Welder Apprenticeship in Pennsylvania

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.

PA Median Salary
$50,860/yr
-0% vs. national
National Median
$51,000/yr
PA Employment
16,060
Welders employed
PA 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 Pennsylvania: Quick Facts

What apprenticeship means here

A registered welder apprenticeship in Pennsylvania 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.

Pennsylvania pay vs. national

Median welder wages in Pennsylvania are $50,860/year, -0% below the national median of $51,000. Wages scale with experience — journey-level workers earn substantially more than apprentices.

Where to find programs

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

Pennsylvania Wage Spread

Annual wages for Welders in Pennsylvania across all experience levels.

10th pct
$38,620
Median
$50,860
90th pct
$67,010
Middle 50% of workers earn $46,680$58,920

Current Welder Apprenticeship Openings in Pennsylvania

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

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

Organization City County
Specialized Welding Inc. Export Westmoreland County
Specialty Fabrication & Powder Coating Franklin
HODGE FOUNDRY Greenville Mercer County
GENERAL WELDMENTS INC. Irwin Westmoreland County
Versa Fab Inc. New Kensington Westmoreland County
Sargent's Welding & Repair LLC Stroudsburg
Search apprenticeship.gov for current Welder openings

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

Welder Apprenticeship in Pennsylvania

With 6 trade-specific sponsors in our directory, Pennsylvania's Welder apprenticeship landscape is limited. Candidates should also consider nearby states or contact national union offices for referrals.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the average Welder salary in Pennsylvania?
The median annual wage for Welders in Pennsylvania is $50,860 as of May 2024. Wages range from $38,620 at the 10th percentile to $67,010 at the 90th percentile.
What is the length of a Welder apprenticeship program?
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.
Is an apprenticeship better than trade school for Welders?
An apprenticeship lets you earn while you learn over 3 years with no tuition cost. Trade school is faster (6–24 months) but costs money upfront. Both can lead to the same journeyman credential.
Where can I apply for a Welder apprenticeship in Pennsylvania?
Contact one of the 6 Welder-adjacent registered sponsors in Pennsylvania (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 $25,430/yr in Pennsylvania). 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 Pennsylvania →
Or see all 332 programs nationwide.

Welder in Other States

Other Apprenticeships in Pennsylvania

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