Do you want to work in welding in Georgia?
Then, you will need to get into a welding school first.
Read below for information about welding along with a list of the top schools in the state.
Job Opportunities in Georgia
According to The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, welding will increase by 6% during the next 7 years. This makes it a promising career option.
About 22,500 jobs will open between 2016 to 2026.
The Median Wage in Georgia
A welder makes about $38,150 yearly, which is slightly lower than the country’s average wage ($39,533 a year).
The top 10% welders earn $43,828 a year in Georgia and $45,418 a year in other US regions.
Annual Salary Range:Average Salary of Certified Welders in Georgia
| City Name | Salary |
|---|---|
| Atlanta | $38,936 |
| Augusta | $36,560 |
| Columbus | $35,717 |
| Savannah | $36,955 |
| Athens | $38,659 |
| Macon | $36,722 |
| Roswell | $38,789 |
| Albany | $36,340 |
| Marietta | $38,825 |
| Warner Robins | $36,611 |
Regional Salary
| Region | Employed | Avg. Annual Salary | Avg. Hourly Pay | Top 10% Annual Salary | Bottom 10% Annual Salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Albany, GA | 140 | $43,420 | $20.88 | $63,770 | $29,920 |
| Athens-Clarke County, GA | 500 | $43,690 | $21 | $51,690 | $33,730 |
| Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA | 5,890 | $47,810 | $22.99 | $62,790 | $34,340 |
| Augusta-Richmond County, GA-SC | 740 | $45,740 | $21.99 | $70,910 | $26,870 |
| Brunswick, GA | 90 | $47,100 | $22.64 | $64,110 | $31,120 |
| Columbus, GA-AL | 280 | $41,120 | $19.77 | $54,980 | $29,710 |
| Dalton, GA | 200 | $41,870 | $20.13 | $55,120 | $29,850 |
| Gainesville, GA | 790 | $42,770 | $20.56 | $51,160 | $37,670 |
| Macon, GA | 160 | $46,230 | $22.22 | $59,420 | $35,360 |
| Rome, GA | 260 | $39,140 | $18.82 | $49,030 | $26,670 |
| Savannah, GA | 530 | $50,180 | $24.13 | $67,640 | $35,130 |
| Valdosta, GA | 150 | $42,720 | $20.54 | $53,290 | $31,930 |
| Warner Robins, GA | 190 | $44,650 | $21.47 | $57,780 | $30,110 |
* Employment conditions in your area may vary.
Where Can You Get Hired in Georgia?
After receiving your accreditation, you can find work in a variety of fields.
You can get easily hired in the car and motorcycle fabrication and repair industry, as these ones really do need welders.
Other choices include construction, aerospace applications, and shipbuilding.
Welder’s Responsibilities in Georgia
A welder has some specific job duties.
You will join various metals together using some instruments.
While it seems easy, there are some required skills a welder needs to have.
These skills are particularly important for a welder:
- Knowing how to read sketches and blueprints and follow instructions to a T.
- Knowing which welding method is appropriate to use after analyzing the materials on hand.
- Selecting the correct tools for the chosen method.
- Being able to correctly combine welding tools and methods.
- Not forgetting to perform proper maintenance on the tools used so that these will continue to perform according to the standards.
Reasons for Becoming a Welder
The outlook for these professionals is number one reason to start your training as a welder.
Here are several other reasons to consider a new career:
- Your work will have a big impact on the surroundings as it’s meant to last for a very long time.
- There are several industries in which a welder’ skills are needed, and this makes the job more exciting.
- It allows you to make plenty of use of your hands while helping you develop skills that could be useful elsewhere as well.
Skills needed by a welder:
- Having technical skills
- Paying attention to details
- Physical strength and stamina
- Having dexterity
- Spatial-orientation skills
Getting Trained as a Welder
Below you can find Georgia’s accredited welding schools and centers.
The accreditation is from the American Welding Society’s SENSE Accreditation Program.
Generally only those who completed high school or got a GED can enroll in these schools.
Rarely, those in the 11th grade are also accepted.
15 Welding Schools in Georgia
| School Name | Address |
|---|---|
| Berrien County High School | 500 East Smith Ave. Nashville, GA 31639 United States |
| Brunswick College | 3700 Altama Ave. Brunswich GA 31520 United States |
| Brunswick High School | 3920 Habersham St. Brunswich, GA 31520 United States |
| Central Georgia Technical | 3300 Macon Tech Dr. Macon, GA 31206 United States |
| Floyd County Schools College And Career Academy | 100 Tom Poe Dr. Rome, GA 30161 United States |
| Lamar County Comprehensive | 1 Trojan Way Barnesville, GA 30204 United States |
| Lanier Technical College | 2990 Landrum Education Dr. Oakwood, GA 30566 United States |
| North Georgia Technical College | 1500 HWY 197 N. Clarkesville GA 30523 United States |
| Polk County College And Career Academy | 167 Frank Lott Dr. Cedartown, GA 30125 United States |
| Putnam County High School | 300 War Eagle Drive Eatonton, GA 31024 United States |
| Savannah Technical College | 5717 White Bluff Rd. Savannah, GA 31405 United States |
| Southeastern Technical College - Vidalia | 3001 E 1st St. Vidalia, GA 30474 United States |
| Thomasville High School | 315 S Hansell St. Thomasville, GA 31792 United States |
| Thrall Car Manufacturing | 190 Old Grassdale Rd. N.E. Cartersville, GA 30121 United States |
| Turner Job Corps Center | 2000 Chilling Ave. albany, GA 31705 United States |
You might want to re-check the information in the table, as it could change at times.
Short Guide to Becoming a Welder in Georgia
The steps to become a welder in Georgia are simple.
This is a brief guide on how to start your welding career:
- The first step is to get your high school diploma or GED.
- Call the school to learn if they accept 11th grade students as well.
- Search for a good training program that will help you develop all the skills needed to pass the test.
- Prepare for the examination organized by the American Welding Society.
- Start searching for a job once you get your certification.
- Some schools can help with finding a position, so ask yours about it too.
- You might have to renew your welding certification, so don’t forget to do so.
- Aim for a higher salary by improving your skills through training.
- You could become a welding inspector or an underwater welder, for instance.
How Long Will the Training Last?
It’s difficult to give a definite answer to this question because the duration is based on the program.
Additionally, each school designed a bit of a different program.
What’s certain is that so far none of these programs lasts more than 2 years.
Final Words
We hope you found this article helpful and are able to find the appropriate training school and program for you.
It’s now up to you to enroll and start a new career!
Welding Schools by City
This page is also available in Spanish.
