Is welding a good career choice?
In This Article
Many people are now focusing on building or starting their careers in welding. But Is Welding A Good Career Choice? Find out everything about welding here
Yes, welding is an excellent career. It pays pretty well, and you can work in many industries where earning big bucks is easy! This career path is undoubtedly the best if you love to stay active and take challenges.
On average, a welder can make from $40,220 to $75,300 a year! But what are the other perks that one can get as a worker? Take a ride with us to find out more.
Who are the welders? Are they those who helped Tony Stark from iron man to make the suit? Well, if Mr Stark wanted, welders could’ve done the job for him. Joke apart.
The main task of a welder is with METAL. You can say a welder knows how to play with Metal. Welders’ jobs vary from mending, joining, manufacturing, and everything related to Metal.
Why welding?
In the current time, securing a job isn’t as easy as it was years ago. You have to stand high with tons of qualifications among others to get a job.
However, if someone wants to pursue a new career or change their existing professional path, they can easily move into the welder industry.
Because being a welder is easy compared to other jobs in similar sectors. And the fascinating thing is you don’t need to have any college DEGREE!
What are the requirements to become a welder?
Welding is a trade skill that has been around for centuries. It is a skill that requires great precision and accuracy and the ability to work with Metal. But it can be done with the right amount of dedication.
How can you get yourself a job as a welder? As education is not necessary, what are the must-haves to start a career as a welder?
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Welding course
There are many welding schools across the United States approved by the American Welding Society (AWS). You can select the course that best fits your needs, and most courses last anywhere from a few months to years.
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Training
A handful of companies offer training to individuals who are willing to work or become welders. They will teach you how to become a welder in the most professional way, which is an excellent opportunity to get hands-on experience.
What are the job prospects?
A welder can advance in their welding career smoothly, though one can start and climb to the senior position(s) without any education, but in the long run, one might need to have a college or university degree, though it depends on company to company.
Let’s find out what position(s) a welder may expect to have in the future.
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Welding Inspector
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Welding supervisor
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Teacher
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Robotic Welding
These are the most popular career paths that a welder may readily get after a few years of experience. Nonetheless, there are several other positions available in the welding industry.
Do welders always need to work in a dangerous environment?
The answer to this question is that not all the time. It depends on the type of welding work that they are doing.
Different types of welding work require different skill sets and safety precautions. For example, in the case of underwater welding, it is necessary for welders to wear a full-body suit and a helmet with an air supply.
Additionally, while working outside of a building or in other working conditions where a welder is required to work up in the air while tied to a rope, a welder must take additional safety measures.
Whereas in other cases, such as pipe welding or gas tank repair, they may only need to wear safety goggles and gloves.
Work Hazards of Welders
A welder’s workplace can turn into a death field from a tiny mistake, and this is why welders need to wear several protecting gears for eyes, hands, and whole body to avoid any work hazards.
But even with this amount of protective gear, the chance of being harmed remains high among welders. You’ll notice that there are some common working injuries such as:
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Fire
Anyone who works in the welding industry will tell you that they have been injured by fire at least once during their career. It happens because of a lack of concentration or Personal protective equipment (PPE)
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Eye
Despite the usage of welding helmets, welders’ eyes are always OVEREXPOSED to light/flash. As a result, most welders face a problem widely known as “Welder’s Flash.”
But with a little precaution, welders can reduce the chance of having eye problems. One solution is that they should have a well-built welding helmet and wear safety glasses or goggles along with a welding helmet.
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Electric
Being electrocuted is another common problem among welders, as live electric circuits are required to do weldings.
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Skin Diseases
Most welders deny wearing full-body Personal protective equipment (PPE). Because of this, they develop a variety of skin problems like allergies and urticaria.
How Much Does A Welder Make?
The average salary for a Welder is $47,000 per year in the United States. And goes up to $75,300 annually for experienced welders according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
Welding professionals’ yearly income depends on their experience. However, keep in mind that salary may vary based on state. For instance, Welders from Alaska, Alabama, and Arizona make more money a year than welders from Tennessee, Arkansas, and Iowa.
What Are The Types of Welding
There are many types of weldings. We’ll mention a handful of the most prominent ones:
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Stick Shielded meta
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Flux-cored
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Gas Tungsten
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MIG arc welding
These welding techniques are the most well-known among welders, and they are extensively used in almost every industry. Without these other welding methods are Laser Beam, Electron Beam, Plasma arc welding.
Where can a welder work?
If there’s Metal, then you’ll have welders involved in it. Welders work in various industries, including shipbuilding, construction of tools, and fabrication. Welding is also used in constructing metal structures such as bridges, buildings, automobiles, and aircraft.
What is the demand for welders in the job market?
Welding is one of the most promising careers in America. It’s also one of the fastest-growing industries in the country, with more than 418,659 welders employed today.
The demand for welding is increasing, and it is one of the few professions that has seen an increase in job opportunities over the last few years. The need for welders is expected to grow by as much as 8% by 2030.
Is A Career In Welding Too Dangerous?
Yes, welding is a dangerous profession because you’ll work in extreme heat and will require to do physically demanding tasks. That’s why welders are prone to work injuries and health issues.Top Welding jobs near you