Are Welding Schools in Austin Worth the Cost?
- Median welder pay in the Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos, TX metro area: $59,040, against $53,750 nationally (BLS, May 2025).
- Austin Community College District in Austin, 3 miles away, offers Welding Technology AAS: Code Welding and Welding Technology AAS: Architectural and Ornamental Metals.
- Southern Careers Institute-Austin in Austin, 5 miles away, offers Welding.
- Universal Technical Institute-West Texas in Austin, 10 miles away, offers Welding Technology.
- Welding classes in Austin: 1 of these welding schools publish evening or weekend sections.
Welder Pay Around Austin
Welder pay: annual wages for welders, cutters, solderers, and brazers in the Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos, TX metro area (2,210 jobs); U.S. median $53,750. Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025.
Compare Welding Programs Near Austin
| College | Distance | Tuition and fees | Welding awards | Graduation rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Austin Community College DistrictAustin | 3 miles | $2,550 | 265 certificates, 39 associate | 20% |
| Southern Careers Institute-AustinAustin | 5 miles | 77 certificates | ||
| Universal Technical Institute-West TexasAustin | 10 miles | 191 certificates | ||
| Central Texas CollegeKilleen | 57 miles | $3,750 | 40 certificates, 1 associate | 11% |
Welding programs near Austin, 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 Austin for What You Need
Welding Schools in Austin: Austin Community College District and 3 Others
Austin Community College District, Austin, Texas
Offers 3 associate degrees, 6 certificates and one other award in welding
- Tuition / year
- $2,550 in-district, 2024–25
- Welding awards
- 304 conferred 2024–25
A degree option on top of certificates.
Teaches Stick · MIG · TIG · Flux-cored · Pipe · Fabrication
Universal Technical Institute-West Texas, Austin, Texas
Offers one other award in welding
- Welding awards offered
- 1 certificates and degrees
- Welding awards
- 191 conferred 2024–25
Teaches Stick · MIG · TIG · Flux-cored · Pipe · Fabrication
Southern Careers Institute-Austin, Austin, Texas
Offers a diploma in welding
- Welding awards offered
- 1 certificates and degrees
- Welding awards
- 77 conferred 2024–25
Teaches Stick · MIG · TIG · Flux-cored · Pipe · Cutting
Central Texas College, Killeen, Texas
Offers an associate degree, 6 certificates and one other award in welding
- Tuition / year
- $3,750 in-district, 2024–25
- Welding awards
- 41 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 Austin.
Certificate or Associate Degree Near Austin?
Southern Careers Institute-Austin and Universal Technical Institute-West Texas offer certificates only; Austin Community College District and Central Texas College also award a welding associate degree, which adds general education and takes about two years full time.
- Austin Community College DistrictWelding Technology AAS: Code Welding: 60-61 credit hours; Welding Technology AAS: Architectural and Ornamental Metals: 60 credit hours; Welding Technology AAS: Welding Inspection Specialization: 60-63 credit hours
- Southern Careers Institute-AustinWelding: 700 clock hours, 43 quarter credits
- Universal Technical Institute-West TexasWelding Technology: 9 months
- Central Texas CollegeWelding (WLD21.AAS): 60 credit hours; Welding Technology (WLD21.CC2): 45 credit hours, 1,184 clock hours; Pipe Welding (WLP20.CC2): 41 credit hours, 1,136 clock hours
Welding Classes in Austin: Central Texas College Teaches Evenings or Weekends
- Austin Community College DistrictFull-time students take 12 credit hours in the fall and spring, usually three 4-credit welding courses. Summer terms run 9 weeks, and each welding class then meets twice a week for 4 hours and 45 minutes.
- Southern Careers Institute-AustinEstimated completion is 27 weeks. Theory classes may be offered by asynchronous distance education; hands-on lab classes are held in person only.
- Central Texas CollegeClasses can begin at any time during the year. The coursework is competency-based, and students set their own shop schedule between 8 a.m. and 9 p.m., Monday through Thursday, with day and evening instructors.
Questions About Welding Schools in Austin
How Much Do Welding Schools in Austin Cost?
Austin Community College District charges the least, $2,550 a year for full-time residents in 2024-2025; Central Texas College charges $3,750. Books, tools and protective gear cost extra (Austin Community College District budgets $1,200 for books and supplies).
How Long Does Welding School Take Near Austin?
Austin Community College District lists Welding Technology AAS: Code Welding (60-61 credit hours) and Welding Technology AAS: Architectural and Ornamental Metals (60 credit hours), Southern Careers Institute-Austin lists Welding (700 clock hours, 43 quarter credits) and Universal Technical Institute-West Texas lists Welding Technology (9 months).
How Much Do Welders Make in Austin?
Welders, cutters, solderers, and brazers in the Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos, TX metro area earn a median $59,040 a year (BLS, May 2025), 10% above the U.S. median of $53,750. The top 10% earn more than $76,060.
What Is the Best Welding School Near Austin?
Austin Community College District scores highest on program size, cost and completion among the welding schools within 60 miles, with 304 welding awards in 2024-2025. Universal Technical Institute-West Texas ranks second.
Are There Night Welding Classes Near Austin?
Yes. Central Texas College publishes evening or weekend sections: Classes can begin at any time during the year. The coursework is competency-based, and students set their own shop schedule between 8 a.m. and 9 p.m., Monday through Thursday, with day and evening instructors.
Welding Programs Near Austin but Farther Out
- St Philip's College, San Antonio74 miles
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Guides, Careers and Pay
Sources
- Official welding program pages of the 4 welding schools above (each college name links to its page), reviewed September 2026.
- U.S. Department of Education, IPEDS completions and College Navigator.
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025.