Welding & Metalworking Schools in California
15 California schools offer Welding & Metalworking. Earnings in California are in line with the national average, so compare programs on commute, tuition, and fit rather than on statewide outcomes alone.
Welding & Metalworking Training in California: What You Need to Know
Local program supply
California has 15 schools offering Welding & Metalworking programs, concentrated in 6 cities including {'city': 'Rancho Cucamonga', 'city_slug': 'rancho-cucamonga', 'count': 2, 'avg_earn': 38580.0}, {'city': 'Santa Ana', 'city_slug': 'santa-ana', 'count': 1, 'avg_earn': 45864.0}, {'city': 'Santa Fe Springs', 'city_slug': 'santa-fe-springs', 'count': 1, 'avg_earn': 38259.0}. Most students attend within 60 miles of home — local choice matters more than national rankings.
Earnings vs. national
Welding & Metalworking graduates in California earn approximately $35,159/year on average, which is -5% below the national average for this trade. Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard.
California-specific licensing
Most skilled trades require a state-issued license or certification before you can work independently. Requirements vary substantially by state. Verify California-specific licensing through the relevant state board (Department of Labor, Contractors Board, or trade-specific licensing body). Apprenticeship hours often count toward licensure.
How California compares
Average TradeSchoolOutlook Score for Welding & Metalworking programs in California is 53/100. Cost of living, wage levels, and program supply all vary by state — see the school list below ranked by TradeSchoolOutlook Score, which combines earnings, debt, and job-market demand.
Welding & Metalworking Programs in California
All 15 California schools offering Welding & Metalworking, ranked by TradeSchoolOutlook Score. Click a school to see full earnings projections and program details.
| # | School | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Santa Ana College Santa Ana, CA |
74 |
| 2 | The Fab School Rancho Cucamonga, CA |
54 |
| 3 | NTMA Training Centers of Southern California Santa Fe Springs, CA |
53 |
| 4 | Universal Technical Institute of California Inc Rancho Cucamonga, CA |
52 |
| 5 | Universal Technical Institute-Southern California Long Beach, CA |
52 |
| 6 | Summit College San Bernardino, CA |
52 |
| 7 | Institute of Technology Clovis, CA |
51 |
| 8 | Merced College Merced, CA |
62 |
| 9 | CET-San Diego San Diego, CA |
49 |
| 10 | CET-San Jose San Jose, CA |
49 |
| 11 | CET-El Centro El Centro, CA |
49 |
| 12 | CET-Colton Colton, CA |
49 |
| 13 | CET-Watsonville Watsonville, CA |
49 |
| 14 | CET-Oxnard Oxnard, CA |
49 |
| 15 | Advanced Career Institute Visalia, CA |
48 |
Where Welding & Metalworking Programs Cluster in California
Cities with the most Welding & Metalworking programs — useful if you want to minimize commute or relocate within state.
| City | Schools | Avg Earnings |
|---|---|---|
| Rancho Cucamonga, CA | 2 | $38,580/yr |
| Santa Ana, CA | 1 | $45,864/yr |
| Santa Fe Springs, CA | 1 | $38,259/yr |
| Long Beach, CA | 1 | $37,568/yr |
| San Bernardino, CA | 1 | $37,502/yr |
| Clovis, CA | 1 | $35,194/yr |
Compare Welding & Metalworking in Other States
Considering a nearby state? Here's how California compares to others with strong Welding & Metalworking offerings.