--- title: "Welder Salary in Virginia: Pay & Jobs" canonical: https://highpayingtrades.com/trades/welder/virginia/ description: "Welder pay in Virginia: BLS average $60,410 (all experience levels), median $59,180, bottom 10% $42,520. 40 listed programs." updated: 2026-11-03 wage_source: "BLS OEWS May 2025 estimates, released 2026-05-15" --- 1. [Home](https://highpayingtrades.com/) 2. [Trades](https://highpayingtrades.com/trades/) 3. [Welder](https://highpayingtrades.com/trades/welder/) 4. Virginia Virginia # Welder pay in *Virginia* What welders earn in Virginia: BLS OEWS May 2025 pay for the state and 11 metro areas, plus job counts and 40 listed training programs. - **$60,410** Average pay (state) - **$42,520** Entry-level / bottom 10% - **$59,180** Median pay (state) - **$79,630** Top 10% earn over 10,100 jobs in Virginia · 40 listed programs. [Average pay across all experience levels (BLS OEWS May 2025)](https://highpayingtrades.com/methodology/). BLS wage data ## Welder pay in Virginia Annual wages from the BLS OEWS May 2025 estimates, released 2026-05-15. | Area | 10th pct | 25th pct | Median | 75th pct | 90th pct | Mean | Employed | | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | | Virginia | $42,520 | $49,020 | $59,180 | $65,400 | $79,630 | $60,410 | 10,100 | | United States | $39,240 | $46,790 | $53,750 | $63,010 | $77,530 | $56,760 | 416,210 | Source: BLS OEWS May 2025 estimates, released 2026-05-15. ### Metro areas | Area | 10th pct | 25th pct | Median | 75th pct | 90th pct | Mean | Employed | | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | | Staunton-Stuarts Draft, VA | $44,860 | $55,660 | $64,470 | $65,220 | $85,360 | $63,600 | 390 | | Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC | $46,510 | $49,950 | $62,670 | $71,090 | $78,180 | $62,000 | 3,740 | | Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | $45,150 | $50,120 | $60,670 | $77,560 | $114,440 | $67,950 | 2,000 | | Richmond, VA | $42,950 | $48,600 | $57,710 | $66,490 | $83,920 | $59,720 | 1,260 | | Blacksburg-Christiansburg-Radford, VA | $40,510 | $46,800 | $57,650 | $62,820 | $62,820 | $54,550 | 250 | | Charlottesville, VA | $41,440 | $46,040 | $57,420 | $66,250 | $78,720 | $59,160 | 90 | | Roanoke, VA | $43,100 | $47,670 | $56,040 | $61,320 | $63,800 | $55,660 | 940 | | Kingsport-Bristol, TN-VA | $37,780 | $45,230 | $55,690 | $65,280 | $69,130 | $54,260 | 450 | | Winchester, VA-WV | $39,910 | $48,480 | $54,690 | $61,100 | $64,290 | $55,210 | 120 | | Lynchburg, VA | $38,640 | $47,030 | $51,970 | $63,200 | $77,780 | $56,090 | 610 | | Harrisonburg, VA | $35,140 | $46,120 | $51,870 | $60,830 | $74,220 | $54,870 | 110 | Metropolitan area estimates, BLS OEWS May 2025 estimates, released 2026-05-15. Only areas BLS published are shown. Find training ## Looking for a school or apprenticeship? This page covers pay and job outlook. Our sister site RegisteredTradeSchools.com keeps the training directory for welders: registered apprenticeship sponsors, how to apply, and school routes. [**Virginia welding apprenticeships and training** Registered apprenticeship sponsors and how to apply · RegisteredTradeSchools.com](https://registeredtradeschools.com/apprenticeships/va/welding/) [**Welding apprenticeships and training** Apprenticeship sponsors and school routes by state · RegisteredTradeSchools.com](https://registeredtradeschools.com/trades/welding/) Programs ## Top training programs in Virginia We matched 40 programs in Virginia: 37 school programs (IPEDS 2023-24) and 3 registered apprenticeship sponsors (DOL). The 10 below are schools with published tuition first; the full directory is on RegisteredTradeSchools.com (links above). | Program / provider | Location | Type | Graduates 2023-24 | Tuition | Source | | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | | [Advanced Technology Institute](https://www.auto.edu/) Welding Technology/Welder | Virginia Beach, VA | Certificate (1-2 years) | 45 | $14,960 Annual tuition & fees, in-state to out-of-state (institution-wide) | IPEDS 2023-24 · CIP 48.0508 | | [Advanced Technology Institute](https://www.auto.edu/) Welding Technology/Welder | Virginia Beach, VA | Associate degree | 14 | $14,960 Annual tuition & fees, in-state to out-of-state (institution-wide) | IPEDS 2023-24 · CIP 48.0508 | | [Brightpoint Community College](https://www.brightpoint.edu/) Welding Technology/Welder | Chester, VA | Certificate (1-2 years) | 4 | $5,230–$11,742 Annual tuition & fees, in-state to out-of-state (institution-wide) | IPEDS 2023-24 · CIP 48.0508 | | [Brightpoint Community College](https://www.brightpoint.edu/) Welding Technology/Welder | Chester, VA | Certificate (12 weeks to 1 year) | 33 | $5,230–$11,742 Annual tuition & fees, in-state to out-of-state (institution-wide) | IPEDS 2023-24 · CIP 48.0508 | | [Central Virginia Community College](https://www.centralvirginia.edu/) Welding Technology/Welder | Lynchburg, VA | Certificate (1-2 years) | 28 | $5,319–$11,832 Annual tuition & fees, in-state to out-of-state (institution-wide) | IPEDS 2023-24 · CIP 48.0508 | | [Central Virginia Community College](https://www.centralvirginia.edu/) Welding Technology/Welder | Lynchburg, VA | Certificate (12 weeks to 1 year) | 90 | $5,319–$11,832 Annual tuition & fees, in-state to out-of-state (institution-wide) | IPEDS 2023-24 · CIP 48.0508 | | [Danville Community College](https://www.danville.edu/) Welding Technology/Welder | Danville, VA | Certificate (1-2 years) | 1 | $5,140–$11,652 Annual tuition & fees, in-state to out-of-state (institution-wide) | IPEDS 2023-24 · CIP 48.0508 | | [Danville Community College](https://www.danville.edu/) Welding Technology/Welder | Danville, VA | Certificate (2-4 years) | 7 | $5,140–$11,652 Annual tuition & fees, in-state to out-of-state (institution-wide) | IPEDS 2023-24 · CIP 48.0508 | | [Danville Community College](https://www.danville.edu/) Welding Technology/Welder | Danville, VA | Certificate (12 weeks to 1 year) | 9 | $5,140–$11,652 Annual tuition & fees, in-state to out-of-state (institution-wide) | IPEDS 2023-24 · CIP 48.0508 | | [Eastern Shore Community College](https://www.es.vccs.edu/) Welding Technology/Welder | Melfa, VA | Certificate (1-2 years) | 3 | $5,229–$11,742 Annual tuition & fees, in-state to out-of-state (institution-wide) | IPEDS 2023-24 · CIP 48.0508 | Schools: NCES IPEDS Completions 2023-24, matched by 6-digit CIP code; “Graduates 2023-24” is the number of first-major certificates or associate degrees the school awarded in that program from July 2023 to June 2024 (IPEDS). Tuition: U.S. Dept. of Education College Scorecard (updated 2026-10-15), matched by IPEDS unit ID; it is the published figure, not a quote. Apprenticeship sponsors: DOL Office of Apprenticeship partner file (retrieved 2026-10-29); apprenticeships are typically paid, so no tuition is listed — contact the program. Related resources ## Keep researching [**Welding career path for veterans** Military experience and certification routes. · MilitaryToTrades.com](https://militarytotrades.com/careers/welder/) [**GI Bill-approved welding programs** Schools that accept VA education benefits. · VeteranTradeSchools.com](https://veterantradeschools.com/welding/) ## Sources - **Wages:** U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 estimates, released 2026-05-15 ([news release USDL-26-0725](https://www.bls.gov/news.release/archives/ocwage_05152026.htm); [data tables](https://www.bls.gov/oes/tables.htm)). Cross-checked against the BLS Public Data API on 2026-11-03. - **Occupation:** O\*NET OnLine, [51-4121.00 Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and Brazers](https://www.onetonline.org/link/summary/51-4121.00), retrieved 2026-11-03 (CC BY 4.0). - **Apprenticeship sponsors:** U.S. Department of Labor, Office of Apprenticeship: partner sponsors file, retrieved 2026-10-29 ([Partner Finder](https://www.apprenticeship.gov/partner-finder)). - **Schools & graduates:** U.S. Department of Education, NCES IPEDS Completions 2023-24 (C2024\_A) and Institutional Characteristics (HD2024), award year 2023-24, matched by 6-digit CIP code ([completions file](https://nces.ed.gov/ipeds/datacenter/data/C2024_A.zip); [CIP-SOC crosswalk](https://nces.ed.gov/ipeds/cipcode/Files/CIP2020_SOC2018_Crosswalk.xlsx)). - **Tuition:** U.S. Department of Education, College Scorecard (Most Recent Cohorts: Institution + Field of Study), data updated 2026-10-15, matched by IPEDS unit ID ([source](https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/data/)). Program listings are matched from public files by occupation code or organization name; they are not endorsements and we have not visited or tested any program. Confirm schedules, entry requirements and costs with the program. Compiled by the HighPayingTrades team; last refreshed 2026-11-03. --- Canonical HTML: https://highpayingtrades.com/trades/welder/virginia/ Wages: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 estimates, released 2026-05-15 (https://www.bls.gov/news.release/archives/ocwage_05152026.htm). Programs: NCES IPEDS 2023-24 completions; DOL Office of Apprenticeship. Tuition: College Scorecard.