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Best Welding & Metalworking Schools (2026): 355 Ranked by Salary & ROI

355 schools ranked by TSW Score · Updated 2026

These are the top schools offering Welding & Metalworking, ranked by TradeSchoolOutlook Score. The score combines graduate earnings, job market demand, and return on tuition investment. The average Welding & Metalworking graduate earns $36,870/yr across 355 schools.

Programs Ranked

355

Avg Earnings

$36,870/yr

Avg TSW Score

57/100

#1 School

Ferris State University

$68,852/yr

BLS projects -9.7% employment growth for occupations in this field from 2024–2034, with approximately 164 annual job openings per related program area.

All Welding & Metalworking Programs Ranked

Click any row for full earnings projections and career path breakdown.

#	School	TSW Score	Earnings	ROI
1	Ferris State University Big Rapids, MI · Welding & Metalworking	68 67–69	$68,852/yr	56.3x
2	Idaho State University Pocatello, ID · Welding & Metalworking	72 71–73	$64,581/yr	87.9x
3	Southcentral Kentucky Community and Technical College Bowling Green, KY · Welding & Metalworking	75 74–75	$58,996/yr	125.7x
4	Hennepin Technical College Brooklyn Park, MN · Welding & Metalworking	67 65–69	$59,829/yr	63.2x
5	Ivy Tech Community College Indianapolis, IN · Welding & Metalworking	67 66–69	$56,292/yr	67.5x
6	Elizabethtown Community and Technical College Elizabethtown, KY · Welding & Metalworking	73 72–74	$53,172/yr	113.2x
7	Hennepin Technical College Brooklyn Park, MN · Welding & Metalworking	71 70–72	$52,456/yr	100.2x
8	White Mountains Community College Berlin, NH · Welding & Metalworking	69 68–70	$53,066/yr	54.3x
9	Fox Valley Technical College Appleton, WI · Welding & Metalworking	73 72–73	$53,507/yr	118.2x
10	Fox Valley Technical College Appleton, WI · Welding & Metalworking	65 65–66	$52,449/yr	60.8x
11	Elizabethtown Community and Technical College Elizabethtown, KY · Welding & Metalworking	64 63–65	$48,709/yr	51.3x
12	Grand Rapids Community College Grand Rapids, MI · Welding & Metalworking	66 66–67	$50,089/yr	60.7x
13	Alexandria Technical & Community College Alexandria, MN · Welding & Metalworking	70 69–71	$51,141/yr	97.2x
14	Anoka Technical College Anoka, MN · Welding & Metalworking	69 68–70	$49,632/yr	89.4x
15	Dakota County Technical College Rosemount, MN · Welding & Metalworking	69 68–69	$50,464/yr	81.1x
16	St Cloud Technical and Community College Saint Cloud, MN · Welding & Metalworking	72 70–73	$49,636/yr	128.6x
17	Saint Paul College Saint Paul, MN · Welding & Metalworking	70 69–71	$50,842/yr	94.1x
18	Minnesota State College Southeast Winona, MN · Welding & Metalworking	66 66–66	$49,342/yr	66.1x
19	Southeast Community College Area Lincoln, NE · Welding & Metalworking	69 67–70	$49,114/yr	86.3x
20	North Dakota State College of Science Wahpeton, ND · Welding & Metalworking	63 62–64	$51,647/yr	50.8x
21	York Technical College Rock Hill, SC · Welding & Metalworking	71 70–71	$50,309/yr	89.8x
22	Lakeshore Technical College Cleveland, WI · Welding & Metalworking	71 70–71	$48,619/yr	103.9x
23	Chippewa Valley Technical College Eau Claire, WI · Welding & Metalworking	71 70–72	$48,638/yr	120.0x
24	Arkansas Northeastern College Blytheville, AR · Welding & Metalworking	73 72–74	$47,110/yr	182.3x
25	Santa Ana College Santa Ana, CA · Welding & Metalworking	74 72–74	$45,864/yr	387.7x
26	Aims Community College Greeley, CO · Welding & Metalworking	74 73–75	$47,680/yr	227.1x
27	Vincennes University Vincennes, IN · Welding & Metalworking	62 62–63	$54,908/yr	43.0x
28	Marshalltown Community College Marshalltown, IA · Welding & Metalworking	69 68–70	$45,972/yr	85.7x
29	Bluegrass Community and Technical College Lexington, KY · Welding & Metalworking	70 69–71	$46,133/yr	97.0x
30	Midlands Technical College West Columbia, SC · Welding & Metalworking	71 69–71	$47,556/yr	98.3x
31	Amarillo College Amarillo, TX · Welding & Metalworking	74 73–75	$48,263/yr	304.1x
32	Clark College Vancouver, WA · Welding & Metalworking	62 62–63	$46,609/yr	52.9x
33	Northcentral Technical College Wausau, WI · Welding & Metalworking	72 71–72	$47,718/yr	131.0x
34	Bevill State Community College Jasper, AL · Welding & Metalworking	69 69–70	$45,423/yr	98.7x
35	North Georgia Technical College Clarkesville, GA · Welding & Metalworking	72 71–73	$45,472/yr	161.8x
36	Hawkeye Community College Waterloo, IA · Welding & Metalworking	68 66–69	$45,509/yr	87.7x
37	Kirkwood Community College Cedar Rapids, IA · Welding & Metalworking	61 60–62	$48,114/yr	45.7x
38	Northeast Iowa Community College Calmar, IA · Welding & Metalworking	66 64–67	$43,588/yr	83.5x
39	Anoka Technical College Anoka, MN · Welding & Metalworking	62 62–63	$51,747/yr	40.3x
40	Lake Superior College Duluth, MN · Welding & Metalworking	68 65–69	$43,610/yr	102.5x
41	Ridgewater College Willmar, MN · Welding & Metalworking	68 65–69	$44,421/yr	95.1x
42	Western Dakota Technical College Rapid City, SD · Welding & Metalworking	63 63–64	$44,614/yr	50.0x
43	Austin Community College District Austin, TX · Welding & Metalworking	69 68–70	$45,279/yr	87.8x
44	Blackhawk Technical College Janesville, WI · Welding & Metalworking	70 69–71	$44,698/yr	123.3x
45	Waukesha County Technical College Pewaukee, WI · Welding & Metalworking	70 67–71	$43,380/yr	123.7x
46	Owensboro Community and Technical College Owensboro, KY · Welding & Metalworking	70 69–70	$45,366/yr	96.4x
47	Gadsden State Community College Gadsden, AL · Welding & Metalworking	68 67–68	$41,252/yr	103.5x
48	Pima Community College Tucson, AZ · Welding & Metalworking	67 66–68	$41,132/yr	100.9x
49	Pueblo Community College Pueblo, CO · Welding & Metalworking	59 60–60	$43,715/yr	46.0x
50	Connecticut State Community College Hartford, CT · Welding & Metalworking	67 65–69	$41,378/yr	104.3x
51	Palm Beach State College Lake Worth, FL · Welding & Metalworking	70 69–71	$41,518/yr	165.0x
52	Savannah Technical College Savannah, GA · Welding & Metalworking	70 69–70	$41,604/yr	143.8x
53	Ivy Tech Community College Indianapolis, IN · Welding & Metalworking	68 66–69	$41,767/yr	109.6x
54	Western Iowa Tech Community College Sioux City, IA · Welding & Metalworking	67 65–67	$41,613/yr	81.5x
55	Gateway Community and Technical College Florence, KY · Welding & Metalworking	68 67–68	$42,233/yr	89.7x
56	Somerset Community College Somerset, KY · Welding & Metalworking	67 66–68	$41,415/yr	87.9x
57	Minnesota West Community and Technical College Granite Falls, MN · Welding & Metalworking	65 64–65	$42,830/yr	65.1x
58	South Central College North Mankato, MN · Welding & Metalworking	66 63–67	$41,527/yr	85.2x
59	Central New Mexico Community College Albuquerque, NM · Welding & Metalworking	69 68–70	$42,162/yr	121.6x
60	San Jacinto Community College Pasadena, TX · Welding & Metalworking	72 70–73	$42,512/yr	211.4x
61	Moraine Park Technical College Fond du Lac, WI · Welding & Metalworking	68 66–69	$41,073/yr	109.4x
62	Northeast Wisconsin Technical College Green Bay, WI · Welding & Metalworking	68 66–69	$41,421/yr	110.9x
63	Northwood Technical College Rice Lake, WI · Welding & Metalworking	68 67–69	$42,282/yr	112.6x
64	Coastal Pines Technical College Waycross, GA · Welding & Metalworking	71 70–72	$43,040/yr	160.0x
65	Gwinnett Technical College Lawrenceville, GA · Welding & Metalworking	69 67–69	$40,124/yr	134.2x
66	Des Moines Area Community College Ankeny, IA · Welding & Metalworking	66 63–67	$39,397/yr	94.5x
67	Ferris State University Big Rapids, MI · Welding & Metalworking	58 56–60	$56,811/yr	29.4x
68	Central Lakes College-Brainerd Brainerd, MN · Welding & Metalworking	66 63–68	$40,671/yr	95.2x
69	Minneapolis Community and Technical College Minneapolis, MN · Welding & Metalworking	59 58–60	$44,635/yr	43.7x
70	Ozarks Technical Community College Springfield, MO · Welding & Metalworking	60 59–61	$40,696/yr	56.7x
71	Flathead Valley Community College Kalispell, MT · Welding & Metalworking	61 60–61	$43,711/yr	45.0x
72	Central Community College Grand Island, NE · Welding & Metalworking	63 61–64	$39,409/yr	75.2x
73	Central Piedmont Community College Charlotte, NC · Welding & Metalworking	66 63–67	$40,149/yr	91.4x
74	Davidson-Davie Community College Thomasville, NC · Welding & Metalworking	71 69–71	$39,990/yr	201.2x
75	Thaddeus Stevens College of Technology Lancaster, PA · Welding & Metalworking	59 58–60	$52,298/yr	33.4x
76	Chattanooga State Community College Chattanooga, TN · Welding & Metalworking	66 65–67	$39,664/yr	98.8x
77	Austin Community College District Austin, TX · Welding & Metalworking	70 68–71	$39,261/yr	194.0x
78	Lone Star College System The Woodlands, TX · Welding & Metalworking	70 68–70	$40,863/yr	101.3x
79	Brightpoint Community College Chester, VA · Welding & Metalworking	65 64–66	$39,273/yr	78.5x
80	Western Technical College La Crosse, WI · Welding & Metalworking	67 65–68	$40,624/yr	107.6x
81	Eastern Wyoming College Torrington, WY · Welding & Metalworking	60 59–61	$40,902/yr	46.7x
82	College of Western Idaho Nampa, ID · Welding & Metalworking	68 67–69	$39,310/yr	140.9x
83	College of Western Idaho Nampa, ID · Welding & Metalworking	63 61–64	$40,029/yr	70.1x
84	Georgia Northwestern Technical College Rome, GA · Welding & Metalworking	68 66–69	$38,002/yr	142.8x
85	Washburn Institute of Technology Topeka, KS · Welding & Metalworking	58 58–58	$39,720/yr	45.7x
86	Kennebec Valley Community College Fairfield, ME · Welding & Metalworking	67 66–68	$38,884/yr	108.2x
87	State Technical College of Missouri Linn, MO · Welding & Metalworking	58 57–59	$47,325/yr	35.7x
88	Northeast Community College Norfolk, NE · Welding & Metalworking	68 65–69	$38,353/yr	140.7x
89	Spartanburg Community College Spartanburg, SC · Welding & Metalworking	63 63–64	$38,147/yr	76.1x
90	Madison Area Technical College Madison, WI · Welding & Metalworking	66 63–67	$37,860/yr	108.4x
91	Gateway Technical College Kenosha, WI · Welding & Metalworking	65 64–66	$38,659/yr	93.2x
92	Mid-State Technical College Wisconsin Rapids, WI · Welding & Metalworking	66 63–67	$38,653/yr	98.8x
93	Oconee Fall Line Technical College Sandersville, GA · Welding & Metalworking	68 67–69	$38,673/yr	146.6x
94	George C Wallace Community College-Dothan Dothan, AL · Welding & Metalworking	63 62–64	$36,834/yr	73.9x
95	Lawson State Community College Birmingham, AL · Welding & Metalworking	62 61–63	$35,941/yr	71.2x
96	Northwest Florida State College Niceville, FL · Welding & Metalworking	67 65–67	$37,052/yr	113.1x
97	Lewis and Clark Community College Godfrey, IL · Welding & Metalworking	66 65–66	$37,195/yr	104.1x
98	Flint Hills Technical College Emporia, KS · Welding & Metalworking	60 59–61	$36,731/yr	58.3x
99	Kansas City Kansas Community College Kansas City, KS · Welding & Metalworking	67 65–68	$36,248/yr	152.9x
100	Washburn University Topeka, KS · Welding & Metalworking	57 57–58	$39,720/yr	43.5x
101	Ashland Community and Technical College Ashland, KY · Welding & Metalworking	65 62–66	$36,796/yr	102.1x
102	Southcentral Kentucky Community and Technical College Bowling Green, KY · Welding & Metalworking	59 58–59	$40,761/yr	42.8x
103	Maysville Community and Technical College Maysville, KY · Welding & Metalworking	63 62–64	$36,394/yr	73.8x
104	Northwest Mississippi Community College Senatobia, MS · Welding & Metalworking	65 64–66	$36,303/yr	98.2x
105	Metropolitan Community College-Kansas City Kansas City, MO · Welding & Metalworking	66 65–66	$36,908/yr	100.7x
106	Asheville-Buncombe Technical Community College Asheville, NC · Welding & Metalworking	67 66–68	$37,078/yr	127.7x
107	Guilford Technical Community College Jamestown, NC · Welding & Metalworking	68 67–69	$36,930/yr	158.2x
108	Linn-Benton Community College Albany, OR · Welding & Metalworking	57 56–58	$42,085/yr	40.3x
109	Welder Training and Testing Institute Allentown, PA · Welding & Metalworking	57 56–58	$47,528/yr	—
110	Lake Area Technical College Watertown, SD · Welding & Metalworking	57 56–58	$43,436/yr	38.0x
111	Central Virginia Community College Lynchburg, VA · Welding & Metalworking	63 62–64	$37,281/yr	73.6x
112	Patrick & Henry Community College Martinsville, VA · Welding & Metalworking	63 62–64	$37,030/yr	75.2x
113	Eastern Wyoming College Torrington, WY · Welding & Metalworking	67 63–68	$37,127/yr	131.8x
114	Emily Griffith Technical College Denver, CO · Welding & Metalworking	56 55–57	$44,943/yr	—
115	Front Range Community College Westminster, CO · Welding & Metalworking	64 60–65	$34,125/yr	117.1x
116	Lively Technical College Tallahassee, FL · Welding & Metalworking	57 55–57	$46,499/yr	—
117	West Kentucky Community and Technical College Paducah, KY · Welding & Metalworking	64 61–65	$35,603/yr	100.2x
118	Beal University Bangor, ME · Welding & Metalworking	56 54–57	$44,690/yr	—
119	East Mississippi Community College Scooba, MS · Welding & Metalworking	65 63–66	$35,345/yr	113.1x
120	Itawamba Community College Fulton, MS · Welding & Metalworking	65 63–65	$35,061/yr	101.5x
121	Ranken Technical College Saint Louis, MO · Welding & Metalworking	56 55–57	$45,004/yr	30.5x
122	Monroe Community College Rochester, NY · Welding & Metalworking	56 55–57	$40,155/yr	40.0x
123	Johnston Community College Smithfield, NC · Welding & Metalworking	66 64–66	$34,171/yr	127.6x
124	Hobart Institute of Welding Technology Troy, OH · Welding & Metalworking	56 55–57	$45,370/yr	—
125	Florence-Darlington Technical College Florence, SC · Welding & Metalworking	61 61–62	$34,948/yr	80.1x
126	Greenville Technical College Greenville, SC · Welding & Metalworking	62 58–63	$34,761/yr	84.5x
127	Piedmont Technical College Greenwood, SC · Welding & Metalworking	63 60–64	$34,928/yr	94.4x
128	Dallas College Dallas, TX · Welding & Metalworking	67 66–68	$35,102/yr	147.1x
129	Trinity Valley Community College Athens, TX · Welding & Metalworking	62 60–63	$35,123/yr	82.6x
130	Davis Technical College Kaysville, UT · Welding & Metalworking	56 55–57	$45,350/yr	—
131	Spokane Community College Spokane, WA · Welding & Metalworking	63 62–64	$35,309/yr	86.0x
132	Southwest Wisconsin Technical College Fennimore, WI · Welding & Metalworking	64 61–66	$35,167/yr	107.9x
133	Ogeechee Technical College Statesboro, GA · Welding & Metalworking	65 64–66	$35,416/yr	110.7x
134	Lancaster County Career and Technology Center Willow Street, PA · Welding & Metalworking	57 55–57	$46,331/yr	—
135	Lynnes Welding Training Fargo, ND · Welding & Metalworking	56 55–57	$45,833/yr	—
136	Texas State Technical College Waco, TX · Welding & Metalworking	58 57–59	$35,720/yr	60.0x
137	Lurleen B Wallace Community College Andalusia, AL · Welding & Metalworking	59 58–60	$32,714/yr	64.7x
138	Lincoln Land Community College Springfield, IL · Welding & Metalworking	63 62–63	$33,298/yr	58.6x
139	Delgado Community College New Orleans, LA · Welding & Metalworking	59 59–60	$32,636/yr	68.8x
140	Delta College University Center, MI · Welding & Metalworking	61 60–62	$34,112/yr	84.6x
141	Grand Rapids Community College Grand Rapids, MI · Welding & Metalworking	63 61–64	$34,042/yr	99.6x
142	Ozarks Technical Community College Springfield, MO · Welding & Metalworking	62 60–63	$32,817/yr	96.3x
143	Modern Welding School Schenectady, NY · Welding & Metalworking	55 54–56	$43,246/yr	—
144	SUNY College of Technology at Alfred Alfred, NY · Welding & Metalworking	54 53–56	$42,739/yr	29.9x
145	Butler Technology and Career Development Schools Monroe, OH · Welding & Metalworking	55 54–56	$42,625/yr	—
146	New Castle School of Trades New Castle, PA · Welding & Metalworking	55 54–56	$43,671/yr	—
147	Horry-Georgetown Technical College Conway, SC · Welding & Metalworking	60 59–61	$33,002/yr	72.9x
148	Tennessee College of Applied Technology-Murfreesboro Murfreesboro, TN · Welding & Metalworking	55 54–56	$42,688/yr	—
149	Tennessee College of Applied Technology-Jackson Jackson, TN · Welding & Metalworking	56 54–56	$43,864/yr	—
150	School of Automotive Machinists & Technology Houston, TX · Welding & Metalworking	55 54–56	$43,065/yr	—
151	Mountainland Technical College Lehi, UT · Welding & Metalworking	55 53–55	$42,032/yr	—
152	Advanced Welding Institute South Burlington, VT · Welding & Metalworking	55 53–56	$42,399/yr	—
153	Texas State Technical College Waco, TX · Welding & Metalworking	55 53–56	$39,234/yr	36.9x
154	Daytona State College Daytona Beach, FL · Welding & Metalworking	64 61–65	$31,448/yr	146.8x
155	Manatee Technical College Bradenton, FL · Welding & Metalworking	55 53–55	$41,602/yr	—
156	Pinellas Technical College-Clearwater Clearwater, FL · Welding & Metalworking	54 53–55	$40,795/yr	—
157	Augusta Technical College Augusta, GA · Welding & Metalworking	61 60–62	$32,352/yr	90.5x
158	Southwestern Illinois College Belleville, IL · Welding & Metalworking	62 60–64	$31,692/yr	114.2x
159	Meridian Community College Meridian, MS · Welding & Metalworking	63 60–64	$31,988/yr	116.9x
160	Montana State University Billings Billings, MT · Welding & Metalworking	55 55–56	$41,875/yr	30.2x
161	Richmond Community College Hamlet, NC · Welding & Metalworking	63 62–64	$31,268/yr	121.5x
162	Great Oaks Career Campuses Cincinnati, OH · Welding & Metalworking	54 53–55	$41,277/yr	—
163	Central Carolina Technical College Sumter, SC · Welding & Metalworking	57 56–57	$32,196/yr	55.3x
164	Tennessee College of Applied Technology-Shelbyville Shelbyville, TN · Welding & Metalworking	54 53–55	$40,605/yr	—
165	South Plains College Levelland, TX · Welding & Metalworking	65 62–65	$31,733/yr	163.9x
166	Advanced Technology Institute Virginia Beach, VA · Welding & Metalworking	56 56–56	$43,656/yr	25.4x
167	Perry Technical Institute Yakima, WA · Welding & Metalworking	54 53–55	$41,301/yr	—
168	Pennsylvania College of Technology Williamsport, PA · Welding & Metalworking	54 52–55	$50,402/yr	17.0x
169	George C Wallace State Community College-Selma Selma, AL · Welding & Metalworking	59 57–60	$31,092/yr	84.5x
170	Bishop State Community College Mobile, AL · Welding & Metalworking	56 55–57	$30,688/yr	54.9x
171	Alaska Vocational Technical Center Seward, AK · Welding & Metalworking	53 52–54	$38,973/yr	—
172	Lincoln Technical Institute-East Windsor East Windsor, CT · Welding & Metalworking	53 52–54	$39,408/yr	—
173	Lincoln Technical Institute-New Britain New Britain, CT · Welding & Metalworking	53 52–54	$39,408/yr	—
174	Orange Technical College-South Campus Orlando, FL · Welding & Metalworking	54 52–54	$39,539/yr	—
175	Olney Central College Olney, IL · Welding & Metalworking	58 57–59	$30,893/yr	69.4x
176	Lincoln College of Technology-Melrose Park Melrose Park, IL · Welding & Metalworking	53 52–54	$39,408/yr	—
177	Wichita State University-Campus of Applied Sciences and Technology Wichita, KS · Welding & Metalworking	56 53–58	$30,515/yr	69.0x
178	Southeast Kentucky Community & Technical College Cumberland, KY · Welding & Metalworking	57 56–58	$30,566/yr	64.6x
179	Lincoln College of Technology-Columbia Columbia, MD · Welding & Metalworking	53 52–54	$39,408/yr	—
180	Dunwoody College of Technology Minneapolis, MN · Welding & Metalworking	53 51–54	$44,559/yr	21.9x
181	Dunwoody College of Technology Minneapolis, MN · Welding & Metalworking	53 52–54	$55,188/yr	11.6x
182	Ohio Technical College Cleveland, OH · Welding & Metalworking	53 52–54	$38,861/yr	—
183	All-State Career School Essington, PA · Welding & Metalworking	53 51–53	$38,191/yr	—
184	Tennessee College of Applied Technology-Pulaski Pulaski, TN · Welding & Metalworking	53 51–53	$38,268/yr	—
185	Tennessee College of Applied Technology-Knoxville Knoxville, TN · Welding & Metalworking	53 52–54	$39,054/yr	—
186	Universal Technical Institute of Texas Inc. Houston, TX · Welding & Metalworking	53 52–54	$39,141/yr	—
187	Vernon College Vernon, TX · Welding & Metalworking	53 52–54	$32,206/yr	46.3x
188	Ogden-Weber Technical College Ogden, UT · Welding & Metalworking	54 52–54	$39,699/yr	—
189	Gordon Cooper Technology Center Shawnee, OK · Welding & Metalworking	53 52–54	$39,018/yr	—
190	Eastland-Fairfield Career and Technical Schools Groveport, OH · Welding & Metalworking	53 52–54	$39,328/yr	—
191	Warren County Career Center Lebanon, OH · Welding & Metalworking	53 51–53	$38,389/yr	—
192	Career and Technology Education Centers of Licking County Newark, OH · Welding & Metalworking	53 52–54	$38,709/yr	—
193	Marion Technical College Ocala, FL · Welding & Metalworking	53 52–54	$38,846/yr	—
194	Onondaga Cortland Madison BOCES Liverpool, NY · Welding & Metalworking	54 52–54	$39,730/yr	—
195	NTMA Training Centers of Southern California Santa Fe Springs, CA · Welding & Metalworking	53 51–53	$38,259/yr	—
196	Elite Welding Academy LLC Cincinnati, OH · Welding & Metalworking	53 52–54	$38,717/yr	—
197	Universal Technical Institute-Dallas Fort Worth Irving, TX · Welding & Metalworking	53 52–54	$39,141/yr	—
198	The Fab School Rancho Cucamonga, CA · Welding & Metalworking	54 52–54	$39,592/yr	—
199	Fortis College-Cuyahoga Falls Cuyahoga Falls, OH · Welding & Metalworking	54 53–54	$39,990/yr	27.4x
200	Universal Technical Institute-Bloomfield Bloomfield, NJ · Welding & Metalworking	53 52–54	$39,141/yr	—
201	Elite Welding Academy Houston, TX · Welding & Metalworking	53 52–54	$38,717/yr	—
202	Elite Welding Academy South Point South Point, OH · Welding & Metalworking	53 52–54	$38,717/yr	—
203	Universal Technical Institute-West Texas Austin, TX · Welding & Metalworking	53 52–54	$39,141/yr	—
204	Universal Technical Institute of Arizona Inc Avondale, AZ · Welding & Metalworking	52 51–53	$37,568/yr	—
205	Lincoln College of Technology-Denver Denver, CO · Welding & Metalworking	52 51–53	$37,249/yr	—
206	Lanier Technical College Gainesville, GA · Welding & Metalworking	61 57–62	$28,890/yr	120.8x
207	Lincoln College of Technology-Indianapolis Indianapolis, IN · Welding & Metalworking	52 51–53	$37,249/yr	—
208	Lincoln Technical Institute-South Plainfield South Plainfield, NJ · Welding & Metalworking	52 51–53	$37,249/yr	—
209	Laurel Technical Institute Hermitage, PA · Welding & Metalworking	55 55–56	$39,287/yr	25.9x
210	Western Dakota Technical College Rapid City, SD · Welding & Metalworking	51 50–52	$37,717/yr	27.9x
211	Tennessee College of Applied Technology-Morristown Morristown, TN · Welding & Metalworking	53 51–53	$38,096/yr	—
212	Lincoln College of Technology-Nashville Nashville, TN · Welding & Metalworking	52 51–53	$37,249/yr	—
213	Lincoln College of Technology-Grand Prairie Grand Prairie, TX · Welding & Metalworking	52 51–53	$37,249/yr	—
214	Paris Junior College Paris, TX · Welding & Metalworking	61 60–62	$28,729/yr	125.4x
215	Universal Technical Institute of Illinois Inc Lisle, IL · Welding & Metalworking	52 51–53	$37,568/yr	—
216	Erwin Technical College Tampa, FL · Welding & Metalworking	52 51–53	$37,492/yr	—
217	Summit College San Bernardino, CA · Welding & Metalworking	52 51–53	$37,502/yr	—
218	Lincoln Technical Institute-Mahwah Mahwah, NJ · Welding & Metalworking	52 51–53	$37,249/yr	—
219	Universal Technical Institute of California Inc Rancho Cucamonga, CA · Welding & Metalworking	52 51–53	$37,568/yr	—
220	NASCAR Technical Institute Mooresville, NC · Welding & Metalworking	52 51–53	$37,568/yr	—
221	Central Georgia Technical College Warner Robins, GA · Welding & Metalworking	60 59–61	$29,107/yr	102.4x
222	Universal Technical Institute-Southern California Long Beach, CA · Welding & Metalworking	52 51–53	$37,568/yr	—
223	Refrigeration School Inc Phoenix, AZ · Welding & Metalworking	51 50–52	$35,808/yr	—
224	Merced College Merced, CA · Welding & Metalworking	62 61–63	$27,541/yr	229.7x
225	Lake Land College Mattoon, IL · Welding & Metalworking	55 54–56	$27,808/yr	64.0x
226	Iowa Central Community College Fort Dodge, IA · Welding & Metalworking	56 51–58	$27,404/yr	81.0x
227	Manhattan Area Technical College Manhattan, KS · Welding & Metalworking	53 53–53	$34,077/yr	35.7x
228	North American Trade Schools Baltimore, MD · Welding & Metalworking	51 49–52	$35,239/yr	—
229	Ranken Technical College Saint Louis, MO · Welding & Metalworking	51 49–52	$43,922/yr	15.7x
230	New Mexico State University-Dona Ana Las Cruces, NM · Welding & Metalworking	58 53–60	$27,920/yr	108.6x
231	Southeast New Mexico College Carlsbad, NM · Welding & Metalworking	62 59–63	$27,920/yr	215.3x
232	New Mexico State University-Grants Grants, NM · Welding & Metalworking	59 54–60	$27,920/yr	118.1x
233	SUNY College of Technology at Delhi Delhi, NY · Welding & Metalworking	51 51–52	$39,059/yr	21.4x
234	Pittsburgh Technical College Oakdale, PA · Welding & Metalworking	51 49–52	$38,300/yr	26.2x
235	Tennessee College of Applied Technology-Athens Athens, TN · Welding & Metalworking	51 50–52	$35,913/yr	—
236	Tennessee College of Applied Technology-Hartsville Hartsville, TN · Welding & Metalworking	52 50–52	$36,283/yr	—
237	Tennessee College of Applied Technology-Crossville Crossville, TN · Welding & Metalworking	51 49–52	$35,288/yr	—
238	Houston Community College Houston, TX · Welding & Metalworking	62 60–63	$27,696/yr	190.2x
239	Texarkana College Texarkana, TX · Welding & Metalworking	62 59–63	$27,807/yr	183.3x
240	Wharton County Junior College Wharton, TX · Welding & Metalworking	62 58–63	$28,408/yr	150.9x
241	Institute of Technology Clovis, CA · Welding & Metalworking	51 49–52	$35,194/yr	—
242	Southwest Technical College Cedar City, UT · Welding & Metalworking	51 50–52	$35,838/yr	—
243	University of Arkansas-Pulaski Technical College North Little Rock, AR · Welding & Metalworking	52 51–53	$26,579/yr	53.8x
244	Florida Gateway College Lake City, FL · Welding & Metalworking	57 56–58	$26,950/yr	85.9x
245	Lake Technical College Eustis, FL · Welding & Metalworking	50 49–51	$33,687/yr	—
246	Tennessee College of Applied Technology-McKenzie McKenzie, TN · Welding & Metalworking	50 48–51	$33,649/yr	—
247	Tennessee College of Applied Technology-Memphis Memphis, TN · Welding & Metalworking	51 49–51	$34,750/yr	—
248	Tennessee College of Applied Technology Northwest Newbern, TN · Welding & Metalworking	51 49–51	$34,728/yr	—
249	Tennessee College of Applied Technology-McMinnville McMinnville, TN · Welding & Metalworking	50 48–50	$33,353/yr	—
250	Tennessee College of Applied Technology Nashville Nashville, TN · Welding & Metalworking	50 49–51	$34,295/yr	—
251	South Texas College McAllen, TX · Welding & Metalworking	51 51–52	$33,167/yr	32.7x
252	Aviation Institute of Maintenance-Atlanta Duluth, GA · Welding & Metalworking	50 49–50	$36,678/yr	22.8x
253	Arclabs Piedmont, SC · Welding & Metalworking	51 49–51	$34,843/yr	—
254	University of Arkansas at Monticello Monticello, AR · Welding & Metalworking	50 50–51	$31,083/yr	34.1x
255	Southern Arkansas University Tech Camden, AR · Welding & Metalworking	52 51–52	$26,001/yr	54.5x
256	CET-San Diego San Diego, CA · Welding & Metalworking	49 48–50	$32,817/yr	—
257	CET-San Jose San Jose, CA · Welding & Metalworking	49 48–50	$32,817/yr	—
258	CET-El Centro El Centro, CA · Welding & Metalworking	49 48–50	$32,817/yr	—
259	CET-Colton Colton, CA · Welding & Metalworking	49 48–50	$32,817/yr	—
260	CET-Watsonville Watsonville, CA · Welding & Metalworking	49 48–50	$32,817/yr	—
261	Pueblo Community College Pueblo, CO · Welding & Metalworking	55 50–57	$25,970/yr	82.4x
262	Ridge Technical College Winter Haven, FL · Welding & Metalworking	53 52–54	$25,228/yr	63.4x
263	Northshore Technical Community College Lacombe, LA · Welding & Metalworking	53 52–53	$25,818/yr	60.4x
264	Fortis Institute-Towson Towson, MD · Welding & Metalworking	49 47–49	$31,899/yr	—
265	Ohio Technical College Cleveland, OH · Welding & Metalworking	49 48–50	$32,154/yr	—
266	Tulsa Welding School-Tulsa Tulsa, OK · Welding & Metalworking	49 47–49	$31,821/yr	—
267	Tulsa Welding School-Tulsa Tulsa, OK · Welding & Metalworking	49 48–50	$32,321/yr	—
268	Pittsburgh Technical College Oakdale, PA · Welding & Metalworking	49 46–50	$39,573/yr	15.0x
269	Triangle Tech Inc-Greensburg Greensburg, PA · Welding & Metalworking	49 47–50	$40,225/yr	13.6x
270	Tennessee College of Applied Technology-Elizabethton Elizabethton, TN · Welding & Metalworking	50 48–50	$32,920/yr	—
271	Tennessee College of Applied Technology-Jacksboro Jacksboro, TN · Welding & Metalworking	50 48–50	$33,008/yr	—
272	Laredo College Laredo, TX · Welding & Metalworking	54 53–55	$24,836/yr	71.1x
273	NUC University Bayamon, PR · Welding & Metalworking	50 50–51	$30,278/yr	36.6x
274	CET-Oxnard Oxnard, CA · Welding & Metalworking	49 48–50	$32,817/yr	—
275	Polaris Career Center Middleburg Heights, OH · Welding & Metalworking	49 48–50	$32,228/yr	—
276	South Louisiana Community College Lafayette, LA · Welding & Metalworking	56 51–57	$25,471/yr	98.4x
277	East Valley Institute of Technology Mesa, AZ · Welding & Metalworking	50 48–50	$32,985/yr	—
278	Tulsa Welding School-Jacksonville Jacksonville, FL · Welding & Metalworking	49 47–49	$31,821/yr	—
279	Triangle Tech Inc-Bethlehem Bethlehem, PA · Welding & Metalworking	49 47–50	$40,225/yr	13.5x
280	Louisiana Delta Community College Monroe, LA · Welding & Metalworking	53 52–54	$26,069/yr	71.6x
281	Tulsa Welding School-Houston Houston, TX · Welding & Metalworking	49 47–49	$31,821/yr	—
282	Arkansas Welding Academy Jacksonville, AR · Welding & Metalworking	50 48–50	$33,187/yr	—
283	Hillsborough Community College Tampa, FL · Welding & Metalworking	56 55–57	$24,327/yr	96.1x
284	Tom P. Haney Technical College Panama City, FL · Welding & Metalworking	49 47–49	$31,480/yr	—
285	Iowa Western Community College Council Bluffs, IA · Welding & Metalworking	49 49–50	$27,761/yr	39.9x
286	Northwest Louisiana Technical Community College Minden, LA · Welding & Metalworking	53 49–55	$23,313/yr	83.3x
287	Apex Technical School Long Island City, NY · Welding & Metalworking	48 47–49	$30,807/yr	—
288	Johnson College Scranton, PA · Welding & Metalworking	49 48–50	$37,243/yr	17.0x
289	Tennessee College of Applied Technology-Harriman Harriman, TN · Welding & Metalworking	48 47–49	$30,924/yr	—
290	Tennessee College of Applied Technology-Hohenwald Hohenwald, TN · Welding & Metalworking	48 47–49	$30,997/yr	—
291	Tennessee College of Applied Technology-Crump Crump, TN · Welding & Metalworking	49 47–49	$31,731/yr	—
292	Tidewater Community College Norfolk, VA · Welding & Metalworking	50 46–52	$23,785/yr	73.0x
293	Olympic College Bremerton, WA · Welding & Metalworking	45 42–47	$23,548/yr	54.9x
294	ETI School of Skilled Trades Willowbrook, IL · Welding & Metalworking	48 47–49	$31,068/yr	—
295	South Texas College McAllen, TX · Welding & Metalworking	53 48–55	$24,265/yr	85.1x
296	Baton Rouge Community College Baton Rouge, LA · Welding & Metalworking	54 50–56	$24,025/yr	106.0x
297	Midwest Technical Institute-Illinois Springfield, IL · Welding & Metalworking	49 47–49	$31,630/yr	—
298	Southern Technical College Orlando, FL · Welding & Metalworking	48 47–49	$31,007/yr	—
299	Delta Technical College-Mississippi Horn Lake, MS · Welding & Metalworking	49 47–49	$31,630/yr	—
300	Advanced Career Institute Visalia, CA · Welding & Metalworking	48 47–49	$31,401/yr	—
301	M T Training Center Grand Prairie, TX · Welding & Metalworking	49 47–49	$31,420/yr	—
302	Midwest Technical Institute-Missouri Springfield, MO · Welding & Metalworking	49 47–49	$31,630/yr	—
303	Charter College Anchorage, AK · Welding & Metalworking	47 45–48	$32,204/yr	22.1x
304	Miller-Motte College-Arizona Automotive Institute Glendale, AZ · Welding & Metalworking	48 46–48	$30,105/yr	—
305	Cossatot Community College of the University of Arkansas De Queen, AR · Welding & Metalworking	53 49–55	$22,341/yr	112.4x
306	Hinds Community College Raymond, MS · Welding & Metalworking	53 49–55	$22,434/yr	92.8x
307	New Castle School of Trades New Castle, PA · Welding & Metalworking	47 46–48	$29,655/yr	—
308	Western Technical College El Paso, TX · Welding & Metalworking	47 45–48	$29,371/yr	—
309	Tidewater Tech-Trades Norfolk, VA · Welding & Metalworking	47 46–48	$32,269/yr	24.7x
310	Community Care College Tulsa, OK · Welding & Metalworking	47 46–48	$29,721/yr	—
311	Miller-Motte College-Chattanooga Chattanooga, TN · Welding & Metalworking	48 46–48	$30,105/yr	—
312	Fortis College-Cincinnati Cincinnati, OH · Welding & Metalworking	47 46–47	$31,899/yr	23.2x
313	Miller-Motte College-STVT-Corpus Christi Corpus Christi, TX · Welding & Metalworking	48 46–48	$30,105/yr	—
314	Miller-Motte College-STVT-San Antonio San Antonio, TX · Welding & Metalworking	48 46–48	$30,105/yr	—
315	Northeast Technology Center Pryor, OK · Welding & Metalworking	47 45–48	$29,365/yr	—
316	Oklahoma Technical College Tulsa, OK · Welding & Metalworking	47 46–48	$29,721/yr	—
317	Miller-Motte College-STVT-Arlington Arlington, TX · Welding & Metalworking	48 46–48	$30,105/yr	—
318	MIAT College of Technology Canton, MI · Welding & Metalworking	47 46–48	$33,636/yr	18.5x
319	Triangle Tech Inc-Dubois Falls Creek, PA · Welding & Metalworking	46 44–47	$36,352/yr	12.0x
320	Fortis College-Smyrna Smyrna, GA · Welding & Metalworking	46 46–47	$31,899/yr	22.2x
321	All-State Career-Baltimore Baltimore, MD · Welding & Metalworking	47 45–47	$28,893/yr	—
322	Greater Johnstown Career and Technology Center Johnstown, PA · Welding & Metalworking	46 44–46	$27,897/yr	—
323	All-State Career School-Pittsburgh West Mifflin, PA · Welding & Metalworking	47 45–47	$28,893/yr	—
324	Triangle Tech Inc-Sunbury Sunbury, PA · Welding & Metalworking	46 44–47	$36,352/yr	11.9x
325	Tulsa Technology Center Tulsa, OK · Welding & Metalworking	47 45–47	$28,983/yr	—
326	Reid State Technical College Evergreen, AL · Welding & Metalworking	46 46–47	$24,349/yr	38.9x
327	Hohokus School of Trade and Technical Sciences Paterson, NJ · Welding & Metalworking	45 43–45	$26,736/yr	—
328	New Mexico State University-Main Campus Las Cruces, NM · Welding & Metalworking	44 41–46	$27,920/yr	30.2x
329	Rosedale Technical College Pittsburgh, PA · Welding & Metalworking	46 45–47	$32,034/yr	18.2x
330	Virginia Western Community College Roanoke, VA · Welding & Metalworking	46 46–47	$22,788/yr	42.4x
331	Stautzenberger College-Maumee Maumee, OH · Welding & Metalworking	45 44–46	$30,807/yr	17.4x
332	Tennessee College of Applied Technology-Henry/Carroll Paris, TN · Welding & Metalworking	44 42–45	$25,713/yr	—
333	Southwest Texas Junior College Uvalde, TX · Welding & Metalworking	51 47–53	$16,469/yr	153.2x
334	Virginia Highlands Community College Abingdon, VA · Welding & Metalworking	46 45–46	$21,472/yr	43.2x
335	Colegio Mayor de Tecnologia Inc Arroyo, PR · Welding & Metalworking	44 43–45	$25,965/yr	—
336	Compass Career College Hammond, LA · Welding & Metalworking	44 42–45	$25,735/yr	—
337	Stautzenberger College-Rockford Career College Rockford, IL · Welding & Metalworking	45 44–46	$30,807/yr	17.4x
338	ETI Technical College Niles, OH · Welding & Metalworking	44 43–45	$27,290/yr	23.7x
339	Erie Institute of Technology Inc Erie, PA · Welding & Metalworking	42 39–44	$25,942/yr	26.0x
340	Southern Careers Institute-Austin Austin, TX · Welding & Metalworking	44 42–44	$25,077/yr	—
341	Kiamichi Technology Center-McAlester McAlester, OK · Welding & Metalworking	43 41–43	$24,017/yr	—
342	Southern Careers Institute-Corpus Christi Corpus Christi, TX · Welding & Metalworking	44 42–44	$25,077/yr	—
343	Southern Careers Institute-Pharr Pharr, TX · Welding & Metalworking	44 42–44	$25,077/yr	—
344	Southern Careers Institute-Harlingen Harlingen, TX · Welding & Metalworking	44 42–44	$25,077/yr	—
345	Southern Careers Institute-San Antonio San Antonio, TX · Welding & Metalworking	44 42–44	$25,077/yr	—
346	Southern Careers Institute-Waco Waco, TX · Welding & Metalworking	44 42–44	$25,077/yr	—
347	Withlacoochee Technical College Inverness, FL · Welding & Metalworking	42 41–43	$23,156/yr	—
348	Indian Capital Technology Center-Muskogee Muskogee, OK · Welding & Metalworking	42 41–43	$23,518/yr	—
349	Pinellas Technical College-St. Petersburg Saint Petersburg, FL · Welding & Metalworking	41 40–42	$21,958/yr	—
350	Moore Career College Baton Rouge, LA · Welding & Metalworking	42 40–42	$22,104/yr	—
351	MCI McAllen, TX · Welding & Metalworking	42 40–42	$22,029/yr	—
352	Tennessee College of Applied Technology-Livingston Livingston, TN · Welding & Metalworking	40 38–41	$18,706/yr	—
353	Academia Serrant Inc Ponce, PR · Welding & Metalworking	40 39–41	$19,157/yr	—
354	Mech-Tech College Caguas, PR · Welding & Metalworking	40 39–40	$27,093/yr	11.7x
355	Philadelphia Technician Training Philadelphia, PA · Welding & Metalworking	39 37–40	$15,982/yr	—

Programs by State

Top states by program availability. Click a state for the full in-state ranking.

State	Programs	Avg Earnings	Avg TSW Score
Texas	38	$32,330/yr	53
Tennessee	24	$34,660/yr	52
Pennsylvania	20	$37,319/yr	52
Florida	18	$33,578/yr	53
Minnesota	17	$48,384/yr	63
Wisconsin	15	$43,650/yr	62
Ohio	15	$37,091/yr	53
California	15	$35,159/yr	53
Kentucky	12	$43,012/yr	62
Georgia	12	$36,771/yr	58
Illinois	10	$33,137/yr	54
South Carolina	9	$37,854/yr	59
Oklahoma	9	$29,832/yr	49
Virginia	8	$32,194/yr	53
Louisiana	8	$25,646/yr	50

About This Ranking

What we ranked

Best Welding & Metalworking Schools ranks 355 programs across the United States by the TradeSchoolOutlook Score, which combines graduate earnings, return on investment, and job-market demand into a single 0-100 metric.

Data sources

Earnings figures come from the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard, which tracks graduate income one and five years after program completion. Job-market projections use Bureau of Labor Statistics 2024-2034 employment data.

How to read the table

Use the sort controls below the headline to re-rank by earnings, ROI, or other metrics. Click any school name for full earnings projections, three-scenario modeling, and detailed program data. Most students attend a school within driving distance — local rankings are usually more actionable than national.

Caveats & limitations

Rankings reflect what the data can measure: post-graduation earnings, debt levels, and broad labor-market trends. They cannot capture program quality nuances like instructor expertise, hands-on equipment access, or industry connections. Treat rankings as a starting point — visit schools and talk to current students before committing.

Methodology

Programs are ranked by TradeSchoolOutlook Score, which combines graduate earnings (Year 1 after graduation), job market size (BLS annual openings), and earnings-to-tuition multiple (projected earnings vs. program tuition).

Earnings data comes from the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, which reports actual median earnings of graduates — not self-reported surveys.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the best school for Welding & Metalworking?

Based on our TradeSchoolOutlook Score, Ferris State University ranks #1 for Welding & Metalworking with a score of 68/100 and graduate earnings of $68,852/yr.

How much do Welding & Metalworking graduates earn?

Across 355 schools, Welding & Metalworking graduates earn an average of $36,870/yr in their first year. The highest-earning program reports $68,852/yr.

Data: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard (earnings, debt), Bureau of Labor Statistics 2024–2034 (employment projections). Last updated 2025.