For some, it may be hard to think of welding as a true career. When you think of welding, you may just think of someone wearing a welder’s mask and melding together two different pieces of metal. However, the work of a welder usually involves a lot more than that. Welders work with a variety of different things, including pipes, electronic parts, and car parts. That means that welders have use in a wide variety of different fields and professions. As you can probably infer by watching people weld, it is physically tiresome and somewhat dangerous work. It isn’t the sort of work that just anyone is capable of doing.
Welding is probably considered a trade, and it’s common knowledge that you don’t really have to go to college for this occupation. Does that suggest that welders aren’t paid very well? In certain cases, people who work in trades as electricians or plumbers are paid fairly respectable salaries. Does that same principle extend to people who work in welding?
Average Welder Salary 2018 – $37,590
The average welder makes approximately $37,590, which is a decent amount of income for someone to have. Welding is physically tiring work, and the danger and noise involved means that a lot of people just aren’t interested in pursuing welding as a career. As a result, talent in welding is paid well. However, welding is still useful in a relatively limited scope of operations, which means that it isn’t paid much more than that. Location is a factor that can affect salary. A welder living in a bustling city like New York City, Seattle, or San Diego, then you may have an easier time finding work as a welder. You could also possibly be paid more than your average welder.
Next, let’s consider how experience can affect the salary of a welder. I don’t think that there exists a job where experience is not highly valued by employers. It is no different in welding. If you’re a welder with a lot of experience, then you’re going to be able to make a lot more money than a welder with less experience. In many cases, a welder with more than twenty years of experience is capable of earning up to $10,000 more than a welder with just entry level experience. If you’re a welder with a lot of experience, then you’re generally more familiar with the tools and equipment that a welder uses, and you’re better at your job. Because of your higher quality of work, you are paid a greater salary. It’s a simple principle, and it’s one that may encourage you to remain in this field once you start working.
Education is a really big factor that can affect one’s interest in working in any given field. The reason why doctors are so highly paid, for instance, is because they have to go through many, many years of schooling in order to be qualified to work in their given jobs. The same principle does not really apply to people who work in a trade. Welders don’t have to go to college, which means that a welder doesn’t have to worry about how their degree may affect their salary. However, some welders may choose to earn industry certifications by studying at a technical college. Doing something like that could obviously make one more desirable to employers. A more educated welder is a more competitive job applicant, but a high level of formal education is by no means required to perform well in this field. In trades like this one, experience is usually more valued than any college degree.
How to become a welder – Do you have to go to school?
If you’ve read all of the information above, then you may be interested in actually becoming a welder. Welding is definitely hard work, but it’s an honest living, and it could be interesting for someone who likes to work in metal. Plus, if you work for a long time and become very good at your job, then you have the possibility to make more than the average salary of a welder. In order to become a welder, you need a high school education. I know that I mentioned before that a formal education isn’t important to work in this profession, and that’s true. However, a high school education will take you a long way in just about every job, and you’ll probably need one if you hope to succeed as a welder.
If you dropped out of high school, then this obviously may be a large concern for you. However, you still have the opportunity to obtain a high school education by taking an exam to acquire your GED or something similar. Even though it isn’t the same thing as a diploma, it will be recognized basically in the same way by employers. Once you have your high school education out of the way, you can start your training. You may pursue your welding training at a workshop or at a technical college. A technical college is obviously a little more expensive, but it’s more accessible and allows you to potentially receive certifications along with your regular experience. Some people work toward their associate’s degree during this time.
If you decide not to go to school, though, you shouldn’t feel too worried about your prospects in this career. You don’t necessarily need any kind of license or certification to legally work in welding, but you will obviously have an easier time finding work if you are more qualified. You should definitely consider getting some kind of certification before working in welding. The certification will require renewal and it will take up some of your time, but it could pay off in a major way once you start to look for work. Otherwise, the responsibility now falls to you to make the most out of your career in welding. As long as you’re qualified and as long as you’re passionate, you’re sure to find success in this exciting and rewarding field.
