Welding Career Overview

What a Welder Does

Welders apply heat to metal pieces (or, less commonly, plastic or wood) to permanently join them. As part of their work, they may carry out tasks such as:

• Interpreting welding codes, specifications, drawings, and blueprints
• Preparing structures or materials to be welded by:
  • Cleaning and inspecting metal pieces
  • Calculating dimensions
  • Taking and marking measurements
  • Cutting or trimming metal parts as necessary
  • Repairing holes or cracks
• Choosing, inspecting, and starting up the best welding equipment for each project
• Monitoring gas flows, flame levels, or other factors while fusing metal pieces
• Examining welded joints for defects or potential areas of weakness
• Performing maintenance on welding equipment
• Operating automated machinery
• Coordinating with other tradespeople

Work Settings

More than 60 percent of people in the welding trades work in the manufacturing sector.* But welders are also employed in many other industries, such as construction, mining, shipbuilding, power generation, and oil and gas production and distribution.

Welding Specializations

Although dozens of different welding processes exist, most welders learn and specialize in only some of them. Deciding which specialties to learn often depends on the industries you want to be part of and the types of projects you want to work on.

Most people who attend a welding trade school get to learn skills for multiple processes. For example, they typically learn about the most common types of arc welding (used in many construction and industrial applications) as well as oxyacetylene welding (used primarily for repair and maintenance jobs).

Other processes, such as many types of resistance and solid-state welding, are often for highly specialized advanced manufacturing applications for products like automobiles, airplanes, and space vehicles.

Welding Career FAQs

Welder Salary: How Much Does Welding Pay?

In 2023, welders in the U.S. earned median wages of $48,940 a year, according to estimates from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Occupational Outlook Handbook (OOH).*

Many top-paying welding jobs involve working in remote or inhospitable locations, such as constructing gas or oil pipelines in the wilderness. Pay also tends to be higher for jobs with elevated risk levels.

What is the Job Outlook Like?

BLS projections show that employment in this vocational category is expected to remain stable from 2023 to 2033.*

People in the welding trade can often maximize their job prospects by being willing to travel or relocate for work.

Is Welding Dangerous?

Welders can stay safe from hazards by adhering to standard safety protocols and wearing protective equipment. For example, auto-darkening welding helmets protect your eyes from the bright flashes of a welding arc. Masks and respirators protect against lung problems from fumes or fine particles. Flame-resistant aprons, gloves, and boots help prevent burns from sparks and molten metal. If you are professional and cautious, this profession does not have to be dangerous.

Is Welding a Good Career?

If you're considering learning a trade, welding has a lot to offer. But whether it's right for you will depend on what you value and enjoy and the type of person you are. Welding comes with a unique set of demands that you need to be equipped to handle, which can mean dealing with extreme environments, wearing protective gear, and being comfortable with certain risks (depending on your specialty). But for many people, novelty and excitement keep them engaged in their line of work.

Welding can also be done on a smaller scale in structured environments with minimal risk. You still need to be able to work with heat, fire, and fumes and wear protective equipment. If you are unfazed by these factors and want to find out what this trade can offer you, check out some of these key reasons welding is a promising career:

Flexible and Versatile

• Welding is needed for an immense number of industries throughout the world, which opens your choices when it comes to hours, working environment, traveling for work, and performing side work and overtime for extra income.
• Work hours can be variable, with 8- and 12-hour shifts common and often evening or night shifts, depending on your workplace.

Reliable, Now and in the Future

• Welding is crucial for many kinds of manufacturing, construction, and fabrication, and the trade isn't going anywhere in the foreseeable future.
• Welders are in demand throughout the U.S., with the BLS projecting a stable job demand in the welding, cutting, soldering, and brazing fields through 2032.
• Welding is needed for newer, more environmentally friendly technology and for repairing aging and damaged infrastructure.

Challenging and Fun

• Welding is a challenge to learn, but it's very worthwhile and rewarding for the right person. You need focus and discipline that persists through working conditions that can be stressful and strenuous. But for many people, this combination can be incredibly satisfying. For many, a bit of thrill actually enhances focus.
• Welders are needed in such a broad range of industries; you can choose a specialty that aligns with where you'd like to work, how much stress or risk you can handle, and what you find interesting.

Valued and Respected

• Good welders who do high-quality work are well-respected and sought by employers and contractors who count on them. And they tend to be compensated well in return.
• The median annual salary for all welders, cutters, solderers, and brazers was $48,940 as of May 2023.* And the potential for higher earnings can be impressive, depending on experience, specialty, work environment, and more.