Welder in Illinois: Salary, License Requirements, and How to Start

Skilled trades

Illinois employs 16,260 welders, with a statewide median of $51,320 and wide variation by city and experience. Here is the real wage data, the exact Illinois licensing picture, and where to train.

What Welders Earn in Illinois (May 2025)

Illinois median pay: $51,320 (May 2025)
Starting range (10th percentile): $38,890
Experienced (75th percentile): $61,520
Top earners (90th percentile): $76,730
Employed in Illinois: 16,260
U.S. median (for comparison): $49,990 (May 2024)

Wages vary substantially by metro. Median annual pay for welders in major Illinois markets:

Peoria: $58,960 (1,230 employed)
Rockford: $50,200 (870 employed)
Springfield: $49,860 (100 employed)

What That Pay Is Worth in Illinois

Prices in Illinois run right about the national average (cost-of-living index 100.0 vs a U.S. baseline of 100, 2024), so the $51,320 median holds roughly its face value.

Job Outlook in Illinois (2024–2034)

Illinois is projected to shrink welders employment -1.8%, slower than the +2.2% projected nationally. The state expects about 1,710 openings a year, counting both growth and workers who retire or move on.

Illinois License and Certification Requirements

AWS Certified Welder (CW) / ASME Section IX (national — no state license) — regulated by the No Illinois state welder license — AWS and ASME certifications are the industry standard.

Illinois does not require a state license for welders. The industry credentials are: AWS Certified Welder (CW) for structural/fabrication work; ASME Section IX Welder Qualification for pressure vessel and piping work; and API 1104 for pipeline welding. Each is a performance-based test (you weld a coupon; inspectors evaluate it).
Entry paths: (1) Enroll in a community college, technical school, or union welding apprenticeship program (6 months to 4 years). (2) Learn at a fabrication shop and pass your first AWS/ASME certification test when shop-ready. AWS provides practice tests and prep at aws.org.
Welding process specializations — SMAW (stick), GMAW (MIG), GTAW (TIG), FCAW — command different wages. TIG welders on pipe (6G position, all-position pipe) earn significantly more than general fabrication welders. Underwater welding and nuclear QC welding are advanced, high-pay specializations.

Official requirements: No Illinois state welder license — AWS and ASME certifications are the industry standard →

Training in Illinois

Community and technical colleges across Illinois offer welding programs ranging from 6-month certificates to 2-year AAS degrees. Union pipefitter/boilermaker/ironworker apprenticeships also provide extensive welding training with paid wages. Chicago's construction, manufacturing, and fabrication industries — one of the largest welding markets in the midwest drive welding employment across the state.

Real training providers and registered apprenticeships in Illinois include:

Black Hawk College — Certificate
Carl Sandburg College — Certificate / Associate
City Colleges of Chicago-Kennedy-King College — Certificate
City Colleges of Chicago-Richard J Daley College — Certificate

Is This the Right Move for You?

Best for: People who like focused, precise, independent work and want to enter a trade without a multi-year apprenticeship commitment.

Think twice if: Heat, fumes, UV exposure, protective gear all day, and physically demanding positions sound like dealbreakers.

Why it's resilient: Custom, field, and structural welding requires hands-on skill, real-world access, and quality judgment that automated welding cannot fully replicate.

First Steps

Enroll in a welding certificate program at a community college or trade school — programs range from 6 months to 2 years.

Frequently Asked Questions

How much do welders make in Illinois?

The median wage for welders in Illinois is $51,320 per year (May 2025, BLS). Entry-level pay (10th percentile) starts around $38,890, and top earners (90th percentile) make about $76,730. Pay varies by metro and years of experience.

What license or certification do you need to become a Welder in Illinois?

AWS Certified Welder (CW) / ASME Section IX (national — no state license), overseen by the No Illinois state welder license — AWS and ASME certifications are the industry standard. Illinois does not require a state license for welders. The industry credentials are: AWS Certified Welder (CW) for structural/fabrication work; ASME Section IX Welder Qualification for pressure vessel and piping work; and API 1104 for pipeline welding. Each is a performance-based test (you weld a coupon; inspectors evaluate it).

Is being a Welder a good career in Illinois?

Custom, field, and structural welding requires hands-on skill, real-world access, and quality judgment that automated welding cannot fully replicate.

Which Illinois metros pay welders the most?

Among Illinois metro areas, Peoria leads at $58,960, followed by Rockford ($50,200), Springfield ($49,860). Local pay tracks regional demand and cost of living, so the highest-paying metro isn't always the best net move.

Where can I train to become a Welder in Illinois?

Real Illinois options include Black Hawk College, Carl Sandburg College, City Colleges of Chicago-Kennedy-King College. Most welders start with an accredited program, then earn the credential the state or employer requires.

Is Welder a growing career in Illinois?

Illinois projects welders employment to change -1.8% from 2024 to 2034, with about 1,710 openings a year — a declining field in the state.

Sources and Verification

Wage data: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (May 2025), Illinois statewide and metro estimates for SOC 51-4121. Licensing summary compiled from the No Illinois state welder license — AWS and ASME certifications are the industry standard (2026-06-11). Requirements change — always confirm current rules with the board and verify program costs and outcomes before enrolling.

BLS Occupational Outlook · O*NET Illinois wages · Illinois licensing/certification source

Employment projections: Projections Central / BLS Employment Projections (2024–2034); Cost of living: BEA Regional Price Parities.

Pay percentiles describe current workers, not entry-level offers; training costs and local demand vary, so verify locally before committing money or quitting a job.