Photo by Thanin Viriyaki
More About Welders
High-End Earners (Top 10%)
$62,325 annually
Median earners (TOP 50%)
$49,572 annually
Education Required
High school diploma or equivalent
(Source: InterLink 2026 Data, Welders, Cutters, Solderers and Brazers)
CTE Pathway
Welding Statewide Program of Study
Take courses like Welding I, Welding II + Welding II Lab and Practicum in Manufacturing.
See pages 16-17 for the full breakdown of the courses you can take in Welding.
LEAVE AN IMPACT
Welders leave a lasting impact on society by building and repairing the structures, vehicles, and infrastructure people rely on every day, from bridges and schools to pipelines and transportation systems. Their skilled work keeps communities safe, supports innovation, and helps create the foundation for modern life.
You MIGHT be great at this job if YOU…
Love playing with building blocks and LEGOs
Enjoy working with your hands
Learn better when you can do the work, rather than listen to a lecture
Like being on your feet
Sienna Whitaker originally envisioned herself working in law enforcement. During her sophomore year of high school, she decided to switch her career and technical education pathway to welding, and instantly fell in love with the job.
“For those final three years of high school, I spent every spare moment in the welding lab, practicing and preparing for the future I could finally see clearly,” Sienna said.
She credits her CTE program at Wylie High School as the foundation for her success. The program taught Sienna how much she enjoyed hands-on learning and how every weld is a completely different experience. She even competed in various welding competitions that further pushed her to hone her skills in a high-pressure environment.
“In high school, focusing on fabrication opened my eyes to the possibilities of what you can create with just metal, patience and skill,” Sienna said. “Building projects like a commemorative bench and a custom truck bumper grew my confidence immensely.”
Sienna had always planned to enroll in a technical college or trade school after high school to fine-tune her skills. Her high school teacher, Mr. Whitfield, also taught at Collin College, and encouraged her to look into the program. Following his advice, she enrolled and spent the next two years expanding her knowledge in the craft, and recently graduated with her Associate of Applied Science in Welding.
“In college, I continued competing and fabricated everything from rocket stoves and chimineas to AC protection cages and aluminum coolant reservoirs,” Sienna said. “I even took on repair work for farm equipment like bush hogs and mufflers, which taught me how to problem-solve on the fly.”
Her day-to-day life as the business owner of Sienna’s Metal Works involves hands-on welding, business planning and social media marketing. Once a client reaches out, she starts by drawing up blueprints and selecting the best material for the job. Then she gives them a quote by calculating material costs, consumables, labor and travel fees. Once approved, she prepares by cutting and grinding material, and then the real work begins. She tacks and welds pieces together, applies paints and finishes with protective coating.
“I grew up building things out of cardboard and decorating cakes,” Sienna said. “I’ve always loved hands-on work. If you follow what you’re naturally drawn to, you’ll find your passion.”
WHERE TO LEARN
Dallas College Eastfield Campus, Mesquite
Dallas College Mountain View Campus, Dallas
Dallas College North Lake Campus, Irving
Hill College
Hill College - Burleson
Hill College - Cleburne
Hill College - Hillsboro
Tarrant County College
Weatherford College
WHERE TO WORK
Cook Children's Health Care System
Hill College
Hill College - Burleson
Hill College - Cleburne
Hill College - Hillsboro
Lockheed Martin Aeronautics
Six Flags Over Texas
Photo by Thanin Viriyaki
