Career: Welders
Using a blowtorch or an electric current, welders bond pieces of metal together to create all kinds of products, from bicycles to cars and heavy machinery.
Doing the job right means being a true metal expert, so you’d better know the difference between steel plate and stainless steel. And you can’t be afraid of math, because you’ll need it for every job you do.
Welders cut and join metal to build everything from ships to window frames. Some welders operate machines that automate part of the welding process.
“Welding is an art, so using your mind, exploring the possibilities, and being creative is an important part of it.”
Johnny, Welder and former Welding Instructor
Are You Ready To...?
- Know your metals
- Take accurate measurements
- Read drawings and blueprints
- Cut and trim metal objects
- Wear goggles and other safety gear
It Helps to Be...
A mechanical person who is strong in math. Having a steady hand is also important, as is the ability to picture what you have to do before you do it.
Make High School Count
- Sign up for metal shop, get hands-on experience, and find out if working with metal is really for you.
- Sharpen your math skills. Welders work with curves and all kinds of shapes. Accurate measurements are key.
- Get a strong grounding in chemistry, where you’ll learn about iron, aluminum, solids, liquids, gases and plasma -- all of which play a role in welding.
Did You Know?
- Being a welder sometimes means hanging off a scaffold at a forty-five-degree angle.
Outlook
Jobs for welders are expected to grow more slowly than the average for all careers through 2016, according to government economists. Still, the employment outlook is excellent. Welders looking for work should find that they are in demand because there are not enough job hunters to fill all of the expected job openings.
Compensation
The U.S. Department of Labor estimated that welders earned an average yearly salary of $33,960 in 2007. Welding-machine operators earned: $33,200. Where you live has a lot to do with your rate of pay, and welders who belong to unions usually earn higher wages than those who don’t.
