If you enjoy working with your hands and building things, then welding could be the perfect career for you. Welders help build and repair everything from the tiniest cars to the mightiest ships. But in order to do that, you will need to go through a welding school program to learn how to perform this trade.
If you’re wondering what the field looks like, both the need for welders and the salary are healthy, according to industry and government sources. Qualified welders are in high-demand as there’s an ongoing shortage of them. The Bureau of Labor Statistics estimates average pay for welders, cutters, solderers, and brazers at $39,390, but the highest 10% earn more than $62,100.
Attending any welding school program means spending a significant amount of time working in the shop, welding. They’re primarily practical programs, designed to teach you the technical skills you need to excel in your craft. You can only gain those skills through practice.
Depending on the exact makeup of the program, you may also learn skills associated with a specific industry or general “soft skills”. These can include:
This means you’ll have to attend some classroom-based lessons and spend some time studying. You’ll probably find this easier to get motivated for than you did classes in high school though. The subjects you’re studying are closely related to the skills you’re learning and will help you in your career.
Welding school is a mix of theory and practice. The exact mix depends on the program in question, but the following will give you a good idea of what’s ahead.
A welding certificate qualifies you to do a specific set of welds, such as welding horizontal pipes. When you take a degree program, you’ll get certified in all the most important types of weld for both sheets and pipes.
On top of that, a good degree program teaches you the related skills that will help you succeed in your career. More importantly, it documents those skills, so employers can be confident that you’re competent in them.
A single certification in welding qualifies you for an entry-level job as a welder. You’ll need several certificates though, as well as on the job experience, before you can move up to a supervisory role. Having the multiple certifications you get with a degree makes you more useful than someone with a single certificate. It also puts you on a fast track to better jobs within the field.
With some documented experience in the workplace and your qualifications, you could become a supervisor, a welding inspector, or a teacher or trainer. All these roles give you more responsibility and better pay.
Good welders with certification in multiple weld types are also the most obvious candidates for learning to manage, maintain, program, and operate robotic welding cells. These robotic units are widely seen as a solution to the shortage of skilled welders, and their operators could be highly in demand in coming years.
Interested in a career in welding? Phone 888-346-2315 or visit The Advanced Technology Institute website now to learn about our Associate’s Degree in Maritime Welding Technology with Service Management. You could earn your degree in as little as 1.5 years!