South Carolina Community Colleges
Welding Technology Programs
Welding technology programs at community colleges in this state. Career-track training for AWS-certified welders.
9 colleges · 180 sections · 39 unique courses · Summer 2026 · Updated today
Welding programs at South Carolina community colleges are among the most direct paths from enrollment to a full-time skilled-trade job in the state. Most SCTCS welding programs are one-year diploma or two-year AAS sequences aligned to AWS (American Welding Society) certifications — SMAW (stick), GMAW (MIG), GTAW (TIG), and FCAW (flux-cored). The 180 sections at 9 institutions this term combine bench-work hours with metallurgy theory and blueprint reading.
Welders graduating with AWS certifications step into manufacturing, pipeline, structural-steel, and shipyard jobs without needing further education. Pay is competitive (often above other CC-trade tracks), demand outpaces supply in most South Carolina metro areas, and the certification stacking — adding pipe, aluminum, and underwater certifications over time — keeps the career growing.
Earnings & outcomes for Welding Technology graduates
Federal College Scorecard data on what graduates of this program actually earn after completion. Where a school’s cohort is too small to publish, we show the national benchmark for the same field of study.
Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, per-program (4-digit CIP) data. CIP 4805 — Precision Metal Working. School cohorts are suppressed by the federal source when fewer than ~30 completers in the reporting cohort.
Colleges offering Welding Technology
| College | Sections | Courses | Online | Awards/yr | 5-yr earnings |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Horry-Georgetown Technical College | 36 | 4 | — | 104 | — |
| Piedmont Technical College | 34 | 11 | — | 320 | $45,568 |
| Trident Technical College | 25 | 13 | — | 61 | — |
| Tri-County Technical College | 22 | 4 | — | 381 | — |
| Florence-Darlington Technical College | 20 | 15 | 4 | 204 | $37,586 |
| Greenville Technical College | 18 | 4 | 6 | 203 | $48,205 |
| Midlands Technical College | 13 | 9 | — | 86 | — |
| Aiken Technical College | 10 | 7 | 1 | 15 | — |
| Denmark Technical College | 2 | 2 | — | 35 | — |
Welding Technology Availability Snapshot
How welding technology sections are being offered across 9 colleges in South Carolina this term (180 sections total).
Delivery format
- in person115 (64%)
- hybrid54 (30%)
- online11 (6%)
When sections meet
- Morning (before noon)83
- Afternoon (noon–5 PM)32
- Evening (5 PM and after)42
- Asynchronous / TBA23
Start dates
Sections begin on 7 distinct dates. 30 late-start more than two weeks after the term's earliest start.
Instructor diversity
Taught by 28 distinct instructors across 9 colleges.
Degree requirements by college
Expand a college to see the courses required for graduation. Data sourced from each college's official catalog.
Central Carolina Technical College2 programs
Spartanburg Community College3 programs
Trident Technical College5 programs
York Technical College3 programs
Common Welding Technology courses
- WLD 134Inert Gas Welding Non-Ferrous(13 sections)
- WLD 229Advanced Welding Technology(12 sections)
- WLD 160Fabrication Welding(11 sections)
- WLD 140Weld Testing(10 sections)
- WLD 228Inert Gas Welding Pipe 1(10 sections)
- WLD 109Gas Metal Arc Welding 2(9 sections)
- WLD 208Advanced Pipe Welding(8 sections)
- WLD 102Introduction to Welding(7 sections)
- WLD 240Robotic Wld & Manuf(7 sections)
- WLD 108Gas Metal ARC Welding I(6 sections)
- WLD 120Flux Cored Arc Welding I(6 sections)
- WLD 142Maintenance Welding(6 sections)
Career outlook for Welding Technology graduates
Federal Bureau of Labor Statistics wage data for the primary career outcome of this program (2024 OEWS release). Compare South Carolina’s typical pay to the national picture before choosing where to study.
South Carolina's typical pay for this occupation is roughly in line with the national picture.
Wage data reflects all workers in the occupation, not just recent CC graduates — entry-level pay is typically lower. Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS.
Frequently asked questions
- How long does a welding program take at a community college?
- One-year diploma programs cover the AWS Certified Welder fundamentals (SMAW + GMAW for structural steel). Two-year AAS programs add advanced processes (TIG, pipe welding), blueprint reading, materials science, and supervisory coursework. Many students start with the diploma, get hired, then return for the AAS while working.
- What welding certifications can I earn?
- AWS Certified Welder is the baseline credential — most South Carolina programs prepare graduates to test for it on multiple processes (SMAW, GMAW, GTAW, FCAW) in multiple positions (flat, horizontal, vertical, overhead). Specialty certs (6G pipe, structural code D1.1, pressure-vessel code D1.5) come from employer-sponsored testing after hire and pay significantly more.
- What's the demand for welders in South Carolina?
- Strong. Industrial manufacturing, pipeline maintenance, shipyard work, and infrastructure construction all need welders, and the workforce is aging faster than it's being replaced. BLS projects 2% growth nationally through 2032, but starting wages have risen 15-20% in the last five years as employers compete for trained welders.
- Do I need a four-year degree to advance in welding?
- No. Career progression goes: certified welder → senior welder → welding inspector (CWI certification, employer-paid) → welding supervisor → welding engineer. The CWI is the credential that opens supervisory and inspection roles at $25–35/hr+; the welding-engineer path requires more formal education but is the exception, not the norm. Most welders advance via certification stacking, not college credit.
Compare Welding Technology programs in other states
Same comparison view, different state systems. Useful if you’re considering an out-of-state community college or just want to see how South Carolina’s welding technology programs stack up.
Other programs in South Carolina
Some programs may not be offered at every college — pages render only when the program meets a coverage threshold for the state.