Blythe, CaliforniaPublic, 2-Year

Palo Verde College Welding Program

An associate degree and 5 certificates, $1,288 a year in tuition and fees, with training in stick (SMAW), MIG (GMAW), TIG (GTAW).

What Does Palo Verde College Offer for Welding Students?

Palo Verde College in Blythe, California offers an associate degree and 5 certificates in welding through its Welding Technology program. Tuition and fees for 2024–25 were $1,288 for a full-time year (in-state). The school awarded 36 welding credentials in 2024–25. Best for earning a welding degree, not just a certificate.

Welding Degree and Certificates at Palo Verde College

AwardTypeLength
Welding Technology Associate of ScienceAssociate64-68 units total
Welding Technology Certificate of AchievementCertificate18 units
Welding Technology Certificate of Career PreparationCertificate9 units
Fundamentals of Welding Certificate of Career PreparationCertificate12 units
Industrial Steel Welding Certificate of Career PreparationCertificate12 units
Welding Applications Certificate of Career PreparationCertificate12 units

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

Palo Verde College Welding Tuition: $1,288 a Year

Tuition and fees
$1,288
in-state, 2024–25
Out of state
$12,880
2024–25
Books and supplies
$2,178
2024–25 estimate
Welding certificates awarded
35
2024–25
Welding associate degrees
1
2024–25
Graduation rate
31%
school-wide, Fall 2021 cohort
Students enrolled
3,833
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.

Plate, Pipe and Process Training at Palo Verde College

Palo Verde is an AWS Accredited Test Facility offering on-site D1.1 plate and 6G pipe tests and a B2.1 GTAW test to students and the community.

  • Stick (SMAW)
  • MIG (GMAW)
  • TIG (GTAW)
  • Flux-cored (FCAW)
  • Pipe welding
  • Oxy-fuel and plasma cuttingoxyacetylene, plasma arc cutting

Welding Certification Testing at Palo Verde College

Testing. Palo Verde College is an Accredited Testing Facility (ATF) in Blythe California certified by the American Welding Society (AWS).

Where you'll Train: Palo Verde College

  • Palo Verde CollegeOne College Drive, Blythe, CA 92225

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

Visit paloverde.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.

1 More Welding School Within 117 Miles of Blythe

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

Palo Verde College Welding FAQ

Does Palo Verde College Have a Welding Program?

Yes. Palo Verde College offers an associate degree and 5 certificates in welding at Palo Verde College. Training covers stick (SMAW), MIG (GMAW), TIG (GTAW), flux-cored (FCAW), pipe welding.

How Much Does Welding School Cost at Palo Verde College?

Palo Verde College's 2024–25 tuition and fees were $1,288 for a full-time year (in-state) and $12,880 out of state, with books and supplies estimated at $2,178. Welding students also pay for tools, gear and lab fees.

How Long Is the Welding Program at Palo Verde College?

Welding Technology Associate of Science: 64-68 units total. Welding Technology Certificate of Achievement: 18 units. Welding Technology Certificate of Career Preparation: 9 units.

Can You Get Welding Certified at Palo Verde College?

Palo Verde College is an Accredited Testing Facility (ATF) in Blythe California certified by the American Welding Society (AWS).

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. paloverde.edu: Welding Technology program page, reviewed September 25, 2026
  2. NCES College Navigator, IPEDS unit 120953
  3. BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025