How Do You Become a Welder in Texas?
Here's how to become a welder in Texas in four steps. Get hands-on training through a college certificate, an associate degree, or on-the-job training; BLS says welders typically start with a high school diploma plus technical and on-the-job training. Learn the process your target job uses. Pass an employer weld test or an AWS Certified Welder test, which has no education prerequisite. Then add processes and positions to move up.
Four Routes Into Welding in Texas
Pick the route that fits how much time and money you have.
Short Skills Award (About 3–4 Months)
Dallas College's skills awards take about four months, and San Jacinto College's 12-credit TIG award about three. They're the quickest way to get booth time.
Certificate (About 6–12 Months)
San Jacinto's 24-credit Combination Welder certificate takes about six months, Dallas College's process certificates about eight, and TSTC's Structural Welding certificate about 12.
Associate Degree (16 Months to 2 Years)
TSTC's Welding Technology AAS takes about 16 months; most community-college AAS programs, such as TCC's 60-hour degree, take about two years full time.
AWS Certification
AWS Certified Welder is a performance test at an AWS Accredited Test Facility. Several Texas colleges prepare students for it, and Houston City College builds its degree on AWS SENSE standards.
Texas Welding Programs by the Numbers
| College | Tuition | Certificates | Associate | Completion |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Texas State Technical College | $7,212in-state | 487 | 101 | 46% |
| Dallas College | $2,730 | 162 | 23 | 32% |
| Tarrant County College | $1,863 | 66 | 15 | 34% |
Tuition and fees for a full-time year and welding credentials conferred, both 2024–25; completion is the college-wide federal graduation rate. Source: NCES College Navigator, retrieved September 24, 2026. Blank cells mean the college reports no figure for that field.
Where to Train to Become a Welder in Texas
Tuition on each card is the lowest 2024–25 full-time resident rate.
Texas State Technical College, Abilene, Texas
Offers an associate degree and 3 certificates in welding
- Tuition / year
- $7,212 in-state, 2024–25
- Welding awards
- 588 conferred 2024–25
Teaches Pipe
Dallas College, Mesquite, Texas
Offers an associate degree and 5 certificates in welding
- Tuition / year
- $2,730 in-district, 2024–25
- Welding awards
- 185 conferred 2024–25
Teaches Stick · MIG · TIG · Pipe · Fabrication
Tarrant County College District, Fort Worth, Texas
Offers an associate degree and 2 certificates in welding
- Tuition / year
- $1,863 in-district, 2024–25
- Welding awards
- 81 conferred 2024–25
Teaches Stick · MIG · TIG · Flux-cored · Pipe · Cutting
Welding Certification in Texas: What Employers Look for
Many Texas employers hire on a practical weld test, not a diploma. Welding certification in Texas usually means passing a test in a specific process, position, and material, recorded on a qualification record. AWS Certified Welder is the portable version you can take with you. A college program gives you the practice to pass those tests; see the best welding schools in Texas for costs and program details.
Welder Salary in Texas
Texas employs more welders than any other state, about 52,000. The welder salary in Texas has a median of $53,340, or $25.64 an hour.
Annual wages for welders, cutters, solderers, and brazers across Texas (52,000 jobs; U.S. median $53,750). Source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025.
How to Become a Welder in Texas: FAQ
How Long Does It Take to Become a Certified Welder in Texas?
The AWS Certified Welder test has no education prerequisite, so the timeline depends on how quickly you can pass it. Most students train before the welding test: about 3–4 months for a skills award, 6–12 months for a certificate, or 16 months to two years for an associate degree.
How Much Do Welders Make in Texas?
The median welder salary in Texas is $53,340 a year. The lowest-paid 10% earn under $38,380 and the top 10% more than $80,240 (BLS, May 2025).
Can You Make $100,000 as a Welder?
It's uncommon. In Texas, the top 10% of welders earn more than $80,240 a year (BLS, May 2025), so $100,000 is well above what most welders make.
Do You Need Welding Certification in Texas?
Employers set their own requirements. Many test you on their own weld procedure, and AWS Certified Welder is a widely recognized way to prove your skill.
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Guides, Careers and Pay
Sources
Reviewed September 24, 2026.