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Welding classes in South Carolina

11 welding programs with costs, results and funding that can make them free

6 schools offer these welding programs, and South Carolina has approved every one for workforce funding. Each shows its price if you pay yourself and how past students did.

Welders join and cut metal parts with hand-held or remotely controlled equipment. Most have a high school diploma plus technical training, and some employers ask for a certification for particular jobs.1

In South Carolina, 5 of the 11 programs take students without a high school diploma, 4 ask for a diploma or equivalent and 2 ask for earlier courses first.

By kind, the 11 programs here are general welding (6 programs), pipe welding (2 programs), structural welding (1 program), single welding process (1 program), and 1 more of one other kind.

See the 11 programs

How much do welding classes cost in South Carolina?

$5,000 to $6,750 is what most welding programs in South Carolina cost if you pay yourself

That is the middle half of the 11 programs with a price. All of them: $2,100 to $20,300

In the typical program

Finished the program
79%
Working 6 months later
79%
Earned a year, estimated
about $34,100
Length
6 to 12 weeks

Source: US Department of Labor, program year 2024 (July 2024 to June 2025). Only programs approved for workforce funding are listed; other schools in South Carolina may also offer welding classes. How these figures are made

Are there free welding classes in South Carolina?

Who qualifies, and other ways to pay: financial aid, grants and the GI Bill

All 11 welding programs in South Carolina approved for WIOA funding

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11 programs

  • General weldingIn personHigh school diploma or equivalent

    900 Hour Advanced Welding

    Arclabs Welding School

    Piedmont

    Accredited school

    High school diploma or equivalent

    Arclabs Welding School, PiedmontGeneral welding · Accredited schoolIn person · High school diploma or equivalent

    Earned a year, estimated$35,400
    Price if you pay yourself$20,300

    8 students trained with WIOA funding

    Program website, 900 Hour Advanced Welding at Arclabs Welding School
    More details about 900 Hour Advanced Welding at Arclabs Welding School
    Finished
    71%
    Working at 6 months
    79%
    Earned in a quarter
    $8,849
    Length
    26 weeks, 38 hours a week
    Cost of supplies
    $1,375
    Students counted
    1,216
    Earned a year, estimated
    $35,400
    Price if you pay yourself
    $20,300
    students trained with WIOA funding
    8
    Program website, 900 Hour Advanced Welding at Arclabs Welding School

  • Structural weldingIn personNo diploma needed

    Wld-101 Plate Welding

    Norris Mechanical, Llc

    Anderson

    No diploma needed

    Norris Mechanical, Llc, AndersonStructural weldingIn person · No diploma needed

    Earned a year, estimated$35,000
    Price if you pay yourself$5,000

    50 students trained with WIOA funding

    Program website, Wld-101 Plate Welding at Norris Mechanical, Llc
    More details about Wld-101 Plate Welding at Norris Mechanical, Llc
    Finished
    79%
    Working at 6 months
    67%
    Earned in a quarter
    $8,752
    Length
    6 weeks, 40 hours a week
    Cost of supplies
    $941
    Students counted
    123
    Earned a year, estimated
    $35,000
    Price if you pay yourself
    $5,000
    students trained with WIOA funding
    50
    Program website, Wld-101 Plate Welding at Norris Mechanical, Llc

  • Pipe weldingIn personPrerequisite courses

    Wld-102 Pipe Welding

    Norris Mechanical, Llc

    Anderson

    Prerequisite courses

    Norris Mechanical, Llc, AndersonPipe weldingIn person · Prerequisite courses

    Earned a year, estimated$35,800
    Price if you pay yourself$5,000

    27 students trained with WIOA funding

    Program website, Wld-102 Pipe Welding at Norris Mechanical, Llc
    More details about Wld-102 Pipe Welding at Norris Mechanical, Llc
    Finished
    81%
    Working at 6 months
    79%
    Earned in a quarter
    $8,945
    Length
    6 weeks, 40 hours a week
    Cost of supplies
    $941
    Students counted
    69
    Earned a year, estimated
    $35,800
    Price if you pay yourself
    $5,000
    students trained with WIOA funding
    27
    Program website, Wld-102 Pipe Welding at Norris Mechanical, Llc

  • General weldingIn personEducation and courses

    Welding I

    Carolina Welding Training Institute

    Andrews

    Education and courses

    Carolina Welding Training Institute, AndrewsGeneral weldingIn person · Education and courses

    Earned a year, estimated$26,000
    Price if you pay yourself$4,675

    24 students trained with WIOA funding

    Program website, Welding I at Carolina Welding Training Institute
    More details about Welding I at Carolina Welding Training Institute
    Finished
    98%
    Working at 6 months
    82%
    Earned in a quarter
    $6,489
    Length
    20 weeks, 20 hours a week
    Cost of supplies
    $320
    Students counted
    60
    Earned a year, estimated
    $26,000
    Price if you pay yourself
    $4,675
    students trained with WIOA funding
    24
    Program website, Welding I at Carolina Welding Training Institute

  • General weldingIn personNo diploma needed

    Nccer Welding Technology Program

    Palmetto Training Inc

    Walterboro

    No diploma needed

    Palmetto Training Inc, WalterboroGeneral weldingIn person · No diploma needed

    Earned a year, estimated$29,600
    Price if you pay yourself$5,000

    39 students trained with WIOA funding

    Program website, Nccer Welding Technology Program at Palmetto Training Inc
    More details about Nccer Welding Technology Program at Palmetto Training Inc
    Finished
    95%
    Working at 6 months
    86%
    Earned in a quarter
    $7,395
    Length
    12 weeks, 30 hours a week
    Cost of supplies
    $500
    Students counted
    47
    Earned a year, estimated
    $29,600
    Price if you pay yourself
    $5,000
    students trained with WIOA funding
    39
    Program website, Nccer Welding Technology Program at Palmetto Training Inc

  • Single welding processIn personNo diploma needed

    Production MIG Welding

    Florence-Darlington Technical College

    Florence

    Accredited school

    No diploma needed

    Florence-Darlington Technical College, FlorenceSingle welding process · Accredited schoolIn person · No diploma needed

    Earned a year, estimatedNot reported
    Price if you pay yourself$2,100

    6 students trained with WIOA funding

    Program website, Production MIG Welding at Florence-Darlington Technical College
    More details about Production MIG Welding at Florence-Darlington Technical College
    Finished
    38%
    Working at 6 months
    Not reported
    Earned in a quarter
    Not reported
    Length
    2 weeks, 25 hours a week
    Cost of supplies
    None listed
    Students counted
    41
    Earned a year, estimated
    Not reported
    Price if you pay yourself
    $2,100
    students trained with WIOA funding
    6
    Program website, Production MIG Welding at Florence-Darlington Technical College

  • General weldingIn personHigh school diploma or equivalent

    280 Hour Specific Process Welding

    Arclabs Welding School

    Piedmont

    Accredited school

    High school diploma or equivalent

    Arclabs Welding School, PiedmontGeneral welding · Accredited schoolIn person · High school diploma or equivalent

    Earned a year, estimated$37,600
    Price if you pay yourself$5,880
    Program website, 280 Hour Specific Process Welding at Arclabs Welding School
    More details about 280 Hour Specific Process Welding at Arclabs Welding School
    Finished
    74%
    Working at 6 months
    92%
    Earned in a quarter
    $9,398
    Length
    7 weeks, 40 hours a week
    Cost of supplies
    $700
    Students counted
    24
    Earned a year, estimated
    $37,600
    Price if you pay yourself
    $5,880
    Program website, 280 Hour Specific Process Welding at Arclabs Welding School

  • General weldingIn personHigh school diploma or equivalent

    280 Hour Specific Process Welding with OSHA 10

    Arclabs Welding School

    Piedmont

    Accredited school

    High school diploma or equivalent

    Arclabs Welding School, PiedmontGeneral welding · Accredited schoolIn person · High school diploma or equivalent

    Earned a year, estimated$33,200
    Price if you pay yourself$5,880
    Program website, 280 Hour Specific Process Welding with OSHA 10 at Arclabs Welding School
    More details about 280 Hour Specific Process Welding with OSHA 10 at Arclabs Welding School
    Finished
    62%
    Working at 6 months
    71%
    Earned in a quarter
    $8,294
    Length
    7 weeks, 40 hours a week
    Cost of supplies
    $875
    Students counted
    13
    Earned a year, estimated
    $33,200
    Price if you pay yourself
    $5,880
    Program website, 280 Hour Specific Process Welding with OSHA 10 at Arclabs Welding School

  • Welding and fabricationIn personHigh school diploma or equivalent

    Wld-101 Fabrication Welding Course

    Norris Mechanical, Llc

    Anderson

    High school diploma or equivalent

    Norris Mechanical, Llc, AndersonWelding and fabricationIn person · High school diploma or equivalent

    Earned a year, estimated$30,900
    Price if you pay yourself$7,000

    3 students trained with WIOA funding

    Program website, Wld-101 Fabrication Welding Course at Norris Mechanical, Llc
    More details about Wld-101 Fabrication Welding Course at Norris Mechanical, Llc
    Finished
    89%
    Working at 6 months
    77%
    Earned in a quarter
    $7,725
    Length
    10 weeks, 40 hours a week
    Cost of supplies
    $1,400
    Students counted
    10
    Earned a year, estimated
    $30,900
    Price if you pay yourself
    $7,000
    students trained with WIOA funding
    3
    Program website, Wld-101 Fabrication Welding Course at Norris Mechanical, Llc

  • Pipe weldingIn personNo diploma needed

    Course #101 Combo Pipe Welder SMAW/GTAW/GMAW

    South Carolina School Of Welding, Llc

    Beech Island

    No diploma needed

    South Carolina School Of Welding, Llc, Beech IslandPipe weldingIn person · No diploma needed

    Earned a year, estimatedNot reported
    Price if you pay yourself$6,500
    Program website, Course #101 Combo Pipe Welder SMAW/GTAW/GMAW at South Carolina School Of Welding, Llc
    More details about Course #101 Combo Pipe Welder SMAW/GTAW/GMAW at South Carolina School Of Welding, Llc
    Finished
    Not reported
    Working at 6 months
    Not reported
    Earned in a quarter
    Not reported
    Length
    Not reported
    Cost of supplies
    $4,000
    Students counted
    Not reported
    Earned a year, estimated
    Not reported
    Price if you pay yourself
    $6,500
    Program website, Course #101 Combo Pipe Welder SMAW/GTAW/GMAW at South Carolina School Of Welding, Llc

  • General weldingIn personNo diploma needed

    400 Hour Welding, including Certificate With OSHA Training

    Arclabs Welding School

    Piedmont

    Accredited school

    No diploma needed

    Arclabs Welding School, PiedmontGeneral welding · Accredited schoolIn person · No diploma needed

    Earned a year, estimatedNot reported
    Price if you pay yourself$8,400
    Program website, 400 Hour Welding, including Certificate With OSHA Training at Arclabs Welding School
    More details about 400 Hour Welding, including Certificate With OSHA Training at Arclabs Welding School
    Finished
    Not reported
    Working at 6 months
    Not reported
    Earned in a quarter
    Not reported
    Length
    12 weeks, 36 hours a week
    Cost of supplies
    $875
    Students counted
    Not reported
    Earned a year, estimated
    Not reported
    Price if you pay yourself
    $8,400
    Program website, 400 Hour Welding, including Certificate With OSHA Training at Arclabs Welding School

How to pay for welding classes in South Carolina

WIOA funding can pay for welding classes in South Carolina

Every program on this page is approved for it. Whether you qualify, how much your local area pays and how to apply are on our page Does WIOA pay for job training?

Financial aid and grants for welding classes

Most students can get federal student aid for college, career school or trade school. A Federal Pell Grant, unlike a loan, usually doesn't have to be repaid. Ask the school whether its program qualifies.67

GI Bill for welding classes

Veterans, service members and qualified dependents can use GI Bill benefits for non-college training programs.8

The program list does not show which programs accept these. Ask the school.

Quick facts: Welding classes in South Carolina

lowest typical price among the states with enough programs to compare
33rd of 46
other states where the typical program's graduates earned less
15 of 31
welding programs here, against the typical state's 24
11 vs 24

State comparisons use the same figures as the welding classes by state table: the middle program of each state, and only states with three or more schools for prices. Source: US Department of Labor, program year 2024 (July 2024 to June 2025).

Welding classes in Greenville, Florence, Augusta and other South Carolina cities

Choosing an area filters the program list above. 2 in smaller cities and towns.

Other training in South Carolina

How welding classes compare with the rest of skilled trades: Trade school programs in South Carolina

Where the South Carolina welding program numbers come from

Which South Carolina welding programs are on this list?

These are the welding programs South Carolina approved for WIOA funding (public workforce funding under the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act), as reported to the US Department of Labor for program year 2024 (July 2024 to June 2025). Each state keeps its approved programs on an eligible training provider list (ETPL).9 The list here covers programs approved as of June 30, 2025. Schools that never applied for approval are missing, so this is a part of what South Carolina offers.

How the prices and results of South Carolina welding programs are measured

Prices are tuition and required fees for someone paying without workforce funding, as the school reported them; check the current price with the school. Results describe students who left each program in recent years, so they are no guarantee, and the yearly earnings are the reported quarter times four, an estimate. A program without a "Trained with WIOA funding" line may still take WIOA students. Where a field was left empty or withheld, the page says "Not reported", and "Left out" where a figure was filed but failed one of our checks; nothing is estimated to fill a gap. Where the numbers come from explains each figure in full.

Sources for the facts about welding classes in South Carolina

Show the 9 sourcesHide the sources
  1. US Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Outlook Handbook: Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and Brazers
  2. US Department of Labor, TrainingProviderResults.gov: About This Site
  3. US Department of Labor: WIOA Adult Program
  4. Code of Federal Regulations, title 20, part 680, sections 680.220, 680.230 and 680.310: career services before training, other grants such as Pell Grants first, and limits on Individual Training Accounts (GovInfo, 2024 edition)
  5. US Department of Labor: American Job Centers
  6. US Department of Education, Federal Student Aid: Eligibility for Federal Student Aid
  7. US Department of Education, Federal Student Aid: Don't Miss Out on Federal Pell Grants
  8. US Department of Veterans Affairs: GI Bill benefits for non-college degree programs
  9. US Department of Labor, Training and Employment Guidance Letter 8-19, Attachment I: Requirements for Training Providers, Program Eligibility, and the State Eligible Training Provider (ETP) List