Welder at Elite Welding Academy
at Elite Welding Academy in West Chester, OH
About This Program
Elite Welding Academy sponsors a registered welder apprenticeship program in West Chester, Ohio. This non-union, employer-sponsored program combines a training-focused environment with paid, hands-on work experience to prepare apprentices for professional welding careers in manufacturing and fabrication.
The apprenticeship runs for three years and includes 6,000 hours of on-the-job training alongside 432 hours of related technical instruction. Apprentices learn to operate and manage MIG, TIG, and stick welding equipment, interpret blueprints and weld symbols, perform metal cutting and joint preparation, and apply quality control and safety standards. As an academy setting, the program places particular emphasis on foundational technique and progressive skill development.
Graduates complete the program as journey-level welders prepared to enter Ohio's active manufacturing and industrial sectors. West Chester is part of the Cincinnati metro area, offering graduates access to a broad regional job market where skilled welders are in steady demand across automotive, fabrication, and construction industries.
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
Reviews
No reviews yet. Be the first to share your experience!
See something wrong? Help us improve this page.