Welder in North Carolina: Salary, License Requirements, and How to Start

Skilled trades

North Carolina employs 11,750 welders, with a statewide median of $50,590 and wide variation by city and experience. Here is the real wage data, the exact North Carolina licensing picture, and where to train.

What Welders Earn in North Carolina (May 2025)

North Carolina median pay: $50,590 (May 2025)
Starting range (10th percentile): $38,540
Experienced (75th percentile): $60,870
Top earners (90th percentile): $71,240
Employed in North Carolina: 11,750
U.S. median (for comparison): $49,990 (May 2024)

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

Raleigh: $56,940 (1,090 employed)
Charlotte metro: $56,070 (3,370 employed)
Greensboro: $54,180 (1,180 employed)
Asheville: $52,540 (290 employed)
Winston-Salem: $46,370 (1,230 employed)

What That Pay Is Worth in North Carolina

Prices in North Carolina run about 6% below the national average (cost-of-living index 94.3 vs a U.S. baseline of 100, 2024), so the $50,590 median stretches to roughly $53,648 in national buying-power terms.

Job Outlook in North Carolina (2024–2034)

North Carolina is projected to grow welders employment +6.2%, faster than the +2.2% projected nationally. The state expects about 1,370 openings a year, counting both growth and workers who retire or move on.

North Carolina License and Certification Requirements

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

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

Training in North Carolina

Community and technical colleges across North Carolina 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. North carolina's automotive supply chain (coming volkswagen facility, toyota battery plant), construction, and military/shipbuilding at wilmington-area yards drive welding employment across the state.

Real training providers and registered apprenticeships in North Carolina include:

Alamance Community College — Certificate / Associate
Asheville-Buncombe Technical Community College — Certificate / Associate
Aviation Institute of Maintenance-Charlotte — Certificate
Beaufort County Community 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 North Carolina?

The median wage for welders in North Carolina is $50,590 per year (May 2025, BLS). Entry-level pay (10th percentile) starts around $38,540, and top earners (90th percentile) make about $71,240. Pay varies by metro and years of experience.

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

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

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

Which North Carolina metros pay welders the most?

Among North Carolina metro areas, Raleigh leads at $56,940, followed by Charlotte metro ($56,070), Greensboro ($54,180). 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 North Carolina?

Real North Carolina options include Alamance Community College, Asheville-Buncombe Technical Community College, Aviation Institute of Maintenance-Charlotte. Most welders start with an accredited program, then earn the credential the state or employer requires.

Is Welder a growing career in North Carolina?

North Carolina projects welders employment to change +6.2% from 2024 to 2034, with about 1,370 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), North Carolina statewide and metro estimates for SOC 51-4121. Licensing summary compiled from the No North Carolina 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 North Carolina wages · North Carolina 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.