Skilled Trades & Construction career

Welder

Also called: Welder-Fitter · Structural Welder · Pipe Welder · Fabricator

What welders do, what they earn, how long training takes and how to get started, with official BLS pay data and practical, job-level detail.

Updated By the Career Education Institute Curriculum Team
What does a welder do?

Welders use heat to join and cut metal parts for buildings, bridges, pipelines, ships, vehicles and manufactured products, reading blueprints and producing strong, code-compliant welds. The median pay is $53,750 per year (BLS, May 2025), most people train for about 3–18 months, and employment is projected to grow +2.4% from 2025–35.

Pay data: BLS OEWS, May 2025 · Outlook: BLS 2025–35 · Checked October 15, 2026

  • Median pay
    $53,750
    $25.84/hour · May 2025
  • Job growth
    +2.4%
    2025–35, slower than average
  • Openings per year
    40,300
    Average, 2025–35
  • Typical entry education
    High school diploma or equivalent
    BLS classification
  • Time to train
    3–18 months
    Typical program length
  • U.S. jobs
    437,700
    Employment, 2025

What welders do

Welders fuse metal using processes such as stick (SMAW), MIG (GMAW), flux-cored (FCAW) and TIG (GTAW). They read blueprints and weld symbols, prepare and fit parts, set up equipment, lay down welds in different positions, and inspect their work for defects.

Many welders learn through a technical school program of several months to two years, an apprenticeship or on-the-job training. Certifications based on American Welding Society (AWS) codes prove your skill to employers, and specialized welders, such as pipe and underwater welders, can earn significantly more.

Typical duties

  • Read blueprints, specifications and weld symbols
  • Prepare, clean and fit metal parts
  • Set up welding equipment and select processes and settings
  • Weld components in flat, horizontal, vertical and overhead positions
  • Cut metal with oxy-fuel or plasma torches
  • Inspect welds for defects and repair as needed
  • Maintain equipment and follow fire and fume safety rules

Work environment and schedule

Welders work in fabrication shops, factories, shipyards, construction sites and refineries, sometimes outdoors or at heights. The work involves heat, sparks, bright light, fumes and heavy lifting, so PPE and ventilation are essential.

Schedule: Usually full-time. Overtime and shift work are common in manufacturing; pipeline and industrial shutdown work can involve long hours and travel.

A day in the life

  1. Review the fabrication drawings for steel brackets and check the weld procedure specification.
  2. Cut plate to size with a plasma cutter and grind bevels on the edges.
  3. Fit and tack the parts with a square and clamps, checking dimensions.
  4. Run MIG fillet welds in the horizontal position, adjusting voltage and wire speed.

See a full day in the life of a welder →

Welder salary

Half of welders earned more than $53,750 and half earned less in May 2025. Pay ranged from about $39,240 for the lowest 10% to $77,530 for the top 10%.

Full welder pay scale and hourly rates →

How to become a welder

  1. Get a foundation
  2. Complete welding training
  3. Practice the main processes
  4. Pass a weld test or certification
  5. Specialize

A high school diploma or GED is common. Many welders complete a technical school or community college program (months to two years); others learn through apprenticeships or on the job. Employers often require passing a welding test to their procedure or an AWS certification.

Step-by-step guide to becoming a welder →

Skills and tools

Technical skills

  • SMAW, GMAW, FCAW and GTAW processes
  • Blueprint and weld symbol reading
  • Metal preparation and fit-up
  • Oxy-fuel and plasma cutting
  • Visual weld inspection

People skills

  • Steady hands and focus
  • Attention to detail
  • Patience
  • Safety awareness

All welder skills and tools →

Pros and cons

Pros

  • Start working after months of training
  • Skills used across many industries
  • Specialized welders can earn high pay
  • Satisfying, tangible work

Cons

  • Hazards: burns, fumes, UV light and fire
  • Hot, loud and physically demanding conditions
  • Some jobs require travel or remote work sites
  • Manufacturing work can be cyclical

Certifications and licenses

  • AWS Certified Welder: Performance-based certification through the American Welding Society for specific processes and positions.
  • Structural welding (AWS D1.1): Common qualification for structural steel work.
  • ASME Section IX pipe qualification: Often required for pressure piping and boilers.
  • Certified Welding Inspector (CWI): An advanced AWS credential for experienced welders who move into inspection.

Career path

  1. Welder Helper: Prepare materials and assist welders.
  2. Certified Welder: Weld to codes and procedures.
  3. Specialist or Lead Welder: Pipe, structural or TIG specialist, or shop lead.
  4. Welding Inspector (CWI) or Supervisor: Inspect, train or manage fabrication.

Learn the job before day one

Our Welder training (10 hours, $89.99) covers the role, 15+ key terms, step-by-step procedures such as set up a MIG welder and run a horizontal fillet weld, safety and how to land your first job.

View Welder trainingIs this career right for me?

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  • $60,580
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Compare: Welder vs. CNC Machinist · Welder vs. Carpenter · Welder vs. Maintenance Technician · Welder vs. Construction Laborer

Welder FAQ

How long does it take to become a welder?

Many technical programs take several months to two years. Some welders start as helpers and learn on the job, then pass employer weld tests.

Do welders need certification?

Not legally in most cases, but employers commonly require you to pass a weld test to their procedure or hold AWS certification.

What kind of welder earns the most?

Specialists such as pipe welders, underwater welders and those in energy or aerospace often earn the most, especially with overtime and travel.

How much does a welder make?

The median annual wage for welders was $53,750 ($25.84 per hour) in May 2025, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. The lowest 10% earned less than $39,240 and the highest 10% earned more than $77,530.

How long does it take to become a welder?

Most people need about 3–18 months of training. A high school diploma or GED is common. Many welders complete a technical school or community college program (months to two years); others learn through apprenticeships or on the job. Employers often require passing a welding test to their procedure or an AWS certification.

Do you need a degree to be a welder?

No four-year degree is typically required. BLS lists “high school diploma or equivalent” as the typical entry-level education, plus moderate-term on-the-job training.

More welder questions →

Sources

Reviewed by the Career Education Institute Curriculum Team. Pay figures are national estimates; local pay varies. See our editorial policy.

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