7 Incredible Facts About a Career in Welding
Home Welding Articles and Information 7 Incredible Facts About a Career in Welding
Fact # 1 – Welding Does Not Require a College Degree
person weldingWelding is a career choice that does not require a college degree.
Welders can get a certificate in as little as nine months to start earning a good living.
Welders are judged by their skill level and most jobs require passing a hands-on welding test.
Fact # 2 – Welders Have Endless Career Paths to Choose From
Welding is a career that offers more choices of industries to work in and advancement opportunities than just about any other career choice. Welders are needed in almost every industry and those who want to advance their career have the ability to do so with additional schooling.
blue-print drawing
blue-print drawing
Below are just a few examples of the fields in which Welders can find career opportunities:
Inspection
Engineering
Robotics
Education
Project Management
Sales
Fact #3 – Unbelievable Out of This World Traveling Opportunities
Did you know that welding is done everywhere ranging from the bottom of the ocean to outer space and everywhere in between?!
As a welder there is no doubt that you will have the opportunity to travel! Traveling jobs typically pay the most and there is no shortage of openings. Welders who travel for a living are known as “Road Warriors”. The road warrior lifestyle is a culture and a way of life for many people. It is a small community of welders and craft professionals that literally live on the road, eat out every night and get paid very well to see the world.
Some examples of traveling jobs in welding are:
Industrial Shutdowns
Welders who work on industrial shut downs travel from place to place helping the industries that manufacture the products we buy keep their plants operating trouble free. Industrial shutdowns typically last from a few days to a few months. For most people doing this type of work, the traveling is done within about a 1000 mile radius of their home. Welders who work shutdowns typically spend six months out of the year on the road and the other six months taking time off. Not a bad deal is it?
Shipbuilding and Repair
The shipbuilding industry literally has communities built for welders to live because of their need for skilled welders. Shipyards are always hiring welders known as “independent contractors” to fill the job openings they have when fulfilling large contracts. The types of ships you can help build range from specialty research vessels to aircraft carriers. People who work in shipyards typically travel to the ports where the work is to be done. Shipyard jobs can last a few weeks to a few years depending on how many ships need to be built. The travel in this industry is worldwide. Some welders that specialize in ship construction and repair literally travel the globe yearly. One week you may be in the United States and the next in Japan. Working in the shipbuilding industry you never know where you will be a month from now.
Military Support
The military always needs welders to support our troops. Military support jobs are typically run by contracting companies that specialize in building infrastructure and repairing military equipment. Some of the types of work that is done are building pipelines, repairing tanks and outfitting military vehicles. Welders who do this type of work can find themselves working as close as their home town all the way to places like Afghanistan and Guam.
On-Board Ship Maintenance and Repair
Life can literally be a cruise working to maintain and repair passenger ships. This type of work requires the welder to live on the ship while it travels the world. Ships always require welders to keep replacing pipes and doing repairs while the ship is out at sea. Working on a cruise ship means you can literally be in a new country every week. Welders who work on cruise ships not only get paid well but receive free room and board, chief prepared meals