Welcome to the Ultimate Guide to the 15 Best Welding Schools in GA!
Are you looking for a good welding trade school in Georgia? If so, this Ultimate Guide to the 15 Top Welding Schools For Certification In Georgia is for you. In this post, we’ll cover a list of welding colleges in Georgia, average hourly and yearly wages, and basic welding info for beginners.
Table of Contents
- Welding Careers in Georgia: Average Salary & Hourly Pay
- Life After Certification: Why You Should Become a Welder in Georgia
- List of the Top Welding Schools for Certification in Georgia with Enrollment Info
- How to Become a Certified Welder in Georgia
- The Best Welding Schools in States Bordering Georgia
- Reviews of the Best Welding Supplies Online for Students
Welding Employment Outlook:
Welding Jobs in Georgia
First things first: what kind of welding jobs will be awaiting you after graduation?
Without a doubt, the welding employment outlook for welders is promising! According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the number of welding careers will grow by 6% in 2016 to 2026. In other words, that’s an increase of 22,500 jobs in just 10 years.
How much do welders make in Georgia?
Welders in Georgia earn a median salary of $36,450 per year ($17.52 per hour) which is slightly lower than the median average of $39,390 per year ($18.94 per hour).
Nationally, welders in the top 10% of median pay make more than $62,100 annually, while welders in the top 10% of median pay in Georgia make more than $50,960 according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics in 2016.
What industries do welders work in Georgia?
After graduating, certified welders find jobs in a variety of industries. For example, auto and motorcycle fabrication and repair are popular. But that’s just the beginning: construction, aerospace applications, and shipbuilding are a few more opportunities.
>>Discover more welding industries! Check out The Different Types of Welding Jobs<<
The Roles & Duties of Welders in Georgia
Welding is the most common way of permanently connecting two pieces of metal together. In order to do this, welders heat the metal pieces with various tools to melt and fuse them together. As simple as it sounds, the entire welding process requires precise skill and technique.
The 4 Main Responsibilities of a Welder:
- Before welding a new project, certified welders study and follow specific blueprints or sketches to carry out projects to precise specifications.
- Next, they must inspect the raw structure/material to determine the proper welding method and dimensions. It’s important to realize that there are more than 100 methods of welding. Depending on the material and conditions, the proper welding methods may include Gas Tungsten Arc Welding, Shielded Metal Arc Welding, or Gas Metal Arc Welding.
- Another overarching responsibility of welders is to determine the proper welding equipment and machinery required to execute the plan. For example, this may include chipping and cleaning completed welds.
- Finally, a crucial part of the job is to maintain the welding equipment and machinery required to meet the project requirements. This may include different tools that are electric, manual, or even a combination of the two, such as welders and grinders.
Life After Certification:
Why You Should Become a Welder in Georgia
As mentioned above, you should become a welder because the welding employment outlook is excellent. But there are many more reasons:
- First, welding is a fulfilling career that allows you to leave a lasting impact on your world. In other words, the structures you build/repair will be a lasting legacy.
- Another benefit is the variety within the field. Many, many different types of industries require welders.
- Lastly, it’s a practical skill. For example, being able to perform home welding projects for maintenance and repair is a handy skill that’ll save you money at home.
Here’s a checklist of skills that should describe every welder:
- Detail oriented
- Manual dexterity
- Physical stamina
- Physical strength
- Spatial-orientation skills
- Technical skills
The 15 Top Welding Schools for Certification in Georgia:
Complete List with Contact & Enrollment Info
In the table below, we’ve included all 15 welding programs in Georgia currently approved by the American Welding Society’s SENSE Accreditation Program.
Typically, the only admission requirement is having a high school diploma or your GED. Some welding training programs only require students to be in the 11th grade.
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As always, the information within the training programs listed below is continually changing so we encourage you to contact them directly with the information supplied.
How to Become a Welder in Georgia:
Get Your AWS Welding Certification
To become a welder in Georgia you must follow a few simple steps. Of course it takes hard work, but the process is simple in and of itself.
- Often, the first step is to finish high school or get your GED, because many schools require one of these for admission. However, some programs only require students to be juniors in high school.
- Then, you must find a welding certification program. Through classroom instruction and hands-on learning, you’ll gain the skills you need to pass the welding certification test.
- After completing all of the courses, you’ll need to pass standard tests designed by the American Welding Society.
- Once you’ve earned your certification, you’ll be ready for a welding career! Typically, schools provide job placement assistance as part of their curriculum.
- After you’ve earned your welding certification, make sure to renew it every six months.
- Additionally, you can find higher paying welding jobs the more you expand your education. To do this, consider going back to school for additional certification, such as a Senior Certified Welding Inspector certification or underwater welding certification.
*For a list of all the possible welding certifications, see The 11 AWS Welding Certification Programs.
How long does it take to get a welding certification?
Understandably, most students are eager to know how long it will take to obtain a welding certification. Simply put, there isn’t an exact length of time. Each welding school’s program is slightly different. However, it’s usually less than 2 years.
Looking For Welding Information On States Bordering Georgia?
You might also be interested in the top welding schools for certification in bordering states:
Best Welding Supplies and Equipment Online
Many welders use equipment manually, whereas others operate welding machines. It all depends on the particular welding project at hand.
For beginners, here’s a basic checklist of the essentials:
- Auto darkening welding helmet
- Welding gloves
- Safety Glasses
- Welding Magnets
- Frame Jig
- C Clamps
- Welding Clamps
- Speed Square
- Angle Grinder
- Soapstone
- MIG Pliers
- Metal Brush
- Sheet Metal Gauge
- Metal File
This isn’t a comprehensive list, but it’s definitely a good start. Make sure to check out 2018’s Best Auto Darkening Welding Helmets Review.
Your Turn!
Now that you’ve seen the list of top welding schools for certification in Georgia, alongside everything being a welder in Georgia has to offer, it’s time to take that next step. We encourage you to search for the welding training program nearest you!