C onsider a well-respected and growing career in the trades as a welder. Look at the bridges, buildings, and vehicles around you and the airplanes in the air, they could not have come into being without skilled welders.
Find a trade-school, vocational school or college that offers certificates, diplomas or degrees in Welding / Fabrication. Tuition, financial aid, course offerings, and learning options are available by request.
Learn about Becoming a Welder
What do Welders Do?
Welders use hand-held or remote-controlled equipment to join metal parts by applying heat, and melting and fusing them to form a permanent bond and is used in a variety of industries such as manufacturing, construction, shipbuilding,heavy duty equipment maintenance, automobile manufacturing and repair, aerospace and many other manufacturing industries.
Why Should I Consider a Career as a Welder?
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Job prospects are good for skilled welders who are trained in the latest technologies and while experience is always a factor in the competition for jobs, those with up-to-date training can have a leg up on the competition.
There are many industries that require welders such as construction infrastructure, transportation, mining, manufacturing and fabrication, and are often considered industries that stimulate the economy, and cannot be outsourced to other countries.
| Salary & Job Outlook for Welders |
| 2020 Median Pay |
$44,190/year / $21.24/hour |
| Job Outlook 2019 - 2029 |
3% (As fast as average) |
* Source: United States Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics April 9, 2021
What Training and Education do I need to become a Welder?
You will need to have a high school diploma or equivalent, combined with training at a vocational training institute or welding trade school. A welding training school will help you decide which is the right level of education for your career goals.
Certificates and Diplomas - Can be completed in as little as 7 months
Associate Degrees - Programs are typically 2 years
Licensing
Some states and some cities have licensing requirements for welders in addition to certification. Welders who want to work on a local, state or federal government project should check with a prospective employer for their welding certification and/or licensing requirements.
Welder Certifications
Earning a professional certification offered through professional industry societies add an additional way to demonstrate your expertise which many employers prefer when hiring.
These are a few available welding certifications and designations:
American Welding Society
- Certified Welder
- Certified Welding Inspector
- Certified Robotic Arc Welding
Other Certifications Available from Other Industries
What will I learn in Welding School?
Courses at welding trade schools teach prospective welders about various types of metals and how to:
- Read and interpret blueprints, sketches or specifications
- Calculate proper dimensions
- Maintain welding equipment.
- Inspect finished pieces
Different Types of Welding and What They Are Used For
- MIG Welding – one of the easier types of welding to learn and involves two different types of welding. One uses bare wire and used to join thin pieces of metal together and the second is flux core and does not require a flow meter or gas supply
- Stick or Arc Welding - A bit harder to master than MIG welding and uses a stick electrode welding rod
- TIG Welding - is extremely versatile, but it is also one of the more difficult welding techniques to learn and is used to weld most conventional metals, such as steel, aluminum, nickel or copper alloys, cobalt and titanium.
- Plasma Welding - is a precision technique and commonly used in aerospace applications
- Electron Beam and Laser Welding - are extremely precise, high energy welding techniques
- Gas Welding – kits require oxygen and acetylene and are not used as much anymore as it’s been replaced by TIG welding
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