Welding has been deemed a in-demand skill for years, facilitating job opportunities in wide variety of industries associated with aerospace, automotive, construction, marine, power, rail and more.
With a variety of different potential working environments, competitive pay and the ability to travel, a welding career may offer much more than many people realize.
But there has been a misconception that welding is a dirty and perhaps imaginable dangerous job, which may be a precursors for the current relative shortage of younger welders, with not as many younger people seeing it as a career option.
This situation is further complicated in many countries like the UK and the US with an ageing welding workforce.
We will assess the pros and the cons of welding to demonstrate the advantages and disadvantages of welding jobs, but first, we will provide some context as to why there is such a demand for skilled welders across all industries.
Why There is a Demand for Welders
In previous paragraphs we have briefly mentioned the misinformation and assumptions which may be preventing some younger adults from looking at welding as a career, as well as the up and coming shortage of welders which will be created when welding professionals retire.
In addition to this, there are an abundance of exciting and diverse projects across industries currently which are providing little opportunity to draw on skilled welders.
A lot of industries are experiencing technological innovations that are helping them grow, however, many still need metal fabrication, materials knowledge and joining. This need is creating employment opportunities across many industries.
It looks like welders are in demand, so it seems to be a sound career path to pursue, so let’s look at some pros and cons of being involved in welding, so that we can see if it is a good career or not…
Pros of a Career in Welding
There are some good reasons to consider a career in welding, including:
1. Low barriers to entry:
You do not need any formal education or experience to begin the path to being a certified welder. You could enter the profession by getting an entry level position and being trained by a master welder, by starting as a welding apprentice, or enrolling in a vocational programme in high school, or sometimes from a technical school or welding school.
Whichever route you take, they will lead to certification – and could include – training in a number of specializations related to specific fields or industries, such as food service, or aerospace.
2. Job security:
Demand for welders in a growing number of sectors offers a good level of job security. In fact, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics projects that demand for welders will increase in the coming years, which From a career standpoint.
Welding is fairly unique because it is not hugely affected by economic or social conditions, as welding is always needed in manufacturing, construction, transportation and infrastructure areas.
3. A Variety of Job Choices:
As stated above, welders are needed for a variety of sectors, allowing you to work for different companies and industries and also freelance if you want.
Some welders make extra cash on the side by starting their own part-time welding service, doing contract work on the side or even manufacturing their own products.
4. Income:
The average salary of a welder in the UK is roughly £29,000 a year according to checkasalary.co.uk although it is possible to earn a lot more than that, with some of the top welding jobs paying two or three times that. Like all jobs welders earn more as they gain experience.
5. Promoting Your Career:
The demand for welders means that there is the potential to promote your welding job and enter management and supervise other welders for instance.
6. Range of Opportunities:
Welding is a varied profession with various methods to learn, for example, gas metal arc welding or shielded metal arc welding and various work environments.
You may find yourself in situations where you work with people from different cultures and experiences which can be fulfilling by itself.
So, even though you may keep the techniques you use the same after your become familiar with them, the working environments and the projects can keep your career diverse and give you some variation that you might find interesting.
7. Specialisation:
Even though welding has tons of different job opportunities to offer, welding also allows you to work in a specific industry or field. If you want to become an expert in a certain type of welding, you have the chance to increase your employability and level of expertise in that type of welding or field.
8. Travel:
Starting a career as a welder can also mean you get an opportunity to travel for work. You can work with a variety of different projects in many different countries, getting the chance to visit other countries, experience different cultures, and meet many different people while possibly even getting a better wage abroad.
9. Working Hours:
Most welding jobs are more of a stereotypical 9-5 job, however, as a freelance welder, you can do any number of work hours and work schedules.
10. Creativity:
Since welding is a skill, it does involve manual skills which allows for a level of creativity. Some welding will allow for planning or logic for others there may be an original product to create.
Depending on the project and where it is being applied, some people may find a level of job satisfaction just to have a job well done, a problem solved, or simplicity of producing a strong, attractive looking weld.
10. A Special Skillset:
Welding skills can also be applied to your life outside the workplace, which can help you save money, such as repairing objects at home, or repairing your car. The skills that you learn as a welder can be pursued in other careers, meaning you can seamlessly transfer into another career should you wish to do so.
Cons of a Career in Welding
We have covered some of the many pros of having a career in welding, but like everything else there will be some downsides to consider as well..
1. Danger:
Welding is dangerous, and although you must follow health and safety precautions and improve equipment and safety standards, welding can never be a completely risk-free profession.
Using electricity and heat is, in and of itself dangerous, not to mention where gloves and gear if you are using grinders, gas torches, and saws because you can easily cut yourself or suffer injuries if not properly used.
Some people are ok working in these dangerous conditions, and there are some forms of welding that are riskier than others, underwater welding is risky, tough and usually pays more money.
2. Working Environment:
Again, as previously mentioned, the dangers of a welding profession exists particular, health and safety, work may be done outside in a work environment with weather.
While many businesses will stop work with poor weather or through the seasons, welders will still have the opportunity to deal with some poor conditions from time to time.
3. Long Hours:
While most of the workforce is 9-5, at times, you may need to work longer hours, on a project that makes sense, or the employer may be seeking to meet a deadline.
Repair work only gets done out of hours at times too, or with travel from site to site sometimes, you will be spending a chunk of time on the decision about being to/from a site in a reasonable time. Of course, the more hours you work, the more pay you earn.
4. Physical Work:
Welders are not an industry for those who would like to work in an office. It is physical work, which sometimes involves working in confined spaces – which might be avoided with some planning.
You may have to climb over things or maneuver to access the weld(s) site, and there could be some lifting or other physical activity. Of course, some people enjoy this work type, but not everyone enjoys this static type physical work.
5. Dirty Work:
Not all types of welding involve working in dirty environments, but some do. Of course, while using gloves and PPE etc will reduce the chance of you getting dirty on the work site, there is a good chance you may need a good brush off at the end of the work day in your role as a welder.
6. Mastering the Skills:
Some weld types are easier than others, so, although it could take time to master your skills, some methods, like TIG welding, will take patience and persistence, but it can help with satisfaction.
Conclusion
An aging workforce, the relative lack of young workers entering the profession, and growth in the industry has created demand for welders. All of this is good news for individuals thinking about a career in welding.
Welding as a career does have its negatives, but there is also much good about welding as a career – like allowing for travel, the ability to work across a range of sectors, and the potential to earn good wages.