How to Become a Welder in Maine
- Train at one of the 5 welding schools in Maine that award welding credentials; a certificate takes months, an associate degree about two years.
- Practice the core processes: SMAW, GMAW, FCAW, PIPE, 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: Maine welders earn a median $62,220 a year, with the top 10% above $76,220 (BLS, May 2025).
Where to Train as a Welder in Maine, Starting With Eastern Maine Community College
| # | College | Tuition and fees | Welding awards | Graduation rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Eastern Maine Community CollegeBangor | $4,156 | 22 certificates, 11 associate | 32% |
| 2 | Beal UniversityBangor | 12 certificates, 1 associate | ||
| 3 | Kennebec Valley Community CollegeFairfield | $4,156 | 16 certificates | 39% |
| 4 | Northern Maine Community CollegePresque Isle | $4,156 | 10 certificates | 42% |
| 5 | Washington County Community CollegeCalais | $4,156 | 7 certificates | 55% |
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.
Maine Programs That Train Welders
Beal University, Bangor, Maine
Offers an associate degree and a diploma in welding
- Welding awards offered
- 2 certificates and degrees
- Welding awards
- 13 conferred 2024–25
Teaches Stick · MIG · TIG · Flux-cored · Pipe · Cutting
Kennebec Valley Community College, Fairfield, Maine
Offers a certificate in welding
- Tuition / year
- $4,156 in-state, 2024–25
- Welding awards
- 16 conferred 2024–25
Teaches MIG · Cutting · Fabrication
Eastern Maine Community College, Bangor, Maine
Offers an associate degree in welding
- Tuition / year
- $4,156 in-state, 2024–25
- Welding awards
- 33 conferred 2024–25
Teaches Stick · MIG · TIG · Flux-cored · Pipe · Cutting
Washington County Community College, Calais, Maine
Offers a certificate in welding
- Tuition / year
- $4,156 in-state, 2024–25
- Welding awards
- 7 conferred 2024–25
Teaches Stick · MIG · TIG · Flux-cored · Pipe · Cutting
Northern Maine Community College, Presque Isle, Maine
Offers a certificate in welding
- Tuition / year
- $4,156 in-state, 2024–25
- Welding awards
- 10 conferred 2024–25
Teaches Stick · Flux-cored · Pipe · 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 Maine, 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. Maine colleges conferred 48 welding certificates and 17 associate degrees in 2022–23.
Learn the Processes Employers Test
Maine programs on this page most often list SMAW, GMAW, FCAW, PIPE, GTAW, 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 Maine
Welder Salary in Maine: The Portland Area Pays the Most
| Metro area | Median pay | Top 10% earn more than | Welding jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Portland–South Portland | $66,420 | $78,830 | 1,060 |
| Lewiston–Auburn | $55,520 | $71,830 | 80 |
| Bangor | $50,590 | $70,800 | 140 |
Welder salary: annual wages for welders, cutters, solderers, and brazers in Maine (1,690 jobs); U.S. median $53,750. Source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025.
How to Become a Welder in Maine: FAQ
How Much Do Welding Schools in Maine Cost?
Full-time tuition and fees for 2024–25 at the Maine colleges on this page run from $4,156 to $4,156 for residents, before books, tools and protective gear.
How Long Does It Take to Become a Welder in Maine?
Maine programs publish awards from short certificates to associate degrees. For example, Washington County Community College lists Certificate Program - Welding Technology (36 credit hours); Northern Maine Community College lists Structural Welding Certificate (30 credit hours).
How Much Do Welders Make in Maine?
BLS estimates a median of $62,220 a year for welders, cutters, solderers, and brazers in Maine (May 2025), across 1,690 jobs. The lowest-paid 10% earn under $47,230 and the top 10% earn more than $76,220.
What Is the Best Welding School in Maine?
On federal data for program size, cost and completion, Eastern Maine Community College ranks first among Maine colleges with verified welding programs, followed by Beal University. 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 Maine
Sources
- Official welding program pages of the 5 Maine 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.