Oroville, CaliforniaPublic, 2-Year

Butte College Welding Program

An associate degree and 4 certificates, $1,356 a year in tuition and fees, with training in stick (SMAW), MIG (GMAW), TIG (GTAW).

What Does Butte College Offer for Welding Students?

Butte College in Oroville, California offers an associate degree and 4 certificates in welding through its Welding Technology program. Tuition and fees for 2024–25 were $1,356 for a full-time year (in-state). The school awarded 121 welding credentials in 2024–25. Best for earning a welding degree, not just a certificate.

Welding Degree and Certificates at Butte College

AwardTypeLength
Welding Technology AS DegreeAssociate
Welding Technology Certificate of AchievementCertificate
Certificate in Welding Technology Level ICertificate
Certificate in Welding Technology Level IICertificate
Certificate in Welding Technology Level IIICertificate

As listed on Butte College's welding program page, reviewed September 25, 2026.

Butte College Welding Tuition: $1,356 a Year

Tuition and fees
$1,356
in-state, 2024–25
Out of state
$9,276
2024–25
Books and supplies
$1,270
2024–25 estimate
Welding certificates awarded
110
2024–25
Welding associate degrees
11
2024–25
Graduation rate
45%
school-wide, Fall 2021 cohort
Students enrolled
10,968
school-wide, Fall 2024

Tuition and fees are for a full-time year. Awards count welding credentials conferred. Graduation rate and enrollment cover the whole school. Source: NCES College Navigator.

What you'll Learn in Butte College's Welding Program

A cohort-based, impacted two-semester program starting each Fall with 50 seats, preparing students for AWS, ASME and API certification exams.

  • Stick (SMAW)
  • MIG (GMAW)
  • TIG (GTAW)
  • Flux-cored (FCAW)
  • Oxy-fuel and plasma cuttingoxyacetylene
  • Fabrication and blueprint readinglayout

Class Schedule and Certification Testing at Butte College

Schedule. Two-semester sequence beginning each Fall; enrolls 50 students; program is impacted.

Testing. The Welding Technology program prepares students to become certified welders under standards set by the American Welding Society, American Society of Mechanical Engineers, and American Petroleum Institute, with certification exams available upon course completion.

Where you'll Train: Main Campus

  • Main Campus

Check start dates, admission steps and the current course list on Butte College's own site.

Visit butte.edu

What Welders Earn in California

Across California, the median welder wage is $58,060 a year, from $44,520 at the 10th percentile to $81,940 at the 90th, with 26,060 welders employed. The national median is $53,750. Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025.

5 More Welding Schools Within 99 Miles of Oroville

Straight-line distance between campuses. All welding schools in California

Butte College Welding FAQ

Does Butte College Have a Welding Program?

Yes. Butte College offers an associate degree and 4 certificates in welding at Main Campus. Training covers stick (SMAW), MIG (GMAW), TIG (GTAW), flux-cored (FCAW), oxy-fuel and plasma cutting.

How Much Does Welding School Cost at Butte College?

Butte College's 2024–25 tuition and fees were $1,356 for a full-time year (in-state) and $9,276 out of state, with books and supplies estimated at $1,270. Welding students also pay for tools, gear and lab fees.

Does Butte College Offer Night or Weekend Welding Classes?

Two-semester sequence beginning each Fall; enrolls 50 students; program is impacted.

Can You Get Welding Certified at Butte College?

The Welding Technology program prepares students to become certified welders under standards set by the American Welding Society, American Society of Mechanical Engineers, and American Petroleum Institute, with certification exams available upon course completion.

How Much Do Welders Make in California?

The median welder wage in California is $58,060 a year, and the middle half earn between $48,480 and $70,400 (BLS, May 2025).

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A welder working at a machine in a busy factory

California · Salary

How Much Do Welders Make in California?

California welders earned a median $58,060 in May 2025. See pay in all 25 metro areas, from $64,320 in San Francisco to $46,850 in Visalia.

More on Welding in California

Sources

  1. butte.edu: Welding Technology program page, reviewed September 25, 2026
  2. NCES College Navigator, IPEDS unit 110246
  3. BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025