Welder at Lymes Welding Training

Time-BasedRegistered ApprenticeshipPaid Training

at Lymes Welding Training in Ramsey, MN

About This Program

Lymes Welding Training offers a registered welder apprenticeship program in Ramsey, Minnesota. This non-union program provides aspiring welders with a structured, paid training experience that blends practical shop work with technical classroom learning over three years.

Apprentices complete 6,000 hours of on-the-job training and 432 hours of related technical instruction throughout the program. Training covers a range of welding processes including MIG, TIG, and shielded metal arc welding, as well as metal fitting, fabrication techniques, blueprint interpretation, and welding safety standards. Working alongside experienced professionals, apprentices build the hands-on competency needed to perform quality welds across a variety of materials and applications.

Graduates earn journey-level welder credentials upon completing the apprenticeship, opening doors to employment in fabrication, manufacturing, construction, and repair industries. Welding is a skilled trade with consistent demand across Minnesota and the broader Midwest, making this apprenticeship a practical investment in long-term career stability.

Wage & Training

Journeyman Wage

$24

BLS 2023

OJT Hours

6,000

Apprenticeship.gov 2025

RTI Hours

432

Apprenticeship.gov 2025

Duration

3 years

Apprenticeship.gov 2025

Wage data is the national median for this occupation (BLS, May 2023), not specific to this program.

How to Apply

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

Cost$0 (earn while you learn)
Duration3 years
Starting wage$15.50/hr
Journeyman wage$23.81/hr
CredentialJourneyman card

Trade School

Cost$5,000–$20,000+
Duration6–24 months
Starting wageEntry-level
ExperienceHands-on labs
CredentialCertificate / diploma

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