Welder Apprenticeship in Idaho

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.

ID Median Salary
$49,190/yr
-4% vs. national
National Median
$51,000/yr
ID Employment
3,300
Welders employed
ID Sponsors
6
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 Idaho: Quick Facts

What apprenticeship means here

A registered welder apprenticeship in Idaho 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.

Idaho pay vs. national

Median welder wages in Idaho are $49,190/year, -4% below the national median of $51,000. Wages scale with experience — journey-level workers earn substantially more than apprentices.

Where to find programs

Idaho has 6 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 — Idaho-specific outlook can vary from national figures.

Idaho Wage Spread

Annual wages for Welders in Idaho across all experience levels.

10th pct
$38,020
Median
$49,190
90th pct
$65,510
Middle 50% of workers earn $44,630$58,820

Current Welder Apprenticeship Openings in Idaho

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

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

Organization City County
Hobson Fabrication Boise
MC Welding LLC Heyburn Minidoka County
Idaho Steel Products Idaho Falls Bonneville County
ATS Welding LLC Pocatello Bannock County
Impact Industrial and Fabrication, LLC Rexburg
Old Timer Welding Rexburg Madison County
Search apprenticeship.gov for current Welder openings

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

Welder Apprenticeship in Idaho

The 6 Welder-related registered sponsors in Idaho 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

How much do Welders make in Idaho?
Welders in Idaho earn a median salary of $49,190/yr according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2024). This is below the national median of $51,000 for the trade.
How many years does it take to become a Welder through apprenticeship?
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?
The key difference: apprenticeships pay you during training while trade schools charge tuition. Many employers prefer apprenticeship-trained Welders, but trade school can give you a head start on the classroom requirements.
How do I find a Welder apprenticeship in Idaho?
Our directory surfaces 6 Welder-related registered sponsors in Idaho. 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.
How much do Welder apprentices earn?
Yes. Apprentices earn wages from day one, typically starting at 40–60% of the journeyman rate (roughly $24,595/yr in Idaho). 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 Idaho-based programs to compare locally — see the national list and filter.

Welder in Other States

Other Apprenticeships in Idaho

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