While it's a physically demanding job and isn't a get-rich-quick occupation for most people, there are many reasons why you might consider pursuing a career as a welder. Welding is a solid career with steady growth. Because welders are needed in many different locations and industries, there is decent job security.
Welding is physically demanding and takes some practical coordination to master. It's not as physical as a builder's job, but there's usually a fair amount of lifting and climbing over things, which some people don't like.
Welding projects can take a long time where you focus and maintain precision with your materials to ensure you have properly secured your welds. Welding in tight or constricted areas for periods of time may be physically challenging.
Cons of the Welding Profession
Welders may experience some dangers and discomfort on the job including burns, eye discomfort, exposure to hazardous materials and a lot of physical effort.
The hardest part of being a welder is staying sharp if you have some down time when you aren't welding every day. It's easy to get out of practice and fumble a weld test because you didn't keep up with your ability. For myself, the culture was the most difficult part of being a welder.
It can be a stressful job, too, given the level of danger to personal safety and the need to do high-quality work for projects that can range from working on a skyscraper to working on airplanes. It can be a rewarding job, though.
Welders can very easily burn or seriously hurt themselves. This has a tendency to create stress. You're also working under demanding deadlines. Often you have to work at night or outdoors (because you're on a construction project and it's hard to build a building indoors).
Prolonged exposure to welding fume may cause lung damage and various types of cancer, including lung, larynx and urinary tract. . Health effects from certain fumes may include metal fume fever, stomach ulcers, kidney damage and nervous system damage.
Despite opposite claims, welding is a highly stable career. In addition, welding skills can be applied to various industries, so you can easily switch from one industry to another with little to no need for training. This diversity allows welders to explore multiple sectors and work on different types of projects.
A welder may work on projects such as house repair or commercial structures, aircraft or ships, bridges, or automobiles. In this industry, you can expect to work 40 hours a week for different shifts, or extended hours and overtime when working on large projects with short timelines.
The overhead position is the most challenging welding position, as gravity can cause the weld metal and slag to fall out of the joint.
If you're looking for a new career, you might want to consider welding. It could be the perfect job for you if you like working with your hands, prefer not sitting behind a desk all day, enjoy the variety of working on different locations, and like building things.
Welders rely on basic mathematical formulas to carry out tasks, using formulas for squared and cubed calculations, for shapes and volume. A welder may need to determine the pressure and volume of gases. They will need to understand proportions using functions and equations.
Welding joins metals by melting and fusing them together, typically with the addition of a welding filler metal. The joints produced are strong – usually as strong as the metals joined, or even stronger.
Becoming a welder takes a lot of talent, skill, and determination. However, it is unlikely to get a job as a welder without mastering the necessary techniques. A welder's profession necessitates a thorough understanding of architectural plans and other core competencies.
To be a great welder, you need to be willing to learn new things when you're just starting out – and it's also best to continue to train and learn more through professional development courses later in your career, too.
Welder's lung normally describes metal deposition in the lung from exposure to welding fume. It is thought to be a benign type of pneumoconiosis. On its own, the welder may not complain of health problems. However, if COPD also exists, welder's lung could make the COPD symptoms worse.
Pressure welders are in demand right the way across Australia and feature on Schedule One of the Skilled Occupations list alongside First Class Welders and Metal Fabricator Welders.
Welding Pay Varies by Job
It's pipeline work, and the welding school graduates have to be willing to go where the work is. That's not unusual as specialized welding skills are going to garner higher wages than those that don't require certifications.
Welding fumes are far worse for you than smoking. Any time you weld, you should wear a respirator with appropriate filters or even an approved fresh air supplied mask with an approved supply of fresh air(NOT of your shop compressor, as it contains oil).
Welder's lung is a rare occupational disease which is usually seen after chronic exposure to iron dust.
You're almost always going to make more than minimum wage, even starting out. But the downside, economically, is that welding has a pretty low salary ceiling. Welders at the 90th percentile of income for the profession, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, earn $63,000 a year before taxes.
The pros of being a welder are competitive benefits and many different ways to begin, while the cons are dangerous work and long hours.
There are over 402,333 welders currently employed in the United States. 6.1% of all welders are women, while 93.9% are men.