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

Skilled trades

Michigan employs 13,330 welders, with a statewide median of $49,990 and wide variation by city and experience. Here is the real wage data, the exact Michigan licensing picture, and where to train.

What Welders Earn in Michigan (May 2025)

Michigan median pay: $49,990 (May 2025)
Starting range (10th percentile): $39,090
Experienced (75th percentile): $59,190
Top earners (90th percentile): $70,200
Employed in Michigan: 13,330
U.S. median (for comparison): $49,990 (May 2024)

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

Ann Arbor: $54,180 (220 employed)
Detroit: $51,810 (4,580 employed)
Lansing: $50,370 (370 employed)
Grand Rapids: $48,920 (2,520 employed)
Saginaw: $48,820 (220 employed)
Flint: $48,810 (200 employed)
Kalamazoo: $47,560 (250 employed)

What That Pay Is Worth in Michigan

Prices in Michigan run about 4% below the national average (cost-of-living index 96.2 vs a U.S. baseline of 100, 2024), so the $49,990 median stretches to roughly $51,965 in national buying-power terms.

Job Outlook in Michigan (2024–2034)

Michigan is projected to shrink welders employment -2.4%, slower than the +2.2% projected nationally. The state expects about 1,320 openings a year, counting both growth and workers who retire or move on.

Michigan License and Certification Requirements

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

Michigan 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 Michigan state welder license — AWS and ASME certifications are the industry standard →

Training in Michigan

Community and technical colleges across Michigan 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. Michigan's auto industry (largest welding employer in the midwest), shipbuilding (great lakes vessels), and manufacturing sectors drive welding employment across the state.

Real training providers and registered apprenticeships in Michigan include:

Alpena Community College — Certificate / Associate
Baker College — Certificate / Associate
Bay de Noc Community College — Certificate
Delta College — Certificate / Associate

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 Michigan?

The median wage for welders in Michigan is $49,990 per year (May 2025, BLS). Entry-level pay (10th percentile) starts around $39,090, and top earners (90th percentile) make about $70,200. Pay varies by metro and years of experience.

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

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

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

Which Michigan metros pay welders the most?

Among Michigan metro areas, Ann Arbor leads at $54,180, followed by Detroit ($51,810), Lansing ($50,370). 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 Michigan?

Real Michigan options include Alpena Community College, Baker College, Bay de Noc Community College. Most welders start with an accredited program, then earn the credential the state or employer requires.

Is Welder a growing career in Michigan?

Michigan projects welders employment to change -2.4% from 2024 to 2034, with about 1,320 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), Michigan statewide and metro estimates for SOC 51-4121. Licensing summary compiled from the No Michigan 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 Michigan wages · Michigan 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.