Welding Classes in Arizona (Top Schools)

Are you looking for a well paid position in Arizona?

Welding might be a good option, and so we prepared a list of the best training schools.

Not only you’ll learn where can you become a certified welder, but you’ll also learn some additional information to help you make a better decision.

What Is a Welder?

People who know how to use various tools and techniques to fuse pieces of metal together are called welders.

For some, this sounds easy, though plenty of knowledge and skill is needed for a good result.

Main Responsibilities

Here are some of the welder’s main responsibilities:

• Being able to read and understand a blueprint
• Being able to choose the correct and best method
• Knowing which tools are needed for the task, based on the chosen method
• Maintaining the welding tools and supplies

Main Welding Methods

There are several welding processes, but the next 6 are the ones most commonly used:

• Gas Metal Arc Welding (GMAW) or MIG Welding
• Shielded Metal Arc Welding (SMAW) or Stick Welding
• Tungsten Inert Gas Welding or TIG Welding
• Plasma Arc Welding
• Gas or Oxy-Acetylene Welding
• Flux-Cored Welding

Most training programs will teach these types of welding.

Where Can a Welder Find Employment?

Just like everywhere else, there are a variety of employment options waiting for you once you get your certification.

These are the most popular fields waiting for welders:

• Construction sites, such as for buildings and bridges
• Shipbuilding sites
• Vehicle fabrication and repair
• Aerospace industry
• Manufacturing
• Gas and oil field power plants and refineries

Salary for a Welder in Arizona

The average salary for a welder in Arizona is $39,138 per year, while the national median salary is $39,533 per year.

A welder in Arizona earns slightly less than most welders in US.

The top 10% of welders in Arizona earn $44,963 per year, against the $45,418 that the top 10% of welders on a national level earn.

Regional Salary

Duration of Training

Welders can’t practice without the certification from the American Welding Society (AWS).

This means your training has to be done at a school that received accreditation from AWS.

The training classes are made of theoretical and practice parts.

At the end of the training period, the future welder must pass a test in which they must prove their welding proficiency.

The test usually happens at the school where the training took place, though sometimes the location may be changed.

While various programs last for a different period of time, none of them surpass 2 years.

Reasons to Become a Welder in Arizona

Most people have personal reasons to choose a career over another, but the next 3 seem to be invoked by most:

• The US Bureau of Labor Statistics noticed the job market for welders started to grow since 2016 and foresees it will continue to grow at least until 2026.
• It can be a fulfilling job as the results of the work will last for many years.
• There are many fields in which a welder’ skills are needed.

Where Do I Train as a Welder in Arizona?

Below we prepared a list of schools that offer certifications for welders.

Most of these schools have similar enrollment requirements, however it’s best to call and inquire them for specifics.

Generally speaking, future welders are expected to have finished at least their high school education or have a GED.

The cases in which 11th graders are accepted for enrollment are rare.

Conclusion

It’s easy to see there are many welding training schools in Arizona.

Don’t delay and sign up for a class, so that you can start your career as a welder as soon as possible!

Welding Schools by City

• Phoenix and Mesa4 Schools
• Tucson1 Schools

This page is also available in Spanish.