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

Skilled trades

Massachusetts employs 2,830 welders, with a statewide median of $62,570 and wide variation by city and experience. Here is the real wage data, the exact Massachusetts licensing picture, and where to train.

What Welders Earn in Massachusetts (May 2025)

Massachusetts median pay: $62,570 (May 2025)
Starting range (10th percentile): $47,720
Experienced (75th percentile): $74,050
Top earners (90th percentile): $83,430
Employed in Massachusetts: 2,830
U.S. median (for comparison): $49,990 (May 2024)

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

Boston: $63,770 (2,210 employed)
Worcester: $60,320 (330 employed)
Springfield: $56,010 (220 employed)
Providence: $52,800 (2,490 employed)

What That Pay Is Worth in Massachusetts

Prices in Massachusetts run about 6% above the national average (cost-of-living index 105.8 vs a U.S. baseline of 100, 2024), so the $62,570 median is worth closer to $59,140 once higher local prices are factored in.

Job Outlook in Massachusetts (2024–2034)

Massachusetts is projected to grow welders employment +4.2%, faster than the +2.2% projected nationally. The state expects about 330 openings a year, counting both growth and workers who retire or move on.

Massachusetts License and Certification Requirements

None required — AWS CW certifications and employer/project weld qualifications — regulated by the No Massachusetts state license required for welders.

Massachusetts does not require a state license for welders. Complete a welding technology program at Springfield Technical Community College, Quinsigamond Community College, or vocational schools.
Pass employer and project weld tests (AWS D1.1 structural, ASME for pressure vessels, AWS D1.6 for stainless/pharma). AWS Certified Welder (CW) is the portable individual credential.
Apply to structural steel fabricators, shipyards (General Dynamics Bath Iron Works, Quincy Shipbuilding heritage), pharmaceutical manufacturing, and the growing offshore wind fabrication market in New Bedford.

Official requirements: No Massachusetts state license required for welders →

Training in Massachusetts

Massachusetts' pharmaceutical/biotech manufacturing sector requires stainless steel GTAW (TIG) welding to ASME BPE (Bioprocess Equipment) standards — one of the highest-wage welding specialties. Offshore wind tower fabrication in New Bedford is creating new welding demand. Massachusetts structural steel and pipe welders are well-compensated given the strong union presence.

Real training providers and registered apprenticeships in Massachusetts include:

Benjamin Franklin Cummings Institute of Technology — Certificate
Bristol Community College — Certificate
Quinsigamond Community College — Certificate / Associate
Southeastern Technical Institute — 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 Massachusetts?

The median wage for welders in Massachusetts is $62,570 per year (May 2025, BLS). Entry-level pay (10th percentile) starts around $47,720, and top earners (90th percentile) make about $83,430. Pay varies by metro and years of experience.

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

None required — AWS CW certifications and employer/project weld qualifications, overseen by the No Massachusetts state license required for welders. Massachusetts does not require a state license for welders. Complete a welding technology program at Springfield Technical Community College, Quinsigamond Community College, or vocational schools.

Is being a Welder a good career in Massachusetts?

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

Which Massachusetts metros pay welders the most?

Among Massachusetts metro areas, Boston leads at $63,770, followed by Worcester ($60,320), Springfield ($56,010). 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 Massachusetts?

Real Massachusetts options include Benjamin Franklin Cummings Institute of Technology, Bristol Community College, Quinsigamond Community College. Most welders start with an accredited program, then earn the credential the state or employer requires.

Is Welder a growing career in Massachusetts?

Massachusetts projects welders employment to change +4.2% from 2024 to 2034, with about 330 openings a year — a growing field in the state.

Sources and Verification

Wage data: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (May 2025), Massachusetts statewide and metro estimates for SOC 51-4121. Licensing summary compiled from the No Massachusetts state license required for welders (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 Massachusetts wages · Massachusetts 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.