Welding Schools in Missouri

If you’re located in Missouri and you’re thinking about becoming a welder, we invite you to read on in order to find out more about this career path and the best trade schools that are ready to prepare you for a career as a welder.

Job Description

Although job descriptions vary depending on the industry of employment and the specialty, as a welder, you will usually be responsible for:

• Reading blueprints
• Igniting torches
• Starting power supplies
• Monitoring the welding process
• Maintaining welding equipment
• Calculating the dimensions of the parts that will be welded together
• Inspecting the final product and fixing any imperfections

You can learn the above skills during high school if it offers technical education and shop classes, through an apprenticeship or post-secondary education program.

There are different types of programs that can prepare you for a career in welding.

You can enroll in a six months certification program where you will learn the trade in a systematic way, or, if you prefer the hands-on approach, you can enter an apprenticeship and you will learn to weld and solve welding problems on the spot while supervised by an experienced welder.

You also have the option of enrolling in a two-year associate’s degree program at a local community college.

Occupational Hazards and Safety Issues

Welding can be dangerous and welders need to follow very strict safety procedures to avoid injury.

One of the most important risks welders face every day is the risk of burns.

To avoid them, welders use leather gloves and jackets with long sleeves.

The brightness of the weld may cause inflammation of the eye and in order to avoid this, welders use special helmets.

Depending on the materials they work with, welders may also be exposed to dangerous gases and there is also a risk of electrical shocks.

Regardless of the training program you choose, you should make sure that it also teaches you about safety and how to avoid risks.

Career Path

The first step towards a welding career is finishing high school.

Taking some technical education classes such as blueprint reading, technical drawing and mathematics will prove very useful.

After earning your high school diploma or GED equivalent, the next step is to enroll at a trade school or community college that offers welding training classes.

Welding training usually covers a variety of topics, such as mathematics, metallurgy, blueprint reading, pipe layout, and most programs also include a welding practicum.

Welding techniques usually covered by training programs are:

• Arc welding
• MIG welding
• TIG welding
• Hyperbaric welding
• Pipeline Welding
• Pipe-Fitting

Depending on the school and the program you may learn only one basic technique or several advanced welding techniques, such as underwater welding.

Costs also vary depending on the school you choose but usually range between $5,000 and $15,000.

You will also have to pay an application fee and a testing fee.

If the school you choose is located in a different part of Missouri you should also take into account housing costs and additional travel expenses.

Some employers may be willing to hire inexperienced workers and prepare them through on-the-job training or cover the costs of training.

Even if you graduate from a welding program, once you get a job you will also complete an on-the-job training period to learn the specifics of the industry and the position.

There are also certification programs available for welders.

Becoming certified can improve your employment and earning prospects.

Employers usually prefer to hire welders who have a basic American Welding Society Certified Welder certification.

This credential can be earned after passing an exam offered at one of AWS’s accredited testing facilities.

Welder in Missouri

Wages for welders with more than 5 years of experience typically fall between $44,000 and $75,000 being determined by the industry of employment, the welder’s expertise and skills level but also the region and the local economy.

Salaries for welders in Missouri vary depending on a wide range of factors, including experience level, education, industry, certifications, and skills.

As a recent graduate from a welding school, your salary will most likely be less than $45,000 but your wage will gradually increase after earning a few years of experience.

According to salary.com, the median annual wage reported by entry-level welders in Missouri was $41,292 as of April 2021 with salaries ranging between less than $33,000 and more than $52,000.

The median annual wage for welders with 3-5 years of experience was $47,691.

The lowest 10 percent of mid-level welders in Missouri earned less than $37,298 while the top 10 percent made more than $59,343.

Salaries for experienced welders range between less than $44,000 and more than $75,000 per year- with the median calculated at $57,775.

The cities that offer the most jobs for welders in Missouri are Kansas City, Independence, O Fallon, and Chesterfield.

The median annual wage reported by welders in Kansas City is $49,078 while those in Chesterfield were remunerated with $48,980 on average.

You can find detailed information about salaries reported in the top 10 cities of Missouri as of May 2021 in the table below.

Welding Schools by City