Find Welding Schools near you.

Welders prepare and connect metal parts, such as beams, together, using different techniques and advanced tools. This specialized field is in high demand. While there are over 80 different processes a welder can use to complete his job, some are done manually while others are done using advanced and highly technical equipment. Going to welding school and earning a degree in welding can help you earn a very good income in what is commonly considered a very stable industry.

Graduates of welding school can find themselves in a variety of work environments, working from plans or specifications to join various parts and pieces, repairing and manufacturing parts and working in different industries including:

• Aerospace
• Commercial and residential construction
• Bridges and roadways
• Pipelines
• Power plants and refineries
• Automotives
• Commercial manufacturing

Skilled welders, arc welders, soldering and brazing workers often work in industrial settings where molten metal is used to join two other pieces of metal. Because of the variety of work environments someone with a welding degree may find him/herself working in, welders are trained to work with a wide variety of metals and materials including titanium, aluminum, plastics, as well as metals.

There are a wide variety of types of welding. Welders may decide to go into a type of arc welding called Tungsten Inert Gas (TIG) welding or Metal Inert Gas (MIG) welding. TIG is used for stainless steel or aluminum, while MIG uses a spool of metal wire.

Most welders work with hot materials and need to have safety training as part of their program at welding school. Some may find themselves working in areas where they need to wear safety equipment and possibly work, either indoors or outdoors, in areas that may need to avoid dangerous sparks and fumes.

Welding school provides certification and specific types of welding certification, as most employers insist that their welders be formally trained. Those new to welding may advance over time to become supervisors, inspectors, instructors, and field managers. Those with a bachelor’s degree in welding may even become welding engineers!

In 2006, there were approximately 462,000 jobs in the welding and soldering field, with two out of every three jobs located in manufacturing, fabricated metal product manufacturing, transportation equipment manufacturing, construction, architectural and structural metal manufacturing, and machinery manufacturing (Source: United States Department of Labor)

The field of welding, soldering and brazing is expected to grow, despite the overall employment environment. This may be because welders may find work in several industries with relocation. Most graduates of welding school do not have any trouble finding gainful employment.