RetrainMap / Training costs by state / California / Welding
Free · the federal list, by published cost · California
Welding programs in California on the federal training list, by published cost
97 programs in California’s Training Provider Results index carry one of the occupation codes for Welding (51-4121, 51-4122). Published costs run from $0 to $31,050; 0 programs report no cost and sit at the end. Sorted by the cost each provider reported — “cheapest” here means the lowest published figure on the federal list on the snapshot date, not a verdict on quality, and never a price you are promised. Snapshot taken 2026-09-02.
| # | Published cost basis | Program (provider’s page) · credential · code | Provider · city | Length | Exited | Completed | Employed Q2 after exit | Median earnings, Q2 (one quarter) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | $0 | State Center Welding | State Center Community College District | 20 wk · 16 hrs | 97 | 94% | 83% | $12,060 |
| 2 | $0 | Siemens Industry, Inc. Mobility Division, Rolling Stock | Siemens Industry, Inc. Mobility Division, Rolling Stock | 99 wk · 40 hrs | — | — | — | — |
| 3 | $308 | Welding Technology | City College of San Francisco | 53 wk · 12 hrs | — | — | — | — |
| 4 | $360 | Welding Technology | PORTERVILLE COLLEGE | 16 wk · 12 hrs | 20 | 90% | — | — |
| 5 | $500 | Welding | Delano Adult School | 9 wk · 6 hrs | — | — | — | — |
| 6 | $574 | Welding Technology Certificate of Career Preparation | Palo Verde College | 18 wk · 12 hrs | — | — | — | — |
| 7 | $660 | Manufacturing and Fabrication Certificate of Accomplishment | City College of San Francisco | 53 wk · 12 hrs | — | — | — | — |
| 8 | $700 | Welding BC- Blueprint Reading and Layout for Welders | Kern Community College District | 32 wk · 4 hrs | — | — | — | — |
| 9 | $712 | Welding Technology Certificate of Career Preparation - Welding Applications | Palo Verde College | 18 wk · 12 hrs | 9 | 100% | — | — |
| 10 | $975 | PDH- LAWC L.A. City Welder Certification Written Exam Preparation Class | California Welding Institute LLC | 1 wk · 10 hrs | 27 | 93% | 67% | — |
| 11 | $980 | PDH Destructive Testing Class | California Welding Institute LLC | 1 wk · 10 hrs | — | — | — | — |
| 12 | $988 | Welding Technology Certificate of Achievement | Palo Verde College | 18 wk · 12 hrs | 13 | 100% | — | — |
| 13 | $1,010 | Beginning Welding/Fabrication - Day Class | Visalia Adult School | 16 wk · 15 hrs | 119 | 76% | 22% | $7,488 |
| 14 | $1,050 | Welding BC- Gas Metal Arc/ Gas Tungsten Arc Welding/ Flux Core Arc Welding | Kern Community College District | 15 wk · 7 hrs | — | — | — | — |
| 15 | $1,119 | Intermediate Welding - Day | Visalia Adult School | 11 wk · 6 hrs | 21 | 95% | — | — |
| 16 | $1,169 | General Welding - (Can include: Beginning, Intermediate or Advanced) | Visalia Adult School | 14 wk · 8 hrs | 124 | 94% | 18% | $8,017 |
| 17 | $1,223 | Welding Technology | Merced College | 16 wk · 40 hrs | 96 | 100% | 33% | — |
| 18 | $1,250 | Welding Technology | Yuba County Office of Education | 8 wk · 9 hrs | 98 | 100% | 71% | $16,320 |
| 19 | $1,350 | Welding for Skills Upgrade | RCOE School of Career Education | 9 wk · 7 hrs | 34 | 100% | — | — |
| 20 | $1,360 | Welding Fabrication I | Sacramento City USD-Charles A. Jones | 3 wk · 40 hrs | 4 | 75% | 100% | $11,804 |
| 21 | $1,540 | Welding Technology Associated Degree | Palo Verde College | 18 wk · 12 hrs | — | — | — | — |
| 22 | $1,564 | ADVANCED WELDING TECHNOLOGIES | YUBA COLLEGE | 35 wk · 20 hrs | 17 | 100% | 100% | — |
| 23 | $1,565 | Combination Welding | Tulare Adult School | 18 wk · 30 hrs | 239 | 18% | 67% | $11,128 |
| 24 | $1,600 | Welding BC- Shielded Metal Arc Welding | Kern Community College District | 32 wk · 10 hrs | — | — | — | — |
| 25 | $1,625 | Manufacturing - Welder | Reedley Community College | 39 wk · 11 hrs | 87 | 100% | 92% | $9,210 |
| 26 | $1,666 | Combination Welding Technician Certificate of Achievement | Napa Valley College | 17 wk · 24 hrs | 127 | 100% | — | — |
| 27 | $1,710 | Welding Technology C.A. | Cuesta College | 54 wk · 36 hrs | 32 | 22% | — | — |
| 28 | $1,870 | Welding: Metal Fabrication (Certificate of Achievement) | Allan Hancock College | 54 wk · 14 hrs | 74 | 28% | 67% | $6,145 |
| 29 | $1,936 | Manufacturing 1 | Reedley Community College | 18 wk · 26 hrs | 61 | 75% | 60% | $9,303 |
| 30 | $1,996 | Welding | College of the Sequoias | 36 wk · 18 hrs | 171 | 80% | 14% | $11,734 |
| 31 | $2,376 | Welding Technology Certificate | Shasta College | 51 wk · 38 hrs | 219 | 17% | — | — |
| 32 | $2,438 | Welding Technology CC | Kern Community College District | 45 wk · 14 hrs | — | — | — | — |
| 33 | $2,500 | Welding | KERN HIGH SCHOOL DISTRICT-ROP | 35 wk · 9 hrs | — | — | — | — |
| 34 | $2,620 | Welding Technology | Eden Area Regional Occupational Program - Adult Programs | 12 wk · 6 hrs | 69 | 99% | 83% | $24,500 |
| 35 | $2,640 | Welding Technology - CA | College of the Redwoods | 32 wk · 40 hrs | 12 | 92% | 50% | — |
| 36 | $2,826 | Welding Technology: Certificate of Achievement | Napa Valley College | 34 wk · 37 hrs | 127 | 100% | — | — |
| 37 | $2,895 | Welding Certificate of Achievement- BC | Kern Community College District | 48 wk · 19 hrs | — | — | — | — |
| 38 | $2,997 | Tig Welding | Harbor Occupational Center - LAUSD | 4 wk · 30 hrs | 38 | 63% | 71% | $11,250 |
| 39 | $3,100 | PDH-CWI- CWI Exam preparation course | California Welding Institute LLC | 3 wk · 20 hrs | 42 | 100% | 52% | — |
| 40 | $3,462 | Combination Welder | Hacienda La Puente Adult Education | 36 wk · 30 hrs | 89 | 89% | 50% | $14,024 |
| 41 | $3,553 | Professional Welding Academy | Butte County Regional Occupational Program | 11 wk · 28 hrs | 60 | 87% | 44% | $13,000 |
| 42 | $4,584 | Combination Welding Trainee | North Valley Occupational Center - LAUSD | 27 wk · 20 hrs | 184 | 48% | 56% | $11,336 |
| 43 | $5,008 | Welding Technology AS Degree | Napa Valley College | 68 wk · 15 hrs | 54 | 72% | 100% | — |
| 44 | $5,569 | General Welding | San Bernardino Valley College | 128 wk · 40 hrs | — | — | — | — |
| 45 | $5,993 | Combination Welding Trainee | Harbor Occupational Center - LAUSD | 20 wk · 27 hrs | 1,118 | 68% | 56% | $11,336 |
| 46 | $6,031 | Combination Welding Trainee | Maxine Waters Employment Prep Center - LAUSD | 27 wk · 20 hrs | 341 | 64% | 64% | $11,336 |
| 47 | $6,678 | Welder | Richard N. Slawson Occupational Center - LAUSD | 18 wk · 30 hrs | 219 | 43% | 62% | $16,880 |
| 48 | $6,798 | Combination Welding Specialist | Harbor Occupational Center - LAUSD | 23 wk · 29 hrs | 57 | 89% | 78% | $11,250 |
| 49 | $7,080 | Welding Training | First Institute Training and Management | 5 wk · 40 hrs | 20 | 100% | 71% | $7,396 |
| 50 | $7,460 | W101 - SMAW AWS D1.1/L.A City Welder Certification Steel Plate | California Welding Institute LLC | 8 wk · 16 hrs | 14 | 100% | — | — |
| 51 | $7,500 | W102 - FCAW AWS D1.1/L.A City Welder Certification Steel Plate | California Welding Institute LLC | 8 wk · 16 hrs | — | — | — | — |
| 52 | $7,500 | W104 - FCAW-G/ FCAW-S AWS D1.1 Welder Certification Structural steel pipe/Tubula | California Welding Institute LLC | 8 wk · 16 hrs | — | — | — | — |
| 53 | $7,500 | W105 - FCAW-S AWS D1.8/Welder Certification Structural steel SEISMIC Application | California Welding Institute LLC | 8 wk · 16 hrs | — | — | — | — |
| 54 | $7,575 | W302-SS - GTAW ADVANCED AWS D18.1 STAINLESS STEEL TUBE FOR HYGIENIC APPLICATIONS | California Welding Institute LLC | 8 wk · 16 hrs | — | — | — | — |
| 55 | $7,620 | W202 - SMAW ASME Section IX AWS B2.1 Basic pipe welding course - downhill/uphill | California Welding Institute LLC | 8 wk · 16 hrs | — | — | — | — |
| 56 | $7,620 | W211 - SMAW API 1104 Basic pipeline welding - all downhill - petrochemical and n | California Welding Institute LLC | 8 wk · 16 hrs | — | — | — | — |
| 57 | $7,620 | W205 - GTAW advanced asme section ix, aws b2.1 stainless steel and carbon steel | California Welding Institute LLC | 8 wk · 16 hrs | — | — | — | — |
| 58 | $7,620 | W109 - SMAW AWS D3.6 underwater dry welding (class a welds) | California Welding Institute LLC | 8 wk · 16 hrs | — | — | — | — |
| 59 | $7,620 | W201 - SMAW ASME Section IX AWS B2.1 Basic pipe welding course - all uphill | California Welding Institute LLC | 8 wk · 16 hrs | — | — | — | — |
| 60 | $7,620 | W108 - SMAW AWS D1.3 Structural Welding Sheet Steel | California Welding Institute LLC | 8 wk · 16 hrs | — | — | — | — |
| 61 | $7,695 | W204 - GTAW/SMAW Combo Welder Advanced ASME Section IX, AWS B2.1 Pipe Welding | California Welding Institute LLC | 8 wk · 16 hrs | — | — | — | — |
| 62 | $7,695 | W203 GTAW/SMAW Combo welder basic asme section ix, aws b2.1 pipe welding | California Welding Institute LLC | 8 wk · 16 hrs | — | — | — | — |
| 63 | $7,780 | W103 - SMAW AWS D1.1/L.A City Welder Certification Structural steel pipe/tubular | California Welding Institute LLC | 8 wk · 16 hrs | — | — | — | — |
| 64 | $7,800 | W304-CS/AL/SS - GMAW BASIC AWS D9.1 SHEET METAL WELDING | California Welding Institute LLC | 8 wk · 16 hrs | — | — | — | — |
| 65 | $7,800 | W301-CS/AL/SS - GTAW BASIC AWS D9.1 SHEET METAL WELDING | California Welding Institute LLC | 8 wk · 16 hrs | 8 | 100% | 50% | $20,000 |
| 66 | $8,050 | W107 - FCAW-S AWS D1.3 Structural Welding Sheet Steel | California Welding Institute LLC | 8 wk · 16 hrs | — | — | — | — |
| 67 | $8,050 | W106 - GMAW AWS D1.3 Structural Welding Sheet Steel | California Welding Institute LLC | 8 wk · 16 hrs | — | — | — | — |
| 68 | $8,130 | Welding & Industrial Maintenance | Central Valley Opportunity Center | 22 wk · 35 hrs | 117 | 89% | 81% | $7,652 |
| 69 | $8,150 | Welding Technology/Welder -CHDC Woodland | California Human Development Corporation - ASET Centers | 15 wk · 40 hrs | 66 | 83% | 81% | $20,800 |
| 70 | $9,495 | Mig/Tig Specialty Course | Cal-Trade Welding School | 10 wk · 30 hrs | 46 | 93% | 81% | $10,400 |
| 71 | $9,845 | Welding Technology (AS Degree) | Butte College | 68 wk · 15 hrs | 231 | 47% | 89% | $9,312 |
| 72 | $10,995 | Pipeline Welding | Cal-Trade Welding School | 10 wk · 30 hrs | 19 | 89% | 81% | $12,000 |
| 73 | $12,609 | Shielded Metal Arc Welding/Gas Metal Arc Welding | Chaffey College | 19 wk · 16 hrs | 22 | 95% | 91% | $8,711 |
| 74 | $13,495 | Combination Welding | Cal-Trade Welding School | 18 wk · 30 hrs | 197 | 96% | 81% | $11,440 |
| 75 | $14,475 | Bundle 6 - Food and Beverage Processing Industry Welder | California Welding Institute LLC | 16 wk · 16 hrs | — | — | — | — |
| 76 | $14,545 | Advanced Welding Technology | Advanced Career Institute | 38 wk · 20 hrs | 1,081 | 74% | 74% | $9,230 |
| 77 | $15,220 | Shielded Metal Arc Welding: Structural and Pipe | Chaffey College | 40 wk · 16 hrs | — | — | — | — |
| 78 | $15,500 | Welding Fabrication | Center for Employment Training -Main Campus | 30 wk · 30 hrs | 924 | 84% | 34% | $8,685 |
| 79 | $15,965 | Comprehensive Welding SMAW Structural Steel Program | Welding Certification Center | 17 wk · 8 hrs | 177 | 86% | 81% | $17,810 |
| 80 | $16,812 | Basic Welding - GTAW (TIG) Mild Sheet Metal Program | Welding Certification Center | 22 wk · 6 hrs | 58 | 84% | 81% | $11,440 |
| 81 | $19,396 | Welding Technician | Institute of Technology | 45 wk · 20 hrs | 114 | 74% | 58% | $9,456 |
| 82 | $20,642 | Automotive Welder-Fabricator | Southern California Welding Training and Testing Center | 21 wk · 25 hrs | 23 | 100% | 63% | $23,440 |
| 83 | $20,820 | Bundle 10 - Underwater welder (dry welding) | California Welding Institute LLC | 24 wk · 16 hrs | — | — | — | — |
| 84 | $20,970 | Bundle 3 - Process Pressure Piping Welder | California Welding Institute LLC | 24 wk · 16 hrs | 10 | 80% | 100% | $13,000 |
| 85 | $20,980 | Bundle 4 - Pipeline Welder | California Welding Institute LLC | 24 wk · 16 hrs | — | — | — | — |
| 86 | $21,220 | Bundle 1 - All Around Welder: Structural And Pressure Piping | California Welding Institute LLC | 24 wk · 16 hrs | 30 | 77% | 68% | $5,078 |
| 87 | $21,220 | Bundle 2 - Ironworker Welding Career | California Welding Institute LLC | 24 wk · 16 hrs | 9 | 100% | 100% | $17,760 |
| 88 | $21,250 | Bundle 9 - I-CAR automotive welder | California Welding Institute LLC | 24 wk · 16 hrs | — | — | — | — |
| 89 | $21,325 | Bundle 8 -Motorsport Welder | California Welding Institute LLC | 24 wk · 16 hrs | 7 | 57% | 80% | $10,140 |
| 90 | $21,500 | Bundle 5 - Aerospace Welder | California Welding Institute LLC | 24 wk · 16 hrs | 17 | 88% | 73% | $19,500 |
| 91 | $21,628 | Bundle 7 - Structure light Gage welder (decking and framing) | California Welding Institute LLC | 24 wk · 16 hrs | — | — | — | — |
| 92 | $25,675 | Certified General Welder | Southern California Welding Training and Testing Center | 25 wk · 27 hrs | 38 | 95% | 82% | — |
| 93 | $26,420 | Welding Technology (560) | Universal Technical Institute of California, Inc. | 36 wk · 50 hrs | 401 | 91% | 29% | $10,140 |
| 94 | $26,875 | Combination Welder/Fabricator | Southern California Welding Training and Testing Center | 30 wk · 24 hrs | — | — | — | — |
| 95 | $27,293 | Structural Welder | Southern California Welding Training and Testing Center | 36 wk · 25 hrs | 8 | 88% | — | — |
| 96 | $28,670 | Aerospace Welder | Southern California Welding Training and Testing Center | 35 wk · 26 hrs | 21 | 100% | 86% | — |
| 97 | $31,050 | Pipe Welder | Southern California Welding Training and Testing Center | 37 wk · 25 hrs | 9 | 78% | 100% | — |
Source and date: U.S. Department of Labor, Training Provider Results — the open program index behind trainingproviderresults.gov, snapshot taken 2026-09-02 (3,266 programs for California in the index that day); the site states the data cover programs approved as of June 30, 2025 and outcomes for July 1, 2021 – June 30, 2025. Cost is Out-of-Pocket Cost for a Non-WIOA Participant: Tuition and Requested Fees (DE111) where the provider reported it, otherwise Average number of dollars the training program received from each WIOA participant Individual Training Account (ITA) during the time period (DE138/DE135) — the basis is printed under each figure; books and supplies are added only when reported separately. “Completed” = Percent of All Students who completed the program (DE122/DE121); “Employed Q2” = Percent of All Students Exiters who were employed in the 2nd Quarter after Exit (DE123/DE129); “Median earnings” = Median Earnings in the 2nd Quarter after Exit of All Students that are Employed in the 2nd Quarter after Exit (DE125) — one calendar quarter, not a year. A dash means the federal file prints −1: Values displayed as "-1" indicate data that have been suppressed to protect confidentiality. Your local job center decides eligibility — this shows what is on the list and what it cost and produced, not whether you will be approved.
The list is free. The ranking by what each program produced is $39.
This page sorts welding programs in California by the cost their providers published. The Retraining ROI report takes one target occupation and one state, ranks every listed program by the employment its completers reported, and — if you give your current pay — prints a payback estimate per program with its basis. Built on order from the same federal record; free sample on that page.
The $39 ROI report Free funding finder The $19 Directions plan
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