5 Reasons to Join the Welding Industry
Careers in the technology and technical industries, including skilled labor jobs, are high in demand. More and more people will be needed to take up job positions in these areas.
Professional welding is among America’s top technical jobs with the highest demand.
Welders have access to a wide variety of work environments to choose from. You can decide to be a business owner, self-employed, or a manager in a top corporation in America. This is attributed to the diverse technical career path technical welding jobs offer with multiple vacant positions.
Whichever technical job you prefer, you won’t go wrong by joining the welding industry. Here’re a few reasons you should consider taking up a job in the welding industry:
1. Fast job growth rate increases the demand for welding jobs
Jobs in the welding industry have a fast growth rate and thus high in demand. Welders, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), are categorized under different groups because they work in various fields.
People searching for welding professionals’ job growth stats may find this misleading. Job positions in welding include:
- Sheet metal workers
- Steelworkers
- Fabricators
- Pipefitters
However, welders can work in a variety of industries, including:
- Manufacturing
- Construction
- Aerospace
- Energy
Welding jobs available in the varied industries continue to grow. Job growth statistics of every sector indicates that you can easily secure a welding job in a desired field. The construction industry has been predicted to experience a major shortage in labor over the next few years because fewer people join the craft industry. What’s more, studies show that 29% of America’s current workforce is expected to retire by 2026. The figure translates to over a fourth of the whole construction industry. There’s no better time to join the technical industry than NOW. The need for more craft professionals in the welding industry continues to grow. According to the American Welding Society (AWS), the welding industry will require over 375,000 welders by 2023. With lots of opportunities available, you can make a perfect career choice in welding.
2. Welding program scholarship is easy to access
You must join an accredited welding program to become a skilled welder. Our technical university, just like any other technical college, offers a welding program that includes an internship or apprenticeship. Students who join welding programs have access to the AWS scholarships. The society gives out over $1 million in scholarships every year.
3. Work is always available for welders
Skilled welders never lack jobs because there’s always work for everyone. Availability of stable work is the driver for increasing demand for professional welders. Moreover, welding isn’t dependent on supplies or seasons, hence the need for welders to work. You can also easily change your job to work in a different sector as you deem fit. You can do so without changing careers. For example, you can work in sustainable energy and change jobs to work with sheet metal in the manufacturing industry. You need to learn how to use various welding machines such as the most popular MIG welders to improve your skillset. Multi-process welders, which are combinations of the various welders out there. With the right knowledge, acing a new job is always easy.
4. High salary that keeps increasing with travel and experience
Highly skilled welders can work under difficult conditions or even travel for work to earn a higher salary. If you’re open and willing to develop your existing skills, you can work in any of the following well-paying positions:
- Traveling industrial welders
- Military support welders
- Underwater welders
Welding jobs on high demand have a great potential and pay high salaries. The construction industry has a big demand for welders in the future. This translates to more work and career advancement opportunities. Large companies are willing to pay high salary packages for qualified welding professionals with the skills they require to fill their vacant positions. A welding career, according to the 2018 survey of NCCER’s construction craft salary, pays anything from $55,000 to $70,000 in annual salary. The more you progress in a welding career, the more opportunities become available; you’re bound to earn a higher salary as you climb the career ladder. Although the industry has a starting salary as low as $40,000 (according to other sources), you can up to $100,000 every year for particular skill positions.
5. Access to diverse career options
The welding industry allows you to change careers from time to time as you deem fit. With a range of career paths, you only have to develop specific skills to increase your chance of getting a different job when you want to do so.
Some job opportunities include:
- Traditional welding jobs in manufacturing or engineering
- Training or teaching jobs as an educator in a technical college or institution like ours
- Inspection and project management
- Sales business opportunities
Welding jobs are also interesting and hands-on, making them ideal for exploring your creative skills. You get to work in various fun industries such as:
- The energy sector
- Amusement parks
- Ship-building
With hands-on training to gain experience and diversity, welding jobs are unique and interesting. It has no boring, repetitive work as in other careers. As a welder, you can apply pressure or heat onto objects to create anything you want, be it bridges, cars, etc. There’s so much pride and satisfaction in working on a project from start to finish. A welding job allows you to utilize your unique skills to develop beautiful structures daily. What’s more, nothing beats the rewarding feeling of knowing that something you developed with your own hands and skills will impact the lives of other Americans for several years to come.
