Industrial Welding

Welding is important work. Over half of the gross national product is related to welding, making it vital to the American economy. Even though you probably don’t notice it, the evidence of welders at work is everywhere. In one way or another, welding touches everything in our daily lives from the coffeepot that wakes us in the morning to the commuter train that takes us home at night.

Welders help make vehicles like cars, ships, submarines, and aircraft. They are employed in construction, working with sheet metal in roofs, air ducts, gutters, and vents. They work on huge infrastructure projects, like building and repairing skyscrapers, bridges, dams, refineries, and power plants. They also make tiny things like electronic components. From toasters to space stations, welders are involved in thousands of manufacturing activities.

Welding is the most common way to join two or more metal parts together to create one solid object. To do this, welders apply extreme heat to metal pieces until they partially melt. When the pieces cool they fuse together to form a permanent bond. The newly created objects are as strong and durable as a solid piece of metal.

Welding may look like a simple process, but it actually involves considerable science and technical ability. And yet, welders do not need to go to college to learn how to do it. Many welders start in high school, learning the basic skills in metal shop or in after-school jobs. Upon graduation from high school, most welders go through formal training at a vocational school. Training programs range from a few weeks to two years, but the average is nine months.

There is a wide range of work settings and types of welding jobs. Some welders work alone in small repair shops while many more work as part of a team in a manufacturing plant or on large commercial construction projects. Some welding processes are done in cool clean environments while others are in hot and dirty factories. About half of all welders work a typical 40-hour week. The rest often work overtime, spending as much as 70 hours per week. Factories operate around the clock, and many welders work shifts at night or on weekends.

Welding can be physically demanding work, and there are hazards to be sure. Sparks and hot materials can cause burns and eye injuries. Welders protect themselves by wearing protective clothing and special helmets.

The pay is good and the job prospects are excellent. Many welders belong to unions where they start out as apprentices. After two or three years of working for modest wages, they qualify to take the journeyman test. The earnings of welders at the journeyman level steadily increase, as workers gain skills and experience.

This career isn’t just for the guys anymore. The unbeatable combination of job opportunities and good pay has attracted many women to the profession. Almost 15 percent of apprentice welders are now female, and the number is growing.

WHAT YOU CAN DO NOW

One of the most appealing aspects of this career is you can get started straight out of high school. You don’t need to go to college to learn this trade, but there is plenty to learn. There are courses in many high schools that will help prepare you for a career in welding. Metal shop is the most obvious. Most shop classes will teach you at least the basics of welding. Auto shop is another good bet since the majority of welding jobs are in the automotive industry. You should include any technical courses such as physics, technical drawing, and electronics. Pay attention to math, too. You will be using basic math skills everyday to measure, calibrate, and adjust your tools and working materials.