Welder Apprenticeship in Florida

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.

FL Median Salary
$49,430/yr
-3% vs. national
National Median
$51,000/yr
FL Employment
16,390
Welders employed
FL Sponsors
2
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 Florida: Quick Facts

What apprenticeship means here

A registered welder apprenticeship in Florida 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.

Florida pay vs. national

Median welder wages in Florida are $49,430/year, -3% below the national median of $51,000. Wages scale with experience — journey-level workers earn substantially more than apprentices.

Where to find programs

Florida has 2 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 — Florida-specific outlook can vary from national figures.

Florida Wage Spread

Annual wages for Welders in Florida across all experience levels.

10th pct
$38,430
Median
$49,430
90th pct
$68,420
Middle 50% of workers earn $44,930$60,130

Current Welder Apprenticeship Openings in Florida

No welder apprenticeship openings are currently listed on apprenticeship.gov for Florida. 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 Florida

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

Organization City County
Steel Blue Fabrication LLC Avon Park
Advanced Waterjet Solutions Inc. Ft. Lauderdale
Search apprenticeship.gov for current Welder openings

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

Welder Apprenticeship in Florida

Florida has only 2 Welder-adjacent registered sponsors in our directory — program slots may be competitive and early applications give the best shot at placement. Direct outreach to union halls in the state's largest cities often matters more than formal application windows.

Frequently Asked Questions

How much do Welders make in Florida?
The median annual wage for Welders in Florida is $49,430 as of May 2024. Wages range from $38,430 at the 10th percentile to $68,420 at the 90th percentile.
What is the length of a Welder apprenticeship program?
Most Welder apprenticeships run 3 years. Apprentices work under a journeyman while attending classes, typically earning wages from day one with scheduled increases.
What's the difference between a Welder apprenticeship and 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 Florida?
Contact one of the 2 Welder-adjacent registered sponsors in Florida (listed below), or search apprenticeship.gov for current openings. Local union halls, community colleges, and the state apprenticeship agency are good first stops.
How much do Welder apprentices earn?
Apprentices are paid employees from the start. In Florida, a first-year Welder apprentice might earn around $24,715/yr (roughly half the $49,430 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 Florida →
Or see all 332 programs nationwide.

Welder in Other States

Other Apprenticeships in Florida

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