Welding Program

The welding program at Renton Technical College prepares students for careers as welding engineers, manufacturing engineers, application engineers, sales engineers, and project engineer or manager. The program focuses on applying technical knowledge and skills to join or cut metal surfaces. Program course include: arc welding, resistance welding, brazing and soldering, cutting, high-energy beam welding and cutting, solid state welding, ferrous and non-ferrous materials, oxidation-reduction reactions, welding metallurgy, welding process and heat treating, structural design, safety, and codes and standards. Get more details below including other Washington colleges that offer welding program.

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Renton Technical College

1500 N. Warner Street, Tacoma, WA

Renton Technical College, located in Renton, Washington, was founded in 1942 and is one of the 34 colleges that are operated by the State Board for Community and Technical Colleges in Washington State. The school is dedicated to workforce development in the Renton area, providing specialized training programs in a variety of subjects. The school has seen increased growth since its founding, particularly after the Second World War, where many veterans were looking for job training upon their return. Today the school enrolls a large number of students from a variety of areas, and is dedicated to providing them with the best education possible to ease their transition into the workforce.

Academics

Renton Technical College offers a large variety of programs aimed at meeting the needs of the community and providing students with the skills and knowledge to operate in their chosen field as qualified professionals. Programs take between one and two years to complete, resulting in a certificate or degree that demonstrates competency and allows for entry into the workforce at the entry level. Courses are both classroom and practical, with practical courses allowing for the perfections of methods and techniques in a supervised and controlled setting. The school's ties to the community, particularly for economic development, means that many of the programs offered are reflective of the needs of the community, allowing individuals to seek employment within their community and fill positions that are in high demand.

Programs offered include:

• Accounting
• Legal Office Assistant
• Culinary Arts
• Nursing Assistant
• Automotive Service Technician

Admissions and Financial Aid

Renton Technical College is a two year, open enrollment institution that allows any individual seeking to enroll to do so by completing an application and paying all accrued fees.  Interested students should also provide standardized test scores and transcripts, and may be subject to a placement exam based on program enrollment. Students should also meet with a counselor to discuss program options and curriculum.

Financial aid is available in the form of loans and grants. Students in need of financial assistance must complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), the information from which will be used by the school to develop a financial aid packet based on the student's need and aid program eligibility. Aid must be reapplied for prior to the start of each academic year. Students may be asked at random to supply additional financial information to compare to the FAFSA and certify its accuracy as part of recent government regulations governing the disbursement of public funds.

Students Enrolled in the Welding Program

Get more details below regarding enrollment, academics, and school demographics. Renton Technical College has offered the following program levels for students:

• Less Than One Year Certificate
• Less Than Two-Year Award
• Associate's Degree

Students by Academic Level (2019)

Students by Gender (2019)

Students by Race (2019)

Source: IPEDS Survey 2012-2020: Data obtained from the US Dept. of Education's Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS). Data may vary depending on school and academic year.

Career Options for Graduates

Welders, Cutters, and Welder Fitters

Description

Use hand-welding or flame-cutting equipment to weld or join metal components or to fill holes, indentations, or seams of fabricated metal products.

Career Outlook & Projections ()

According to the BLS, welders, cutters, and welder fitters employment is expected to grow at a rate of 3.6% from 2014 to 2024

Salary & Wages

• Seattle-Bellevue-Everett, WA Metropolitan Division
  • Total Employment: 3
  • Average Hourly Rate: $23.84
  • Average Annual Salary: $49580
• Tacoma-Lakewood, WA Metropolitan Division
  • Total Employment: 400
  • Average Hourly Rate: $22.65
  • Average Annual Salary: $47120

Welding, Soldering, and Brazing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders

Description

Set up, operate, or tend welding, soldering, or brazing machines or robots that weld, braze, solder, or heat treat metal products, components, or assemblies. Includes workers who operate laser cutters or laser-beam machines.

Career Outlook & Projections ()

According to the BLS, welding, soldering, and brazing machine setters, operators, and tenders employment is expected to shrink at a rate of -18.0% from 2014 to 2024

Salary & Wages

• Seattle-Bellevue-Everett, WA Metropolitan Division
  • Total Employment: 170
  • Average Hourly Rate: $23.22
  • Average Annual Salary: $48300
• Tacoma-Lakewood, WA Metropolitan Division
  • Total Employment: 50
  • Average Hourly Rate: $20.46
  • Average Annual Salary: $42560

Source: Job descriptions, estimated salary and wages, and projected job growth are taken from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS).