How to Become a Welder in Maryland
- Train at one of the 2 welding schools in Maryland that award welding credentials; a certificate takes months, an associate degree about two years.
- Practice the core processes: SMAW, GMAW, FCAW, GTAW, 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: Maryland welders earn a median $60,310 a year, with the top 10% above $95,280 (BLS, May 2025).
Where to Train as a Welder in Maryland, Starting With Lincoln College of Technology-Columbia
| College | Tuition and fees | Welding awards | Graduation rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lincoln College of Technology-ColumbiaColumbia | 101 certificates | ||
| North American Trade SchoolsBaltimore | 56 certificates |
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.
Maryland Programs That Train Welders
Lincoln College of Technology-Columbia, Columbia, Maryland
Offers a certificate in welding
- Welding awards offered
- 1 certificates and degrees
- Welding awards
- 101 conferred 2024–25
Teaches Stick · MIG · TIG · Flux-cored · Pipe · Cutting
North American Trade Schools, Baltimore, Maryland
Offers one other award in welding
- Welding awards offered
- 1 certificates and degrees
- Welding awards
- 56 conferred 2024–25
Teaches Stick · MIG · TIG · Flux-cored · Pipe · Cutting
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 Maryland, 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. Maryland colleges conferred 128 welding certificates and 0 associate degrees in 2022–23.
Learn the Processes Employers Test
Maryland programs on this page most often list SMAW, GMAW, FCAW, GTAW, PIPE, oxy-fuel cutting. 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 Maryland
Welder Salary in Maryland: The Baltimore Area Pays the Most
| Metro area | Median pay | Top 10% earn more than | Welding jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Baltimore–Columbia–Towson | $61,920 | $95,280 | 1,290 |
| Lexington Park | $60,840 | $88,070 | 80 |
| Washington–Arlington–Alexandria | $60,670 | $114,440 | 2,000 |
| Salisbury | $58,480 | $89,190 | 60 |
| Philadelphia–Camden–Wilmington | $58,380 | $79,960 | 4,630 |
| Hagerstown–Martinsburg | $56,020 | $76,230 | 130 |
Welder salary: annual wages for welders, cutters, solderers, and brazers in Maryland (2,850 jobs); U.S. median $53,750. Source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025.
How to Become a Welder in Maryland: FAQ
How Much Do Welders Make in Maryland?
BLS estimates a median of $60,310 a year for welders, cutters, solderers, and brazers in Maryland (May 2025), across 2,850 jobs. The lowest-paid 10% earn under $40,590 and the top 10% earn more than $95,280.
What Is the Best Welding School in Maryland?
On federal data for program size, cost and completion, Lincoln College of Technology-Columbia ranks first among Maryland colleges with verified welding programs, followed by North American Trade Schools. 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 Maryland
Sources
- Official welding program pages of the 2 Maryland 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.