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

Skilled trades

Missouri employs 10,600 welders, with a statewide median of $51,950 and wide variation by city and experience. Here is the real wage data, the exact Missouri licensing picture, and where to train.

What Welders Earn in Missouri (May 2025)

Missouri median pay: $51,950 (May 2025)
Starting range (10th percentile): $38,200
Experienced (75th percentile): $61,660
Top earners (90th percentile): $78,150
Employed in Missouri: 10,600
U.S. median (for comparison): $49,990 (May 2024)

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

Springfield: $49,860 (100 employed)

What That Pay Is Worth in Missouri

Prices in Missouri run about 9% below the national average (cost-of-living index 90.8 vs a U.S. baseline of 100, 2024), so the $51,950 median stretches to roughly $57,214 in national buying-power terms.

Job Outlook in Missouri (2024–2034)

Missouri is projected to grow welders employment +4.4%, faster than the +2.2% projected nationally. The state expects about 1,200 openings a year, counting both growth and workers who retire or move on.

Missouri License and Certification Requirements

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

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

Training in Missouri

Community and technical colleges across Missouri 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. Missouri's manufacturing belt (auto parts, agriculture equipment) and construction sectors drive welding employment across the state.

Real training providers and registered apprenticeships in Missouri include:

Cape Girardeau Career and Technology Center — Certificate
Crowder College — Certificate / Associate
East Central College — Certificate / Associate
Franklin Technology Center Adult Education — 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 Missouri?

The median wage for welders in Missouri is $51,950 per year (May 2025, BLS). Entry-level pay (10th percentile) starts around $38,200, and top earners (90th percentile) make about $78,150. Pay varies by metro and years of experience.

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

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

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

Which Missouri metros pay welders the most?

Among Missouri metro areas, Springfield leads at $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 Missouri?

Real Missouri options include Cape Girardeau Career and Technology Center, Crowder College, East Central College. Most welders start with an accredited program, then earn the credential the state or employer requires.

Is Welder a growing career in Missouri?

Missouri projects welders employment to change +4.4% from 2024 to 2034, with about 1,200 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), Missouri statewide and metro estimates for SOC 51-4121. Licensing summary compiled from the No Missouri 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 Missouri wages · Missouri 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.