Manufacturing & fabrication
Welder and fabricator
Join and cut metal parts while interpreting specifications and checking the quality of the work.
BLS · May 2025
EDUCATION & ENTRY
Certificate, associate or employer training
Welding programs differ in processes, practice hours and fabrication content. Employer skill tests and certifications can be separate from a college award. Ask which processes are used by local employers.
The state’s typical entry education classification is “High school diploma or equivalent.” This describes the occupation broadly; employers, programs and licensing bodies set specific requirements.
CONNECT THE CAREER TO A PLACE TO LEARN
Oregon training options
These are related routes to investigate. Confirm the full preparation, current admissions and eligibility for your intended role with the provider.
Portland Community College
Welding Technology
Build welding and fabrication skills.
Ask: Which location, shift and required equipment match this particular award?
Program page reviewed September 15, 2026
Portland Community College
Wire and TIG Welding
A focused career pathway certificate in welding.
Ask: Does this certificate build into a longer award, and which certifications are separate?
Program page reviewed September 15, 2026
Chemeketa Community College
Welding Fabrication
Combine fabrication, measurement and welding processes.
Ask: What are the entry assessment, cohort dates and program equipment costs?
Program page reviewed September 15, 2026
Rogue Community College
Industrial Welding Technology
Learn fabrication and welding with steel, stainless steel and aluminum in the Rogue Valley.
Ask: Which Redwood or Table Rock lab schedule can I attend, and what tools and protective clothing are required?
Program page reviewed September 15, 2026
Umpqua Community College
Welding Certificate
A shorter welding credential for people exploring fabrication and metalworking in Douglas County.
Ask: Can these courses apply toward the welding AAS, and what equipment should I budget for?
Program page reviewed September 15, 2026
Klamath Community College
Welding Certificate
Build welding skills through a one-year certificate in the Klamath Basin.
Ask: Which certificate sequence fits my goal, and how does it differ from the two-term certification options?
Program page reviewed September 15, 2026
Blue Mountain Community College
Welding Certificate
A welding certificate option for people considering metalworking in Eastern Oregon.
Ask: Where would I attend welding labs, and what are the required tools and protective clothing?
Program page reviewed September 15, 2026
Treasure Valley Community College
Industrial Welding Technology
Build welding, blueprint-reading and fabrication skills through an AAS in the Treasure Valley.
Ask: Would the AAS or one-year certificate better fit my goal, and which costs and certifications are separate?
Program page reviewed September 15, 2026
Clatsop Community College
Welding & Fabrication
Practice welding processes, fabrication and safe shop work for manufacturing and construction settings.
Ask: Which welding processes and practical assessments are included in the AAS, and which certifications are separate?
Program page reviewed September 15, 2026
Clackamas Community College
Welding Technology
Practice welding processes, fabrication and safe shop work for manufacturing and construction settings.
Ask: What does the transfer pathway cover, and which credits or certifications would I still need?
Program page reviewed September 15, 2026
Tillamook Bay Community College
Welding Technology
Practice stick, MIG and TIG welding, oxy-acetylene and plasma cutting. The curriculum also uses mathematics and 2-D CAD in applied projects.
Ask: Which preparation, timetable and complete budget apply to my Welding Technology plan?
Program page reviewed September 15, 2026
Southwestern Oregon Community College
Welding
The provider lists an applied welding degree alongside shorter welding and pipe-fitting certificates. Choose the AAS course map to compare broader fabrication training with a shorter entry credential.
Ask: Which preparation, timetable and complete budget apply to my Welding plan?
Program page reviewed September 15, 2026
Chemeketa Community College
Welding Fabrication Certificate
A shorter welding route with advanced techniques.
Ask: Which skills and job requirements differ from the longer degree pathway?
Program page reviewed September 15, 2026
Take this question to a counselor.
Which welding processes would I learn, and how would I demonstrate job-ready skills?
Before choosing a program, ask for prerequisites, the complete timeline, class and placement schedules, and a full cost estimate including supplies, exams, travel and living expenses.
Build a working cost estimate →Understand the numbers.
The median is the midpoint of estimated wages for Oregon workers in this occupation. The hourly median is $28.58. These figures describe workers across experience levels; they are not starting pay or the earnings of graduates from the programs below.
Oregon projects employment moving from 5,468 jobs in 2024 to 5,881 in 2034. The projected 5,889 openings over the decade include growth and replacement needs as workers leave an occupation. Dividing that total by ten gives the rounded annual average shown above. These are projections, not today’s vacancies.
How to read wage information →