Welder Apprenticeship in Ohio

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.

OH Median Salary
$49,410/yr
-3% vs. national
National Median
$51,000/yr
OH Employment
20,110
Welders employed
OH Sponsors
4
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 Ohio: Quick Facts

What apprenticeship means here

A registered welder apprenticeship in Ohio 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.

Ohio pay vs. national

Median welder wages in Ohio are $49,410/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

Ohio has 4 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 — Ohio-specific outlook can vary from national figures.

Ohio Wage Spread

Annual wages for Welders in Ohio across all experience levels.

10th pct
$38,380
Median
$49,410
90th pct
$67,500
Middle 50% of workers earn $45,490$57,790

Current Welder Apprenticeship Openings in Ohio

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

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

Organization City County
Salem Welding & Supply Salem
SHELBY WELDED TUBE OF PHILLIPS MANUFACTURING Shelby Richland County
MAUMEE VALLEY FABRICATORS Toledo Lucas County
OHIO STAR FORGE COMPANY Warren Trumbull County
Search apprenticeship.gov for current Welder openings

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

Welder Apprenticeship in Ohio

Ohio has only 4 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

What is the average Welder salary in Ohio?
Welders in Ohio earn a median salary of $49,410/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.
What's the difference between a Welder apprenticeship and trade school?
Apprenticeships offer paid training with no tuition, while trade school requires upfront costs but may be shorter. Many Welders combine both — starting with trade school basics before entering an apprenticeship.
How do I find a Welder apprenticeship in Ohio?
Our directory surfaces 4 Welder-related registered sponsors in Ohio. 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.
Do Welder apprentices get paid during training?
Yes. Apprentices earn wages from day one, typically starting at 40–60% of the journeyman rate (roughly $24,705/yr in Ohio). 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 Ohio →
Or see all 332 programs nationwide.

Welder in Other States

Other Apprenticeships in Ohio

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