Welding
Career Studies Certificate

According
to the U.S.
Department of Labor, more than 6 out of 10 jobs are
found in manufacturing industries!
What do
Welders do?
Welding is the
most common way of permanently joining metal parts. In
this process, heat is applied to metal pieces, melting
and fusing them to form a permanent bond. Because of its
strength, welding is used in shipbuilding, automobile manufacturing
and repair, aerospace applications, and thousands of other
manufacturing activities. Welding also is used to join
beams when constructing buildings, bridges, and other structures,
and to join pipes in pipelines, power plants, and refineries.
more>>>
How
much money to Welders make?
Median hourly earnings of welders, cutters, solderers,
and brazers were $14.72 in May 2004. The middle 50 percent
earned between $11.90 and $18.05. The lowest 10 percent
had earnings of less than $9.79, while the top 10 percent
earned over $22.20.
more>>>
What
is the job outlook for Welders?
Welding, soldering, and brazing workers held about 429,000
jobs in 2004. Of these jobs, more than 6 of every 10 were
found in manufacturing. Jobs were concentrated in fabricated
metal product manufacturing, transportation equipment manufacturing
(motor vehicle body and parts and ship and boat building),
machinery manufacturing (agriculture, construction, and
mining machinery), architectural and structural metals
manufacturing, and construction. Most jobs for welding,
soldering, and brazing machine setters, operators, and
tenders were found in the same manufacturing industries
as skilled welding, soldering, and brazing workers.
more>>>

What
do Welders do?
According to the U.S.
Department of Labor, some welders become certified,
a process whereby the employer sends a worker to an
institution, such as an independent testing lab, equipment
manufacturer, or technical school, to weld a test specimen
according to specific codes and standards required
by the employer. Testing procedures are based on the
standards and codes set by industry associations with
which the employer may be affiliated. If the welding
inspector at the examining institution determines that
the worker has performed according to the employer’s
guidelines, the inspector will then certify that the
welder being tested is able to work with a particular
welding procedure.
How
much money to Welders make?
According
to the U.S.
Department of Labor, the range of earnings of welders
reflects the wide range of skill levels. Median hourly
earnings in the industries employing the largest numbers
of welders, cutters, solderers, and brazers in May 2004
were:
Motor vehicle parts manufacturing |
$16.47 |
Agriculture,
construction, and mining machinery manufacturing |
14.12 |
Architectural
and structural metals manufacturing |
13.98 |
Commercial
and industrial machinery and equipment (except
automotive and electronic) repair and maintenance |
13.45 |
Motor
vehicle body and trailer manufacturing |
13.45 |
Median hourly
earnings of welding, soldering, and brazing machine setters,
operators, and tenders were $14.32 in May 2004. The middle
50 percent earned between $11.73 and $17.78. The lowest
10 percent had earnings of less than $9.63, while the top
10 percent earned over $23.54. Median hourly earnings in
motor vehicle parts manufacturing, the industry employing
the largest numbers of welding machine operators in May
2004, were $15.43.
What
is the job outlook for Welders?
According to the U.S.
Department of Labor, technology is creating more
uses for welding in the workplace and expanding employment
opportunities. For example, new ways are being developed
to bond dissimilar materials and nonmetallic materials,
such as plastics, composites, and new alloys. Also,
laser beam and electron beam welding, new fluxes, and
other new technologies and techniques are improving
the results of welding, making it useful in a wider
assortment of applications. Improvements in technology
have also boosted welding productivity, making welding
more competitive with other methods of joining materials.
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