Also called: Rail Welder, Track Welder
Joins railroad rails in the field using a fiery chemical reaction that pours molten steel into the gap.
You clamp a mold around the gap between two rails, light the thermite charge, and watch white-hot steel pour in with a shower of sparks. After it cools you grind the joint smooth so trains roll over without a bump. Railroads and transit agencies employ you.
Estimated; railroad jobs often include strong benefits.
Approximate: anchored on Bureau of Labor Statistics data for a broader job group.
Certificate, about 1 year after high school. Railroad or contractor training plus welding certification.
Ways in: On-the-job training, Certification. Training cost: Get paid while you train.
Majors to look at: Welding Technology (trade school).
Growing about average (about 2% over 10 years). Welders overall.
Low risk for 10 years. Rail welding crews work in the field along the track; automated flash-butt welding helps, but field welds stay human.
Classes: Welding CTE, Chemistry, Physics.
Official data: O*NET occupation 51-4121.
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