Welding programs in California
142 welding programs at 85 California schools are in the federal data. Where earnings are reported (15 programs), the state median is $42,870 one year after completion, about the same as the national median of $43,370. Median borrower debt is $8,331.
142programs
85schools
$42,870median 1-yr earnings
$8,331median debt
| School | City | Program | Credential | Completers/yr | 1-yr earnings | Median debt | Monthly payment* |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Santa Ana College | Santa Ana, CA | Precision Metal Working | Certificate | 91 | $55,962 | – | – |
| Universal Technical Institute of California Inc | Rancho Cucamonga, CA | Precision Metal Working | Certificate | 166 | $45,023 | $6,855 | $78 |
| Universal Technical Institute-Southern California | Long Beach, CA | Precision Metal Working | Certificate | 162 | $45,023 | $6,855 | $78 |
| Butte College | Oroville, CA | Precision Metal Working | Certificate | 136 | $44,449 | – | – |
| The Fab School | Rancho Cucamonga, CA | Precision Metal Working | Certificate | 118 | $43,690 | $4,449 | $51 |
| Merced College | Merced, CA | Precision Metal Working | Certificate | 141 | $43,274 | – | – |
| Summit College | San Bernardino, CA | Precision Metal Working | Certificate | 226 | $43,078 | $9,497 | $108 |
| Institute of Technology | Clovis, CA | Precision Metal Working | Certificate | 27 | $42,870 | $7,995 | $91 |
| Advanced Career Institute | Visalia, CA | Precision Metal Working | Certificate | 163 | $42,736 | $8,022 | $91 |
| CET-Watsonville | Watsonville, CA | Precision Metal Working | Certificate | 26 | $40,502 | $8,331 | $95 |
| CET-San Jose | San Jose, CA | Precision Metal Working | Certificate | – | $40,502 | $8,331 | $95 |
| CET-San Diego | San Diego, CA | Precision Metal Working | Certificate | 82 | $40,502 | $8,331 | $95 |
| CET-Colton | Colton, CA | Precision Metal Working | Certificate | 16 | $40,502 | $8,331 | $95 |
| CET-El Centro | El Centro, CA | Precision Metal Working | Certificate | 49 | $40,502 | $8,331 | $95 |
| UEI College-Gardena | Gardena, CA | Precision Metal Working | Certificate | 112 | $34,817 | $9,500 | $108 |
| Allan Hancock College | Santa Maria, CA | Precision Metal Working | Certificate | 24 | not reported | – | – |
| Allan Hancock College | Santa Maria, CA | Precision Metal Working | Associate degree | 13 | not reported | – | – |
| American River College | Sacramento, CA | Precision Metal Working | Certificate | 99 | not reported | – | – |
| American River College | Sacramento, CA | Precision Metal Working | Associate degree | 8 | not reported | – | – |
| Antelope Valley Community College District | Lancaster, CA | Precision Metal Working | Certificate | 17 | not reported | – | – |
| Antelope Valley Community College District | Lancaster, CA | Precision Metal Working | Associate degree | 11 | not reported | – | – |
| Bakersfield College | Bakersfield, CA | Precision Metal Working | Certificate | 21 | not reported | – | – |
| Bakersfield College | Bakersfield, CA | Precision Metal Working | Associate degree | 6 | not reported | – | – |
| Barstow Community College | Barstow, CA | Precision Metal Working | Certificate | 13 | not reported | – | – |
| Barstow Community College | Barstow, CA | Precision Metal Working | Associate degree | 7 | not reported | – | – |
| Butte College | Oroville, CA | Precision Metal Working | Associate degree | 7 | not reported | – | – |
| Cabrillo College | Aptos, CA | Precision Metal Working | Certificate | 6 | not reported | – | – |
| College of the Canyons | Santa Clarita, CA | Precision Metal Working | Certificate | 12 | not reported | – | – |
| College of the Canyons | Santa Clarita, CA | Precision Metal Working | Associate degree | 8 | not reported | – | – |
| Cerritos College | Norwalk, CA | Precision Metal Working | Certificate | 93 | not reported | – | – |
| Cerritos College | Norwalk, CA | Precision Metal Working | Associate degree | 37 | not reported | – | – |
| Cerro Coso Community College | Ridgecrest, CA | Precision Metal Working | Certificate | 39 | not reported | – | – |
| Cerro Coso Community College | Ridgecrest, CA | Precision Metal Working | Associate degree | 2 | not reported | – | – |
| Chabot College | Hayward, CA | Precision Metal Working | Certificate | 10 | not reported | – | – |
| Chabot College | Hayward, CA | Precision Metal Working | Associate degree | 3 | not reported | – | – |
| City College of San Francisco | San Francisco, CA | Precision Metal Working | Certificate | 0 | not reported | – | – |
| Columbia College | Sonora, CA | Precision Metal Working | Certificate | 4 | not reported | – | – |
| Compton College | Compton, CA | Precision Metal Working | Certificate | 7 | not reported | – | – |
| Compton College | Compton, CA | Precision Metal Working | Associate degree | 1 | not reported | – | – |
| Contra Costa College | San Pablo, CA | Precision Metal Working | Associate degree | – | not reported | – | – |
| Cosumnes River College | Sacramento, CA | Precision Metal Working | Certificate | 26 | not reported | – | – |
| Cosumnes River College | Sacramento, CA | Precision Metal Working | Associate degree | 3 | not reported | – | – |
| Cuesta College | San Luis Obispo, CA | Precision Metal Working | Certificate | 30 | not reported | – | – |
| Cuesta College | San Luis Obispo, CA | Precision Metal Working | Associate degree | 3 | not reported | – | – |
| De Anza College | Cupertino, CA | Precision Metal Working | Certificate | 37 | not reported | – | – |
| De Anza College | Cupertino, CA | Precision Metal Working | Associate degree | 12 | not reported | – | – |
| College of the Desert | Palm Desert, CA | Precision Metal Working | Certificate | – | not reported | – | – |
| El Camino Community College District | Torrance, CA | Precision Metal Working | Certificate | 19 | not reported | – | – |
| El Camino Community College District | Torrance, CA | Precision Metal Working | Associate degree | 9 | not reported | – | – |
| Foothill College | Los Altos Hills, CA | Precision Metal Working | Certificate | 2 | not reported | – | – |
| Foothill College | Los Altos Hills, CA | Precision Metal Working | Associate degree | 0 | not reported | – | – |
| Fresno City College | Fresno, CA | Precision Metal Working | Certificate | 28 | not reported | – | – |
| Fresno City College | Fresno, CA | Precision Metal Working | Associate degree | 6 | not reported | – | – |
| Fullerton College | Fullerton, CA | Precision Metal Working | Certificate | 4 | not reported | – | – |
| Glendale Community College | Glendale, CA | Precision Metal Working | Certificate | 2 | not reported | – | – |
| Glendale Community College | Glendale, CA | Precision Metal Working | Associate degree | 1 | not reported | – | – |
| Hartnell College | Salinas, CA | Precision Metal Working | Certificate | 2 | not reported | – | – |
| Hartnell College | Salinas, CA | Precision Metal Working | Associate degree | 4 | not reported | – | – |
| Imperial Valley College | Imperial, CA | Precision Metal Working | Certificate | 13 | not reported | – | – |
| Imperial Valley College | Imperial, CA | Precision Metal Working | Associate degree | 9 | not reported | – | – |
| Reedley College | Reedley, CA | Precision Metal Working | Certificate | 35 | not reported | – | – |
| Reedley College | Reedley, CA | Precision Metal Working | Associate degree | 4 | not reported | – | – |
| Laney College | Oakland, CA | Precision Metal Working | Certificate | 9 | not reported | – | – |
| Laney College | Oakland, CA | Precision Metal Working | Associate degree | 9 | not reported | – | – |
| Lassen Community College | Susanville, CA | Precision Metal Working | Certificate | 7 | not reported | – | – |
| Lassen Community College | Susanville, CA | Precision Metal Working | Associate degree | 0 | not reported | – | – |
| Long Beach City College | Long Beach, CA | Precision Metal Working | Certificate | 26 | not reported | – | – |
| Long Beach City College | Long Beach, CA | Precision Metal Working | Associate degree | 19 | not reported | – | – |
| Los Angeles Pierce College | Woodland Hills, CA | Precision Metal Working | Certificate | 0 | not reported | – | – |
| Los Angeles Pierce College | Woodland Hills, CA | Precision Metal Working | Associate degree | 1 | not reported | – | – |
| Los Angeles Trade Technical College | Los Angeles, CA | Precision Metal Working | Certificate | 57 | not reported | – | – |
| Los Angeles Trade Technical College | Los Angeles, CA | Precision Metal Working | Associate degree | 8 | not reported | – | – |
| Los Angeles Valley College | Valley Glen, CA | Precision Metal Working | Certificate | 0 | not reported | – | – |
| Los Angeles Valley College | Valley Glen, CA | Precision Metal Working | Associate degree | 0 | not reported | – | – |
| Los Medanos College | Pittsburg, CA | Precision Metal Working | Certificate | 2 | not reported | – | – |
| Los Medanos College | Pittsburg, CA | Precision Metal Working | Associate degree | 4 | not reported | – | – |
| College of Marin | Kentfield, CA | Precision Metal Working | Certificate | 0 | not reported | – | – |
| College of Marin | Kentfield, CA | Precision Metal Working | Associate degree | 0 | not reported | – | – |
| Merced College | Merced, CA | Precision Metal Working | Associate degree | 9 | not reported | – | – |
| Modesto Junior College | Modesto, CA | Precision Metal Working | Certificate | 45 | not reported | – | – |
| Modesto Junior College | Modesto, CA | Precision Metal Working | Associate degree | 8 | not reported | – | – |
| Mt San Antonio College | Walnut, CA | Precision Metal Working | Certificate | 16 | not reported | – | – |
| Mt San Antonio College | Walnut, CA | Precision Metal Working | Associate degree | 7 | not reported | – | – |
| Napa Valley College | Napa, CA | Precision Metal Working | Certificate | 6 | not reported | – | – |
| Napa Valley College | Napa, CA | Precision Metal Working | Associate degree | 5 | not reported | – | – |
| Orange Coast College | Costa Mesa, CA | Precision Metal Working | Certificate | 37 | not reported | – | – |
| Orange Coast College | Costa Mesa, CA | Precision Metal Working | Associate degree | 10 | not reported | – | – |
| Palo Verde College | Blythe, CA | Precision Metal Working | Certificate | 58 | not reported | – | – |
| Palo Verde College | Blythe, CA | Precision Metal Working | Associate degree | 0 | not reported | – | – |
| Palomar College | San Marcos, CA | Precision Metal Working | Certificate | 58 | not reported | – | – |
| Palomar College | San Marcos, CA | Precision Metal Working | Associate degree | 11 | not reported | – | – |
| Pasadena City College | Pasadena, CA | Precision Metal Working | Certificate | 4 | not reported | – | – |
| Pasadena City College | Pasadena, CA | Precision Metal Working | Associate degree | 2 | not reported | – | – |
| Porterville College | Porterville, CA | Precision Metal Working | Certificate | 0 | not reported | – | – |
| Santa Ana College | Santa Ana, CA | Precision Metal Working | Associate degree | 22 | not reported | – | – |
| College of the Redwoods | Eureka, CA | Precision Metal Working | Certificate | 16 | not reported | – | – |
| College of the Redwoods | Eureka, CA | Precision Metal Working | Associate degree | 6 | not reported | – | – |
| Rio Hondo College | Whittier, CA | Precision Metal Working | Certificate | 1 | not reported | – | – |
| Riverside City College | Riverside, CA | Precision Metal Working | Certificate | 31 | not reported | – | – |
| Riverside City College | Riverside, CA | Precision Metal Working | Associate degree | 0 | not reported | – | – |
| San Diego City College | San Diego, CA | Precision Metal Working | Certificate | 3 | not reported | – | – |
| San Diego City College | San Diego, CA | Precision Metal Working | Associate degree | 0 | not reported | – | – |
| San Joaquin Delta College | Stockton, CA | Precision Metal Working | Certificate | 39 | not reported | – | – |
| San Joaquin Delta College | Stockton, CA | Precision Metal Working | Associate degree | 0 | not reported | – | – |
| San Jose City College | San Jose, CA | Precision Metal Working | Certificate | 7 | not reported | – | – |
| San Jose City College | San Jose, CA | Precision Metal Working | Associate degree | 3 | not reported | – | – |
| Santa Rosa Junior College | Santa Rosa, CA | Precision Metal Working | Certificate | 95 | not reported | – | – |
| Santa Rosa Junior College | Santa Rosa, CA | Precision Metal Working | Associate degree | 6 | not reported | – | – |
| College of the Sequoias | Visalia, CA | Precision Metal Working | Certificate | 14 | not reported | – | – |
| College of the Sequoias | Visalia, CA | Precision Metal Working | Associate degree | 15 | not reported | – | – |
| Shasta College | Redding, CA | Precision Metal Working | Certificate | 11 | not reported | – | – |
| Shasta College | Redding, CA | Precision Metal Working | Associate degree | 4 | not reported | – | – |
| Sierra College | Rocklin, CA | Precision Metal Working | Certificate | 22 | not reported | – | – |
| Sierra College | Rocklin, CA | Precision Metal Working | Associate degree | 3 | not reported | – | – |
| College of the Siskiyous | Weed, CA | Precision Metal Working | Certificate | 3 | not reported | – | – |
| College of the Siskiyous | Weed, CA | Precision Metal Working | Associate degree | 2 | not reported | – | – |
| Charles A Jones Career and Education Center | Sacramento, CA | Precision Metal Working | Certificate | 4 | not reported | – | – |
| San Bernardino Valley College | San Bernardino, CA | Precision Metal Working | Certificate | 4 | not reported | – | – |
| San Bernardino Valley College | San Bernardino, CA | Precision Metal Working | Associate degree | 1 | not reported | – | – |
| Solano Community College | Fairfield, CA | Precision Metal Working | Certificate | 4 | not reported | – | – |
| Solano Community College | Fairfield, CA | Precision Metal Working | Associate degree | 4 | not reported | – | – |
| Taft College | Taft, CA | Precision Metal Working | Certificate | 0 | not reported | – | – |
| Taft College | Taft, CA | Precision Metal Working | Associate degree | 0 | not reported | – | – |
| Ventura College | Ventura, CA | Precision Metal Working | Certificate | 9 | not reported | – | – |
| Ventura College | Ventura, CA | Precision Metal Working | Associate degree | 10 | not reported | – | – |
| Victor Valley College | Victorville, CA | Precision Metal Working | Certificate | 29 | not reported | – | – |
| Victor Valley College | Victorville, CA | Precision Metal Working | Associate degree | 7 | not reported | – | – |
| Coalinga College | Coalinga, CA | Precision Metal Working | Certificate | 9 | not reported | – | – |
| Yuba College | Marysville, CA | Precision Metal Working | Certificate | 34 | not reported | – | – |
| Yuba College | Marysville, CA | Precision Metal Working | Associate degree | 10 | not reported | – | – |
| Las Positas College | Livermore, CA | Precision Metal Working | Certificate | 1 | not reported | – | – |
| Las Positas College | Livermore, CA | Precision Metal Working | Associate degree | 6 | not reported | – | – |
| Pomona Unified School District Adult and Career Education | Pomona, CA | Precision Metal Working | Certificate | 11 | not reported | – | – |
| Hacienda La Puente Adult Education | La Puente, CA | Precision Metal Working | Certificate | 16 | not reported | – | – |
| Santiago Canyon College | Orange, CA | Precision Metal Working | Certificate | – | not reported | – | – |
| Universal Technical Institute of Northern California Inc | Sacramento, CA | Precision Metal Working | Certificate | 0 | not reported | $6,855 | $78 |
| Woodland Community College | Woodland, CA | Precision Metal Working | Certificate | 0 | not reported | – | – |
| Norco College | Norco, CA | Precision Metal Working | Certificate | 5 | not reported | – | – |
| Norco College | Norco, CA | Precision Metal Working | Associate degree | 2 | not reported | – | – |
| Tri-Community Adult Education | Covina, CA | Precision Metal Working | Certificate | 44 | not reported | – | – |
| Madera Community College | Madera, CA | Precision Metal Working | Certificate | 8 | not reported | – | – |
| Madera Community College | Madera, CA | Precision Metal Working | Associate degree | 6 | not reported | – | – |
*Scorecard's estimated monthly payment on the median debt over 10 years. “Not reported” means the Department suppressed or did not publish the figure.
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Welding programs by city in California
Before you choose a welding school in California
Employers often ask for a welding certification such as those offered by the American Welding Society. Those exams are separate from the school diploma, so ask each school how many weld-test hours you get in a booth.
- How many hours are spent in the weld booth versus the classroom?
- Which welding processes (SMAW, GMAW, GTAW, FCAW) and positions are covered?
- Does the school host certification tests on site?
More programs in California
All California programs · Welding & Metalworking nationwide
Source: U.S. Department of Education, College Scorecard Field of Study and Institution files (release dated 10/15/2026). Earnings are median annual earnings of completers working and not enrolled one year after finishing; debt is median federal loan debt of borrowers; both describe past cohorts and small programs are suppressed by the Department. See our methodology.
Frequently asked questions
What is the best-paying welding program in California?
By reported one-year earnings, Santa Ana College leads at $55,962 in the certificate program, but compare cost and local jobs too.
How many welding programs are in California?
The Scorecard lists 142 certificate or associate programs in this field at 85 schools in California.