Welder Apprenticeship in Missouri

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.

MO Median Salary
$49,460/yr
-3% vs. national
National Median
$51,000/yr
MO Employment
10,270
Welders employed
MO 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 Missouri: Quick Facts

What apprenticeship means here

A registered welder apprenticeship in Missouri 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.

Missouri pay vs. national

Median welder wages in Missouri are $49,460/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

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

Missouri Wage Spread

Annual wages for Welders in Missouri across all experience levels.

10th pct
$36,780
Median
$49,460
90th pct
$73,990
Middle 50% of workers earn $43,170$60,110

Current Welder Apprenticeship Openings in Missouri

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

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

Organization City County
Gambill Fabrication & Mobile Welding LLC Benton
Hagedorn Welding Solutions Rhineland
STAINLESS FABRICATION INC. Springfield Greene County
Arc Rite Welding Truesdale
Region Welding Union
Sahm Welding and Fabrication Washington
Search apprenticeship.gov for current Welder openings

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

Welder Apprenticeship in Missouri

Missouri has only 6 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 Missouri?
Welders in Missouri earn a median salary of $49,460/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?
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?
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.
Where can I apply for a Welder apprenticeship in Missouri?
Contact one of the 6 Welder-adjacent registered sponsors in Missouri (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?
Yes. Apprentices earn wages from day one, typically starting at 40–60% of the journeyman rate (roughly $24,730/yr in Missouri). 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 Precision Metal Working programs in Missouri →
Or see all 332 programs nationwide.

Welder in Other States

Other Apprenticeships in Missouri

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