Jackson Welding Schools

Welding Schools in Jackson, KY

There are 4 welding schools in and around Jackson, all within 60 miles. The closest is Hazard Community and Technical College (25 miles).

A welder in a harness stick-welding a steel beam outdoors
Photo: Cesar A. Ramirez Vallejo / Pexels

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

CollegeDistanceTuition and feesWelding awardsGraduation rate
Hazard Community and Technical CollegeHazard25 miles$4,728108 certificates48%
Big Sandy Community and Technical CollegePrestonsburg34 miles$4,72884 certificates, 5 associate38%
Southeast Kentucky Community & Technical CollegeCumberland46 miles$4,728244 certificates47%
Mountain Empire Community CollegeBig Stone Gap, VA60 miles$5,00755 certificates48%

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 · 25 mi from JacksonPublic, 2-year

Hazard Community and Technical College, Hazard, Kentucky

Offers a diploma and 18 certificates in welding

  • Lowest Tuition in KY
  • Pipe Welding
Tuition / year
$4,728
in-state, 2024–25
Welding awards
108
conferred 2024–25

Teaches Stick · MIG · TIG · Pipe · Cutting

Cumberland · 46 mi from JacksonPublic, 2-year

Southeast Kentucky Community &Amp; Technical College, Cumberland, Kentucky

Offers a diploma and 11 certificates in welding

  • Lowest Tuition in KY
  • Pipe Welding
Tuition / year
$4,728
in-state, 2024–25
Welding awards
244
conferred 2024–25

Teaches Stick · MIG · TIG · Pipe · Cutting · Fabrication

Prestonsburg · 34 mi from JacksonPublic, 2-year

Big Sandy Community and Technical College, Prestonsburg, Kentucky

Offers an associate degree, a diploma and 9 certificates in welding

  • Lowest Tuition in KY
  • Associate Degree
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

Big Stone Gap, VA · 60 mi from JacksonPublic, 2-year

Mountain Empire Community College, Big Stone Gap, Virginia

Offers an associate degree and 3 certificates in welding

  • Associate Degree
  • Pipe 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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Sources

  1. Official welding program pages of the 4 welding schools above (each college name links to its page), reviewed September 2026.
  2. U.S. Department of Education, IPEDS completions and College Navigator.
  3. U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025.