Also called: Navy shipyard welder, Submarine welder, Shipfitter
Welds and assembles steel plates and structures that become warships and nuclear submarines.
Shipyard welders work inside giant hull sections, welding seams that must pass X-ray inspection. Navy submarine yards are hiring thousands of workers. Many yards run paid apprenticeship schools that award college credit.
BLS welders median; nuclear shipyard welders with overtime often earn more.
Approximate: anchored on Bureau of Labor Statistics data for a broader job group.
Apprenticeship, about 3 years after high school. High school diploma; shipyard apprenticeship programs (paid, 3-4 years) or welding school.
Ways in: Apprenticeship, Trade school, On-the-job training. Training cost: Get paid while you train.
Majors to look at: Welding Technology (trade school), Shipyard Apprenticeship.
Growing about average (about 2% over 10 years). BLS projects ~2% growth for welders; Navy shipbuilding demand is very strong.
Low risk for 10 years. Welding in cramped submarine hulls is too varied for robots; shipyards are hiring heavily.
Classes: Welding CTE, Geometry, Construction CTE.
Official data: O*NET occupation 51-4121.
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