Welder Apprenticeship in Nebraska

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.

NE Median Salary
$50,550/yr
-1% vs. national
National Median
$51,000/yr
NE Employment
3,990
Welders employed
NE Sponsors
1
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 Nebraska: Quick Facts

What apprenticeship means here

A registered welder apprenticeship in Nebraska 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.

Nebraska pay vs. national

Median welder wages in Nebraska are $50,550/year, -1% below the national median of $51,000. Wages scale with experience — journey-level workers earn substantially more than apprentices.

Where to find programs

Nebraska has 1 registered apprenticeship sponsor 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 — Nebraska-specific outlook can vary from national figures.

Nebraska Wage Spread

Annual wages for Welders in Nebraska across all experience levels.

10th pct
$39,640
Median
$50,550
90th pct
$64,880
Middle 50% of workers earn $46,500$58,890

Current Welder Apprenticeship Openings in Nebraska

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

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

Organization City County
Chief Fabrication Grand Island
Search apprenticeship.gov for current Welder openings

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

Welder Apprenticeship in Nebraska

With 1 trade-specific sponsor in our directory, Nebraska's Welder apprenticeship landscape is limited. Candidates should also consider nearby states or contact national union offices for referrals.

Frequently Asked Questions

What do Welders earn in Nebraska?
Welders in Nebraska earn a median salary of $50,550/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?
A typical Welder apprenticeship lasts approximately 3 years (6,000 hours of on-the-job training). The program combines paid work experience with related classroom instruction.
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 Nebraska?
Our directory surfaces 1 Welder-related registered sponsor in Nebraska. 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?
Apprentices are paid employees from the start. In Nebraska, a first-year Welder apprentice might earn around $25,275/yr (roughly half the $50,550 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 Precision Metal Working programs in Nebraska →
Or see all 332 programs nationwide.

Welder in Other States

Other Apprenticeships in Nebraska

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