Welding Schools in Montana

If you’re living in Montana and you want to become a welder you will find in this article all the information you need for this career.

You will learn about types of welding, welding certificates, job prospects, and schools in your region that offer training in this profession.

Job Description

If you’re contemplating the idea of starting a career in this profession, you already know in broad lines at least what do you do as a welder: you join two pieces of metal together using different techniques.

But, besides MIG and TIG welding, the two most frequent welding techniques, there are also other welding techniques, such as aircraft welding or thin alloy welding.

Usually, the more complex and delicate the weld, the more skills you need and the higher the pay.

However, there are also welding techniques, such as pipe welding, that require a strong, error-free weld.

Any major project regarding infrastructure will require welders so it isn’t a job that will go out of style in the near future.

Job Prospects

Employment for these professions is projected to grow by 3 percent from 2019 to 2029, with most job openings occurring on infrastructure repair and rebuild projects, according to BLS.

Welders who have completed post-secondary training and/or hold a certificate offered by the American Welding Society will have the best employment prospects.

If you’re willing to relocate to an area with many factories and infrastructure projects, then you will have better opportunities.

Career Path

A high school diploma or equivalent is all that you need to start your career as a welder.

If your high school offers some technical courses, it’s a good idea to take them because this will teach you the basics of blueprint reading and other technical skills that are very useful in welding.

Courses such as blueprint reading, mechanical drawing are also useful and it is a good idea to take them if you can.

As you would expect, most employers prefer the candidate who has some formal training although there are still some who will train you on the job.

As a beginner in this career, it’s a good idea to apply for a certificate offered by the American Welding Society because this can help you earn a higher starting salary.

You can work as a welder but also as a welding inspector once you have more experience and you desire a supervisory role.

There are many places where you can learn welding in the state of Montana.

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.

Tuition varies between a few thousand and more than $15,000 depending on the duration and the type of the program.

Before deciding where to enroll is best to visit the school’s website and gather as much information as needed about all the factors that are relevant to you, including accreditation, tuition costs, curriculum, exams, and so on.

Welders in Montana

The average wage for workers in Montana was $47,270 as of May 2020, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.

According to salary.com, the median annual wage reported by welders with less than 3 years of experience is $39,277.

This means that half of all entry-level workers in this profession earned less than this while half earned more.

Graduating from a trade school or community college that offers welding programs can help you earn a higher starting salary.

The same report shows that the top 10 percent of entry-level welders in Montana make more than $50,128 while the lowest 10 percent made less than $31,321.

The median annual wage for welders with 3-5 years of experience is $45,364 as of April 2021 with salaries ranging from less than $36,000 to more than $56,000.

Most experienced welders earned between less than $42,000 and $70,000 with the median calculated at $54,937 per year.

The top 10 percent of welders with more than 5 years of experience reportedly made more than $71,242.

In conclusion, although salaries for entry-level welders in Montana are usually less than the state average, wages gradually increase as workers become more experienced.

Salaries also vary depending on the city of employment and in the table below we have compiled salary information from eight Montana cities- the data is provided from salary.com and reflects the numbers reported in May 2021.