Career Opportunities and Wages

Occupational Summary

Welders plan how to do a welding project by following blueprints, specifications or work orders. They select and gather the materials they will need and lay them out. Then they begin to weld the parts together. Welders control the process by setting up the equipment and holding a welding gun (electric arc) or torch (gas), and concentrating the heat against the surfaces to be joined. A bond is made as material from a metal rod or wire melts to join and fill in the weld. Setting up the welding equipment involves hooking up cables and operating a power generator or power source, or hooking hoses to pressurized gas bottles. After they have finished, Welders inspect the welds to make sure they meet certain standards. Workers may weld on metal that is flat, horizontal, vertical or overhead.

Welders often make repairs on metal parts, equipment or structures. They study the damaged area and the type of metal used, and determine the best way to fix it.

Specialized welding techniques are becoming more common because of quality control demands in manufacturing. Semiconductor and other specialized industries must have piping with welds that to do not contaminate gases and fluids used in the manufacturing process.

Some workers do welding on a production line. In most cases, they use welding equipment that has already been set up by other workers. Some production line workers may set up and run automated or robotic welding machines. They watch the machines closely to make sure the welds are done correctly.

Related Occupations

Aluminum Welders work specifically with aluminum which takes special techniques, equipment and skills. Most workers are certified.

Welding Inspectors examine work and reject any that is below standard. They earn slightly more than Welders.

Welding Technicians test and analyze samples of work and write reports. They supervise, control machines and test equipment. They earn slightly more than Welding Inspectors.

Some Welders are also Commercial Divers (see the Welding Technology Links page).

Other Welding occupations include:

Placement in Industry includes:

Advancement Opportunities

With more training, unskilled, entry-level Welders can advance to skilled positions and take on more complex jobs. Some may become supervisors, inspectors or technicians. A small number open their own welding and repair shops.

Wages

Entry rates are generally between $9.25 and $12.00 per hour ($1,603 to $2,080 per month). A Welder employed by the State of Washington earns $15.03 to $17.37 per hour.

In the Puget Sound area, Journey-level Welders average $18.50 to $23.50 per hour. In Western Washington, entry-level Welders average $11.30 to $13.80 per hour, while experienced Welders average $15.00 to $17.60 per hour. Statewide, Welders, Cutters, Solderers and Brazers average $12.76 to $18.60 per hour and Welding, Soldering and Brazing Machine Setters, Operators and Tenders average $12.90 to $16.80 per hour. Nationally, Welders, Cutters, Solderers and Brazers average $13.09 to $14.30 per hour.