Get it Together with a Career in Welding

Are you thinking about pursuing a career in engineering, the aerospace industry or even computers? A career as a welder can get you jobs in these industries and more.  With welding skills you can get jobs in the exciting field of robotics or construction to name a few.  A career in Welding can earn salaries ranging from $15 an hour all the way up to $100 and hour and beyond.

Welding is the universal way of permanently joining metal parts. In welding, heat is applied to metal pieces, melting and fusing them to form a permanent bond. Welding is used to join beams when constructing buildings, bridges, and other structures.  A welder’s skills are used in building automobiles and ships, as well as in various manufacturing capacities. These specially trained workers perform manual welding, in which the work is done by the welder, or semiautomatic welding, in which the welder uses machinery to perform welding tasks. 

To become a welder, you must complete high school and have some vocational training.    Post secondary education is useful and helps to obtain better jobs.  Having an aptitude for mathematics is important in a welding career.  Welders need to know geometry and how to use compasses and protractors, and know angles.  Basic math skills such as adding, subtraction and fractions are also important.  Some welders become certified to obtain higher paying jobs in their field.

The Certified Welder program is a performance-based program with no prerequisite courses or certifications required. Final certification will provide credentials that are accepted universally.  The Certified Welder (http://www.aws.org) program is used to test procedures used in the structural steel, petroleum pipelines, sheet metal and chemical refinery welding industries. Welding, workers need good vision, hand-eye coordination, and manual dexterity. They should be able to focus on detailed work for long periods of time and be able to bend, stoop, and work in uncomfortable positions. In addition, welders need to be prepared to get additional training and perform tasks in other production jobs.

The Welding industry is not considered to be a “growth” industry. Regardless, employment prospects in this field should be good enough as qualified workers are in limited supply.  In addition, available jobs will most likely arise as workers retire over the next decade. Median yearly earnings of welders were $29,462 in 2004.  The manufacturing industry employs most welding workers.  As manufacturing continues to move overseas, the job market will continue to decline.  This overall decline will affect the demand for welders, although some industries will fare better than others.