How to Become a Welder in Oregon
- Train at one of the 14 welding schools in Oregon that award welding credentials; a certificate takes months, an associate degree about two years.
- Practice the core processes: SMAW, GTAW, GMAW, fabrication, 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: Oregon welders earn a median $59,450 a year, with the top 10% above $79,230 (BLS, May 2025).
Where to Train as a Welder in Oregon, Starting With Portland Community College
| # | College | Tuition and fees | Welding awards | Graduation rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Portland Community CollegePortland | $5,220 | 247 certificates, 18 associate | 18% |
| 2 | Treasure Valley Community CollegeOntario | $6,345 | 52 certificates, 5 associate | 37% |
| 3 | Lane Community CollegeEugene | $6,202 | 61 certificates, 11 associate | 20% |
| 4 | Klamath Community CollegeKlamath Falls | $4,965 | 25 certificates | 43% |
| 5 | Southwestern Oregon Community CollegeCoos Bay | $7,192 | 39 certificates, 5 associate | 40% |
| 6 | Clackamas Community CollegeOregon City | $6,345 | 50 certificates, 11 associate | 23% |
| 7 | Linn-Benton Community CollegeAlbany | $7,317 | 22 certificates, 20 associate | 29% |
| 8 | Umpqua Community CollegeRoseburg | $6,104 | 15 certificates, 4 associate | 31% |
| 9 | Rogue Community CollegeGrants Pass | $5,256 | 15 certificates, 8 associate | 9% |
| 10 | Chemeketa Community CollegeSalem | $6,345 | 8 certificates, 11 associate | 21% |
| 11 | Mt Hood Community CollegeGresham | $5,247 | 12 certificates | 24% |
| 12 | Tillamook Bay Community CollegeTillamook | $4,896 | 11 certificates | 17% |
| 13 | Blue Mountain Community CollegePendleton | $7,076 | 3 certificates | 30% |
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.
Oregon Programs That Train Welders
Portland Community College, Portland, Oregon
Offers an associate degree and 7 certificates in welding
- Tuition / year
- $5,220 in-state, 2024–25
- Welding awards
- 265 conferred 2024–25
Teaches Stick · MIG · TIG · Flux-cored · Pipe · Cutting
Lane Community College, Eugene, Oregon
Offers an associate degree and 4 certificates in welding
- Tuition / year
- $6,202 in-state, 2024–25
- Welding awards
- 72 conferred 2024–25
Teaches Stick · MIG · TIG · Flux-cored · Pipe · Cutting
Treasure Valley Community College, Ontario, Oregon
Offers an associate degree and 2 certificates in welding
- Tuition / year
- $6,345 in-state, 2024–25
- Welding awards
- 57 conferred 2024–25
Teaches Stick · MIG · TIG · Flux-cored · Pipe · Cutting
Southwestern Oregon Community College, Coos Bay, Oregon
Offers an associate degree and 4 certificates in welding
- Tuition / year
- $7,192 all students, 2024–25
- Welding awards
- 44 conferred 2024–25
Teaches Stick · MIG · TIG · Flux-cored · Pipe · Cutting
Klamath Community College, Klamath Falls, Oregon
Offers 5 certificates in welding
- Tuition / year
- $4,965 in-state, 2024–25
- Welding awards
- 25 conferred 2024–25
Teaches Stick · MIG · TIG · Flux-cored · Pipe · Cutting
Clackamas Community College, Oregon City, Oregon
Offers an associate degree and 3 certificates in welding
- Tuition / year
- $6,345 in-state, 2024–25
- Welding awards
- 61 conferred 2024–25
Teaches Stick · MIG · TIG · Flux-cored · 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 Oregon, 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. Oregon colleges conferred 483 welding certificates and 84 associate degrees in 2022–23.
Learn the Processes Employers Test
Oregon programs on this page most often list SMAW, GTAW, GMAW, fabrication, blueprint reading, FCAW. 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 Oregon
Welder Salary in Oregon: The Albany Area Pays the Most
| Metro area | Median pay | Top 10% earn more than | Welding jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Albany | $62,790 | $78,310 | 280 |
| Portland–Vancouver–Hillsboro | $62,050 | $83,940 | 3,300 |
| Corvallis | $57,350 | $74,720 | 60 |
| Salem | $57,180 | $72,650 | 410 |
| Bend | $56,910 | $71,590 | 330 |
| Eugene–Springfield | $54,670 | $71,730 | 530 |
| Grants Pass | $51,330 | $64,400 | 100 |
| Medford | $50,270 | $66,090 | 200 |
Welder salary: annual wages for welders, cutters, solderers, and brazers in Oregon (5,240 jobs); U.S. median $53,750. Source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025.
How to Become a Welder in Oregon: FAQ
How Much Do Welding Schools in Oregon Cost?
Full-time tuition and fees for 2024–25 at the Oregon colleges on this page run from $4,896 to $7,317 for residents, before books, tools and protective gear.
How Long Does It Take to Become a Welder in Oregon?
Oregon programs publish awards from short certificates to associate degrees. For example, Portland Community College lists Welding Technology, associate degree (96 credit hours) and Certificate: Maritime Welding (87 credit hours); Lane Community College lists Fabrication/Welding Technology, Associate of Applied Science (90-92 credit hours) and Fabrication & Welding Technology 1-yr Certificate (46-48 credit hours); Southwestern Oregon Community College lists Welding, Associate of Applied Science (AAS) (93 credit hours) and Welding, Certificate of Completion (48 credit hours).
How Much Do Welders Make in Oregon?
BLS estimates a median of $59,450 a year for welders, cutters, solderers, and brazers in Oregon (May 2025), across 5,240 jobs. The lowest-paid 10% earn under $46,070 and the top 10% earn more than $79,230.
What Is the Best Welding School in Oregon?
On federal data for program size, cost and completion, Portland Community College ranks first among Oregon colleges with verified welding programs, followed by Treasure Valley 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 Oregon
Sources
- Official welding program pages of the 13 Oregon 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.