Welding Classes in Minnesota (Top Schools)

Becoming a professional welder can be fulfilling.

Read on in order to find out more about this profession and what it entails. 

We will also provide you information on schools where you can get trained. 

Job Responsibilities in Minnesota

A welder needs to have some specific skills. 

The job requires the melting and heating of metals in order to fuse them. 

Most Important Job Duties

There are duties you will be performing on a day to day basis:

  • Reading and comprehending some guidelines, sketches, and blueprints
  • All the guidelines should be adhered to
  • Pick the right welding technique out of the 100 by analyzing the materials at hand.
  • The most common techniques include shielded metal arc welding, tungsten arc welding, and gas metal arc welding.
  • Decide on the instruments to use based on the chosen technique.
  • Preserve the gear and instruments in order for them to be used.
  • You will be working with both manual and electric tools, which need to be combined at times to achieve the desired result. 

Why You Should Work in Minnesota

A welder’s work can be viewed even after years have passed.

You will get to work on important projects like building bridges and other structures,

You will work outdoors and use your hands to complete the tasks. 

By 2024, jobs in welding will see a 6% increase, as reported by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Skills required in welding:

  • A keen eye to detail;
  • Technical strengths;
  • Physical force and endurance;
  • Good with handiwork;
  • Spatial-orientation awareness.

Median Salary in Minnesota

In Minnesota, the average wage for a welder is $40,324 a year, compared to $39,533 yearly in other US areas.

The top 10% best-paid welders in Minnesota make $46,326 per year, higher than in other US regions where the salary is $45,418 yearly.

Annual Salary Range:
$35K
$40K
$46K

Average Salary of Certified Welders in Minnesota

City NameSalary
Minneapolis$42,103
St. Paul$42,103
Duluth$37,418
Rochester$38,209
St. Cloud$36,592
Lakeville$41,842
Eden Prairie$42,032
Burnsville$41,984
Minnetonka$42,103
Moorhead$36,932
* Salary information last updated 2024

Regional Salary

RegionEmployedAvg. Annual SalaryAvg. Hourly PayTop 10% Annual SalaryBottom 10% Annual Salary
Duluth, MN-WI470$56,220$27.03$71,780$41,240
Mankato-North Mankato, MN240$47,130$22.66$56,260$38,370
Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI5,600$54,960$26.43$69,750$41,030
Rochester, MN520$50,160$24.12$61,520$39,220
St. Cloud, MN590$54,040$25.98$64,290$40,790
* Salary information based on the May 2022 Occupational Employment Statistics (OES) Survey for Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and Brazers, OCC 51-4121, BLS.
* Employment conditions in your area may vary.

Where can I find a job in Minnesota?

You will find plenty of options in Minnesota.

Some of the industries include:

  • Building structures, such as bridges
  • Manufacturing
  • Aerospace applications
  • Gas & oil field power plants and refineries
  • Shipbuilding or Constructing boats
  • Car & motorbike fabrication and maintenance

Best Welding Schools in Minnesota

The American Welding Society’s SENSE Accreditation Program accepted 13 schools in this state. 

Required classes like Gas Tungsten Arc Welding (TIG), Shielded Metal Arc Welding (stick), and Gas Metal Arc Welding (MIG) are offered by each school.

These courses will teach you the basics of welding.

You will also need to present your GED or high school diploma to attend the school you choose. 

Some schools accept 10th-grade students, however, this is not the norm.

13 Welding Schools in Minnesota

School NameAddress
Anoka-Hennepin Secondary Technical Education Program1353 West Highway 10, Anoka, MN 55303 United States
Central Lakes College501 W College Dr, Brainerd, MN 56401 United States
Dakota County Tech College1300 145th St E, Rosemount, MN 55068 United States
Hennepin Technical College – Brooklyn9000 Brooklyn Blvd, Brooklyn Park, MN 55445 United States
Independent School District #728815 Highway 10 Elk River, MN 55330 United States
Mesabi Range Community & Technical College1100 Industrial Park Drive, P.O. Box 648, Eveleth, MN 55734 United States
Minnesota Correctional Facility – Stillwater970 Pickett Street North, Bayport, MN 55003 United States
Northland Community And Technical College – Thief River Falls Campus1101 Highway 1 E, Thief River Falls, MN 56701 United States
Northwest Technical College – Grand Fork CampusEast Grand Forks, 2022 Central Ave NE, East Grand Fork, MN 56721 United States
Northwest Technical College – Moorhead Campus1900 28th Ave S, Moorhead, MN 56560 United States
Riverland Community College2200 Riverland Dr, Albert Lea, MN 56007 United States
South Central Tech College125 SW 3rd St, Faribault MN, 55021 United States
St. Cloud Technical & Community College1540 Northway Drive, St. Cloud, MN 56303 United States

To ensure the data is still accurate, you should doublecheck it.

Other job opportunities in Minnesota

You may also want to look into:

  • Making boilers
  • Plumbing, Pipe-fitting, and Steamfitting
  • Sheet Metal Work

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