People who work as welders receive a better than average rate of compensation in the trades, as well as a steady increase in salary as they develop experience and expertise. Working as a welder may entitle you to a sizable salary, as well as comprehensive health, dental, and retirement plans, as well as life insurance.
Welders provide necessary services to various industries, including manufacturing, transportation and infrastructure. Working in a high-demand field can be beneficial, as it guarantees stable employment and higher wages because the skills of the trade are highly valuable to employers.
A welding career can provide a list of advantages, including a stable and fulfilling professional path, job security, diverse opportunities, competitive pay, hands-on work, flexibility, and the potential for continued growth in a dynamic industry.
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.
Some welders -- those who own their own businesses or who have very substantial savings and investment as a result of long career -- might be middle class, but most (even if at or above middle income) are working class, deriving their income predominantly from wage labor.
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.
Welders tend to be predominantly realistic individuals, which means that they often enjoy working outdoors or applying themselves to a hands-on project. They also tend to be conventional, meaning that they are usually detail-oriented and organized, and like working in a structured environment.
A welder must be familiar with fractions, decimals, geometry, formulas and trigonometry. With these math skills, a welder can make strong welds regardless of the type of material used. However, knowing the melting point of a metal is only one useful math skill in the welder's arsenal.
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.
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).
The average welder age is 40 years old. The most common ethnicity of welders is White (63.2%), followed by Hispanic or Latino (18.0%), Black or African American (10.0%) and Unknown (4.1%). Welders are most in-demand in Houston, TX.
A day in the life of a welder includes working alone or as part of a team to complete their required duties. These professionals use materials with intense heat and gas to repair metal faults and join parts in a construction project.
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.
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.
Welders don't need to know the most advanced mathematical concepts, but they do need to be able to apply a practical understanding to the job at hand. Administrative organization. You may be surprised to know that having administrative skills can be important to being a welder.
The salary range for a welding job in the United States is between $32,639 and $63,186 per year . The amount of experience you have can affect your salary. For example, welders with one to two years of experience make an average of $41,690 per year.
Pneumosiderosis, or more commonly referred to as Welder's lung, is an occupational lung disease that occurs after chronic inhalation of iron dust particles, especially in welders.
The overhead position is the most challenging welding position, as gravity can cause the weld metal and slag to fall out of the joint.
While the industries you work in might change, the career itself remains strong. The versatility of welding skills can help you find work in many different industries making it one of the strongest careers for stability.
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.
Welding is an overarching career, as there are many different career paths you can pursue within welding. No matter what your area of interest is, you can probably find a welding job that suits you. You do not have to commit to being an active welder for the rest of your life if you choose a welding career.
Welding has traditionally been predominantly a man's job, but female welders are on the rise. The number of female welders has soared in recent times, according to the Bureau of Labor and Statistics. Their numbers indicate that between 2016 and 2019 there has been an increase of 30% of women in the welding industry.
Men have dominated the welding industry in the past, and few women have chosen to work. However, as women become empowered, they learn about the potential advantages of this career. As a result, women in welding have been increasingly accepted in recent years.
The pros of being a welder are competitive benefits and many different ways to begin, while the cons are dangerous work and long hours.