About one in five welding professionals in the U.S. is close to retirement. When they leave, decades of skill leave with them, and there are not enough trained welders lined up to take their place. So, is there really a welder shortage? Yes. Employers need more trained welders than schools and apprenticeships produce each year.
Federal data can make that answer hard to believe, since the total number of welding jobs is growing slowly. Both are true, and the reason matters for anyone thinking about a welding career.
Key Takeaways
- BLS projects about 40,300 welding job openings each year, even with slow job growth.
- AWS projects about 80,000 welding jobs to fill each year through 2029.
- California welding jobs are projected to grow more than three times faster than the national rate.
What Do the Numbers Say About the Welder Shortage?
The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) counted about 437,700 welder, cutter, solderer, and brazer jobs in 2025. It projects 448,100 by 2035, a gain of 10,300 jobs, or 2%. That is slower than average for all occupations.
The bigger number is openings. BLS projects about 40,300 openings each year over the same decade. That means employers will fill about four times more welding jobs each year than the total number of new jobs added over 10 years.
The American Welding Society (AWS) counts more job types, including boilermakers, sheet metal workers, ironworkers, metal fabricators, and welding machine operators. By that wider count, AWS projects 320,500 new welding professionals will be needed by 2029.
Why Is There a Shortage of Welders?
Retirements are the biggest driver. AWS counts about 771,000 welding professionals in the U.S., and more than 157,000 of them are nearing retirement.
Other welders move up into inspection, supervision, or shop management, which also opens jobs for new workers.
At the same time, the work is not going away. BLS reports that 63% of welders work in manufacturing. BLS also states that the nation’s aging infrastructure will need welders to help rebuild bridges, highways, and buildings.
Fewer young people have entered the trades in recent decades. Leaders at the AWS Foundation have said many people still see welding as a dirty or dead-end job, which keeps some from considering it.
Is the Welder Shortage Overstated?
Some caution is fair. BLS notes that automation in manufacturing may limit overall demand for welders. Robots can handle simple, repeated welds on a production line.
The shortage is also not for just anyone with a torch. Some employers hire and train beginners on the job, but BLS reports that many prefer workers who have finished a training or credentialing program. So the honest answer is still yes, as long as you understand it as a shortage of trained, certified welders.
What Does the Welder Shortage Look Like in California?
EDD projects welding jobs in California to grow from 29,600 in 2022 to 31,600 in 2032. That is a 6.8% increase, more than three times the national rate.
Pay in California is also above the national median. According to ACI’s guide to welder salaries and job growth in California, the state employs about 26,060 welders with a median salary near $58,000. The same guide breaks down pay by experience level and shows which California industries are hiring welders.
AWS groups California with Arizona and Nevada, a region with about 78,000 welding professionals. Manufacturing, aerospace and defense, and construction all depend on this workforce.
How Can New Welders Take Advantage of the Shortage?
AWS reports that technical schools can prepare students for a welding certificate in about 6 to 18 months, which is faster than a two-year or four-year degree.
Advanced Career Institute (ACI) offers a welding training program in California that takes about 9 to 10 months. Students practice the main welding processes used on job sites. Graduates can then work toward industry certifications. ACI’s guide on how to get a welding certification in California walks through each step.
Not everyone is a natural fit for welding. ACI’s article on traits that lead to success in welding can help someone decide if the trade matches their strengths.
Start Training to Become a Welder at ACI
California employers need trained welders. Explore ACI’s welding program to take the first step toward a welding career.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do welders need a state license in California?
No. California does not require a state welding license, but many employers look for industry certifications.
What welding certifications do California employers look for?
Many employers ask for American Welding Society certifications such as AWS D1.1 for structural steel. Pipe and pipeline jobs may call for ASME Section IX or API 1104 certifications.
Can someone become a welder with no experience?
Yes. BLS reports that welders typically need a high school diploma or equivalent plus technical training, with no prior work experience required.
Do welders earn more than the average worker?
Yes. BLS reports a median wage of $53,750 for welders in May 2025, compared with $50,980 for all U.S. occupations.
What kind of schedule do welders work?
Most welders work full-time, and some work more than 40 hours a week. Many manufacturing plants run multiple shifts, so evening and weekend work is common.
Can women become welders?
Yes. Women make up only about 5% of welding professionals, according to AWS, and the industry is working to recruit more.
