What a welder does
Welders join metal – permanently, precisely and to code. Using processes like MIG, TIG, stick and flux-core, you'll read blueprints and welding symbols, prep joints, control heat and produce welds that hold up under X-ray inspection. It's equal parts skill, focus and craft, and the result of your work is visible (and load-bearing) every single day.
Demand spans every industry that touches metal: shipbuilding, defense manufacturing, infrastructure rebuilds, pipelines, energy and fabrication. About 45,600 welding openings are projected every year through 2034, and shipyards alone need tens of thousands of new welders for the Navy's fleet expansion. Hands-on welding can't be offshored – and certified specialty welders are some of the most sought-after workers in America.
You can be employable in under a year: a focused training program plus an AWS certification gets you on the floor, and pay climbs fast as you stack certifications. Pipe, TIG, nuclear and underwater welders routinely earn $100K+.
