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Welding

Trade Schools with Welding Programs

Welders are experts in the fusion of metal and thermoplastics. Their job is to apply large amounts of heat to metal pieces in order to melt and join them into specific forms. There are over 50,000 people with welding careers in the United States.

Many aspects of modern society require the joining of metal parts, both small and large. Lighter, stronger, and less expensive than bolting, welding is an extremely effective way to join two pieces of strong material. There is a huge demand for workers willing to endure the challenges and difficulties of this important career.

What Is Welding?

Welders fuse steel beams to piece together bridges, buildings, and countless other cornerstones of modern society. Their skills are needed to join pipes in important places like power plants and water treatment facilities.

In arc welding, there is no solder or filler component; the pieces themselves are heated up and melted together. Offshoots of the welding trade, soldering and brazing deal with different types of situations than welding and usually require different approaches.

An entry-level welder should expect to perform the following tasks:

Discuss the needs of the client
Determine how to most efficiently accomplish the client’s requests
Use high-powered tools to join and separate metal objects
Precisely follow drawings and blueprints from engineers
Make very accurate measurements
Cooperate with possible travel requirements

What Goes into Welding Processes?

Based on a number of variables, welders use electricity to apply specific temperatures to metal. Varying precise levels of heat are applied depending on the specific metal being welded.

Pieces are strategically placed together in order to properly settle for maximum bonding strength. Cooling temperatures and times also play a huge factor in the durability of the weld.

What Are Some Common Welding Tools?

Workers in this diverse field utilize a variety of tools and techniques to get the job done. Some use hand-held equipment such as arc welders. A few of the more common welding tools include the following:

Measuring tools
Metal shapers
Cutters
Wire brushes
Auto-darkening helmets
Chipping hammers
Timers

What Are Some Common Welding Methods?

The types of equipment needed also depends on the method of welding being used. These are some common welding methods used by professionals:

- Shielded metal
- Flux cored
- Gas metal
- Gas tungsten
- Plasma arc
- Laser
- Electron beam

Automated welding is a growing trend, used in almost one fourth of commercial projects. Some of today’s more powerful welding techniques use electron beams and lasers, requiring the use of robotic arms for safety purposes. To control these machines, operators need advanced training which can last several weeks.

How Do Welders Find Work?

After learning how to weld, prospects can search online to find jobs in their area. Entry-level work is relatively easy to find given the pervasiveness of the trade. The construction business is a good place for newbies to start, as buildings and bridges always need to be built or repaired. Potentials can also find work in the natural gas industry, as welders piece together and maintain pipelines that move oil and natural gas great distances.

Why Do Welders Need Concentration Skills?

There is a very real risk posed to workers in this industry. Welding machines and cutting torches can cause severe burns and cuts. If associates fail to pay attention even for a split second, serious injury can occur to themselves or others. Sometimes welders work outdoors in less-than-ideal weather conditions, making things even more difficult when holding a heavy arc welder.

What Are Useful Qualities for Welders?

Knowledge of trigonometry and metallurgy
Capability of staying calm under pressure
Concentration and dexterity; steady hands
The aptitude to follow directions

Ability to follow engineering drawings and blueprints
A habit of maintaining high standards
Precise measuring skills
Comfort with the use of advanced power tools

Are There Requirements for Welding Jobs?

Entry-level work often requires no welding classes, which is great for those looking to get into the trade. While a high school diploma or GED is usually needed, many companies offer paid on-site training for willing recruits.

When looking to get trained and certified, trade schools are another option. Finishing one will give you more options when looking for jobs. On average, a welding certificate only takes about nine months to earn. This is why so many people looking for a new career consider enrolling in welding school.

Reputable welding training can come from many sources:

Community colleges
Technical institutes
State employment services
Vocational centers
Junior colleges
Newspaper ads
Temp agencies
Union offices
Private schools
The U.S. Armed Forces
A reputable welding trade school

Beyond the general welding certification, some jobs require further credentials. For example, becoming a robotic arm welder or welding inspector each require separate training and clearances. Many companies will pay for their workers to gain additional credentials, removing the financial burden from the employee.

What Is the Outlook for
The Welding Industry?

Job growth in the industry is holding steady at about 6% per decade. Those willing to relocate are most likely to find good-paying employment in the field. States with the highest numbers of welders include California, Texas, and Pennsylvania.

Since welding skills transfer to dozens of industries, jobs are always available for those willing to look. For many people, this flexibility is one of their favorite aspects about getting into the business. If a worker loses their job in the automotive industry, they can easily transfer their skills to unrelated industries such as aeronautics or skyscraper construction.

Many skilled welders are nearing retirement age, leading to full-time job openings for the next generation of workers. The crumbling infrastructure seen nationwide will require thousands of dedicated welders, solderers, and braziers to strengthen and restore.

An entry-level salary package sits somewhere between $25k and $30k. The average pay rate is about $17.50, which adds up to just over $36k per year. Experienced workers may enjoy salary options of $60k or more.

Those who work in hazardous conditions or dangerous areas can potentially make over $100k per year. Underwater workers, industrial pipeline welders, and military welders are among the highest-paid people in the profession.

Job benefits often include:

Paid time off
Healthcare coverage
Dental Insurance
Vision protection
Life insurance
Access to a 401(k) plan

What Should Workers Expect in the Field?

New hires will have to learn how to safely operate welding equipment, which could take weeks. Associates must be professional, reliable, fearless, and willing to work long hours. For higher-paying jobs, employers prefer hiring people who have had some sort of postsecondary training.

Upon entering the workforce, recruits may be surprised at the amount of required overtime. Mandatory work during nights or weekends can be exhausting and may turn some away from the business. When a job needs to get finished, welders usually stay until the duty is complete.

Welding is an extremely physical trade. Candidates should expect long hours of bending, crouching, and standing. They will spend extended periods focusing their vision at fixed positions. Getting used to moving around while wearing protective gear can be a challenge in itself. Colleagues encounter grease, paint, and dirt while working with metals of various types and purposes.

Where Can Prospects Find Welder Jobs?

A robust set of welding skills is applicable to hundreds of full-time jobs across a wide range of crucial industries and occupations:

Manufacturing
Construction
Race car crew
Automobile repair
Aeronautics and space travel
Shipbuilding industry
Robotics
Cruise ship companies
Underwater welding job projects

Welders also repair pipes and steel beams during industrial plant shutdowns.

Why Do Welders Wear Protective Gear?

Welders must avoid burns and electrical shock by dangerous tools such as the arc. Associates work with extremely hot metals and thermoplastics, risking injury by routine. The harsh brightness produced from scalding sparks damages the vision of those nearby. This is why welders and surrounding colleagues must always wear heavy protective gear, including:

Welding shield mask
Helmets
Respirators
Goggles
Thick gloves with fireproof coating
Boots with covered laces
Flame-resistant clothing

Oftentimes, welders work behind shielded curtains to protect others from intense brightness and hot sparks.

Do Welders Have Any Other Options?

Some welders are self-employed, and several of them make a living through specialty trade contractors. Others work in repair and maintenance, while many have agreements with merchant wholesalers. The manufacturing industry employs a huge amount of welders in both the United States and abroad.

Hopefuls find plenty of work building and repairing pipes at oil refineries. They also play a huge role in the production of nuclear power plants, a form of low-carbon power. Welders are a big part of the green energy movement, helping to build wind generators and solar panels.

What Are Alternate Careers for Welders?

Cutter – People who use heat to cut and form metal into specific sizes are called cutters. They use many of the same tools as welders, such as electric arcs. Rather than joining pieces together like a welder, cutters focus only on shaping and carving metal. At times, they may have to deconstruct or dismantle large things like cars, aircraft, or buildings. They do this by strategically carving apart metal beams one by one.

Soldering technician – These workers join delicate metal components with molten solder. They also fill indents, seams, and holes in metal structures and devices. Their work is a bit safer than that of welders and brazers, as they do not melt the actual joining pieces themselves. The solder material they use is typically an alloy of lead and tin, melting at a relatively low temperature.

Soldering technicians often work with small electrical components and help to build computer circuit boards. They must be detail-oriented and able to work with tiny pieces for hours on end. In most cases they earn hourly wages somewhere between $10 and $20.

Some commonly-used professional soldering techniques include:

Thru-hole
Surface mount
Traditional hand soldering

Brazer – Brazing is kind of like high-heat soldering. While the melting point of soldering metals are below 840 degrees Fahrenheit, brazing involves heating metals with a greater melting point. Oftentimes, brazing materials are alloys of zinc and copper.

Usually, brazers will first heat metal pieces to a desired temperature and then place their filler material between the joining section. The hot metal then softens the filler to solidify the connection. Workers in this profession usually begin with a salary package around $30k per year, which can only go up from there.

Brazing is used to do the following: