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🔥 Welder License Requirements by State
Compare welder license requirements across all 50 states and DC — experience, exams, fees, and salary data.
Last updated 2026-05-08
By the numbers: 0 of 51 jurisdictions require a state-level welder license. Apprenticeship and Experience requirements range varies hours. Exam Application Fees range varies. Most state Boards require Continuing Education at every Renewal cycle.
| State | License Required | Experience | Exam Fee | Median Salary |
|---|
| ALAlabama |
Not Required |
— |
— |
$42,340 |
| AKAlaska |
Not Required |
— |
— |
$62,890 |
| AZArizona |
Not Required |
— |
— |
$46,670 |
| ARArkansas |
Not Required |
— |
— |
$40,120 |
| CACalifornia |
Not Required |
— |
— |
$52,340 |
| COColorado |
Not Required |
— |
— |
$50,120 |
| CTConnecticut |
Not Required |
— |
— |
$52,890 |
| DEDelaware |
Not Required |
— |
— |
$48,670 |
| DCDistrict of Columbia |
Not Required |
— |
— |
$56,340 |
| FLFlorida |
Not Required |
— |
— |
$43,670 |
| GAGeorgia |
Not Required |
— |
— |
$44,120 |
| HIHawaii |
Not Required |
— |
— |
$58,670 |
| IDIdaho |
Not Required |
— |
— |
$44,670 |
| ILIllinois |
Not Required |
— |
— |
$52,340 |
| INIndiana |
Not Required |
— |
— |
$46,890 |
| IAIowa |
Not Required |
— |
— |
$46,120 |
| KSKansas |
Not Required |
— |
— |
$44,670 |
| KYKentucky |
Not Required |
— |
— |
$44,120 |
| LALouisiana |
Not Required |
— |
— |
$48,900 |
| MEMaine |
Not Required |
— |
— |
$46,670 |
| MDMaryland |
Not Required |
— |
— |
$50,120 |
| MAMassachusetts |
Not Required |
— |
— |
$56,670 |
| MIMichigan |
Not Required |
— |
— |
$48,120 |
| MNMinnesota |
Not Required |
— |
— |
$52,340 |
| MSMississippi |
Not Required |
— |
— |
$40,670 |
| MOMissouri |
Not Required |
— |
— |
$48,120 |
| MTMontana |
Not Required |
— |
— |
$48,670 |
| NENebraska |
Not Required |
— |
— |
$44,670 |
| NVNevada |
Not Required |
— |
— |
$52,120 |
| NHNew Hampshire |
Not Required |
— |
— |
$48,670 |
| NJNew Jersey |
Not Required |
— |
— |
$54,670 |
| NMNew Mexico |
Not Required |
— |
— |
$44,120 |
| NYNew York |
Not Required |
— |
— |
$56,670 |
| NCNorth Carolina |
Not Required |
— |
— |
$44,120 |
| NDNorth Dakota |
Not Required |
— |
— |
$52,670 |
| OHOhio |
Not Required |
— |
— |
$46,120 |
| OKOklahoma |
Not Required |
— |
— |
$44,670 |
| OROregon |
Not Required |
— |
— |
$52,340 |
| PAPennsylvania |
Not Required |
— |
— |
$48,670 |
| RIRhode Island |
Not Required |
— |
— |
$50,120 |
| SCSouth Carolina |
Not Required |
— |
— |
$42,670 |
| SDSouth Dakota |
Not Required |
— |
— |
$42,120 |
| TNTennessee |
Not Required |
— |
— |
$44,670 |
| TXTexas |
Not Required |
— |
— |
$48,120 |
| UTUtah |
Not Required |
— |
— |
$46,670 |
| VTVermont |
Not Required |
— |
— |
$46,120 |
| VAVirginia |
Not Required |
— |
— |
$48,670 |
| WAWashington |
Not Required |
— |
— |
$58,670 |
| WVWest Virginia |
Not Required |
— |
— |
$44,120 |
| WIWisconsin |
Not Required |
— |
— |
$48,670 |
| WYWyoming |
Not Required |
— |
— |
$48,670 |
Common questions about welder licensing
Do all states require a welder license?
No — 0 of 51 jurisdictions require a state-level welder license. The remainder license at the local or county level, or not at all. See the table above for the per-state breakdown.
How much does it cost to get a welder license?
Application fees across the states range varies. Renewal fees and continuing education hours vary by jurisdiction — check the state-specific page for the exact numbers.
How many apprenticeship hours does a welder license typically require?
Required apprenticeship/work experience hours range varies across states, with most states requiring 2–4 years of supervised on-the-job training plus passing a board-administered exam.
Data last verified 2026. Salary data from BLS OEWS. Always verify with your state licensing board.