Welder Apprenticeship in Alaska

Wages, programs & career outlook

Welders join metal using heat and filler material — structural steel, pressure piping, aerospace alloys, automotive assemblies. Process matters: MIG for production speed, TIG for precision, stick for field repairs, and certified procedures for pressure or critical welds.

AK Median Salary
$75,140/yr
+47% vs. national
National Median
$51,000/yr
AK Employment
650
Welders employed
AK Sponsors
0
Registered programs
Training Term
3.0 yrs
Time-Based
Job Growth
2.2%
2024–2034 projected
Annual Openings
45,600
Nationally, per yr

Welder Apprenticeship in Alaska: Quick Facts

What apprenticeship means here

A registered welder apprenticeship in Alaska combines paid on-the-job training with classroom instruction. Programs typically run 3.0 years and follow a time-based structure. You earn wages from day one — apprentices are employees, not students.

Alaska pay vs. national

Median welder wages in Alaska are $75,140/year, +47% above the national median of $51,000. Wages scale with experience — journey-level workers earn substantially more than apprentices.

Where to find programs

Alaska has 0 registered apprenticeship sponsors for welder listed in the U.S. Department of Labor's apprenticeship.gov directory. The sponsor list further down includes joint labor-management programs (JATCs), individual employers, and contractor associations.

Job-market outlook

The Bureau of Labor Statistics projects 2.2% job growth for welders nationally between 2024 and 2034, with approximately 45,600 annual openings each year (replacement plus growth combined). Apprenticeship demand tends to track local construction and infrastructure spending — Alaska-specific outlook can vary from national figures.

Alaska Wage Spread

Annual wages for Welders in Alaska across all experience levels.

10th pct
$48,410
Median
$75,140
90th pct
$106,490
Middle 50% of workers earn $59,290$92,930

Current Welder Apprenticeship Openings in Alaska

No welder apprenticeship openings are currently listed on apprenticeship.gov for Alaska. That doesn't mean programs don't exist — smaller regional contractors often aren't included in the national directory. Consider setting up an alert on apprenticeship.gov to be notified when new listings are posted.

Listings aggregated from apprenticeship.gov (US Dept. of Labor). Data refreshed daily.

Welder Apprenticeship Sponsors in Alaska

Our directory doesn't surface Welder-specific registered sponsors in Alaska. This usually reflects a smaller regional market where sponsors use generic company names rather than trade-specific branding — it doesn't mean programs don't exist. Direct search on apprenticeship.gov is the most reliable way to find current openings.

Search apprenticeship.gov for current Welder openings

Filter by occupation code 51-4121 and state AK for the most relevant results.

Welder Apprenticeship in Alaska

Our directory doesn't list Welder-specific sponsors in Alaska. This typically reflects a smaller regional market where sponsors operate under generic company names rather than trade-specific branding. Nearby states often accept out-of-state apprentices — and apprenticeship.gov can identify current openings by occupation code and ZIP.

Frequently Asked Questions

How much do Welders make in Alaska?
Welders in Alaska earn a median salary of $75,140/yr according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2024). This is above the national median of $51,000 for the trade.
How many years does it take to become a Welder through apprenticeship?
Most Welder apprenticeships run 3 years. Apprentices work under a journeyman while attending classes, typically earning wages from day one with scheduled increases.
Should I do a Welder apprenticeship or go to trade school?
Apprenticeships offer paid training with no tuition, while trade school requires upfront costs but may be shorter. Many Welders combine both — starting with trade school basics before entering an apprenticeship.
How do I find a Welder apprenticeship in Alaska?
We don't have Welder-identified sponsors listed in Alaska, but that doesn't mean programs don't exist — small regional contractors often aren't identifiable by name. Start with apprenticeship.gov's job finder (filter by occupation and ZIP), then contact nearby-state IUEC/IBEW/UA/SMART locals if nothing shows up locally.
Do Welder apprentices get paid during training?
Yes. Apprentices earn wages from day one, typically starting at 40–60% of the journeyman rate (roughly $37,570/yr in Alaska). Wages increase at regular intervals — usually every 6 months — as you progress through the program.

Prefer Trade School Instead?

Apprenticeships pay from day one, but the classroom-first path may fit better for some. Welders also train through trade school programs — shorter timeline, more upfront cost.

Compare 332 Precision Metal Working programs nationwide →
Too few Alaska-based programs to compare locally — see the national list and filter.

Welder in Other States

Other Apprenticeships in Alaska

Data: Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS May 2024, DOL RAPIDS Registered Apprenticeship database, ApprenticeshipUSA Sponsor Directory.