How to Become a Welder in California

Welders join and cut metal for buildings, bridges, ships, pipelines, vehicles and factory equipment. California employs more than 28,000 of them and pays above the national median, with the highest wages around the Bay Area and San Diego. You don’t need a state license to weld in California, but you do need to prove you can weld, and that’s where certifications come in.

Certifications that get you hired

• AWS certifications: the American Welding Society’s Certified Welder program tests you on a specific process, position and material at an AWS Accredited Test Facility. Structural certifications to AWS D1.1 are among the most requested. Many California community colleges are test facilities, so you can certify where you train.
• LADBS welder certification: structural welding inside the City of Los Angeles calls for a certification from the Los Angeles Department of Building and Safety, earned through a written exam and a hands-on test. Some colleges, such as College of the Canyons, are approved LADBS testing agencies.
• Employer and code tests: pipe, pressure vessel and aerospace work often require passing an employer’s weld test to a specific code.

Certifications are tied to the process and position you tested in, and most must be kept current, so plan to test regularly as you add skills.

Where to train in California

• Community college welding programs: dozens of California community colleges offer welding certificates and degrees, often at low cost. Look for programs that include AWS certification testing.
• Union apprenticeships: ironworkers, boilermakers and pipe trades unions run registered apprenticeships that include welding and pay you while you learn.
• Private welding schools: usually faster and more expensive. Compare cost, certification testing and job placement before you sign up.

New openings are posted every week on our California apprenticeship openings tracker.

When you compare programs, ask how many hours you’ll spend under the hood, which certifications you’ll test for, and where recent graduates got hired.

What welders earn in California

California welders earned a median of $58,060 in May 2025, compared with $53,750 nationally. Pay varies a lot by region.

Area	Median pay (May 2025)	Hourly
San Francisco–Oakland–Fremont	$64,320	$30.93
San Jose–Sunnyvale–Santa Clara	$64,140	$30.84
Vallejo	$63,860	$30.70
San Diego–Chula Vista–Carlsbad	$62,560	$30.08
Bakersfield–Delano	$57,360	$27.58
Sacramento–Roseville–Folsom	$57,290	$27.55
Los Angeles–Long Beach–Anaheim	$56,160	$27.00
Riverside–San Bernardino–Ontario	$52,050	$25.02
Fresno	$50,550	$24.30
California overall	$58,060	$27.91
United States	$53,750	$25.84

Welding jobs in California are projected to grow about 3% from 2024 to 2034, but the state still expects about 2,890 openings a year as experienced welders retire or move on. Welders who add specialized skills, such as pipe or structural certifications, can move into the higher-paying jobs at the top of the range.

Steps to become a welder in California

Frequently asked questions

Do welders need a license in California?

No state license is required, but employers expect certifications such as AWS, and structural welding in Los Angeles calls for an LADBS certification.

How much do welders make in California?

The median was $58,060 a year in May 2025, and about $64,000 in the San Francisco and San Jose areas.

How do I get hired fast as a welder?

Get AWS certified in the processes local employers use, pass their weld test, and bring a great attitude.

Sources

• American Welding Society: Certification
• College of the Canyons: LADBS welder certification
• BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook: Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and Brazers
• O*NET OnLine: Welder wages and outlook in California (BLS OEWS May 2025)

Related: How to Become a Welder · Welder in Washington · All California guides