How To Become a Welder in 6 Steps

When you think about a welder, you may picture sparks popping off their face shield as they have at machine components with their torch.

A welder truly does use their hands and can work in extreme conditions, but they also spend time reading blueprints, understanding the properties of a variety of metals, and the techniques for welding them.

The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) indicates that welders made an average of $46,690 in 2020. However, it is possible for welders’ average pay also be increased by implementing more versatility and engaging in continued education and training.

What Does a Welder Do?

A welder is a skilled tradesperson who has undergone specialized training to fuse two or more different types of metals together by the use of heat, in order to create or repair products or goods.

Because of the number of products that welders create, there are countless options to choose from in welding careers. Welders could be making, and repairing housing or commercial structures, vehicles, bridges, ships, or aircraft.

Common responsibilities of a welder may include:

• To make sure each finished project is suitable for use and will last for the customer.
• Complying with safety regulations, when using flame, for safe and responsible use.
• Balancing flame and metal temperature when welding.
• Cleaning up after welding and securing equipment in a sensible manner.
• Reading blueprints to find out length and dimensions of the project being welded.

A welder can also be a welding inspector and assist in verifying that quality assurance and quality control practices (including safety practices) on the job comply with the specifications and standards set by the owner or agency and help identify welding defects that may jeopardize the strength and quality of the completed weld joint.

Welders demonstrate certain qualities while they welded including good physical condition, a keen eye for detail, skill, good vision and the ability to develop solutions in difficult working conditions.

To become a welder it also takes a substantial technical basis and a comprehensive understanding of welding techniques.

What Skills Are Needed to Become A Welder?

Here are the skills most successful welders have:

• To be thorough and pay attention to detail.
• Knowledge of engineering science and technology.
• The ability to work on your own.
• The ability to use, repair and maintain machines and tools.
• Design skills and knowledge.
• Knowledge of math’s.
• The ability to work well with your hands.
• The ability to analyze quality or performance.
• To be able to carry out basic tasks on a computer or hand-held device.

How To Become a Welder?

If you enjoy doing the physical work, then welding is a potential career choice for you. And of course a love for making things is only part of the equation because you need a lot of training and practice to be a good welder.

You also need to know the industry landscape, what types of welding processes are out there, and what your potential employers look like, building a welding career takes more than passion.

If you are serious about becoming a welder, these steps will help you fulfill a welding career:

1. Research the different types of welding jobs.
2. Take welding courses.
3. Earn your welding certificate.
4. Gain hands-on experience.
5. Become a certified welder.
6. Begin your job search.

1. Research the Different Types of Welding Jobs

Welding as a procedure is diverse, because you can almost join all varieties of metals (mild steel, stainless steel, aluminum, etc.). The type of welding varies significantly based upon the metal that you have to join and the criticality of the application. Some of the common types of welding are:

• Gas metal arc welding (GMAW) or metal inert gas (MIG) welding: is the type of welding that is used to fabricate metal joints for general use. Applications of MIG welding include shipbuilding, automobiles, bridges and steel components.
• Shielded-metal arc welding (SMAW): also referred to as stick welding, is one of the most commonly used, low-cost and easiest types of welding. Many welders use SMAW in construction jobs or home projects, and in repair they utilize an SMAW to quickly weld small parts.
• Flux-Cored Arc Welding (FCAW): uses a continuous consumable flux-cored electrode fed through the welding gun, and is suited for mass production lines.
• Gas tungsten arc welding or TIG welding: is a specialized type of welding that welders utilize to join aluminum, magnesium, copper, and brass alloys. Tungsten Inert Gas Welding produces good quality welds and therefore requires high levels of skill from its operators.

The skills, training, and certifications needed for different types of welding can be unique. You should learn the skills based upon the welding techniques that match your strengths and abilities.

Getting trained and certified in the specific welding techniques like MIG welding can allow you higher-paying welding jobs.

2. Take Welding Courses.

After you have decided what you would like to do in a welding the first step is to research the education and credentialing requirements for that type of welding.

Most welding careers require a high school diploma or GED and some post high school training. If your high school has welding classes, that would be a great way to learn about the different types of welding careers.

It is also a good idea to take mathematics courses that relate to working in welding, like geometry, since welding usually involves some manipulation of sizing or measurements.

3. Earn Your Welding Certificate.

Once you have your high school education, you may want to advance your education by taking welding certificate programs or join community college.

Welding certificate programs usually last around six months to two years, which may help you gain some general knowledge of welding duties and responsibilities.

Some welders with their specializations will further their education by obtaining a bachelor’s degree in Welding.

4. Gain Hands-On Experience.

After earning your welding certification, you can begin mentoring work experience in an apprenticeship for the type of welding you want to pursue.

With an apprenticeship opportunity, you can shadow and perform supervised work in order to learn about the welding responsibilities and normal work schedule.

After your apprenticeship is complete, you will either stay on with the company you did your apprenticeship with if they allow you to, or take that experience to get a full time position in your desired welding career.

5. Become A Certified Welder.

The AWS Certified Welder program is administered by the American Welding Society (AWS). You can be certified for many types of welding. These certifications prove to employers that you have the skills, and that you are potentially qualified for higher-paying positions.

The AWS offers 19 certifications for welders, preparing them for different types of welding:

• MIG welding
• Automobile welding
• Construction and repair work
• Shipbuilding
• Pipeline welding
• Manufacturing
• Welding wind-exposed structures

There are no real prerequisites for certified welder tests, but expect to be tested on your knowledge of a specific codebook, and you will need to produce a good weld. Therefore, it is usually advisable to take the test after you have completed some education and on-the-job training for skills.

To be an AWS-certified welder, you will need to pay the $50 application fee. Then you will pay testing fees for each certification exam, which will be a couple of hundred dollars or so per test, depending on what test you are taking.

6. Begin Your Job Search.

Prior to commencing your job search, it is essential to seek out positions that fundamentally match your skills and abilities.

Some welding positions may ask you to perform tasks in extreme situations and about writing skills will be and desirable of extraordinary hand-eye coordination. Beyond that, the salary would vary depending on the job description.

The following are the positions that you would be able to pursue after completing your welding training:

Welder

The majority of welding certificate programs, offered at a community college, can provide you with basic training and skills to become a welder.

Welders can work in the manufacturing, construction, heavy machinery, automobile, shipbuilding, and aviation industries, but those jobs will limit you to entry-level positions like wire feed welder, tack welding operators, etc.

Welding Supervisor/Engineer

The skills you develop while in an associate degree program expose you to skills at a higher level. Upon completing your associate degree, you would be able to pursue the role of supervisor or welding engineer.

These roles come with additional responsibilities and responsibilities associated with project management and planning, microstructure assessment, and the responsibility for overseeing production on a day-to-day basis.

Welding Instructor

All welding instructors must pass a Certified Welding Instructor (CWI) certification examination from the American Welding Society.

If you love to teach prospective welders in the different welding programs offered at welding schools, there are a number of employment opportunities available to you. As an instructor, you must also have experience with other types of welding.

Welding Inspectors

These type of jobs would be a good fit for welders who are thinking about quality control. Welding inspectors also complete different types of tests such as radiography to test weld quality.

Inspectors will also ensure that the welders are following safety standards by wearing a welding helmet or wearing safety glasses.

How Long Does It Take to Become a Welder?

Depending on the training program, means to become a welder takes anywhere from six to eighteen months. Future welders will have opportunities for training immediately after high school at postsecondary institutions.

They will either apply for community college or vocational college programs or pursue on-the-job training by obtaining a position as an entry level welder.

Certificates and diplomas in welding can take anywhere from three weeks to eighteen months to earn. Generally speaking, an associate degree program in welding takes two years to complete.

The amount of time it takes to obtain certification varies by professional organization, but typically, every welder that pursues certification will take an exam.

Average Salary of A Welder

A welder’s salary will vary by industry, company, and educational experience. According to the BLS, the bottom 10% of welders made less than $30,640 per year in May 2020, and the top 10% made more than $66,250.

The highest paying industries for welders include specialty trade contracting, repair and maintenance, and manufacturing, all of which had median annual salaries between $42,650 – $48,420 in May 2020.

Welders may need to work evenings or weekends; most companies have daily shifts of 2-3. The BLS said that welders made a median annual salary of $44,190 in May 2020. The BLS estimates the growth rate for welders will be 8% — or as fast as average — from 2020 to 2030.

Conclusion

Once you obtain your welding certification, there are many job opportunities available to you and you may also have a higher rate of pay since it demonstrates to any prospective employers that you are knowledgeable and have experience.

But, certification comes with a level of responsibility because you are expected to welding within the qualification limits of your certification unaided. This is especially important when you are called upon to make significant welds that could potentially affect the life or property of other people.

Your certification will also need to be updated periodically, so that employers know you are still able to make the required level of welding quality for a specific job.

Generally, the more certified you are, then the total cumulative wage will then be allocated to you, so it is worth your time, tax dollars and trade skill effort to keep refreshing and upgrading your industrial skills and qualifications.

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