How to Become a Welder in New York
- Train at one of the 12 welding schools in New York 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 York welders earn a median $59,140 a year, with the top 10% above $87,110 (BLS, May 2025).
Where to Train as a Welder in New York, Starting With Apex Technical School
| # | College | Tuition and fees | Welding awards | Graduation rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Apex Technical SchoolLong Island City | 119 certificates | ||
| 2 | SUNY College of Technology at Alfred (Alfred State)Wellsville | $8,892 | 77 associate | 55% |
| 3 | Modern Welding SchoolSchenectady | 69 certificates | ||
| 4 | Hudson Valley Community CollegeTroy | $6,796 | 1 certificate, 16 associate | 35% |
| 5 | Mohawk Valley Community CollegeUtica | $6,218 | 28 certificates | 38% |
| 6 | Erie 1 BOCESCheektowaga | 66 certificates | ||
| 7 | Jamestown Community CollegeJamestown | $6,840 | 5 certificates, 5 associate | 40% |
| 8 | Onondaga Cortland Madison BOCESLiverpool | 30 certificates | ||
| 9 | SUNY College of Technology at DelhiDelhi | $8,772 | 25 associate | 45% |
| 10 | Schuyler Steuben Chemung Tioga Allegany BOCES (GST BOCES)Painted Post | 11 certificates | ||
| 11 | Clinton Essex Warren Washington BOCES (CV-TEC)Plattsburgh | |||
| 12 | Niagara County Community College (SUNY Niagara)Sanborn | $6,894 | 16 associate | 32% |
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 York Programs That Train Welders
Apex Technical School, Long Island City, New York
Offers one other award in welding
- Welding awards offered
- 1 certificates and degrees
- Welding awards
- 119 conferred 2024–25
Teaches Stick · MIG · TIG · Flux-cored · Cutting · Fabrication
Modern Welding School, Schenectady, New York
Offers 2 other awards in welding
- Welding awards offered
- 2 certificates and degrees
- Welding awards
- 69 conferred 2024–25
Teaches Stick · MIG · TIG · Flux-cored · Pipe · Cutting
SUNY College of Technology at Alfred (Alfred State), Wellsville, New York
Offers an associate degree in welding
- Tuition / year
- $8,892 in-state, 2024–25
- Welding awards
- 77 conferred 2024–25
Teaches Stick · Pipe · Cutting · Fabrication · Inspection
Erie 1 BOCES, Cheektowaga, New York
Offers one other award in welding
- Welding awards offered
- 1 certificates and degrees
- Welding awards
- 66 conferred 2024–25
Teaches Stick · MIG · TIG · Flux-cored · Fabrication · Inspection
Onondaga Cortland Madison BOCES, Liverpool, New York
Offers one other award in welding
- Welding awards offered
- 1 certificates and degrees
- Welding awards
- 30 conferred 2024–25
Teaches Stick · MIG · TIG · Flux-cored · Pipe · Cutting
Mohawk Valley Community College, Utica, New York
Offers a certificate in welding
- Tuition / year
- $6,218 in-state, 2024–25
- Welding awards
- 28 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 New York, 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 York colleges conferred 343 welding certificates and 109 associate degrees in 2022–23.
Learn the Processes Employers Test
New York programs on this page most often list SMAW, GMAW, GTAW, blueprint reading, FCAW, 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 New York
Welder Salary in New York: The New York Area Pays the Most
| Metro area | Median pay | Top 10% earn more than | Welding jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| New York–Newark–Jersey City | $61,680 | $95,920 | 5,780 |
| Albany–Schenectady–Troy | $59,390 | $77,580 | 550 |
| Glens Falls | $59,140 | $74,050 | 110 |
| Kiryas Joel–Poughkeepsie–Newburgh | $58,460 | $78,590 | 200 |
| Kingston | $57,600 | $76,230 | 120 |
| Rochester | $57,130 | $70,520 | 650 |
| Syracuse | $55,660 | $75,870 | 430 |
| Buffalo–Cheektowaga | $55,420 | $74,110 | 970 |
| Ithaca | $54,170 | $64,580 | 30 |
| Binghamton | $50,560 | $69,750 | 110 |
Welder salary: annual wages for welders, cutters, solderers, and brazers in New York (8,310 jobs); U.S. median $53,750. Source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025.
How to Become a Welder in New York: FAQ
How Much Do Welding Schools in New York Cost?
Full-time tuition and fees for 2024–25 at the New York colleges on this page run from $6,218 to $8,892 for residents, before books, tools and protective gear.
How Long Does It Take to Become a Welder in New York?
New York programs publish awards from short certificates to associate degrees. For example, Apex Technical School lists Combination Welding Technology (900 clock hours); Modern Welding School lists Course 7: Combination Welding (900 clock hours) and Course 6: All position Electric & Acetylene Welding, Structural Welding, Pipe, MIG, Structural Steel & Comprehensive TIG Welding (665 clock hours); Erie 1 BOCES lists Welding Technology (324 clock hours).
How Much Do Welders Make in New York?
BLS estimates a median of $59,140 a year for welders, cutters, solderers, and brazers in New York (May 2025), across 8,310 jobs. The lowest-paid 10% earn under $43,840 and the top 10% earn more than $87,110.
What Is the Best Welding School in New York?
On federal data for program size, cost and completion, Apex Technical School ranks first among New York colleges with verified welding programs, followed by SUNY College of Technology at Alfred (Alfred State). 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.
Latest Posts From the Blog
All posts
National · Cost
What Welding Books, Tools and Supplies Cost
Welding schools estimate $270 to $7,400 a year for books and supplies. See the lowest and highest, why they differ, and when gear costs more than tuition.
California · Salary
How Much Do Welders Make in California?
California welders earned a median $58,060 in May 2025. See pay in all 25 metro areas, from $64,320 in San Francisco to $46,850 in Visalia.
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.
More on Welding in New York
Sources
- Official welding program pages of the 12 New York 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.