Welding Profession - Binding The Right Career
Where To Begin
To be successful in any career you choose, preparation and planning is needed to pursue the job that you love.
Starting your journey towards a rewarding career can begin even prior to your work by selecting which career path to take, setting your objectives and determining the steps needed to achieve you goal.
Welding Career
While choosing a career in welding can be a rewarding experience, welding can be considered as an art more than it is being a craft or skill. With all the culture and levels involved in this profession, it is not difficult to understand why many opt to pursue welding as a career, both for male and female of different ages alike.
With the onset of today’s technology, welding is a dynamic profession that is both challenging and rewarding. Not only does it require developing one’s dexterity and physical motor skills, it also entails learning the scientific principle behind the profession.
Most industries require the services of a welder as construction of industrial structures is at a forefront to many businesses no matter how large or small. This has opened a gateway of opportunity for many people to pursue a career in welding.
Types of Welding
As there are many different types of welding, each one requires specific skills and trainings before being certified as a full welder in his or her chosen area of welding. The different types of welding are:
GMAW - Gas Metal Arc Welding
Commonly known as MIG welding, this type welding is the commonly used type and is easily mastered among welders. It is widely used for the home building industry. GMAW welding suits best for binding steel, stainless steel and aluminium as well.
GTAW – Tungsten Inert Gas
Also known as TIG welding, this type of welding can be compared to the acetylene gas type of welding. This requires a higher level of expertise for welding jobs that are of stricter standards. The need to make use of grinder for finishing eliminated.
Arc Welding or SMAW
Known as the stick or arc welding among welders, this is the most common type that is being used and easy to administer. SMAW is widely used for simple welding in home structures or industrial settings. Acquiring the skill level for this is not too difficult.
Oxy Acetylene Welding and Cutting
This type of welding is not widely used for general welding jobs. It involves mixing oxygen and acetylene gas to create a highly concentrated flame capable of cutting or melting steels and other metal objects. Widely used for refrigeration pipes and similar work type.
Salary Level and Certification
Welders earn an average of $38,410 annually or $18.46 per hour based on recent data of the US Pay Scale Index. Many of the US based welders acquire their training from different vocational schools or at technical college schools. They learn reading blue prints, basic shop mechanics, chemistry and the physics in metallurgy. Being certified with the American Welding Society increases their chances of gaining employment in their respective field.
Being familiar with a welders job profile and estimated salary can greatly motivate one to pursue a career in welding. To have a successful welding career, determination and perseverance is what counts.