Welder Apprenticeship in North Dakota

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.

ND Median Salary
$60,270/yr
+18% vs. national
National Median
$51,000/yr
ND Employment
2,720
Welders employed
ND 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 North Dakota: Quick Facts

What apprenticeship means here

A registered welder apprenticeship in North Dakota 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.

North Dakota pay vs. national

Median welder wages in North Dakota are $60,270/year, +18% above the national median of $51,000. Wages scale with experience — journey-level workers earn substantially more than apprentices.

Where to find programs

North Dakota 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 — North Dakota-specific outlook can vary from national figures.

North Dakota Wage Spread

Annual wages for Welders in North Dakota across all experience levels.

10th pct
$45,510
Median
$60,270
90th pct
$83,080
Middle 50% of workers earn $51,100$70,280

Current Welder Apprenticeship Openings in North Dakota

No welder apprenticeship openings are currently listed on apprenticeship.gov for North Dakota. 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 North Dakota

Our directory doesn't surface Welder-specific registered sponsors in North Dakota. 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 ND for the most relevant results.

Welder Apprenticeship in North Dakota

Welder apprenticeship opportunities in North Dakota are best found through direct outreach: contact the relevant national union's closest local chapter, search apprenticeship.gov for current programs, or reach out to your state apprenticeship agency. Our directory reflects what sponsors self-identify by name, which can understate coverage in smaller markets.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the average Welder salary in North Dakota?
The median annual wage for Welders in North Dakota is $60,270 as of May 2024. Wages range from $45,510 at the 10th percentile to $83,080 at the 90th percentile.
How long is a Welder 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.
What's the difference between a Welder apprenticeship and 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 North Dakota?
Our directory doesn't surface Welder-specific registered sponsors in North Dakota — 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 North Dakota, a first-year Welder apprentice might earn around $30,135/yr (roughly half the $60,270 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 North Dakota-based programs to compare locally — see the national list and filter.

Welder in Other States

Other Apprenticeships in North Dakota

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