Welding Classes in Alabama (Top Schools)

If you feel welding is the right career choice for you, start looking for the best schools.

Next up, we will provide a list of the top 23 welding schools in Alabama.

We will offer further advice and suggestions that might help.

Alabama Welder – Role and Duty

A welder handles metal, so the work is challenging.

This professional uses a variety of tools to fuse together pieces of metal.

Stick or MIG are two of the several welding processes needed.

This job might sound easy, but the welder must have series of abilities.

The 4 Main Duties of a Welder

  1. A welder needs to know all the details related to the task at hand before starting it.
  2. A welder should know everything they can about the materials used and choose the correct welding method as there are over 100 of them. Some of these include arc welding, shielded metal arc welding, and gas metal arc welding.
  3. Additionally, a welder should also be able to choose the correct equipment and devices to use. For instance, the chipping and cleaning of completed welds require certain tools.
  4. This professional should also know how to properly maintain the equipment they are using.

Reasons For Becoming a Welder in Alabama?

Welding is a fulfilling and valuable career.

Furthermore, the fruits of your work will be noticeable even after a long period of time.

This is the ideal job for people who like handwork, as welders use their hands to perform the tasks and work outdoors.

Welders construct hulls for buildings, bridges, and other similar imposing structures.

There are many job opportunities for welders.

The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics estimates a 6% increased demand for welders by 2024.

Consider Becoming a Welder If You Have These Skills:

  • Good use of the hands
  • Attention to detail
  • Endurance and strength
  • Technical expertise
  • Spatial-orientation awareness

Alabama Welder’s Salary

In Alabama, a welder makes around $39 170 a year, meaning $18,83 per hour.

This salary is a little lower than the overall average of $39 390 per year or $18.94 per hour.

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, in 2016, the top 10% of median pay national welders earn about $62,100 annually.

The Alabama welders of the same category earn about $55,170 per year.

Annual Salary Range:
$32K
$36K
$42K

Average Salary of Certified Welders in Alabama

City NameSalary
Birmingham$37,193
Montgomery$35,374
Mobile$36,595
Huntsville$37,398
Tuscaloosa$37,064
Dothan$34,901
Decatur$36,255
Auburn$35,440
Gadsden$36,979
Madison$37,398
* Salary information last updated 2024

Regional Salary

RegionEmployedAvg. Annual SalaryAvg. Hourly PayTop 10% Annual SalaryBottom 10% Annual Salary
Anniston-Oxford-Jacksonville, AL460$49,970$24.02$61,070$35,820
Auburn-Opelika, AL230$43,340$20.84$58,370$31,170
Birmingham-Hoover, AL2,250$48,960$23.54$65,310$36,060
Daphne-Fairhope-Foley, AL110$51,220$24.63$74,330$35,210
Decatur, AL500$51,850$24.93$77,300$35,210
Dothan, AL320$44,580$21.43$56,190$30,620
Florence-Muscle Shoals, AL220$40,510$19.48$58,110$25,910
Gadsden, AL160$43,820$21.07$51,280$30,510
Huntsville, AL1,290$47,390$22.79$62,950$36,820
Mobile, AL1,520$56,600$27.21$67,300$38,480
Montgomery, AL580$47,800$22.98$65,850$31,970
Tuscaloosa, AL380$48,320$23.23$63,620$33,950
* Salary information based on the May 2023 Occupational Employment Statistics (OES) Survey for Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and Brazers, OCC 51-4121, BLS.
* Employment conditions in your area may vary.

Alabama’s Certified Welders Job Options

There are several industries awaiting those with a certification for welding:

  • Constructions, such as buildings and bridges
  • Prefabricates
  • Field power plants and refineries for oil and gas
  • Aerospace
  • Making and repairing automobiles and motorcycles
  • Ship building

Alabama’s Best Welding Schools

We’re happy to help you find the best schools for welding in Alabama.

Our research brought us the top 23 schools that the American Welding Society’s SENSE Accreditation Program approved.

Every school presented here has very good programs, in which you’ll develop the needed skills.

The classes in these programs will teach you among others Gas Tungsten Arc Welding (TIG), Gas Metal Arc Welding (MIG) and Shielded Metal Arc Welding (Stick).

For most schools you’ll need a high school diploma or a GED, though a few of them accept 10th grade graduates as well.

There are no other special requirements for those who want to enroll.

Certified welders in search for a job will need the high school diploma along with technical and on-the-job training.

23 Welding Schools in Alabama

School NameAddress
Alabama Pipe Welders Academy715 Saint Emanuel St, Mobile, AL 36603 trained@alabamapip
Bevill State Community College (Fayette Campus)2651 Temple Avenue, Fayette, AL 35555, United States
Bevill State Community College (Hamilton Campus)P.O. Drawer 9, Hamilton, AL 35570, United States
Bevill State Community College (Sumiton Campus)P.O. Box 800, Sumiton, AL 35148, United States
Birmingham Ironworkers Training Program Trust2828 4th Avenue South, Birmingham, AL 35233, United States
Cleburne County Area Vocational School11200 HWY 46, Heflin, AL 36264, United States
Dallas County Area Vocational School1306 Roosevelt Ave, Selma, AL 36701, United States
Gadsden State Community CollegeP.O. Box 227, Gadsden, AL 35902, United States
Gadsden State Community College – East Broad1001 George Wallace Dr, Gadsden, AL 35903, United States
Gardendale High School800 Main Street,Room 402, Gardendale, AL 35071, United States
Jefferson County Board of EducationPinson Valley High School, 6895 HWY 75, Pinson, AL 35126, United States
Lawson State Community CollegeP.O. Box #308, Bessemer, AL 35021, United States
Lurleen B. Wallace Community CollegeP.O. Box 910, Opp, AL 36467, United States
Metalworking TechnologyMinor High School,2285 Minor Pkwy, Adamsville, AL 35005, United States
North Baldwin Center For Technology505 West Hurricane Road, Bay Minette, AL 36507, United States
Parker High School900 4TH ST N, Birmingham, AL 35204, United States
Phoenix City Board of Education2400 Dobbs Dr, Phoenix City, AL 36867, United States
Shades Valley Technical Academy (Dabs)5191 Pine Whispers Dr, Birmingham, AL 35210, United States
Southern Union State Community College1701 Lafayette Parkway Opelika, AL 36801 United States
Tuscaloosa Center for Technology1300 37 St East,Tuscaloosa, AL 35405, United States
Universal Technical Institute10695 W Pierce St, Avondale, AL 85323 United States
Walker County Center of Technology1100 Viking Dr, Jasper, AL 35501, United States
Wenonah High School2916 Wilson Road, Birmingham, AL 35211, United States

The listed schools could change their requirements or their programs, so it’s best to contact them ahead of time to learn the details.

Welders’ Safety Tips

Since welding is a dangerous occupation, it’s important to know how to stay safe.

These are some safety tips for any future professional:

  • Don’t ignore the instructions and recommendations. All tools have a user’s manual filled with valuable information meant to keep you safe.
  • Make sure every thing is of high quality. This includes protective gear as well, such as helmets, gloves, jacket, glasses, and so on, as you need to protect your skin too.
  • Don’t forget about the environment: keep your surroundings clean and tidy.

Conclusion

We hope we didn’t only offer some useful information, but also persuade you in becoming a professional welder.

Since this is an important decision to make, we hope you found here all the information you may need for your future career.

Good luck!

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