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
- A welder needs to know all the details related to the task at hand before starting it.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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:Average Salary of Certified Welders in Alabama
| City Name | Salary |
|---|---|
| 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 |
Regional Salary
| Region | Employed | Avg. Annual Salary | Avg. Hourly Pay | Top 10% Annual Salary | Bottom 10% Annual Salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Anniston-Oxford-Jacksonville, AL | 390 | $49,760 | $23.92 | $59,360 | $33,510 |
| Auburn-Opelika, AL | 160 | $41,740 | $20.07 | $60,510 | $28,650 |
| Birmingham-Hoover, AL | 1,970 | $46,700 | $22.45 | $62,490 | $32,390 |
| Daphne-Fairhope-Foley, AL | 130 | $43,500 | $20.91 | $60,790 | $22,990 |
| Decatur, AL | 370 | $45,480 | $21.86 | $62,860 | $29,980 |
| Dothan, AL | 330 | $42,290 | $20.33 | $55,500 | $31,730 |
| Florence-Muscle Shoals, AL | 210 | $37,550 | $18.05 | $49,960 | $24,530 |
| Gadsden, AL | 130 | $41,890 | $20.14 | $57,650 | $24,110 |
| Huntsville, AL | 740 | $46,690 | $22.45 | $62,470 | $32,640 |
| Mobile, AL | 1,360 | $54,030 | $25.98 | $63,700 | $37,920 |
| Montgomery, AL | 610 | $47,710 | $22.94 | $63,970 | $31,230 |
| Tuscaloosa, AL | 320 | $49,160 | $23.64 | $63,970 | $35,050 |
* 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 Name | Address |
|---|---|
| Alabama Pipe Welders Academy | 715 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 Trust | 2828 4th Avenue South, Birmingham, AL 35233, United States |
| Cleburne County Area Vocational School | 11200 HWY 46, Heflin, AL 36264, United States |
| Dallas County Area Vocational School | 1306 Roosevelt Ave, Selma, AL 36701, United States |
| Gadsden State Community College | P.O. Box 227, Gadsden, AL 35902, United States |
| Gadsden State Community College – East Broad | 1001 George Wallace Dr, Gadsden, AL 35903, United States |
| Gardendale High School | 800 Main Street,Room 402, Gardendale, AL 35071, United States |
| Jefferson County Board of Education | Pinson Valley High School, 6895 HWY 75, Pinson, AL 35126, United States |
| Lawson State Community College | P.O. Box #308, Bessemer, AL 35021, United States |
| Lurleen B. Wallace Community College | P.O. Box 910, Opp, AL 36467, United States |
| Metalworking Technology | Minor High School,2285 Minor Pkwy, Adamsville, AL 35005, United States |
| North Baldwin Center For Technology | 505 West Hurricane Road, Bay Minette, AL 36507, United States |
| Parker High School | 900 4TH ST N, Birmingham, AL 35204, United States |
| Phoenix City Board of Education | 2400 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 College | 1701 Lafayette Parkway Opelika, AL 36801 United States |
| Tuscaloosa Center for Technology | 1300 37 St East,Tuscaloosa, AL 35405, United States |
| Universal Technical Institute | 10695 W Pierce St, Avondale, AL 85323 United States |
| Walker County Center of Technology | 1100 Viking Dr, Jasper, AL 35501, United States |
| Wenonah High School | 2916 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!
Welding Schools by City
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