Welding Apprenticeship
Job prospects for certified welders are bright, with the industry poised for significant growth over the next decade and beyond. From pipe and aerospace welders to military support and underwater welders, there are plenty of opportunities to enter the welding industry and earn a great living.
If you are ready to enjoy a recession-proof, lucrative career in the welding industry, get the training and certification you need at the Utah Career Center.
Our industry-leading welder apprenticeship program has been developed over seven decades. Time-tested and expertly designed, our program is geared to teach apprentices everything they need to know to begin a long, successful careers as a certified welder.
Call 801-295-6198 or contact us online now to find out more about our welding apprenticeship program.
A call or an email can be the first step in starting a highly rewarding career as a welder. You can also check out our FAQs to find out more about the qualifications and requirements for our welding training program.
How Our Welder Apprenticeship and Training Program Works
The welder apprenticeship program at the Utah Career Center offers a well designed schedule of courses that blend classroom learning, lab training, and real-world experience. This multi-faceted approach provides journeymen-led instruction to gain the knowledge and skills apprentices must have to earn industry certifications.
Here is a look at what our welding apprenticeship program includes:
- Daytime instruction – approximately 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM
- Attend school 8-weeks a year – in one-week intervals throughout the year
- Small class sizes with individualized instruction
- On-the-job training
- Direct access to industry experts
- The ability to practice with the latest tools and equipment
- Competitive pay and benefits
- Traditional summer breaks
Some of the various things our pipefitter apprentices learn include:
- Basic chemistry and metallurgy
- Blueprint reading
- Applied and industrial mathematics
- Welding techniques
- Electricity theory
- Electrical troubleshooting techniques
- Measuring procedures
- Job safety requirement
- Interpreting sketches, 2Ddiagrams, and 3D diagrams
- Dimension calculations
At the Utah Career Center, our welding apprenticeship training is part of the plumbing and pipefitting apprenticeship. All plumbing apprentices are required to earn one industry specific welding certification. All pipefitter apprentices are required to earn three industry specific welding certifications.
Welder Compensation & Benefits
Salaries for welders depend on experience, employer, location, status as an employee and contractor.
The welding apprentices at the Utah Career Center start out making about 55% of the journeyman’s rate. Currently, our apprentices are earning $25.36/hour in wages, plus benefits.
With full training and the proper certifications, welders can command much higher wages. In general, certified welders can earn salaries starting around $50,000/year. With more experience, salaries typically increase.
Welder Career Opportunities & Job Prospects
Career options for trained welders abound, spanning several industries, including (but not limited to) the:
- Aerospace industry
- Automotive repair and manufacturing industries
- Construction industry
- Electrical power generation and distribution industries
- Industrial maintenance and repair industries
- Natural gas and pipeline industries
- Pulp, paper, and paperboard mills industries
- Railroad manufacturing industry
- Shipbuilding industry
Is a Welder Apprenticeship Right for Me?
The welding industry can provide the perfect job and exceptional earning opportunities for many—but it’s not for everyone. If you’re not sure about whether to pursue a career as a welder, ask yourself these questions:
- Am I attentive to detail?
- Do I have the aptitude to do job related math?
- Do I have good hand-eye coordination and manual dexterity?
- Am I willing and able to wear heavy protective gear to safely do my job?
- Can I work in extreme temperatures or adverse conditions?
- Can I or am I willing to learn how to safely operate various industrial equipment and tools, like grinders, metal finishers, torches, gauges, soldering irons, and more?
- Can I consistently follow and enforce essential job safety rules?
- Do I have appropriate people and communication skills?
If you answered “yes” to most of these questions, becoming a welder could the right choice for you!
Take the First Step Towards Becoming a Welder: Contact the Utah Career Center
To get answers about our welding apprenticeship and training program, simply contact the Utah Career Center. We are ready to share more information and help you enroll today.
Call 801-295-6198 or contact us online now to get started.
Since 1944, the Utah Career Center has offered exceptional training and apprenticeship programs for an array of industries. Jointly administered by UA Local 140 and the Utah Mechanical Contractors Association, our cutting-edge welding training programs have been uniquely developed to teach the latest techniques and best practices across an array of technologies, equipment, and tools. Our goal is to help our apprentices become certified welders who have the skills they need for success.
The Utah Career Center is open Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Stop by today to talk to us in person. Online applications are available all year, and no appointments are necessary!