Welder jobs in Grand Prairie: pay, certifications and how to get hired

Grand Prairie sits in the middle of the DFW manufacturing belt - shops along I-30, Hwy 360 and Belt Line that build structural steel, trailers, equipment and custom fab. Here is what welding pays, which certifications shops ask for, and how to get hired.

What welders earn

The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reports a median annual wage of $53,750 (May 2025) for welders, cutters, solderers and brazers - about $25.84 an hour. The lowest 10% earned under $39,240 and the top 10% over $77,530. Specialty trade contractors paid a higher median ($59,440) than manufacturing ($51,210). BLS projects 2% growth from 2025 to 2035, with about 40,300 openings a year nationwide, mostly to replace workers who leave or retire.

Pipe, structural and TIG specialists often earn more than production MIG. Night and weekend shifts usually add a differential. Ask exactly how overtime and piece-rate or production bonuses work.

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Outlook Handbook, Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and Brazers (May 2025 wage data).

Certifications that get you hired

• No Texas state welder license. Texas does not license welders the way it licenses electricians or plumbers. Your ticket is the shop test and the certifications employers require.
• AWS Certified Welder (or an employer bend/fillet test to a code such as AWS D1.1 structural steel) is the most common ask for structural and fab shops.
• Process skill: MIG (GMAW) for production and trailers, stick (SMAW) for field and structural, TIG (GTAW) for stainless and thin metal, flux-core (FCAW) for outdoor structural. List every process you can pass a test on.
• Pipe and ASME work pays more and usually needs a shop- or union-specific pipe test. Ask which code and position (6G is the gold standard for pipe).

What a Grand Prairie week looks like

• Shop fab: fixtures, frames, trailers, equipment and structural assemblies under a hood or on a line.
• Field work: structural steel, repairs and plant maintenance around Mid-Cities plants and job sites.
• Print reading, grind and fit-up before you strike an arc. Fitters who can also weld move faster.
• Heat, sparks and PPE every day. Expect steel-toe boots, welding hood, gloves and hearing protection.

Questions to ask in the interview

• Which processes and positions will I test on, and which code (AWS D1.1, ASME, etc.)?
• Is pay hourly, piece-rate, or hourly plus production bonus?
• Shop, field, or both - and do you pay per diem or travel time for field days?
• Will you pay for AWS testing or advanced pipe certification?

New to the trades? See our apprentice to journeyman guide and DFW trade pay questions.

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FAQ

Do I need a license to weld in Texas?

No state welder license. Employers usually require a shop weld test and often an AWS or code certification such as AWS D1.1.

How much do welders make?

BLS reports a median of $53,750 a year ($25.84 an hour) for welders, cutters, solderers and brazers (May 2025). The top 10% earned over $77,530.