Best institutions to study Welding Engineering Technology/Technician
A program that prepares individuals to apply basic engineering principles and technical skills to the design and engineering of welding and joining systems and the implementation of welding processes.
27 U.S. institutions graduated 507 Welding Engineering Technology/Technician students in 2024–25 (IPEDS). It is CIP 15.0614, a specialization of Industrial Production Technologies/Technicians (CIP 15.06), and leads most directly to the Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and Brazers occupation (BLS SOC 51-4121).
About Welding Engineering Technology/Technician programs
A program that prepares individuals to apply basic engineering principles and technical skills to the design and engineering of welding and joining systems and the implementation of welding processes. Includes instruction in materials science; computer-aided design; welding design; welding processes; welding metallurgy; automation and robotics; and codes, inspections, testing, and quality assurance.
See also: 48.0508 - Welding Technology/Welder.
Source: National Center for Education Statistics, Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP 2020).
The Welding Engineering Technology/Technician program prepares individuals to apply engineering principles and technical skills in the design and implementation of welding processes and systems. This program is ideal for those interested in pursuing a career in welding and joining technologies, focusing on practical applications and safety standards in the industry.
Students in this program gain knowledge in materials science, welding design, automation, and quality assurance. Coursework emphasizes critical skills such as mathematics, critical thinking, and active learning, ensuring graduates are well-equipped for the demands of the welding field.
Credentials awarded
What Welding Engineering Technology/Technician graduates earned in 2024–25, by award level (IPEDS completions).
- Award of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year174 graduates / yr · 9 institutions34%
- Award of less than 12 weeks134 graduates / yr · 3 institutions26%
- Award of at least 1 but less than 2 academic years67 graduates / yr · 9 institutions13%
- Bachelor's degree67 graduates / yr · 4 institutions13%
- Associate's degree65 graduates / yr · 11 institutions13%
Graduates over time
Welding Engineering Technology/Technician completions reported to IPEDS each year, all award levels combined.
| Year | Graduates |
|---|---|
| 2012 | 72 |
| 2013 | 117 |
| 2014 | 159 |
| 2015 | 165 |
| 2016 | 181 |
| 2017 | 241 |
| 2018 | 233 |
| 2019 | 275 |
| 2020 | 274 |
| 2021 | 274 |
| 2022 | 328 |
| 2023 | 326 |
| 2024 | 609 |
| 2025 | 507 |
Top 27 institutions for Welding Engineering Technology/Technician, ranked by graduates
Graduates (IPEDS completions), 2024–25. Award levels show which credentials each institution confers in this specialization.
| # | Institution | Graduates / yr | Grad rate | Net price | Field earnings* (1 yr) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Stark State College North Canton, OHPublicAward of less than 12 weeksAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic yearAward of at least 1 but less than 2 academic years | 119 | 23% | — | — |
| 2 | Goodwin University East Hartford, CTPrivate not-for-profitAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year | 80 | 58% | $30,133 | $41,911 |
| 3 | Escondido Adult School Escondido, CAPublicAward of less than 12 weeks | 59 | — | — | — |
| 4 | Pennsylvania College of Technology Williamsport, PAPublicBachelor's | 36 | 53% | — | $60,468 |
| 5 | Cuyahoga Community College District Cleveland, OHPublicAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic yearAward of at least 1 but less than 2 academic yearsAssociate's | 28 | 31% | — | — |
| 6 | Central Oregon Community College Bend, ORPublicAward of at least 1 but less than 2 academic yearsAssociate'sAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year | 24 | 25% | — | — |
| 7 | Mitchell Technical College Mitchell, SDPublicAssociate'sAward of at least 1 but less than 2 academic years | 19 | 76% | — | $50,348 |
| 8 | Brigham Young University - Idaho Rexburg, IDPrivate not-for-profitBachelor's | 18 | 55% | $6,760 | $85,411 |
| 9 | City Colleges of Chicago - Richard J Daley College Chicago, ILPublicAward of at least 1 but less than 2 academic yearsAssociate's | 16 | 27% | — | — |
| 10 | McAllen Careers Institute McAllen, TXPrivate for-profitAward of less than 12 weeks | 13 | 84% | $20,708 | — |
| 11 | Great Basin College Elko, NVPublicAssociate's | 10 | 41% | — | — |
| 12 | Pellissippi State Community College Knoxville, TNPublicAssociate's | 10 | 31% | — | $42,672 |
| 13 | Anoka Technical College Anoka, MNPublicAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year | 9 | 66% | — | — |
| 14 | Sitting Bull College Fort Yates, NDPublicAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year | 9 | 22% | — | — |
| 15 | Sinclair Community College Dayton, OHPublicAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic yearAward of at least 1 but less than 2 academic years | 7 | 41% | — | — |
| 16 | LeTourneau University Longview, TXPrivate not-for-profitBachelor's | 7 | 59% | $24,186 | — |
| 17 | Wayne State University Detroit, MIPublicBachelor's | 6 | 58% | — | — |
| 18 | New England Institute of Technology East Greenwich, RIPrivate not-for-profitAssociate's | 6 | 60% | $36,659 | $41,970 |
| 19 | Chattanooga State Community College Chattanooga, TNPublicAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year | 6 | 26% | — | — |
| 20 | University of Rio Grande Rio Grande, OHPrivate not-for-profitAssociate's | 4 | 36% | $29,669 | — |
| 21 | Howard College Big Spring, TXPublicAward of at least 1 but less than 2 academic years | 4 | 35% | — | — |
| 22 | Sussex County Community College Newton, NJPublicAward of at least 1 but less than 2 academic years | 4 | 37% | — | — |
| 23 | Pierpont Community and Technical College Fairmont, WVPublicAssociate's | 4 | 42% | — | — |
| 24 | Arizona Western College Yuma, AZPublicAssociate's | 3 | 20% | — | — |
| 25 | Lorain County Community College Elyria, OHPublicAssociate's | 3 | 31% | — | — |
| 26 | Oakton College Des Plaines, ILPublicAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year | 2 | 37% | — | — |
| 27 | Glen Oaks Community College Centreville, MIPublicAward of at least 1 but less than 2 academic years | 1 | 43% | — | — |
* Median earnings 1 year after graduation for the broader Industrial Production Technologies/Technicians field (CIP 15.06) at these institutions; College Scorecard does not publish earnings at the 6-digit level.
Offered in 18 states
Where Welding Engineering Technology/Technician graduates come from. Each state links to all Industrial Production Technologies/Technicians programs offered there.
| State | Institutions | Graduates / yr | Top institution by graduates |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ohio | 5 | 161 | Stark State College119 / yr |
| Connecticut | 1 | 80 | Goodwin University80 / yr |
| California | 1 | 59 | Escondido Adult School59 / yr |
| Pennsylvania | 1 | 36 | Pennsylvania College of Technology36 / yr |
| Texas | 3 | 24 | McAllen Careers Institute13 / yr |
| Oregon | 1 | 24 | Central Oregon Community College24 / yr |
| South Dakota | 1 | 19 | Mitchell Technical College19 / yr |
| Illinois | 2 | 18 | City Colleges of Chicago - Richard J Daley College16 / yr |
| Idaho | 1 | 18 | Brigham Young University - Idaho18 / yr |
| Tennessee | 2 | 16 | Pellissippi State Community College10 / yr |
| Nevada | 1 | 10 | Great Basin College10 / yr |
| Minnesota | 1 | 9 | Anoka Technical College9 / yr |
| North Dakota | 1 | 9 | Sitting Bull College9 / yr |
| Michigan | 2 | 7 | Wayne State University6 / yr |
| Rhode Island | 1 | 6 | New England Institute of Technology6 / yr |
| New Jersey | 1 | 4 | Sussex County Community College4 / yr |
| West Virginia | 1 | 4 | Pierpont Community and Technical College4 / yr |
| Arizona | 1 | 3 | Arizona Western College3 / yr |
Careers & outlook
The payoff after graduation: occupation 51-4121, Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and Brazers, and its national outlook.
Graduates of the Welding Engineering Technology/Technician program can pursue careers as welders, cutters, solderers, and brazers, with an average growth outlook of 2.2% and approximately 45,600 annual openings. The median wage for these positions is around $51,000, and a high school diploma or equivalent is typically required for entry.
Top-paying metros
Career pathways for CIP 15.0614
The occupations the NCES crosswalk maps this 6-digit code to, with BLS pay and 10-year outlook.
| Occupation | US median pay | Growth | Openings / yr | Typical entry education |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and Brazersprimary SOC 51-4121 | $53,750 | +2.2% About as fast as average | ~45,600 | High school diploma or equivalent |
Engineering Technologists and Technicians, Except Drafters, All Other SOC 17-3029 | $78,350 | +1.5% Little or no change | ~5,700 | Associate's degree |
Job Zone 1-2: Very Little to Some Preparation Needed
- Education
- Usually requires a high school diploma or GED, though some occupations may not.
- Experience
- Some occupations may need little or no previous experience; others require several months to a year of experience. For example, landscaping and groundskeeping workers might require very little training or previous experience, while agricultural equipment operators can benefit from on-the job training.
- Training
- Ranges from a few days to one year of on-the-job training.
Related careers
Skills & knowledge in Welding Engineering Technology/Technician programs
From the U.S. Dept. of Labor for the occupation this specialization most leads to.
Skills you'll build
Knowledge areas
Abilities that matter most
Day-to-day work activities
What graduates do on the job
- Operate safety equipment and use safe work habits.
- Examine workpieces for defects and measure workpieces with straightedges or templates to ensure conformance with specifications.
- Weld components in flat, vertical, or overhead positions.
- Detect faulty operation of equipment or defective materials and notify supervisors.
- Recognize, set up, and operate hand and power tools common to the welding trade, such as shielded metal arc and gas metal arc welding equipment.
- Select and install torches, torch tips, filler rods, and flux, according to welding chart specifications or types and thicknesses of metals.
Tools and technology used
Other Industrial Production Technologies/Technicians specializations
The 8 other 6-digit CIP codes under Industrial Production Technologies/Technicians (CIP 15.06).
- Manufacturing Engineering Technology/CIP 15.0613
Technician 5,247 graduates / yr272 institutions - Industrial Technology/CIP 15.0612
Technician 4,201 graduates / yr150 institutions - Industrial Production Technologies/CIP 15.0699
Technicians 2,268 graduates / yr66 institutions - Plastics and Polymer Engineering Technology/CIP 15.0607
Technician 280 graduates / yr23 institutions - Composite Materials Technology/CIP 15.0617
Technician partial data114 graduates / yr8 institutions - Metallurgical Technology/CIP 15.0611
Technician partial data82 graduates / yr5 institutions - Semiconductor Manufacturing Technology/CIP 15.0616
Technician 82 graduates / yr10 institutions - Chemical Engineering Technology/CIP 15.0615
Technician partial data67 graduates / yr5 institutions
See all Industrial Production Technologies/Technicians programs →
Common questions
What type of credential can I earn?+
You can earn various credentials, including awards of less than 12 weeks, at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year, or even a bachelor's degree.
What skills will I develop in this program?+
You will develop skills in monitoring, critical thinking, active listening, and mathematics, among others.
What careers can I pursue after graduation?+
You can work as a welder, cutter, solderer, or brazier, among other roles in the welding industry.
What is the job outlook for welding careers?+
The job outlook is about as fast as average, with a growth rate of 2.2% and around 45,600 annual job openings.
What is the CIP code for Welding Engineering Technology/Technician?+
Welding Engineering Technology/Technician is CIP 15.0614 in the NCES Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP 2020), a 6-digit specialization within Industrial Production Technologies/Technicians (CIP 15.06). NCES defines it as: A program that prepares individuals to apply basic engineering principles and technical skills to the design and engineering of welding and joining systems and the implementation of welding processes. Includes instruction in materials science; computer-aided design; welding design; welding processes; welding metallurgy; automation and robotics; and codes, inspections, testing, and quality assurance.
How many institutions offer Welding Engineering Technology/Technician programs?+
27 U.S. institutions reported Welding Engineering Technology/Technician graduates in IPEDS 2024–25, across 18 states, awarding 507 credentials in the year. That is 3.9% of all Industrial Production Technologies/Technicians graduates.
How much do Welding Engineering Technology/Technician graduates earn?+
Earnings are not published at the 6-digit CIP level by any federal source. The Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and Brazers occupation, which Welding Engineering Technology/Technician most directly leads to, pays a median of $53,750 a year nationally (BLS OEWS May 2025), and graduates of the broader Industrial Production Technologies/Technicians field report median earnings of $50,348 one year after graduation (College Scorecard).
About the data on this page
Every figure comes from an official federal or public source. Here is each one and the release it is currently on.
Program definitions are from the NCES Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP 2020). Skills, knowledge, abilities, work activities, tools, and job zones are from the O*NET database by the U.S. Department of Labor, used under the CC BY 4.0 license.
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