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Job descriptions: Welding

More than 6 out of 10 jobs are found in manufacturing industries. For someone who is hard-working and has the right skills from a welding school, this can mean steady employment and good pay. If you're interested in metalwork and have the right welding training, you could have a career in manufacturing.

Welding is the most common way of joining together 2 pieces of metal. Extreme heat is used to melt the metals, fusing them together and creating a strong bond. The process is used in shipbuilding, auto making, and aerospace manufacturing. In fact, it's used in thousands of manufacturing activities.

Welders use an array of equipment. They may perform manual welding, in which the work is entirely controlled by the welder, or semiautomatic welding, in which the welder uses machinery, such as a wire feeder, to perform welding tasks.

Welding Training

Training ranges from a few weeks of school or on-the-job training for low-skilled positions to several years of combined school and on-the-job training for highly skilled jobs. Formal training is available in career colleges and technical institutes, community colleges, and private welding schools. Helpful courses include:

• Blueprint reading
• Shop mathematics
• Mechanical drawing
• Physics
• Chemistry
• Metallurgy

An understanding of electricity also is very helpful. Knowledge of computers is gaining importance, especially for those who are becoming more responsible for programming computer-controlled welding machines.

Welders can advance to more skilled welding jobs with additional training and experience.

Welding Career Information

Welders need good eyesight, hand-eye coordination and manual dexterity. They should be able to concentrate on detailed work for long periods. They also need to be able to bend, stoop, and work in awkward positions. In addition, welders need to be willing to receive training and perform tasks in other production jobs.

Welders are exposed to a number of hazards, including the intense light created by the arc, poisonous fumes and very hot materials. They wear safety shoes, goggles, hoods with protective lenses, and other devices designed to prevent injuries. They normally work in well-ventilated areas to limit their exposure to fumes.

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, employment is projected to grow more slowly than average. However, job prospects should be excellent because employers report difficulty finding enough qualified people. In addition, many openings are expected to arise as a large number of workers retire over the next decade.