The Welding Profession in a Nutshell

Splicing and dicing metal beams together with cascading sparks flying around you is the work of a welder. The welding business is quite rugged, requiring minute skill in maneuvering heat controlled machinery to do the job. For those thinking of pursuing this highly respected profession, welding can provide an entryway into engineering, aerospace, and computer engineering careers. Welding jobs can also introduce its patrons to robotics and construction professions. Salaries run across a broad spectrum, starting out at $10-15 an hour working to $100+ with experience.

For starters, welding involves permanently joining metal parts by applying heat to metal pieces, which melts it so that it could become fused with another to form shapes and structures. The welding profession marks its hand in constructing huge structures such as buildings and bridges, and its work is evident by the number of interwoven metal parts used for support. In addition, welders build cars and freight carriers and serve in many manufacturing fields. Welding tasks could be done either manually or with the use of machinery, depending on the complexity of the job.

Becoming a welder requires a rigorous curriculum with an emphasis on hands-on work. A high school diploma is mandatory, and a part-time/full-time college education can open doors to better jobs. General education classes could improve mathematical aptitude and geometry skills, along with instrumental skills (the use of a protractor, for example) - all of which is used to calculate structures and moving parts. Obtaining certification is almost a surefire way for welders to advance in their jobs as well. Performance based programs like the Certified Welder program do not require a college education, but is a course that teaches the discipline of welding techniques on sheet metal, doors, pipelines, and other structures. Certified Welder programs also assess and refine a student's hand-eye coordination and dexterity skills, along with the strenuous positions that come with working long hours.

According to May 2004 statistics, the average hourly wage of welding employees was $14. Those working along the median salary range earned between $11 and $17. The largest numbers of welders work in the motor vehicle parts sector and earned an average wage of $15 an hour. All in all, there are virtually an unlimited number of industries in which a welder can work in. From motor vehicle parts to shipbuilding all the way down to pipeline and building work, the welding profession has it all covered.