If you’re good with your hands and loved playing with Lincoln Logs, Tinker Toys, or Erector Sets as a child, you might be interested in the cutting-edge career of welding. Welders are involved in many different projects, from aerospace to oil derricks. This guide will talk about how to be a welder and the best welding schools in Hawaii.
What Does a Welder Do?
Welders join, cut, and shape metal into a variety of different forms. They use many different techniques and have to be able to weld in an assortment of positions. Welders in Hawaii are often found in shipyards or fitting pipelines together.
Welding Schools Near Me in Hawaii
Honolulu Community College
Honolulu Community College has a robust welding program that trains students to meet AWS standards.
- Location: Honolulu
- Phone number: 808-845-9211
- Programs available: Associate of Applied Science in Welding, Certificate of Achievement in Welding
- Program duration: one to two years
- Average cost: $3,698 per semester, plus $1500 in books and supplies
Hawaii Community College
Hawai’i Community College has two campuses to better serve its students. You’ll learn such skills as arc welding, sheet metal machining, lathe facing, knurling, milling, and rigging.
- Location: Kailua-Kona and Hilo
- Phone number: +1 808-934-2500
- Programs available: AAS in Machine, Welding, and Industrial Mechanics Technologies, Certificate of Achievement, and Certificate of Competence
- Program duration: four months to two years
- Average cost: $2,096 to $8,777, plus books and supplies
Welding Career Opportunities in Hawaii
Once you know how to become a welder in Hawaii, you can find work building ships and submarines, erecting steel buildings, and repairing airplanes.
How Much Do Welders Make in Hawaii?
Indeed reports on salaries for welders in Hawaii. If you have one to two years of experience, you’re likely to make $19.90 per hour, which translates to $39,998 per year or $3,332 per month. With ten years of experience under your belt, you can earn $24.92 per hour, which works out to $51,834 per year or $4,319 per month.
However, some companies may pay much more than this for different types of welding projects. For example, Tanco Engineering Inc. is advertising rates of $29 to $34, depending on experience.
The Bureau of Labor and Statistics says that wages for welders in Hawaii run between $53,880 and $71,230. The average is $66,020, which makes Hawaii the third-highest paying state, after Washington, D.C. and Alaska.
Major Employers of Welders in Hawaii
There are several well-known companies that employ welders in Hawaii. Here are just a few.
- Tanco Engineering Inc., which specializes in fabricating above-ground storage tanks
- The State of Hawaii, where you could work in the airport maintaining fire and safety equipment
- International Marine & Industrial Applicators, LLC, where you can build and restore ships for the U.S. Navy
- Pacific Shipyards International, LLC, which also serves the U.S. Navy as Hawaii’s largest full-service shipyard
- Kauai Coffee Company, which is the largest coffee grower in the U.S.
How To Become a Certified Welder in Hawaii
To become a certified welder in Hawaii, you need to hold a high school diploma or GED, then attend a training school such as those listed above to learn how to use different welding techniques for different jobs.
You should also consider getting certified by the AWS and/or ASME as a welder. Having these certifications can open up a world of job opportunities for you. If you aren’t AWS or ASME certified, you may find your list of job prospects to be severely limited.
Do You Need a License to be a Welder in Hawaii?
The state of Hawaii requires welders to hold a C-56 Welding Contractor license. You have to pay a $50 application fee, a $75 examination fee — and pass the exam — and a license fee between $334 and $663 depending on the type and timing of your license.
Hawaii Welding FAQs
You may have many questions about how to become a welder in Hawaii. Here are the answers to the three most common ones.
1. How Long Does It Take to Become a Welder?
If you currently have a GED or high school diploma, you can become a welder in as little as four months, depending on the school you attend and the program you follow. Some schools offer short-term welding certificates, while others offer AAS degrees in welding.
2. Does a Welder Need Insurance in Hawaii?
As an independent welder in Hawaii, you should have workers’ compensation insurance covering you and any employees who could be injured while working for you. Even if it’s just you, workers’ comp will cover you in case of an on-the-job injury, paying for lost wages and medical care — most private health insurance companies won’t cover workplace injuries.
You should also have commercial liability insurance to cover you in case of injuries to property or person on the job. Liability insurance pays out damages instead of you having to pay out of pocket for any expenses that may arise.
You can easily request a free commercial insurance quote from our partners using the tool below.
3. Who Can I Contact If I Have Questions?
If you have questions about how to become a welder in Hawaii, you can contact several sources. First, you can reach out to the state licensing board at 808-586-3000. Second, you can contact any of the welding schools in Hawaii listed above. Third, you can reach out to the Ironworkers Local #625 at 808-671-4344.
Welding careers in Hawaii are plentiful, and all you have to do is look around to see projects welders have worked on. From bridges to airplanes and ships to pipes, welding abounds in the Aloha state. Welding schools in Hawaii can teach you how to join this cutting-edge industry for a long, exciting career.
For More License and Career Guides
To find out how to become a Welder in another state, start here.
For information on other trades in Hawaii, click on a link below to learn more about the licensing requirements:
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