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Welder

Welding Certifications That Actually Boost Your Pay

By Sarah Chen6 min read

Walk into any welding forum and someone's asking "what certs should I get?" The answer depends on what kind of welding you want to do, but some certifications consistently translate to more money.

The Certifications That Matter

AWS Certified Welder (CW) **Pay bump: $2-4/hr over uncertified welders**

This is the baseline. The American Welding Society's Certified Welder program tests your ability to produce quality welds that meet specific codes. It's not hard if you've got decent skills, and almost every shop prefers seeing it on your resume.

Certified Welding Inspector (CWI) **Pay bump: $8-15/hr over production welders**

This is the big one. CWIs inspect welds on construction sites, in fabrication shops, and on pipelines. The exam is tough - about a 30% pass rate on the first attempt. But CWIs routinely earn $70,000-95,000/yr. Some make six figures in the right markets.

Pipe Welding Certifications (6G) **Pay bump: $5-10/hr over structural welders**

If you can weld pipe in the 6G position (fixed at a 45-degree angle), you're in demand. Pipeline work, refineries, and power plants all need certified pipe welders. This is where welders start breaking into $35-45/hr territory.

Underwater Welding Certification **Pay bump: $15-30/hr (but it's a different world)**

Underwater welders are rare, and the work is dangerous. Training is expensive and takes 6-12 months minimum. But if you can handle the conditions, salaries range from $80,000 to $150,000+. Not for everyone.

TIG Welding Proficiency **Pay bump: $3-6/hr over MIG-only welders**

TIG isn't a formal certification in most cases, but demonstrated TIG skills open doors to aerospace, medical device manufacturing, and custom fabrication. These are the cleaner, higher-paying welding jobs.

Our Advice

Start with your AWS CW. It's cheap, widely recognized, and opens doors. From there, decide what industry interests you. If you want maximum earning potential, go after pipe welding certs or study for the CWI exam. Both paths can get you past $70k within a few years.

ROI Breakdown

  • AWS CW: ~$300 to test, pays for itself in 2-3 months
  • 6G Pipe Cert: ~$500-1,000 to test, pays for itself in 1-2 months
  • CWI: ~$1,500 for exam + study materials, pays for itself in 2-3 months
  • Underwater: ~$15,000-30,000 for training, pays for itself in 6-12 months

The math isn't complicated. Every legit certification pays for itself fast.