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Welding is among the most promising careers in the United States of America.
In this article, you’ll be able to learn not only about the best welding schools in the state of Arkansas but get some extra useful information.
You’ll learn about welder’s salary, possible career options and so on.
Read this article to get all the important info about welding and its specifics.
Article Table of Contents
Average Welder’s Salary in Arkansas
A median salary of an average welder in Arkansas is about $37 510 per year ($18,03 per hour).
It’s only slightly less than an average median salary throughout the country.
It’s $39 390 per year or $18,94 per hour.
Top 10% of welders throughout the country earn about $62 100 per year while top 10% welders in Arkansas earn about $56 400.
Employment Outlook for Welders in Arkansas
Arkansas has a great welding employment outlook which is a great reason to start your career in this sphere.
Moreover, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics claims that the number of welding jobs will increase by 6% until 2026.
It means that 22 500 of new jobs will appear and it will continue growing even after 2026.
Elding Career Options in Arkansas
In Arkansas, there are lots of industries that need qualified and skillful welders.
The list contains such options as:
- Construction of buildings and bridges;
- Auto & motorcycle fabrication and repair;
- Manufacturing;
- Gas & oil field power plants and refineries;
- Shipbuilding;
- Marine technology;
- Aerospace applications.
Similar Career Options in Arkansas
If you don’t want to work as a welder but still interested in similar careers, you can find plenty of options in Arkansas.
Of course, there are some differences but still, you can work with your hands and get a good salary.
There are such options as:
- Boilermakers;
- Sheet Metal Workers;
- Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters;
- Soldering & Brazing.
How to Get Welding Certification in Arkansas?
If you want to become a professional welder, first of all, you need to get the American Welding Society (AWS) certification.
To complete this step, you need to enroll in welding training at school and finish your education.
During this period you’ll be able to learn a bunch of theoretical aspects as well as a variety of practical skills.
As soon as your training is completed, you should pass your certification exam.
The locations may vary but in fact, normally you can take your test right at your school.
To complete the test you need to show proficiency in basic welding skills.
To get more information on the issue you can visit AWS official website and learn their standards.
How Much Time Is It Necessary to Complete Welding Training?
It’s clear that any student wants to know how much time it’s necessary to complete a welding program but there is no certain answer.
Each school has its own program and its duration may differ.
Nevertheless, you can be sure that your education won’t last longer than 2 years.
Official Welder Certification – What Is It?
Do you know what it is the official welder certification?
It’s a document that proves your proficiency in welding.
You can get it passing a number of tests designed by the American Welding Society (AWS).
AWS goal is “Advancing the science, technology, and application of welding and allied joining and cutting processes worldwide.”
Consider the fact that you can get your certification only after completing your training.
For the moment, AWS provides 11 welding certifications:
- Certified Welder
- Welding Inspector
- Associate Welding Inspector
- Senior Certified Welding Inspector
- Welding Educator
- Radiographic Interpreter
- Welding Supervisor
- Robotic Arc Welding
- Welding Sales Representative
- Reciprocity Program
- Welding Engineer
Top 17 Welding Certification Schools in Arkansas
Before you learn about the best welding schools in Arkansas we offer you to read some common facts about their training programs:
- Each school from the list has the American Welding Society’s SENSE Accreditation Program approval;
- Each program contains courses on main welding methods such as Gas Tungsten Arc Welding (TIG), Shielded Metal Arc Welding (stick), or Gas Metal Arc Welding (MIG);
- Most schools require a high-school diploma or GED but some programs accept high-school juniors.
Top 17 Welding Schools in Arkansas
| School | Location | Contact Information | Phone Number |
|---|---|---|---|
| Area Career And Tech Center | 2201 S Knoxville Russellville, AR 72811 United States | Charles Ehemann | (479) 968-5499 |
| Arkansas Career Training Institute | 105 Reserve St. Hot Springs, AR 71902 United States | Dennis Pickering | (501) 624-4411 |
| Arkansas State University Mountain Home | 1600 S College St. Mountain Home, AR 72653 United States | Karen Heslep | (870) 508-6160 |
| Arkansas Valley Technical University | 1700 Helberg Lane Ozark, AR 72949 United States | Corey Danekas | (479) 667-2117 |
| Arkansas Welding Academy | 1920 North Redmond Road Jacksonville, AR 72076 United States | Alice Obenshain | (501) 982-9353 |
| Asu Mid-South | 2000 West Broadway West Memphis, AR 72301 United States | Darrell Fisher | (870) 733-6776 |
| Cass Job Corp Center | 21424 N HWY 23 Ozark, AR 72949 United States | (501) 667-3686 | |
| Hot Springs Rehab Center | 105 Reserve Ave Hot Springs, AR 71901 United States | Dennis Pickering | (501) 624-4411 |
| Ouachita Job Corp Center | 507 Job Corp R Royal, AR 71968 United States | Dave Hendrix | (501) 767-2707 |
| Pulaski Technical College | 3000 W Scenic Road North Little Rock, AR 72118 United States | Steve Williams | (501) 812-2254 |
| Rich Mountain Community College | 1100 College Drive Mena, AR 71953 United States | Stephen Moody | (479) 394-7622 |
| South Arkansas Community College | PO Box 7010 El Dorado, AR 71730 United States | Jim Hackney | (870) 862-4926 |
| Systems Contracting | 214 N Washington El Dorado, AR 71730 United States | Keith Wall | (870) 862-1315 |
| Texarkana Area Vocational | 1200 Jefferson Texarkana, AR 71854United States | Willard Harris | (870) 772-3662 |
| Uam College Of Technology | 1609 East Ash Mcgehee, AR 71654 United States | J. Donnie Dubose | (870) 222-5360 |
| University Of Arkansas Community College-Batesville | 2005 White Drive, Batesville, AR 72503 United States | Zach E Harber | (870) 612-2081 |
| Westark Comm College | 5210 Grand Ave Fort Smith, AR 72913 United States | Dr. Sid Connor | (479) 788-7700 |
Popular Degree Programs
Conclusion
We hope that this article was helpful for you and you were able to get all the necessary information.
Welding is a great career and you can enter it really fast.
Just take the first step and enroll in your training, and we wish you a good luck!
Frequently Asked Questions
Does welding involve math?
Strong mathematical skills, particularly in geometry, are a huge asset in the field of welding.
It helps to be familiar with decimals, fractions, volume, and area in order to succeed as a welder.
However, aspiring welders who do not like math need not be afraid.
As long as they have a general knowledge of these concepts, they should not have anything to worry about.
What is the hardest metal to weld?
Aluminum is considered the hardest metal to weld.
In its ore or alloy form, its chemical and physical properties make it a tricky metal to work with.
Therefore, a welder needs to have a deep understanding of this metal before working on it.
Why do welders drink milk?
Cutting, brazing, or welding galvanized steel is known to cause an influenza-like condition known as metal fume fever.
Welders are most prone to this condition at the beginning of the workweek due to their loss of fume tolerance over the weekend.
Some welders drink milk since it is believed to remove the toxins resulting from the welding process and, ultimately, prevent sickness.
Read the full guide: How to Become a Certified Welder
Welding Schools by City
Welding Schools by State