Welder Apprenticeship in Maine

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.

ME Median Salary
$58,340/yr
+14% vs. national
National Median
$51,000/yr
ME Employment
1,950
Welders employed
ME 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 Maine: Quick Facts

What apprenticeship means here

A registered welder apprenticeship in Maine 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.

Maine pay vs. national

Median welder wages in Maine are $58,340/year, +14% above the national median of $51,000. Wages scale with experience — journey-level workers earn substantially more than apprentices.

Where to find programs

Maine 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 — Maine-specific outlook can vary from national figures.

Maine Wage Spread

Annual wages for Welders in Maine across all experience levels.

10th pct
$43,400
Median
$58,340
90th pct
$73,830
Middle 50% of workers earn $48,250$65,090

Current Welder Apprenticeship Openings in Maine

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

Our directory doesn't surface Welder-specific registered sponsors in Maine. 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 ME for the most relevant results.

Welder Apprenticeship in Maine

Our directory doesn't list Welder-specific sponsors in Maine. 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

What is the average Welder salary in Maine?
Welders in Maine earn a median salary of $58,340/yr according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2024). This is above the national median of $51,000 for the trade.
How long is a Welder 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?
An apprenticeship lets you earn while you learn over 3 years with no tuition cost. Trade school is faster (6–24 months) but costs money upfront. Both can lead to the same journeyman credential.
How do I find a Welder apprenticeship in Maine?
Our directory doesn't surface Welder-specific registered sponsors in Maine — typical for smaller markets where sponsors use generic company names. Best path: (1) search apprenticeship.gov by occupation and ZIP for current openings, (2) contact the relevant national union's closest local (find locals via apprenticeship.gov), or (3) reach out to your state apprenticeship agency directly.
How much do Welder apprentices earn?
Apprentices are paid employees from the start. In Maine, a first-year Welder apprentice might earn around $29,170/yr (roughly half the $58,340 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 332 Precision Metal Working programs nationwide →
Too few Maine-based programs to compare locally — see the national list and filter.

Welder in Other States

Other Apprenticeships in Maine

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