According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Georgia has a relatively lower annual average wage compared to other states for welders.
Having $44, 190 per year is what the others get with a $21.25 average pay per hour.
Then, you have Georgia make $40, 940 with an hourly rating of $19.63 only.
Still, you can’t deny that the pay is good. And it’s a no-brainer how often salary hikes occur in a demanding job such as welding, so you’ll be looking to have that 40 grand go a bit higher by next year, and the year after that, and the year after that!
So if you want to join in the fun, get yourself a welding certificate from some of the welding schools listed here that you can see in Georgia!
Best Welding Schools in Georgia in 2022
South Georgia Technical College
As one of the best schools there is in Georgia, the South Georgia Technical College covers almost everything under the trade skill sun!
And that includes not one, not two, not three, but more than SIX welding programs for an aspiring welder like you to take!
What’s so interesting about these programs is, that instead of having all of the basic welding processes taught in one program, you get to have each one steal the show for the ENTIRE program!
That way, you can put all your focus on that certain thing one at a time AND be certified for it, afterward!
And with only a small class size of 18 students to one teacher, you can say this is an EXTREMELY effective learning method in welding.
You could even work part-time there if you want some extra cash.
Or if you’re renting out a dorm in-campus for no more commute!
Atlanta Technical College
This welding school isn’t just some welding school.
Because not only will you be studying for welding itself, but you’ll also be learning a whole other program altogether!
But that doesn’t mean these two can’t get along perfectly!
First off, in Atlanta’s welding program, you’ll be introduced to welding itself before getting into its processes and positions.
Once you’ve familiarized yourself with them, you can move on to cutting metal using oxy-fuel or plasma!
Then, you’ll have a better grasp of handling blueprints.
Mix them all, and you’ll be taught how to make yourself attractive to clients everywhere by showing skills you’ve developed throughout this entire program!
And you’re bound to learn everything clearly from the 15 students to one teacher you have in your setting!
Now, you’re probably wondering what the heck this other program you’re going to study.
The answer: general education!
Here, you could polish off your English and be able to form interpersonal relations and develop a sense of professionalism for when you’re out there in the market, and even learn about the foundations of math!
This general education would be perfect for non-residents or international students who came to Georgia to study in Atlanta.
However, the only downside to this is the different payments.
For residents in Georgia, you’re looking at $100 per credit hour.
For students outside Georgia, it’s $200 per credit hour.
And lastly, international students got the worst deal out of this when they have to pay $400 for each credit hour. That’s almost half a grand!
So, if you’re an international student that got your interest piqued by Atlanta, you either read this for awareness or you see this as a warning that tells you to look at other – far cheaper – welding schools around you.
Aviation Institute of Maintenance
As the name implies, the Aviation Institute of Maintenance will have you dealing with aviation stuff other than welding.
So if you’re interested in planes and how to keep them at their peak performance, then this welding school will be great for you!
Here, you’ll be taking a nosedive into aviation maintenance technology right beside the combination welding program where you’ll learn the basic manipulative skills in welding AND how to cut metal pieces using a torch.
For anything outside hands-on work, you’ll be learning the theoretical side of welding, along with shop prints or reading and designing your blueprints.
But the cherry on top of all of these is how small the class size is!
With only 13 students per class and one instructor, it’s a no-brainer how effective the learning process will be!
Coastal Pines Technical College
Other than having a place in Georgia, Coastal Pines Technical College also has more branches to reach more potential welders.
Namely, in Waycross, Jesup, Camden, Hazlehurst, and Golden Isles.
But here in Georgia, Coastal Pines will train you with everything you need to know to kick off your welding experience.
And the best start for that is by practicing the basic welding processes!
You have MIG welding, TIG welding, and an option to take up more advanced knowledge about stick welding if you’re up to that.
Included in this advanced stuff are some common welding positions being used while stick welding (or welding, in general), such as the horizontal, vertical, and overhead!
And to make your school life a bit easier, you can have this welding program for free if you applied for Coastal Pines’ Hope Career Loan and you get qualified for it!
So tuition’s one problem off the board!
But what if you want to take a minor program second to welding? Well, there’s no judgment here when you can choose many, many courses that are just like welding when they’re all for trade skills!
Options are what you have here, and you best remember that!
Georgia Trade School
You can choose between studying part-time or full-time at Georgia Trade School.
And during these kinds of schedules, you get to be introduced to the basic welding processes, such as stick welding, MIG welding (both gas and gasless, of course), and TIG welding.
Once you have a handle on what you’re doing there at a normal angle, you’ll get to learn various welding positions for various angles, only you’ll be touching on vertical up and down, instead.
Not only welding positions, no, pipe positions, and plate positions will also be discussed, as well as their different inches!
And the various ways of joining these pipes or plates like the open butt, groove, and fillet welds are taught in Georgia Trade School so you could be trained on how to do them!
All of these for the cost of $10, 500 in one program, including a tool bag that Georgia Trade School provides each of its students!
Final Words
Despite having a lower-than-average wage in Georgia, being a welder is a fulfilling career that you can appreciate once you get into a welding school.
Fortunately, other than appreciation, you can get a certificate that proves you’re a professional once you graduate!
And with how dire 2022 has been lately, this certificate will put you on the list of qualified welders that can take on whatever average welding job employers all over Georgia have for you!