How to Become a Welder in South Dakota
- Train at one of the 4 welding schools in South Dakota 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: South Dakota welders earn a median $49,440 a year, with the top 10% above $63,380 (BLS, May 2025).
Where to Train as a Welder in South Dakota, Starting With Lake Area Technical College
| College | Tuition and fees | Welding awards | Graduation rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lake Area Technical CollegeWatertown | $6,718 | 33 certificates, 21 associate | 73% |
| Southeast Technical CollegeSioux Falls | $7,650 | 34 certificates | 59% |
| Western Dakota Technical CollegeRapid City | $8,294 | 10 certificates, 12 associate | 54% |
| Mitchell Technical CollegeMitchell | $7,524 | 76% |
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.
South Dakota Programs That Train Welders
Lake Area Technical College, Watertown, South Dakota
Offers an associate degree and a diploma in welding
- Tuition / year
- $6,718 all students, 2024–25
- Welding awards
- 54 conferred 2024–25
Teaches Stick · MIG · TIG · Pipe · Cutting · Fabrication
Southeast Technical College, Sioux Falls, South Dakota
Offers a diploma in welding
- Tuition / year
- $7,650 all students, 2024–25
- Welding awards
- 34 conferred 2024–25
Teaches Stick · MIG · TIG · Flux-cored · Fabrication · Inspection
Western Dakota Technical College, Rapid City, South Dakota
Offers an associate degree and a diploma in welding
- Tuition / year
- $8,294 all students, 2024–25
- Welding awards
- 22 conferred 2024–25
Teaches Stick · MIG · TIG · Cutting · Fabrication
Mitchell Technical College, Mitchell, South Dakota
Offers an associate degree, a diploma and a certificate in welding
- Tuition / year
- $7,524 all students, 2024–25
- Welding awards offered
- 3 certificates and degrees
Teaches MIG · TIG · Cutting · Fabrication · Robotic · Inspection
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 South Dakota, 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. South Dakota colleges conferred 99 welding certificates and 36 associate degrees in 2022–23.
Learn the Processes Employers Test
South Dakota programs on this page most often list GMAW, GTAW, SMAW, blueprint reading, robotic welding, 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 South Dakota
Welder Salary in South Dakota: The Sioux City Area Pays the Most
| Metro area | Median pay | Top 10% earn more than | Welding jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sioux City | $58,230 | $72,800 | 440 |
| Sioux Falls | $55,200 | $80,120 | 850 |
| Rapid City | $51,690 | $71,000 | 200 |
Welder salary: annual wages for welders, cutters, solderers, and brazers in South Dakota (3,250 jobs); U.S. median $53,750. Source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025.
How to Become a Welder in South Dakota: FAQ
How Much Do Welding Schools in South Dakota Cost?
Full-time tuition and fees for 2024–25 at the South Dakota colleges on this page run from $6,718 to $8,294 for residents, before books, tools and protective gear.
How Long Does It Take to Become a Welder in South Dakota?
South Dakota programs publish awards from short certificates to associate degrees. For example, Lake Area Technical College lists Welding Technology, Associate of Applied Science (A.A.S.) Degree (71.5 credit hours) and Welding Technology Diploma (exit point after first year) (34.5 credit hours); Western Dakota Technical College lists Welding and Fabrication, Associate of Applied Science (63 credit hours) and Welding and Fabrication, Diploma (36 credit hours).
How Much Do Welders Make in South Dakota?
BLS estimates a median of $49,440 a year for welders, cutters, solderers, and brazers in South Dakota (May 2025), across 3,250 jobs. The lowest-paid 10% earn under $38,100 and the top 10% earn more than $63,380.
What Is the Best Welding School in South Dakota?
On federal data for program size, cost and completion, Lake Area Technical College ranks first among South Dakota colleges with verified welding programs, followed by Mitchell 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 South Dakota
Sources
- Official welding program pages of the 4 South Dakota 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.