Welders: Salary, career path, job outlook, education and more

Welders work in a wide variety of industries, from car racing to manufacturing. The work that welders do and the equipment they use vary with the industry. Arc welding, the most common type of welding today, uses electrical currents to create heat and bond metals togetherbut there are more than 100 different processes that a welder can use. The type of weld is usually determined by the types of metals being joined and the conditions under which the welding is to take place.

Job Outlook
The projected percent change in employment from 2016 to 2026: 5% (As fast as average)
(The average growth rate for all occupations is 7 percent.)
Licenses/Certifications
Courses leading to certification are offered at many welding schools. For example, the American Welding Society offers the Certified Welder designation.
Median pay: How much do Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and Brazers make?
$39,390 Annual Salary
$18.94 per hour

Careers for Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and Brazers

  • Aluminum welders
  • Arc cutters
  • Arc welders
  • Brazers
  • Certified maintenance welders
  • Cutters
  • Cutting torch operators
  • Pipe welders
  • Silver solderers
  • Solderers
  • Sub arc operators
  • Welder fitters
  • Wire welders

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