Welding Schools in Oklahoma

Oklahoma is home to many manufacturers of machinery and metal products and if you want to start a career as a welder you have plenty of educational and employment options.

On this page, you will find out more about salary expectations and training options that are available to prospective welders in the state of Oklahoma.

Job Description

If you’re contemplating the idea of starting a career in this profession, you already know in broad lines at least what a welder does: he/she joins two pieces of metal together.

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.

There are also other 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.

Career Path

A high school diploma or equivalent is all 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.

As you would expect, most employers prefer the candidate who has some formal training or experience in the field, 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 or supervisor once you have more experience.

From trade schools to community colleges, and apprenticeships: there are plenty of training opportunities for prospective welders in the state of Oklahoma.

Tuition usually varies between a few thousand and more than $15,000 depending on the duration and the type of the program but there are also schools that offer lower tuition rates for in-state students.

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.

To help you in this process we have selected information about some of the top schools that offer welding classes in Oklahoma.

Welders in Oklahoma

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the average wage in Oklahoma is $47,340 as of May 2020.

Manufacturers in Oklahoma account for approximately 9.4% of the total output of the state and employ around 7.8% of the total workforce.

The top manufacturing industry in this state is machinery manufacturing with an output of approximately $3.1 Billion.

Fabricated metal products are the second-highest manufacturer and contribute approximately $2.5 Billion to Oklahoma’s economy.

These sectors are two of the biggest employers for welders.

According to salary.com, the median annual wage for Ohio welders with less than 3 years of experience is $40,729 as of April 2021- lower than the state average.

This means that half of all new-employed welders earn less than this amount while half earned more.

The same report calculates the median annual salary for welders with 3-5 years of experience at $47,041 with wages ranging between less than $37,000 and more than $58,000 depending on other factors, including the industry of employment and the level of education.

Welders with 5-7 years of experience reportedly earn $56,967 on average.

The lowest 10 percent of experienced welders reportedly made less than $43,480 while the highest 10 percent made more than $73,875.

Welding Schools by City