Welder Apprenticeship in Arkansas

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.

AR Median Salary
$47,100/yr
-8% vs. national
National Median
$51,000/yr
AR Employment
7,240
Welders employed
AR Sponsors
1
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 Arkansas: Quick Facts

What apprenticeship means here

A registered welder apprenticeship in Arkansas 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.

Arkansas pay vs. national

Median welder wages in Arkansas are $47,100/year, -8% below the national median of $51,000. Wages scale with experience — journey-level workers earn substantially more than apprentices.

Where to find programs

Arkansas has 1 registered apprenticeship sponsor 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 — Arkansas-specific outlook can vary from national figures.

Arkansas Wage Spread

Annual wages for Welders in Arkansas across all experience levels.

10th pct
$36,340
Median
$47,100
90th pct
$63,570
Middle 50% of workers earn $41,530$52,400

Current Welder Apprenticeship Openings in Arkansas

No welder apprenticeship openings are currently listed on apprenticeship.gov for Arkansas. The sponsors listed below accept applications on a rolling basis — contact them directly. 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 Arkansas

1 welder-related registered sponsor identified in the DOL ApprenticeshipUSA directory for Arkansas. Directory lists sponsor names only — contact each organization directly to confirm current welder apprenticeship openings.

Organization City County
Rockin Dollar Fabrication Damascus
Search apprenticeship.gov for current Welder openings

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

Welder Apprenticeship in Arkansas

The 1 Welder-related registered sponsor in Arkansas mean apprenticeship programs exist but aren't abundant. Building relationships with local contractors and trade unions is often more effective than waiting for formal application windows.

Frequently Asked Questions

What do Welders earn in Arkansas?
Welders in Arkansas earn a median salary of $47,100/yr according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2024). This is below the national median of $51,000 for the trade.
What is the length of a Welder apprenticeship program?
The standard Welder apprenticeship is 3 years of combined on-the-job training and classroom education. Some programs offer accelerated paths for candidates with prior experience.
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.
Where can I apply for a Welder apprenticeship in Arkansas?
Our directory surfaces 1 Welder-related registered sponsor in Arkansas. Start with your local trade union hall, joint apprenticeship committee (JAC), or state apprenticeship agency. You can also search apprenticeship.gov by occupation and ZIP.
Do Welder apprentices get paid during training?
Apprentices are paid employees from the start. In Arkansas, a first-year Welder apprentice might earn around $23,550/yr (roughly half the $47,100 journeyman median), with scheduled raises throughout the 3-year 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 Precision Metal Working programs in Arkansas →
Or see all 332 programs nationwide.

Welder in Other States

Other Apprenticeships in Arkansas

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