Welder Apprenticeship in North Dakota

Welders in North Dakota earn $60,270/yr at the median — 25% above the $48,060 national average across all occupations. A solid middle-class income that typically comes without student debt.

At $60,270/yr, North Dakota Welders earn 18% more than the $51,000 national median for the trade. A slight edge that may reflect local demand or cost of living.

Employment growth for Welders (2.2%) won't make headlines, but the underlying math still works: 45,600 workers need replacing every year, and apprenticeship is the primary training pipeline.

The Welder workforce in North Dakota (2,720 workers, 0.6% of national employment) is relatively small. Fewer employers means fewer apprenticeship slots — competition for available programs can be stiffer.

The Welder apprenticeship path spans 3 years in a time-based format. During those 6,000 hours, apprentices rotate between jobsite work under a journeyman and formal instruction in precision measurement, CNC operations, and metallurgy.

North Dakota has 149 organizations running registered apprenticeship programs. Start with your local trade union or check apprenticeship.gov — the state's mid-range sponsor count means programs exist but may not be around every corner.

The wage band for Welders in North Dakota is narrow: $45,510 to $83,080 at the extremes. The $37,570 range means compensation is relatively standardized, often set by union contracts or prevailing wage rates.