Also called: Fabrication Welder, Production Welder
Joins metal pieces together using intense heat for everything from trailers to skyscraper beams to farm equipment.
You flip down your helmet and run bead after bead on steel frames, then grind, check fit and move on to the next. It's hot, loud and physical, and at the end of the day you can see exactly what you built. Welders who add certifications or travel can earn a lot more.
BLS May 2024 median about $51,000; pipeline and specialty welders often earn far more.
Certificate, about 1 year after high school. Welding certificate from a trade school or community college; AWS certification.
Ways in: Trade school, Certification, Apprenticeship, On-the-job training, Military. Training cost: Under $15k.
Majors to look at: Welding Technology (trade school).
Growing about average (about 2% over 10 years).
Low risk in 5 years, medium in 10. Robots take repetitive production welds, but field, repair and custom welding stay human; a welder shortage persists.
Classes: Welding CTE class, Geometry, Shop class.
Official data: O*NET occupation 51-4121.
Career Universe is an early version. Pay, training and AI-risk figures are estimates to start your own research, not verified facts. The research was written with AI research assistants, checked by validation scripts and spot-checked by hand. Check anything important with schools, employers and official sources. How the numbers work.