Salem, OregonPublic, 4-Year

Chemeketa Community College Welding Program

An associate degree and 2 certificates, $6,345 a year in tuition and fees, with training in stick (SMAW), MIG (GMAW), TIG (GTAW).

What Does Chemeketa Community College Offer for Welding Students?

Chemeketa Community College in Salem, Oregon offers an associate degree and 2 certificates in welding through its Welding Fabrication program. Tuition and fees for 2024–25 were $6,345 for a full-time year (in-state). The school awarded 19 welding credentials in 2024–25. It runs evening classes. Best for working adults who need evening classes.

Class Schedule and Certification Testing at Chemeketa Community College

Schedule. Cohorts begin each fall; AAS in 21 months, certificate 10 months; evening open-enrollment classes at Salem Campus.

Testing. AWS certification tests, $1,020 (optional).

Chemeketa Community College Welding Tuition: $6,345 a Year

Tuition and fees
$6,345
in-state, 2024–25
Out of state
$14,040
2024–25
Books and supplies
$1,200
2024–25 estimate
Welding certificates awarded
8
2024–25
Welding associate degrees
11
2024–25
Graduation rate
21%
school-wide, Fall 2018 cohort
Students enrolled
8,098
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.

Welding Degree and Certificates at Chemeketa Community College

AwardTypeLength
Welding Fabrication Associate of Applied Science DegreeAssociate
Welding Certificate of CompletionCertificate
Arc Welding Career Pathway CertificateCertificate

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

What you'll Learn in Chemeketa Community College's Welding Program

Chemeketa's limited-enrollment fall cohorts combine welding with manual mill and lathe skills and cooperative work experience, and it lists optional AWS certification test costs in its program estimates.

  • Stick (SMAW)
  • MIG (GMAW)
  • TIG (GTAW)
  • Fabrication and blueprint reading

Where you'll Train: Salem Campus

  • Salem Campus

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

Visit chemeketa.edu

What Welders Earn Around Salem

Welders in the Salem, OR metro area earn a median $57,180 a year. Across Oregon, the median welder wage is $59,450 a year, from $46,070 at the 10th percentile to $79,230 at the 90th, with 5,240 welders employed. The national median is $53,750. Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025.

5 More Welding Schools Within 48 Miles of Salem

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

Chemeketa Community College Welding FAQ

Does Chemeketa Community College Have a Welding Program?

Yes. Chemeketa Community College offers an associate degree and 2 certificates in welding at Salem Campus. Training covers stick (SMAW), MIG (GMAW), TIG (GTAW), fabrication and blueprint reading.

How Much Does Welding School Cost at Chemeketa Community College?

Chemeketa Community College's 2024–25 tuition and fees were $6,345 for a full-time year (in-state) and $14,040 out of state, with books and supplies estimated at $1,200. Welding students also pay for tools, gear and lab fees.

Does Chemeketa Community College Offer Night or Weekend Welding Classes?

Cohorts begin each fall; AAS in 21 months, certificate 10 months; evening open-enrollment classes at Salem Campus.

Can You Get Welding Certified at Chemeketa Community College?

AWS certification tests, $1,020 (optional).

How Much Do Welders Make in Oregon?

The median welder wage in Oregon is $59,450 a year, and the middle half earn between $49,690 and $66,570 (BLS, May 2025).

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Sources

  1. chemeketa.edu: Welding Fabrication program page, reviewed September 25, 2026
  2. NCES College Navigator, IPEDS unit 208390
  3. BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025