4 answers
Nathan
Student
Yuma, Arizona
1
Question
Updated
1190 views
Is being a welder worth it?
Being a welder sound interesting but I don’t know if it pays well, I am a middle school student that thinks it would be a good career for me, I just don’t know if it provides enough benefits for me to have it as a career, what are some benefits I should consider?
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4 answers
Ken Hogan, PhD
HR SPecialst
1
Answer
Sandia Park, New Mexico
Updated
Ken’s Answer
Hi Nathan,
Ed's response is very thorough, and I want to add some encouragement. I worked as a welder in high school and served in the Navy for over 20 years, so I understand the field well. In the United States, welders earn about $47,320 per year or $23.95 per hour on average. This can change depending on your experience, location, and area of expertise. Starting salaries are around $41,600, but with experience, you could make up to $63,596 or more.
Here's a clearer picture:
- Median Salary: Welders typically earn around $48,940 a year, with half making more and half making less.
- Mean Salary: The average salary is a bit higher at $52,640.
- Hourly Wage: The average hourly wage is $25.31, with a typical rate being $23.53.
- Salary Range: The top 10% of welders make over $72,970, while the bottom 10% earn less than $36,830.
Remember, your earnings can grow with experience, location, and specialization, like underwater or aerospace welding. Plus, there's potential for extra income through overtime, bonuses, and certifications. Keep pushing forward, and you'll find great opportunities in welding!
Ed's response is very thorough, and I want to add some encouragement. I worked as a welder in high school and served in the Navy for over 20 years, so I understand the field well. In the United States, welders earn about $47,320 per year or $23.95 per hour on average. This can change depending on your experience, location, and area of expertise. Starting salaries are around $41,600, but with experience, you could make up to $63,596 or more.
Here's a clearer picture:
- Median Salary: Welders typically earn around $48,940 a year, with half making more and half making less.
- Mean Salary: The average salary is a bit higher at $52,640.
- Hourly Wage: The average hourly wage is $25.31, with a typical rate being $23.53.
- Salary Range: The top 10% of welders make over $72,970, while the bottom 10% earn less than $36,830.
Remember, your earnings can grow with experience, location, and specialization, like underwater or aerospace welding. Plus, there's potential for extra income through overtime, bonuses, and certifications. Keep pushing forward, and you'll find great opportunities in welding!
Thank you, this is really helpful.
Breiana
Don Holland
Member Service Representative/Food Runner
244
Answers
Austin, Texas
Updated
Don’s Answer
Hello Nathan,
Whether being a welder is worth it, is all up to you. In terms of advantages of being a welder it would be that it is a high demand for people needed, no college degree is required, there are many places where you can get trained and depending on where you work you could get payed 6 figures a year. If this sounds I would definitely look into it!
Whether being a welder is worth it, is all up to you. In terms of advantages of being a welder it would be that it is a high demand for people needed, no college degree is required, there are many places where you can get trained and depending on where you work you could get payed 6 figures a year. If this sounds I would definitely look into it!
Ed Wheatley
Project Manager
14
Answers
Festus, Missouri
Updated
Ed’s Answer
Hi, Nathan. You're asking a great question - one that many folks are likely asking themselves as well. I've been involved in some form or fashion with the welding industry for most of my career and it has proven to be a very good career path. And, I think it continues to be a great choice for a career. Here's a few reasons why:
1. High Demand for Skilled Workers
There’s a constant demand for skilled welders in various industries, including construction, manufacturing, automotive, aerospace, and energy. The demand right now is as high as it has ever been. As industries grow, the need for welding professionals continues to rise.
2. Good Earning Potential
Welding can offer competitive pay. While wages can vary depending on location, experience, the type of welding you're doing, and the industry you're in. However, in general, experienced welders can earn a solid income. Specializations like high purity, automated tube and pipe welding, underwater welding, or working in hazardous environments can command even higher rates.
3. Job Stability
Because welding skills are in high demand, many welders enjoy good job security. This is especially true in industries where skilled trades are harder to fill.
4. Variety of Career Paths
Welding is a versatile skill, opening doors to many fields, such as:
* Structural welding: working on bridges, buildings, etc.
* Pipe welding: working in plumbing, oil rigs, and gas pipelines.
* Automotive: performing welding work that support the production and maintenance of automobiles.
* Aerospace: producing the airplanes and spacecraft that we depend on.
* Defense: producing the machinery and arms essential for the defense of nations.
* Ship Building: performing welding work the supports the construction of all the ships the world depends on to sustain our economies and societies.
* Railroad Industry: building and maintaining the trains, tracks, bridges, and equipment that make up our railroads.
* Power generation industry: working on the boilers and piping that generate our electricity.
* Mining: working on the machinery, structures, and equipment, that supports extraction of minerals from the earth essential for our modern way of life.
5. Hands-On Work
If you enjoy working with your hands and solving practical problems, welding offers that. Many welders enjoy the satisfaction of building or repairing structures, machinery, or even creating custom pieces.
6. Opportunities for Travel
Certain welding jobs, like those in oil fields and construction, can offer travel opportunities. Many welders work in different regions or even countries, depending on the demand for their skills.
7. Low Education Barrier
While a formal degree isn’t typically required, welding can often be learned through trade schools, apprenticeships, or on-the-job training. This makes it more accessible than some other careers that require lengthy education programs.
8. Growth and Specialization
You can continue to advance your skills, from learning different types of welding techniques (MIG, TIG, Stick) to more specialized fields like robotic welding, and aerospace welding. This continuous learning and furthering your education and training allows for career advancement. This can open up many different fields related to welding that are also very good career paths. Some examples are:
* Welding Inspection: Performing the destructive and non-destructive testing (i.e. x-rays, ultrasonics, etc.) that are required in many welding applications.
* Welding Education: Teaching others the welding trade.
* Welding Engineering: Advancing the science and application of welding across industry.
* Welding Sales: Supplying the welding consumables and supplies to support the welding industries.
* Business Management: Running the businesses that utilize welding.
* Project Management: Managing construction, maintenance, and manufacturing projects that utilize welding.
9. Independence and Flexibility
Many welders have the option of working as independent contractors, offering the flexibility to choose their projects and work schedule. Some even run their own welding businesses.
10. Satisfaction of Creating and Repairing
There’s a deep sense of pride in being able to create something durable or fix something that requires a skilled hand. Many welders appreciate the tangible results of their work.
11. Physical and Mental Challenge
Welding is both physically and mentally challenging, which can be rewarding if you like to solve problems and tackle tough tasks.
12. Work in Diverse Environments
Depending on the industry, you could work in a variety of settings, such as factories, construction sites, shipyards, or even on-site at remote locations. Some specialized industries even feature climate controlled welding shops where precision welding is performed.
1. High Demand for Skilled Workers
There’s a constant demand for skilled welders in various industries, including construction, manufacturing, automotive, aerospace, and energy. The demand right now is as high as it has ever been. As industries grow, the need for welding professionals continues to rise.
2. Good Earning Potential
Welding can offer competitive pay. While wages can vary depending on location, experience, the type of welding you're doing, and the industry you're in. However, in general, experienced welders can earn a solid income. Specializations like high purity, automated tube and pipe welding, underwater welding, or working in hazardous environments can command even higher rates.
3. Job Stability
Because welding skills are in high demand, many welders enjoy good job security. This is especially true in industries where skilled trades are harder to fill.
4. Variety of Career Paths
Welding is a versatile skill, opening doors to many fields, such as:
* Structural welding: working on bridges, buildings, etc.
* Pipe welding: working in plumbing, oil rigs, and gas pipelines.
* Automotive: performing welding work that support the production and maintenance of automobiles.
* Aerospace: producing the airplanes and spacecraft that we depend on.
* Defense: producing the machinery and arms essential for the defense of nations.
* Ship Building: performing welding work the supports the construction of all the ships the world depends on to sustain our economies and societies.
* Railroad Industry: building and maintaining the trains, tracks, bridges, and equipment that make up our railroads.
* Power generation industry: working on the boilers and piping that generate our electricity.
* Mining: working on the machinery, structures, and equipment, that supports extraction of minerals from the earth essential for our modern way of life.
5. Hands-On Work
If you enjoy working with your hands and solving practical problems, welding offers that. Many welders enjoy the satisfaction of building or repairing structures, machinery, or even creating custom pieces.
6. Opportunities for Travel
Certain welding jobs, like those in oil fields and construction, can offer travel opportunities. Many welders work in different regions or even countries, depending on the demand for their skills.
7. Low Education Barrier
While a formal degree isn’t typically required, welding can often be learned through trade schools, apprenticeships, or on-the-job training. This makes it more accessible than some other careers that require lengthy education programs.
8. Growth and Specialization
You can continue to advance your skills, from learning different types of welding techniques (MIG, TIG, Stick) to more specialized fields like robotic welding, and aerospace welding. This continuous learning and furthering your education and training allows for career advancement. This can open up many different fields related to welding that are also very good career paths. Some examples are:
* Welding Inspection: Performing the destructive and non-destructive testing (i.e. x-rays, ultrasonics, etc.) that are required in many welding applications.
* Welding Education: Teaching others the welding trade.
* Welding Engineering: Advancing the science and application of welding across industry.
* Welding Sales: Supplying the welding consumables and supplies to support the welding industries.
* Business Management: Running the businesses that utilize welding.
* Project Management: Managing construction, maintenance, and manufacturing projects that utilize welding.
9. Independence and Flexibility
Many welders have the option of working as independent contractors, offering the flexibility to choose their projects and work schedule. Some even run their own welding businesses.
10. Satisfaction of Creating and Repairing
There’s a deep sense of pride in being able to create something durable or fix something that requires a skilled hand. Many welders appreciate the tangible results of their work.
11. Physical and Mental Challenge
Welding is both physically and mentally challenging, which can be rewarding if you like to solve problems and tackle tough tasks.
12. Work in Diverse Environments
Depending on the industry, you could work in a variety of settings, such as factories, construction sites, shipyards, or even on-site at remote locations. Some specialized industries even feature climate controlled welding shops where precision welding is performed.
Thank you so much Ed, your response made me realize that welding might be a good career for me, I love doing independent work, I love the feeling of creating something new, and I love doing challenging tasks to keep me engaged, I think I will heavily consider welding as a career in the future, thank you.
Nathan
Daniel Chasteen
Welder/Welding Instructor
35
Answers
Pontiac, Illinois
Updated
Daniel’s Answer
Being a welder can be a well-paying job. The welding industry offers many opportunities, especially if you're young. The type of welding you choose matters. In a shop or factory, you might earn from minimum wage to around $30 an hour. In specialized areas like pipeline work, you could make up to $80 an hour or more, depending on your location and job specifics. Start with entry-level positions and continue your education. Being a skilled welder is important, but further education can help you advance. Consider studying for the Certified Welder Inspector certificate or pursuing a bachelor's degree in engineering or materials science. Your hard work and education will lead to better pay.