How to Become a Welder in Ohio
- Train at one of the 53 welding schools in Ohio that award welding credentials; a certificate takes months, an associate degree about two years.
- Practice the core processes: GMAW, GTAW, SMAW, 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: Ohio welders earn a median $50,340 a year, with the top 10% above $70,510 (BLS, May 2025).
Where to Train as a Welder in Ohio, Starting With Belmont College
| # | College | Tuition and fees | Welding awards | Graduation rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Belmont CollegeSt Clairsville | $4,698 | 29 certificates, 29 associate | 43% |
| 2 | Ohio Technical CollegeCleveland | 48 certificates, 20 associate | ||
| 3 | Owens Community CollegePerrysburg | $5,870 | 91 certificates, 7 associate | 35% |
| 4 | Lorain County Community CollegeElyria | $4,265 | 103 certificates | 31% |
| 5 | Hobart Institute of Welding TechnologyTroy | 290 certificates | ||
| 6 | Northwest State Community CollegeArchbold | $4,698 | 12 certificates, 1 associate | 46% |
| 7 | Elite Welding Academy LLCCincinnati | 66 certificates | ||
| 8 | ETI Technical CollegeNiles | $11,350 | 27 certificates | 63% |
| 9 | Pioneer Career and Technology CenterShelby | 50 certificates | ||
| 10 | Apollo Career CenterLima | 28 certificates | ||
| 11 | Lorain County Joint Vocational School DistrictOberlin | 27 certificates | ||
| 12 | Cincinnati State Technical and Community CollegeCincinnati | $5,517 | 12 certificates, 7 associate | 16% |
| 13 | Polaris Career CenterMiddleburg Heights | 21 certificates | ||
| 14 | Wayne County Schools Career CenterSmithville | 18 certificates | ||
| 15 | Lakeland Community CollegeKirtland | $3,872 | 5 certificates, 1 associate | 24% |
| 16 | Auburn Career CenterConcord Twp | 17 certificates | ||
| 17 | Portage Lakes Career CenterUniontown | 15 certificates | ||
| 18 | Fortis College-Cuyahoga FallsCuyahoga Falls | $14,596 | 26 certificates | |
| 19 | Butler Technology and Career Development SchoolsMiddletown | 13 certificates | ||
| 20 | Mahoning County Career and Technical CenterCanfield | 9 certificates | ||
| 21 | Canton City Schools Adult Career and Technical EducationCanton | 9 certificates | ||
| 22 | EHOVE Career CenterMilan | 7 certificates | ||
| 23 | Buckeye Joint Vocational SchoolNew Philadelphia | 7 certificates | ||
| 24 | Madison Adult Career CenterMansfield | 7 certificates | ||
| 25 | Ashland County-West Holmes Career CenterAshland | 7 certificates | ||
| 26 | Fortis College-CincinnatiCincinnati | $14,763 | 15 certificates | |
| 27 | Vantage Career CenterVan Wert | 4 certificates | ||
| 28 | Knox County Career CenterMount Vernon | 1 certificate | ||
| 29 | Stark State CollegeNorth Canton | $4,790 | 1 certificate | 23% |
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.
Ohio Programs That Train Welders
Hobart Institute of Welding Technology, Troy, Ohio
Offers 2 certificates in welding
- Welding awards offered
- 2 certificates and degrees
- Welding awards
- 290 conferred 2024–25
Teaches Stick · MIG · TIG · Flux-cored · Pipe · Cutting
Lorain County Community College, Elyria, Ohio
Offers 7 certificates in welding
- Tuition / year
- $4,265 in-district, 2024–25
- Welding awards
- 103 conferred 2024–25
Teaches Stick · MIG · Fabrication · Inspection
Owens Community College, Perrysburg, Ohio
Offers an associate degree and 5 certificates in welding
- Tuition / year
- $5,870 in-state, 2024–25
- Welding awards
- 98 conferred 2024–25
Teaches Stick · MIG · TIG · Pipe · Fabrication
Elite Welding Academy LLC, Cincinnati, Ohio
Offers 2 certificates in welding
- Welding awards offered
- 2 certificates and degrees
- Welding awards
- 66 conferred 2024–25
Teaches Stick · MIG · TIG · Flux-cored · Pipe
Ohio Technical College, Cleveland, Ohio
Offers an associate degree and one other award in welding
- Welding awards offered
- 2 certificates and degrees
- Welding awards
- 68 conferred 2024–25
Teaches Stick · MIG · TIG · Flux-cored · Pipe · Cutting
Lakeland Community College, Kirtland, Ohio
Offers an associate degree and 6 certificates in welding
- Tuition / year
- $3,872 in-district, 2024–25
- Welding awards
- 6 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 Ohio, 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. Ohio colleges conferred 1,198 welding certificates and 72 associate degrees in 2022–23.
Learn the Processes Employers Test
Ohio programs on this page most often list GMAW, GTAW, SMAW, 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 Ohio
Welder Salary in Ohio: The Lima Area Pays the Most
| Metro area | Median pay | Top 10% earn more than | Welding jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lima | $85,790 | $85,790 | 470 |
| Weirton–Steubenville | $55,410 | $87,110 | 180 |
| Cincinnati | $51,990 | $73,970 | 3,160 |
| Columbus | $51,260 | $70,470 | 2,190 |
| Canton–Massillon | $50,510 | $69,130 | 860 |
| Dayton–Kettering–Beavercreek | $50,390 | $69,670 | 820 |
| Akron | $50,340 | $77,820 | 1,170 |
| Wheeling | $49,920 | $105,400 | 160 |
| Toledo | $49,130 | $61,750 | 960 |
| Cleveland | $49,040 | $68,640 | 3,510 |
Welder salary: annual wages for welders, cutters, solderers, and brazers in Ohio (20,330 jobs); U.S. median $53,750. Source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025.
How to Become a Welder in Ohio: FAQ
How Much Do Welding Schools in Ohio Cost?
Full-time tuition and fees for 2024–25 at the Ohio colleges on this page run from $3,872 to $14,763 for residents, before books, tools and protective gear.
How Long Does It Take to Become a Welder in Ohio?
Ohio programs publish awards from short certificates to associate degrees. For example, Hobart Institute of Welding Technology lists Pathways Welding Program (Pipefitter-Pipe Welder or Welder-Fabricator pathway) (1400 clock hours) and Structural Welding Program (840 clock hours); Lorain County Community College lists Welding Technology - Welding Operator, One-Year Technical Certificate (#6008) (35 credit hours) and Welding Technology - Welding, Short-Term Technical Certificate (#6009) (19-20 credit hours); Owens Community College lists Welding Major, AAS (63-64 credit hours) and SMAW Welding Certificate (6 credit hours).
How Much Do Welders Make in Ohio?
BLS estimates a median of $50,340 a year for welders, cutters, solderers, and brazers in Ohio (May 2025), across 20,330 jobs. The lowest-paid 10% earn under $38,990 and the top 10% earn more than $70,510.
What Is the Best Welding School in Ohio?
On federal data for program size, cost and completion, Belmont College ranks first among Ohio colleges with verified welding programs, followed by Ohio Technical 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 Ohio
Sources
- Official welding program pages of the 29 Ohio 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.