How to Become a Welder in New Hampshire
- Train at one of the 3 welding schools in New Hampshire that award welding credentials; a certificate takes months, an associate degree about two years.
- Practice the core processes: SMAW, GMAW, GTAW, blueprint reading, 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: New Hampshire welders earn a median $62,360 a year, with the top 10% above $80,290 (BLS, May 2025).
Where to Train as a Welder in New Hampshire, Starting With Manchester Community College
| College | Tuition and fees | Welding awards | Graduation rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| White Mountains Community CollegeBerlin | $7,050 | 32 certificates | 62% |
| Great Bay Community CollegePortsmouth | $7,200 | 24 certificates | 34% |
| Manchester Community CollegeManchester | $7,090 | 21 certificates, 24 associate | 41% |
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.
New Hampshire Programs That Train Welders
White Mountains Community College, Berlin, New Hampshire
Offers 2 certificates in welding
- Tuition / year
- $7,050 in-state, 2024–25
- Welding awards
- 32 conferred 2024–25
Teaches Stick · MIG · TIG · Flux-cored · Pipe · Cutting
Great Bay Community College, Portsmouth, New Hampshire
Offers a certificate in welding
- Tuition / year
- $7,200 in-state, 2024–25
- Welding awards
- 24 conferred 2024–25
Teaches Stick · MIG · TIG · Flux-cored · Cutting · Fabrication
Manchester Community College, Manchester, New Hampshire
Offers an associate degree and a certificate in welding
- Tuition / year
- $7,090 in-state, 2024–25
- Welding awards
- 45 conferred 2024–25
Teaches Stick · MIG · TIG · Pipe · 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 New Hampshire, 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. New Hampshire colleges conferred 66 welding certificates and 17 associate degrees in 2022–23.
Learn the Processes Employers Test
New Hampshire programs on this page most often list SMAW, GMAW, GTAW, blueprint reading, FCAW, plasma 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 New Hampshire
Welder Salary in New Hampshire: The Boston Area Pays the Most
| Metro area | Median pay | Top 10% earn more than | Welding jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Boston–Cambridge–Newton | $63,770 | $83,430 | 2,210 |
| Manchester–Nashua | $58,510 | $77,970 | 270 |
Welder salary: annual wages for welders, cutters, solderers, and brazers in New Hampshire (1,110 jobs); U.S. median $53,750. Source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025.
How to Become a Welder in New Hampshire: FAQ
How Much Do Welding Schools in New Hampshire Cost?
Full-time tuition and fees for 2024–25 at the New Hampshire colleges on this page run from $7,050 to $7,200 for residents, before books, tools and protective gear.
How Long Does It Take to Become a Welder in New Hampshire?
New Hampshire programs publish awards from short certificates to associate degrees. For example, White Mountains Community College lists Advanced Welding Technology Certificate (36 credits) and Pipe Welding Certificate (19 credits); Great Bay Community College lists Certificate in Welding (18 credits); Manchester Community College lists Welding Technology, A.A.S. (62 credits) and Welding Technology Professional, Cert. (31 credits).
How Much Do Welders Make in New Hampshire?
BLS estimates a median of $62,360 a year for welders, cutters, solderers, and brazers in New Hampshire (May 2025), across 1,110 jobs. The lowest-paid 10% earn under $47,540 and the top 10% earn more than $80,290.
What Is the Best Welding School in New Hampshire?
On federal data for program size, cost and completion, Manchester Community College ranks first among New Hampshire colleges with verified welding programs, followed by White Mountains Community 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 New Hampshire
Sources
- Official welding program pages of the 3 New Hampshire 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.