Welding is the cornerstone of many industries, and multiple opportunities exist in the thriving economy of the Virginia area. You may not know much about welding careers, but even if you are very familiar with the occupation, you may not know just how many careers exist for those who are proficient in the use of welding equipment. Combining the fundamentals of welding with a few additional industry-specific certifications could result in steady work in these fields.
Construction Welder
Whether they are putting up large skyscrapers or split-level homes, the construction industry always has a job for a good welder. Common tasks include joining girders and repairing damaged structures. For those who are willing to work at great heights, working high iron in the construction of buildings can be lucrative.
Shipyard Welders
Shipyards throughout Virginia have an all-hands-on-deck call out for welders. The backbone of the maritime industry’s construction and maintenance efforts, shipyard maritime welders work on both large and small commercial and naval vessels throughout Virginia’s thriving maritime industry.
Metal Cutters
There is a thriving industry in metal cutting for those who are handy with a torch. Using arc torches and plasma cutters, metal cutters divide and trip large metal structures into a manageable size for use or reuse in a plethora of industrial purposes. Cutters are needed to dismantle decommissioned vehicles, airplanes and ships for their valuable parts as well as their scrap metal and recyclable components. Jobs can be found in Virginia’s junkyards, shipyards and in the aviation industry.
Automated Welder Operators
While there will continue to be a need for manual welding, revolutionary technologies have automated many jobs that were once performed by welders. However, this doesn’t mean that opportunities no longer exist with this equipment. Automated Welding Operators can take the skills that they have gained from working with their hands and use it to operate and maintain automated welding technology.
Structural Iron and Steel Workers
One particularly physically demanding job is the structural iron and steel worker. Primarily working in the transportation and installation of beams and columns that support large structures such as bridges and buildings, it is essential that those who pursue this occupation have the strength and balance to work in uncomfortable and awkward locations. Skill in operating welding equipment and manual dexterity will make a structural worker a hot commodity in the job market.
Pipefitters
Pipefitters install and repair pipes that carry liquid and gas throughout buildings, ships, airplanes and other large structures. Sharing much in common with plumbers, pipefitting is a much more flexible occupation with a wider variety of opportunities. One may have the opportunity to work in drainage or irrigation, but demand is also high for pipefitters who work in the transportation of chemicals and gases in the energy industry.
Boilermakers
Boilers are metal vats that must hold extreme pressure, and a good boilermaker needs to know how to work under pressure too. Boilermakers can work in various stages of boiler creation and maintenance, including working in the fabrication and installation process as well as repairing them when they are damaged. Virginia’s shipbuilders and power plants are always on the lookout for these skilled professionals.
More Information about Welding Careers is Available Now!
Are you interested in any of these exciting opportunities in the welding profession? Your new career could start at Advanced Technology Institute. Call today for more information on our Associate in Occupational Science (A.O.S) degree program.
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