Welder at Perry Technical Institute Welding Technology Program
at Perry Technical Institute Welding Technology Program in Yakima, WA
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.
About This Program
The Perry Technical Institute Welding Technology Program sponsors a registered Welder Apprenticeship in Yakima, WA. As a well-established technical institute, Perry Tech brings educational infrastructure and hands-on shop facilities to this non-union apprenticeship, offering apprentices a training environment grounded in both technical rigor and practical application.
The program lasts three years and includes 6,000 hours of on-the-job training supported by 432 hours of related technical instruction. Apprentices develop skills across welding processes, fabrication, blueprint reading, equipment operation, and quality control. Classroom instruction through Perry Tech's welding technology curriculum covers metallurgy, welding codes and certifications, safety standards, and applied welding science.
Graduates earn journey-level welder credentials and benefit from the institute's reputation in the Pacific Northwest trades community. Washington State's construction, agriculture, and manufacturing sectors all rely on skilled welders, and completing this apprenticeship positions graduates for steady, well-recognized employment opportunities throughout the region.
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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