,060 jobs. The lowest-paid 10% earn under $44,520 and the top 10% earn more than $81,940.
What Is the Best Welding School in California?
On federal data for program size, cost and completion, College of the Canyons ranks first among California colleges with verified welding programs, followed by Butte 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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California · Cost
How Much Does Welding School Cost in California?
2024–25 tuition at California welding schools, from $1,128 at Yuba College to $1,556 at Long Beach City College, plus books and full program prices.
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More on Welding in California
Sources
- Official welding program pages of the 43 California 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.