Seattle, WashingtonPublic, 4-Year

South Seattle College Welding Program

An associate degree and a certificate, $5,238 a year in tuition and fees, with training in stick (SMAW), oxy-fuel and plasma cutting, fabrication and blueprint reading.

What Does South Seattle College Offer for Welding Students?

South Seattle College in Seattle, Washington offers an associate degree and a certificate in welding through its Welding Fabrication Technology; Maritime Shipyard Welding program. Tuition and fees for 2024–25 were $5,238 for a full-time year (in-state). The school awarded 81 welding credentials in 2024–25. Best for earning a welding degree, not just a certificate.

Welding Degree and Certificates at South Seattle College

AwardTypeLength
Welding Fabrication Technology, Associate in Applied ScienceAssociate93 units
Maritime Shipyard Welding CertificateCertificate37 units

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

South Seattle College Welding Tuition: $5,238 a Year

Tuition and fees
$5,238
in-state, 2024–25
Out of state
$5,796
2024–25
Books and supplies
$582
2024–25 estimate
Welding certificates awarded
78
2024–25
Welding associate degrees
3
2024–25
Graduation rate
31%
school-wide, Fall 2018 cohort
Students enrolled
5,210
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 South Seattle College's Welding Program

Adds a shipyard-specific certificate at the Harbor Island Training Center with NAVSEA and AWS testing alongside a three-cohort AAS.

  • Stick (SMAW)
  • Oxy-fuel and plasma cuttingback-gouging
  • Fabrication and blueprint readinglayout, fitting

Welding Certification Testing at South Seattle College

Testing. AAS prepares students to pass WABO welder certification tests; Maritime students will test for maritime recognized certifications including NAVSEA and American Welding Society (AWS) certifications.

Where you'll Train: Harbor Island Training Center (Maritime Shipyard Welding)

  • Harbor Island Training Center (Maritime Shipyard Welding)

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

Visit southseattle.edu

What Welders Earn Around Seattle

Welders in the Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA metro area earn a median $66,240 a year. Across Washington, the median welder wage is $63,020 a year, from $47,980 at the 10th percentile to $86,250 at the 90th, with 7,720 welders employed. The national median is $53,750. Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025.

5 More Welding Schools Within 45 Miles of Seattle

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

South Seattle College Welding FAQ

Does South Seattle College Have a Welding Program?

Yes. South Seattle College offers an associate degree and a certificate in welding at Harbor Island Training Center (Maritime Shipyard Welding). Training covers stick (SMAW), oxy-fuel and plasma cutting, fabrication and blueprint reading.

How Much Does Welding School Cost at South Seattle College?

South Seattle College's 2024–25 tuition and fees were $5,238 for a full-time year (in-state) and $5,796 out of state, with books and supplies estimated at $582. Welding students also pay for tools, gear and lab fees.

How Long Is the Welding Program at South Seattle College?

Welding Fabrication Technology, Associate in Applied Science: 93 units. Maritime Shipyard Welding Certificate: 37 units.

Can You Get Welding Certified at South Seattle College?

AAS prepares students to pass WABO welder certification tests; Maritime students will test for maritime recognized certifications including NAVSEA and American Welding Society (AWS) certifications.

How Much Do Welders Make in Washington?

The median welder wage in Washington is $63,020 a year, and the middle half earn between $54,740 and $73,650 (BLS, May 2025).

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Sources

  1. southseattle.edu: Welding Fabrication Technology; Maritime Shipyard Welding program page, reviewed September 25, 2026
  2. NCES College Navigator, IPEDS unit 236504
  3. BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025