Welder at C. H. Kirkpatrick & Sons Welding Service, Inc
at C. H. Kirkpatrick & Sons Welding Service, Inc in Rydal, GA
About This Program
C. H. Kirkpatrick & Sons Welding Service, Inc. sponsors a Welder apprenticeship in Rydal, GA. This time-based program offers paid, practical training in welding for individuals entering the trade through a family-operated welding service business in northwest Georgia.
The apprenticeship lasts three years and combines 6,000 hours of on-the-job training with 432 hours of related technical instruction. Apprentices learn welding processes including MIG, stick, and other techniques used in field and shop welding service work. They also develop skills in metal cutting, repair welding, equipment setup, and safety. Classroom instruction covers welding theory, print reading, material identification, and industry safety standards.
Graduates complete the program as skilled Welders ready to take on service and fabrication work independently. Apprentices earn wages throughout training, with pay increasing as their skill set expands. A registered welding apprenticeship credential supports career advancement in a trade with broad applications across Georgia's agricultural, industrial, and construction sectors.
Wage & Training
Journeyman Wage
$24
OJT Hours
6,000
RTI Hours
432
Duration
3 years
Wage data is the national median for this occupation (BLS, May 2023), not specific to this program.
Welder Career Outlook
National Median
$23.81/hr
~$49,524.8/yr
Apprentice Start
$15.5/hr
Earn while you learn
Job Outlook
Employment for welders is projected to remain steady with consistent demand driven by infrastructure spending, manufacturing, and energy sector projects. Aging infrastructure across the U.S. requires ongoing repair and replacement, creating sustained need for skilled welders. Retirements in the current workforce are expected to generate additional openings over the next decade.
What to Expect as a Welder Apprentice
Duration
3 years of combined on-the-job training and classroom instruction
On-the-Job Training
~40 hours/week of hands-on work under journeyman supervision (6,000 total hours)
Classroom Instruction
432 hours of related technical instruction (~144 hours/year)
Paid Training
You earn a wage from day one, starting at a percentage of the journeyman rate and increasing as you progress
Time-based program: You'll progress through the program based on completing a set number of hours in both on-the-job training and classroom instruction.
Trade School vs. Apprenticeship for Welder
Apprenticeship
Trade School
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