Careers in Welding - Your Path to a Rewarding Welding Career (2024)

FAQs

What is the career path for a welder? ›

Welders can advance their careers as welding engineers, welding inspectors, and robotic welding technicians and engineers. These careers require additional education and certifications.

Welders work with a wide range of metals, including steel, aluminum, and stainless steel, and they use different methods such as arc welding, gas welding, and resistance welding, among others. Welding can be a challenging and rewarding career that requires a high level of skill and attention to detail.

As a welder, you can work on projects that are both functional and artistic, allowing you to express your creativity while earning a living. Hands-On Work: Welding is a hands-on trade, which means that you get to work with your hands and see the results of your work. This can be very satisfying and rewarding.

For example, some welders may work on oil rigs, while others can work underwater. Those in the construction industry may work on active building sites. Some other industries and fields include: Aerospace.

The precision and responsibility in welding, especially in pressure vessel manufacturing, can create significant mental and emotional stress. Our welders often work under tight deadlines and high expectations for quality and safety.

High-Paying Salary

This makes it a lucrative career for those with a high school diploma or equivalent. While entry-level welders earn around $35,380 per year, experienced welders or those with welding certifications earn more than $68,750 per year, with a more significant earning potential if they put in extra hours.

Welding is an essential component of many industries such as the automotive industry, the construction industry, the aviation industry, and more. Without this form of metal work, so many things, including many buildings, gates, and fences, small kitchen appliances, vehicles - and even space travel - would not exist.

Both acute and chronic health risks are associated with welding fume. Occupational lung disease, including lung cancer, is the most common health risk, but welding can also affect the eyes and skin.

Why are welders so highly paid? ›

The demand for welders is constantly soaring high every year. Apart from that, the current employment growth rate is expected to grow by about 8% until 2030. Since welders play an essential role in every industry, the journey to becoming a professional welding specialist may be quite challenging, although exciting.

Job Security:

The current demand for welders in a range of areas means that the profession has a good level of job security. In fact, theUnited States Bureau of Labor Statistics projects that there will be growth in the field over the coming years, meaning even more opportunities for skilled welders.

Various work opportunities

Welding is a valuable skill to many sectors, including construction, energy efficiency, manufacturing, oil and gas. For welders who choose to freelance their skills and make themselves available to different projects, the opportunities for employment are vast.

Benefits of a Welding Career

Because most welders enjoy thinking outside the box, they also appreciate opportunities to try new things. In fact, some welders keep inspired by pursuing employment across industries throughout their careers, while others might use their experience to start their own businesses.

Continued education and training is the key to advancement in nearly every career option. Advanced welding classes can qualify you to become a welding inspector, technician, or instructor and also allow you a promotion. Welding certifications come in numerous varieties.

Job Outlook

Employment of welders, cutters, solderers, and brazers is projected to show little or no change from 2022 to 2032. Despite limited employment growth, about 42,600 openings for welders, cutters, solderers, and brazers are projected each year, on average, over the decade.

Welders (also known as Fitter-Welders) cut, shape and combine materials to make different parts for a variety of industries. Generally, Welders pick the materials to join or cut and then arrange them in an appropriate configuration. Welders also fix structural repairs and maintain their welding equipment.