Welders keep our nation’s structures, both old and new, standing tall. Welders are needed in a variety of different industries; and they are usually able to go from one field of work to another. If welding is a career option you’re considering, read on to learn why becoming a welder may be a good choice for you, or simply find a local welding school now.
Welder Job Description
Depending on what industry you’ll work in will determine your scope of work. However, one thing welding has in common across all industries is that heat is used to fuse metal parts together. Tools, processes, and types of metals will vary as there are more than 100 actual processes welders use, with the most common type being arc welding. Welders need to have an in-depth understanding of blueprint readings and specifications so that they can accurately determine what is involved in their project.
Focus and determination are key elements necessary to being a successful welder. You need to be extremely detail-oriented to assess the necessary repairs accurately, and to catch the change in the flow of the liquid metal being used to join parts. You should have higher than average manual dexterity and physical stamina, as well as strength. Welders are often confined to one position for extended periods of time (while holding their equipment).
Facts About Welding School
If you’re still in high school and considering going into welding, it is strongly suggested that you take all the shop classes your high school offers, along with loading up in math and science classes. Also, consider finding a job opportunity at an auto body shop or anywhere you can learn about welding under professional guidance.
To become a professional welder, you must either have your high school diploma, or a GED equivalent. Other requirements will vary depending on your employer. However, most employers will be looking for either an associate degree in welding, or a certificate from a trade or vocational school. Often, you will need to begin your career in a welding apprenticeship; you can apply for an apprenticeship either through your school of choice, or through a welding union in your state.
Finding the Right Welding School
Choosing a welding school is an important step to take when beginning your journey. It's important to consider what you are looking for during your schooling. Would you like to enroll in an associate degree program through a community college? An associate in welding generally takes 2 years to complete, and would require general education courses outside of welding programs.
Opting for a certificate through a trade or vocational school tends to take less time than community colleges (around 10 months for many programs). If you are a student who is only interested in taking welding courses over general education programs, you may prefer certificate programs since their curriculum focuses only on welding.
We partner with great welding schools across the nation. Explore welding schools near you and begin your journey toward becoming a welder today!
You can also visit American Welding Society’s website to get a better understanding of what training may entail.
How Much Welding School Costs
Apprenticeships can be free or have a nominal cost, roughly $1,300 and will last 3-5 years before you’re ready to go on your own. A four-year bachelor’s degree in welding technology can cost between $40,000-$100,000.
Again, the two more traditional ways to become a welder are through either certificate or associate degree programs. Below you'll find a general cost-breakdown of certificate and associate degree welding programs.
|
Diploma/Certificate |
Associate Degree |
|
|
Cost |
$3,500-$20,000 |
$6,000-$55,000 |
|
Additional Costs |
School supplies, housing (if needed): up to $10,000 |
School supplies, housing (if needed): up to $10,000 |
|
Length of Education |
3 months - 2 years depending on program |
2 years going full time |
|
Credit Hours |
18-40 credit hours |
60-80 credit hours |
Pay is determined by various measures such as skill, experience, which industry the welder is in, and the company itself.
Top Paying States for Welders in 2023
|
STATE |
AVERAGE SALARY |
|
$79,210 |
|
|
$75,590 |
|
|
$65,730 |
|
|
$63,110 |
Welder Certification Information
Not all states require welders to be certified. However, to be more competitive in the job market, certification is highly recommended. Certification can also give you higher earning-potential later in your career.
There are quite a few different certifications available to welders. The needed certification may depend on the type of welding being performed and the industry one is in. Certifications generally range from a price point of $275-$1,100.
American Welding Society - The AWS offers nine different areas of certifications. You can get certified as a welder, a welding instructor, or in certified robotic arc welding. Becoming a member of the AWS will lower the prices of certification exams.
|
Minimum Education |
Minimum Work Experience |
|
Associate or higher degree in engineering technology, engineering, or a physical science |
3 years |
|
High school diploma plus 2 or more years engineering / technical school courses |
3 years |
|
High school diploma plus 1 year engineering/technical school courses, or more years of vocational education |
4 years |
|
High school diploma or approved high school equivalency diploma |
5 years |
|
At least 8th grade |
9 years |
|
Less than 8th grade |
12 years |
Senior Certified Welding Inspectors are similar to Certified Welding Inspectors — they just operate at the most advanced level. Senior CWIs have a better understanding of advanced NDE topics, quality systems, and procedure qualifications. Applicants must have a minimum of 15 years work experience with direct relationship to welding or with direct involvement in 2 or more areas of welding inspection.
|
Experience Requirements |
|
Design - Have the tasks in creating and preparing documents for welding and following the criteria |
|
Production - Planning, control, and supervision of welding materials, procedures, and operations |
|
Construction - Create tasks of welding manufacturing or process |
|
Quality Control - Supervision of measurement of weld process and review of programs and vendors |
|
Quality Assurance - Review programs and vendors, and conduct audits of vendors |
|
Examination - Testing of welding process and the visual process or evaluation |
|
Repair - Repair defective welds |
Welding Educators understand the welding process, instruction plans, and evaluate students who are taking a welding process class. They understand the basic requirements of becoming a certified welder and the welder qualifications. They can read drawings and examinations, prepare records and develop reports.
|
Qualifications |
|
Complete the Certified Welding Process Application |
|
Teach full or part time in a classroom |
|
Have a valid welder certification |
|
Written recommendation from a teaching supervisor |
Certified Radiographic Interpreters assess welding-related indications and procedures on radiographic film and related media. The program will help you learn proper film exposure, image quality, and follow the AWS, API, and ASME codes. Certified Radiographic Interpreter learns properties of x and gamma radiation, photographic assets, radiation safety principles, calculations, application to welds, welding technology, and effects of equipment from radiographs.
|
Qualifications |
|
Must pass an eye examination |
|
Valid high school diploma or GED |
|
A minimum of 40 hours of training in radiographic |
|
At least 1 year of experience as a company certified individual in radiographic interpretation or performance |
Certified Welding Supervisors can save up to $17,000 per welder per year. They increase quality and production, reduce welding costs, maximize profits, and oversee safety processes. Certified Welding Supervisors overlook welders' work, productivity, and overall quality.
Certified Welding Sales Representatives are familiar with new welding technologies that can improve and/or streamline the quality of welding processes. They must be knowledgeable of welding and its dynamics. They help with technical support and lend guidance to those that need an appropriate application of welding technology products. They must know about the five arc welding process, brazing and soldering, cutting, welding terminology, ventilation, and electrical requirements for power sources.
|
Qualifications |
|
High School diploma or GED |
|
At least 5 years of experience in welding equipment, sales or supplies |
|
At least 2 years experience along with a training certification for welding processes |
Certified Welding Engineers are familiar with written instructions and codes of the welded joints process and production. They also are familiar with specifications, standards, and other rules of the assembly process of welding. Their job begins before production of welding and continues throughout the process.
hosts a plethora of benefits.
The Nuclear Material Organization helps provide materials and services to the nuclear power industry.
Nuclear component type helps ensure persons or organizations performing quality assurance functions identify quality problems, recommend or provide solutions through departmental channels, assure future processing, delivery, installation, and satisfaction of conditions. They must also make sure that ensure design specifications are available for all components, are adequate and available to the ANI before fabrication begins.
Nuclear Quality Assurance helps organizations supply items or services that provide safety for a nuclear facility.
Is the leading standard on how to design and build equipment for the production of biopharmaceuticals and personal care products industry. This process helps with high levels of hygienic requirements. It incorporates current best practices for enhancing a product's safety.
|
Education |
Years of Experience |
|
BS or higher in engineering or technology |
1 year |
|
2-year degree or certificate in engineering or technology |
2 years |
|
High school diploma or equivalent |
3 years |
|
No formal education |
5 or more years |
The piping instructor helps provide a continued high level of safety, improve management control and, reduce production delays.
|
Education |
Years of Experience |
|
BS or higher in engineering or technology |
1 year |
|
2-year degree or certificate in engineering or technology |
2 years |
|
High school diploma or equivalent |
3 years |
|
No formal education |
5 or more years |
Above ground storage tanks inspectors inspect the safety and quality of tanks. They also repair damaged tanks and help assist state and local government regulations.
|
Education |
Years of Experience |
|
BS or higher in engineering or technology |
1 year |
|
2-year degree or certificate in engineering or technology |
2 years |
|
High school diploma or equivalent |
3 years |
|
No formal education |
5 or more years |
Tank entry supervisors must have knowledge of aboveground petroleum tanks and construction. They must understand ventilation, tank decommissions isolation, work permitting, emergency response, and tank recommissioning.
|
Education |
Years of Experience |
|
BS or higher in engineering or technology |
1 year |
|
2-year degree or certificate in engineering or technology |
2 years |
|
High school diploma or equivalent |
4 years |
Pipeline inspectors should be knowledgeable about general onshore pipeline construction inspection, their responsibilities, personnel and general pipeline safety, and environmental and pollution control.
Pipeline Inspection
|
Years of Experience |
Plus Education |
|
3 years |
Any or no education |
|
2 years |
BS or 2-year degree in technical, engineering or technology discipline, OR 2 years of military service in a technical role |
General Oil and Gas Inspection
|
Years of Experience |
Plus Education |
|
3 years |
BS or 2-year degree in technical, engineering or technology discipline, OR 2 years of military service in technical role |
|
4 years |
High School, GED, or no formal education |
Non-Inspection Pipeline Experience
|
Years of experience |
Plus Education |
|
4 years |
BS or 2-year degree in technical, engineering or technology discipline, OR 2 years of military service in technical role |
|
5 years |
High School, GED, or no formal education |
General Oil and Gas Industry
|
Years of Experience |
Plus Certification |
|
4 years: at least 1 year of pipeline experience |
AWS |
|
6 years |
AWS, CWB API |
Other Heavy Industry Experience
|
Years of Experience |
Plus Education |
Plus Certification |
|
5 years |
BS or 2-year degree in a technical, engineering, or technology discipline |
N/A |
|
8 years |
Any or no education |
AWS, CWB API |
Corrosion and materials certification are highly specialized inspectors, corrosion engineers, chemical engineers, and other professionals across the petrochemical industry.
|
Education |
Years of Experience |
Experience Required |
|
BS or higher in engineering or technology |
1 year |
Any experience in the petrochemical industry |
|
A 2-year degree or certificate in engineering or technology |
2 years |
Any experience in the petrochemical industry |
|
High school diploma or equivalent |
3 years |
Any experience in the petrochemical industry |
|
No formal education |
5 years |
Any experience in the petrochemical industry |
A Welding Inspection and Metallurgy certification is for highly specialized inspectors, welding engineers, metallurgists, and other professionals across the petrochemical industry.
|
Education |
Years of Experience |
Experience Required |
|
BS or higher in engineering or technology |
1 year |
Any experience in the petrochemical industry |
|
A 2-year degree or certificate in engineering or technology |
2 years |
Any experience in petrochemical industry |
|
High school diploma or equivalent |
3 years |
Any experience in petrochemical industry |
|
No formal education |
5 years |
Any experience in the petrochemical industry |
Risk Based Inspection is quickly becoming one of the industry’s most premier instruments and preferred methods of control. Engineers and other professionals across the petrochemical industry have a higher understanding of this field.
|
Education |
Years of Experience |
Experience Required |
|
BS or higher in engineering or technology |
1 year |
Any experience in the petrochemical industry |
|
A 2-year degree or certificate in engineering or technology |
2 years |
Any experience in petrochemical industry |
|
High school diploma or equivalent |
3 years |
Any experience in petrochemical industry |
|
No formal education |
5 or more years |
Any experience in the petrochemical industry |
Refractory personnel is open to applicants with any experience in petroleum and petrochemical industries. Must be knowledgeable in installation, inspection, testing, and repair of refractory linings.
Source inspector fixed equipment is open to applicants with any experience in the petroleum and petrochemical industries. The source inspector has been defined as the individual responsible for examining fabricated and manufactured equipment and materials, and confirming the supplier's quality management system.
A Source inspector for electrical equipment will cover the inspection of electrical material from junction boxes, control panels, electrical systems, transformers, switchgears, motor control centers, and electric motors.
Electrical Inspector
|
Years of Experience Post-Graduation |
Education |
|
5 |
High School / GED |
|
2 |
Minimum 2-year technical degree in electrical discipline |
|
1 ½ |
BS - Any other engineering |
|
½ |
BS - Electrical Engineering (4 years) |
Non-Inspection Electrical Experience
|
Years of Experience Post-Graduation |
Education |
|
7 |
High School /GED |
|
3 |
Minimum 2-year technical degree in electrical discipline |
|
1 ½ |
BS - Any other engineering |
|
½ |
BS - Electrical Engineering (4 years) |
General Inspector with Some Electrical Experience
|
Years of Experience Post-Graduation |
Education |
|
8 years of experience and 2 must be in Electrical |
High School / GED |
|
5 years of experience and 1 must be in Electrical |
2-year Technical Degree |
|
4 years of experience and 1 must be in Electrical |
2-year Electrical Technical Degree |
|
3 year of experience and 1 must be in Electrical |
BS - Any other Engineering |
A Source Inspector for Rotating Equipment is the second certification in the source inspector suite. Developed by industry experts, the focuses of this certification include pumps, gears, compressors, and turbines.
Now, more than ever, our country needs qualified welders. It’s a fantastic career choice, filled with a variety of opportunities and salaries. Whether you’re looking to change your career, or you’re just starting out, becoming a welder could be the perfect fit for you.
Find welding training near you today!
Reference:
Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and Brazers on BLS
Requirements for Applying to Welding Trade School