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Multiple financing options are available including payment plans and third-party education loans." } }, { "@type": "Question", "name": "What is the average salary for a certified pipe welder?", "acceptedAnswer": { "@type": "Answer", "text": "Certified pipe welders earn $30-50/hour on average, with experienced pipeline welders earning $80,000-150,000+ annually depending on location and specialization. Western Welding Academy graduates report average starting wages of $30+/hour, with many earning significantly more within their first year due to the high demand for 6G-certified pipe welders." } }, { "@type": "Question", "name": "Do I need prior experience to enroll in a professional welding school?", "acceptedAnswer": { "@type": "Answer", "text": "No prior welding experience is required at Western Welding Academy. Programs like the Expert Pipe Welder (24 weeks) and Foundational Pipe Welder (12 weeks) are designed to take complete beginners and transform them into certified pipe welders. Students come from all backgrounds including retail, food service, military, and office jobs. The curriculum starts with fundamentals and progressively builds to advanced 6G pipe welding." } }, { "@type": "Question", "name": "What are the job placement rates of top welding schools?", "acceptedAnswer": { "@type": "Answer", "text": "Western Welding Academy has a 94% job placement rate within 90 days of graduation, which is among the highest in the industry. This compares to typical community college welding programs at 60-70% and other trade schools at 75-85%. WWA attributes their high placement rate to their industry connections, focus on high-demand pipe welding certifications, and dedicated career services team." } }, { "@type": "Question", "name": "Which welding certifications are most valuable for getting a job?", "acceptedAnswer": { "@type": "Answer", "text": "The most valuable welding certifications for employment are: 6G Pipe Welding (highest demand, highest pay), API 1104 Pipeline Welding (oil and gas industry), ASME Section IX (power plants, refineries), and AWS D1.1 Structural (construction). 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Western Welding Academy
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Western Welding Academy
BUILDING A STRONGER AMERICA
events
2026 Blue Collar Tour2026 Weld Competition
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menu
Home

Programs

Pipe Welding
Expert Pipe Welder
Professional Pipe Welder
Foundational Pipe Welder
Structural Welding
Advanced Structual Welder
financial aidHOUSINGabout us

ONLY
THE BEST
WELDERS
TRAIN HERE.

Do you have what it takes?
APPLY NOWProgram Quiz

Most enrolled courses

Expert pipe Welder

Program Length

24 weeks
Average Time to Payback: 7 Months
APPLY NOWView Course

Foundational pipe Welder

Program Length

12 weeks
Average Time to Payback: 5 Months
APPLY NOWView Course

2000+

GRADUATES

94%

GET HIRED

85%

HANDS ON

our mission

we deliver high-earning careers

Founded by welders, Western Welding Academy is committed to delivering industry-leading student outcomes.

Train in Gillette, Wyoming, focusing on real-world training that prepares you for a successful welding career.

Welder

3 CAREER READY WELDING PROGRAMS

3 Pipe Welding Programs: Foundational, Professional or expert
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TRAIN LIKE YOU'RE ALREADY ON THE JOB

85% of your training happens in the booth, 40 hours per week.
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A SCHOOL BUILT BY WELDERS, FOR WELDERS

Taught by industry veterans with 330+ years of combined experience.
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NO EXPERIENCE NEEDED - JUST WORK ETHIC

Train from the ground up or refine your craft at the highest level.
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ALL INCLUSIVE TUITION

Your tuition covers everything - housing, tools and materials.

YOUR FUTURE STARTS HERE.

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SCROLL TO DISCOVER YOUR WELDING PROGRAM
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OUR PROGRAMS

CHOOSE YOUR PATH. FORGE YOUR FUTURE.

At Western Welding Academy, we offer two specialized career paths.

Our Pipe Welding Program trains you to weld cylindrical structures for industries like
Oil & Gas, Power Plants, and Refineries. It Incudes three skill levels : Foundational,
Professional, and Expert.

Our Advanced Structural Welding Program focuses on building strong frameworks
for bridges, buildings, and infastructures.

For more information : please visit Our Programs

MOST POPULAR
PROGRAM
PLANS
ENTRY LEVEL SALARY :
LENGTH
SKILLS
STRUCTURAL
SMAW
ADVANCED SMAW
GTAW
ADVANCED GTAW
COST
START-DATES
STRUCTURAL WELDING
ADVANCED
$40-70K
12 WEEKS
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$25,800
YEAR-ROUND
PIPE WELDING
FOUNDATIONAL
$40-60K
12 WEEKS
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$17,050
SUBJECT TO
AVAILABILITY
PIPE WELDING
PROFESSIONAL
$50-90K
19 WEEKS
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$27,600
SUBJECT TO
AVAILABILITY
PIPE WELDING
‍EXPERT
$60-125K
24 WEEKS
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$35,800
YEAR-ROUND

WHO DO YOU WANT TO BE?

Foundational
Pipe welder

Average Starting Salary for Graduates:
 $40k - $60K
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Professional
pipe welder

Average Starting Salary for Graduates:
$50k - $90K
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expert
pipe welder

Average Starting Salary for Graduates:
$70k - $125K
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TESTIMONIALS

STORIES FROM OUR GRADUATES

Gavin Walden

Earning: $3,986/Paycheck
Verified by graduate submitted paycheck

david Smolek

Earning: $3,417/Paycheck
Verified by graduate submitted paycheck

Leyton Wagner

Earning: $4,514/Paycheck
Verified by graduate submitted paycheck

the campus

WE GROW TOGETHER.
Western Welding Academy boothsWestern Welding Academy pipeline simulatorWestern Welding Academy Pipe SimulatorWestern Welding Academy welding machinesInside a western welding academy boothWestern Welding Academy indoor boothsWestern welding academy classroomWestern Welding Academy shopWestern welding academy shop
Western Welding Academy boothsWestern Welding Academy pipeline simulatorWestern Welding Academy Pipe SimulatorWestern Welding Academy welding machinesInside a western welding academy boothWestern Welding Academy indoor boothsWestern welding academy classroomWestern Welding Academy shopWestern welding academy shop

your Path Forward — One Step at a Time

Submit Application

1
Apply online, in minutes.
1

Admission Decision

2
We carefully review every application.
2

SECURE YOUR SPOT

3
Submit a Booth Hold Payment to secure your spot.
3

PREPARE FOR SCHOOL

4
Review and sign enrollment documents.
4

FINALIZE ENROLLMENT

5
Fund your tuition and get ready for school.
5

Your future
starts here

APPLY NOWprogram Quiz

HOUSING

housing

A HOME AWAY FROM HOME
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NO HIDDEN COSTS

WIFI and Utilities fully covered in tuition.
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MOVE IN READY

Fully furnished homes with all essentials provided.
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SPACIOUS & COMFORTABLE

Fully furnished homes with all essentials provided.
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CONVENIENT LOCATION

Just a 5 minute drive from school campus and Gillette Center .
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PARKING AVAILABLE

1 Parking spot per student.
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ROOMATE REQUESTS

Let us know! We'll do our best to accommodate requests.
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SCHEDULE A CAMPUS TOUR

schedule NOW

FINANCIAL AID

A HOME AWAY FROM HOME

Pay upfront, secure a loan, or use a combination of both.

upfront payment

Pay partial or full tuition before
starting school using cash, 579
accounts or education savings
accounts.

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No Interest or fees
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No ongoing commintments
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Lowest cost option

private loans

Pay partial or full tuition before
starting school using cash, 579
accounts or education savings
accounts.

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No Interest or fees
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No ongoing commintments
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Lowest cost option
DO YOU HAVE WHAT IT TAKES?
APPLY NOWprogram Quiz

Join the Conversation

Follow us on socials & stay informed on everything Western Welding Academy!

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Welcome to Western Welding Academy

Western Welding Academy is the only pipe welding school in the country that is solely owned and operated by real pipeline/pipe welders. At WWA we have the most elite, highest skilled welders in the world teaching students how to weld.

(307) 284-5313
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Western Welding Academy
BUILDING A STRONGER AMERICA
events
2026 Blue Collar Tour2026 Weld Competition
APPLy NowProgram Quiz
menu
Home

Programs

Pipe Welding
Expert Pipe Welder
Professional Pipe Welder
Foundational Pipe Welder
Structural Welding
Advanced Structual Welder
financial aidHOUSINGabout us
Western Welding Academy
BUILDING A STRONGER AMERICA
events
2026 Blue Collar Tour2026 Weld Competition
APPLy NowProgram Quiz
menu
Home

Programs

Pipe Welding
Expert Pipe Welder
Professional Pipe Welder
Foundational Pipe Welder
Structural Welding
Advanced Structual Welder
financial aidHOUSINGabout us