The 5 Most Common Welding Jobs

Welders join bits of metal together, and if you take the Flashdance movie to heart, they are also talented dancers. Seriously, though, welders spend their days cutting and shaping metal for a variety of different purposes.

There are hundreds of different welding processes and many welders are qualified in more than one technique. Skilled welders work in construction, in the aerospace and automotive industries, and even in residential projects where metal structures need to be altered. Welding can also be an artistic endeavor, with many sculptors working with metal to produce sculptures of artistic merit.

Welding is a highly skilled job and there are a number of different career paths for qualified welders. So if you are considering learning to weld, here are the five most common welding jobs.

Machine Operators

Welding machine operators working on the factory floor are trained to operate industrial welding equipment. These guys typically work for large manufacturing companies such as automotive plants. Some of the manufacturing processes are automated these days, but highly skilled operators with extensive knowledge of different welding techniques are always in demand.

Construction Welders

Metal is an important construction material. Bridges, tall buildings, tunnels, and other large structures are all built using metal frames, so steel has to be fabricated, joined together, and repaired. Many jobs require that a welder is confident working at height, and there is an element of danger involved, but employment prospects are good and this type of career is well-paid.

Residential Construction

There are many openings for a self-employed welder in the residential construction industry with his own welding equipment. Steel is an important component of house building and many modern properties are built around steel foundations and frameworks. Renovation projects may also require the skills of a welder to make changes to metal framework or adjust the position of a structural beam, all with great precision. Your skills may also be required during the design phase, when the viability of a project is under consideration.

Oil and Gas Industry

There are always jobs available to skilled welders looking for work in the oil and gas sector, where pipework needs to be welded. The pay is excellent and job security is high, but working conditions may be less favorable and most jobs in this field involve long periods away from home. However, if you have the requisite skills and want to work in heavy industry, this is a good career path to take.

Custom Welding

There is always a demand for highly skilled custom welders who are happy to work on cars, motorcycles and other bespoke jobs. There is more of an artistic and design element to this type of welding, but if you are creative and want to work on a self-employed basis, custom welding could be right for you although you will need to invest in your own Lincoln 210 mp.

There are also other areas where welding skills are always welcome. These include soldering and brazing, a similar skill to welding used in plumbing and manufacturing, and machine cutting. So you won’t be short of work if you want to be a welder.