Welder in Mississippi
Requirements, salary data, licensing costs, and career ROI for MS. Updated with 2024 BLS OEWS wage data.
BLS OEWS 2024, Mississippi.
Jobs (MS)
10-yr job growth
Licensing fees
Time to complete
route How to become a welder in Mississippi
To become a welding contractor in Mississippi, individuals must obtain a license from the Mississippi State Board of Contractors. This requires passing both the Mississippi Welding Contractor Exam and a Business and Law Management exam, along with submitting a comprehensive application and a $400 fee. While a state license is necessary for contractors, individual welders typically rely on industry-standard certifications from organizations like the American Welding Society (AWS) and ASME. Reciprocity for the trade exam is available with certain states, but all applicants must pass the Mississippi Law and Business Management examination.
bar_chart Salary percentiles
Source: BLS OEWS 2024 for Mississippi. Metro-area wages may differ significantly from the state aggregate.
checklist Mississippi requirements
| Licensing body | Mississippi State Board of Contractors |
| State license | Required |
| Exam | Mississippi Welding Contractor Exam and Business and Law Management exam ($75) |
| Application fee | $400 |
| Renewal | Every 1.0 year |
| Reciprocity | Mississippi offers limited trade exam reciprocity, but all applicants must pass a state-specific law exam.Reciprocal states: Mississippi has limited reciprocity agreements for the trade exam with Alabama, Arkansas, Louisiana, Tennessee, and South Carolina. Applicants must have held a license in these states for at least 3 consecutive years and be free of disciplinary action. All applicants, even those with reciprocity, must pass the Mississippi Law and Business Management examination. A $50 fee is charged for each waived exam. |
| Notes | A state license is required for welding contractors undertaking projects over $50,000 for public projects and $100,000 for private projects. Applicants must be at least 18 years old, have a valid government-issued ID, complete an accredited welding program, pass a background check, and demonstrate a net worth of at least $20,000 (for specialty classifications). Proof of workers' compensation and liability insurance ($300,000 per occurrence, $600,000 aggregate) is also required. Pre-approval from the board is needed to schedule the exams. Once approved, applicants have 6 months of eligibility and unlimited attempts during that time. After 6 months, reapplication is necessary. While a state license is required for contractors, Mississippi does not require a separate state welding license for individual welders; AWS and ASME certifications are the primary credentials for individual welders. |
Source: Mississippi State Board of Contractors
Already licensed elsewhere and moving to Mississippi? See whether Mississippi recognizes an out-of-state credential — with the tier and pathway for all 50 states — in our Welder license reciprocity guide.
work_outline Job outlook
AI & tech impact
This career has low exposure to AI automation. Most tasks require physical presence, human judgment, or hands-on skills that AI cannot easily replicate.
balance Is it worth it?
- check_circleMississippi license required — clearer credential signal to employers
- check_circleLow AI disruption risk
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