Welding Schools in South Carolina

Welders are professionals trained to utilize heat to join metals and fabricate new materials. Naturally, this is an oversimplification as the typical duties of a welder tend to include so much more, requiring a comprehensive understanding of engineering instructions, calibrating machinery, and managing resources.

For their efforts, welders in South Carolina enjoy an impressive salary, consistent demand for their expertise, and significant opportunities for growth.

The journey to starting a career in the field is also quite straightforward for aspiring welders in the state. Firstly, candidates must understand the different welding types and enroll in a training institution.

Subsequently, they will also have to fulfill the licensure requirements to start getting contracts or seeking employment from notable companies in the area.

How to Become a Welder in South Carolina

The following are the key steps required to become a welder in South Carolina.

Preparatory Steps

The first requirement to fulfill on any journey to become a welder in South Carolina is to ensure that candidates meet the basic requirements. This includes being at least 18 and having a high school diploma or GED ready.

Another important preparatory step is ensuring candidates are familiar with their possible areas of specialization right from the start. Ultimately, they will have to choose one or more of these areas in the beginning or throughout their careers.

Knowing what they are from the start will greatly help candidates. Among the most common areas of specialization in welding are MIG welding, TIG welding, and oxy-acetylene welding.

Educational Requirements

The first major step in starting a welder career in South Carolina is to apply for technical training.

Some of the best destinations for such training are arranged as apprenticeship programs. Academic programs also offer comprehensive training in welding technology.

Trade unions and professional organizations run some of the best welding apprenticeships, while community colleges and technical institutes offer strong academic training.

Apprenticeship programs produce new batches of successful graduates every year, with a training time ranging between 2 - 4 years to complete. Academic programs last 6 months - 2 years, depending on whether it’s a certificate or associate degree program.

Explore Trades with Similar Paths:

• Become a carpenter in South Carolina

Licensure & Certification Requirements

In South Carolina, welders do not need a state license to perform their duties and get paid for it legally. However, candidates may pursue a contractor license, particularly if they work on very large contracts.

As for certification, candidates are not expected to become certified either. However, because certification offers many professional benefits ranging from career opportunities to continuing education, many welders in the state do possess professional certification.

Typically, welders in South Carolina looking to become certified often consider the Certified Welder credential the American Welding Society offers. The AWS also offers other certification options, including the Certified Welding Educator credential.

Top Welding Schools in South Carolina

Below are some of the most prominent welding training programs in South Carolina.

Explore Welding Schools in South Carolina by City:

• Welding Schools in Charleston

Salary & Career Outlook

Fresh welders in South Carolina will be glad to know that the state remains among some of the highest-paying welders in the country. Here, those among the average earners take home an annual salary of around $46,004.

Those among the top 10% make as high as $64,961 at the end of every year on average, while those among the bottom 10% take home an annual average salary of $32,579 for their efforts.

Some factors that influence whether a welder in South Carolina will fall among the top, middle, or bottom earners include experience, location, company of employment, and professional credentials.

Concerning the best places to work as a welder in South Carolina, they include North Charleston, with an annual average salary of $63,330; Charleston, with an annual average salary of $56,495; Summerville, with an annual average salary of $52,423; Taylors, with an annual average salary of $46,880; and Greenville, with an annual average salary of $44,649.