Which Welding Schools in Jackson Should You Compare?
- Hazard Community and Technical College in Hazard, 25 miles away, offers Combination Welder Diploma and ARC Cutter Certificate.
- Big Sandy Community and Technical College in Prestonsburg, 34 miles away, offers Welding Technology AAS and Combination Welder Diploma.
- Southeast Kentucky Community & Technical College in Cumberland, 46 miles away, offers Combination welder diploma and Arc cutter certificate.
- Welding classes in Jackson: 1 of these welding schools publish their class schedules below.
- Welder pay in Kentucky: a median $51,470 a year (BLS, May 2025).
Compare Welding Programs Near Jackson
| College | Distance | Tuition and fees | Welding awards | Graduation rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hazard Community and Technical CollegeHazard | 25 miles | $4,728 | 108 certificates | 48% |
| Big Sandy Community and Technical CollegePrestonsburg | 34 miles | $4,728 | 84 certificates, 5 associate | 38% |
| Southeast Kentucky Community & Technical CollegeCumberland | 46 miles | $4,728 | 244 certificates | 47% |
| Mountain Empire Community CollegeBig Stone Gap, VA | 60 miles | $5,007 | 55 certificates | 48% |
Welding programs near Jackson, sorted by straight-line distance. Tuition: 2024–25 full-time resident rate. Awards: welding credentials conferred (IPEDS, via NCES College Navigator). Graduation rate is college-wide. Blank cells have no federal figure.
Best Welding Schools in Jackson for What You Need
Welding Schools in Jackson: Hazard Community and Technical College and 3 Others
Hazard Community and Technical College, Hazard, Kentucky
Offers a diploma and 18 certificates in welding
- Tuition / year
- $4,728 in-state, 2024–25
- Welding awards
- 108 conferred 2024–25
Teaches Stick · MIG · TIG · Pipe · Cutting
Southeast Kentucky Community &Amp; Technical College, Cumberland, Kentucky
Offers a diploma and 11 certificates in welding
- Tuition / year
- $4,728 in-state, 2024–25
- Welding awards
- 244 conferred 2024–25
Teaches Stick · MIG · TIG · Pipe · Cutting · Fabrication
Big Sandy Community and Technical College, Prestonsburg, Kentucky
Offers an associate degree, a diploma and 9 certificates in welding
- Tuition / year
- $4,728 in-state, 2024–25
- Welding awards
- 89 conferred 2024–25
A degree option on top of certificates.
Teaches Stick · MIG · TIG · Pipe · Fabrication
Mountain Empire Community College, Big Stone Gap, Virginia
Offers an associate degree and 3 certificates in welding
- Tuition / year
- $5,007 in-state, 2024–25
- Welding awards
- 55 conferred 2024–25
A degree option on top of certificates.
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. Distances are straight-line from Jackson.
Welding Classes in Jackson: When Programs Meet
- Mountain Empire Community CollegeCertificate sequence runs First Year Fall, Spring and Summer plus a Second Year Fall course; AAS runs two years including a summer term.
Certificate or Associate Degree Near Jackson?
Hazard Community and Technical College and Southeast Kentucky Community & Technical College offer certificates only; Big Sandy Community and Technical College and Mountain Empire Community College also award a welding associate degree, which adds general education and takes about two years full time.
- Hazard Community and Technical CollegeCombination Welder Diploma: 48-55 credit hours
- Big Sandy Community and Technical CollegeWelding Technology AAS: 60-68 credit hours; Combination Welder Diploma: 48-55 credit hours
- Southeast Kentucky Community & Technical CollegeCombination welder diploma: 48-55 credit hours; Arc cutter certificate: 5 credit hours; Gas welder certificate: 4 credit hours
- Mountain Empire Community CollegeWelding, AAS (718-02): 67 credits; Welding, C (995): 50 credits; Welding Operator I, CSC (221-995-01): 16 credits
Welder Pay in Kentucky
Welder pay: annual wages for welders, cutters, solderers, and brazers in Kentucky (6,630 jobs); U.S. median $53,750. Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025.
Questions About Welding Schools in Jackson
How Much Do Welding Schools in Jackson Cost?
Hazard Community and Technical College charges the least, $4,728 a year for full-time residents in 2024-2025; Mountain Empire Community College charges $5,007. Books, tools and protective gear cost extra (Hazard Community and Technical College budgets $1,268 for books and supplies).
How Long Does Welding School Take Near Jackson?
Hazard Community and Technical College lists Combination Welder Diploma (48-55 credit hours), Big Sandy Community and Technical College lists Welding Technology AAS (60-68 credit hours) and Combination Welder Diploma (48-55 credit hours) and Southeast Kentucky Community & Technical College lists Combination welder diploma (48-55 credit hours) and Arc cutter certificate (5 credit hours).
How Much Do Welders Make in Jackson?
Welders, cutters, solderers, and brazers in Kentucky earn a median $51,470 a year (BLS, May 2025), 4% below the U.S. median of $53,750. The top 10% earn more than $69,010.
What Is the Best Welding School Near Jackson?
Hazard Community and Technical College scores highest on program size, cost and completion among the welding schools within 60 miles, with 108 welding awards in 2024-2025. Southeast Kentucky Community & Technical College ranks second.
Welding Programs Near Jackson but Farther Out
- Southern West Virginia Community and Technical College, Williamson, WV61 miles
- Bluegrass Community and Technical College, Lexington69 miles
- Ashland Community and Technical College, Ashland74 miles
- Elite Welding Academy South Point, South Point, OH74 miles
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Guides, Careers and Pay
Sources
- Official welding program pages of the 4 welding schools above (each college name links to its page), reviewed September 2026.
- U.S. Department of Education, IPEDS completions and College Navigator.
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025.
