How to Hire a Welder

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

The hiring market for welders

There are about 437,700 welders employed in the U.S., with roughly 40,300 openings each year. Employment is projected to change +2.4% from 2025–35 (slower than average). Most openings come from replacing workers who retire or change careers, so a steady pipeline matters.

Pay benchmarks for offers

*Annual ÷ 2,080 hours except median. National BLS data; adjust for your state and metro area. Many states and cities now require pay ranges in job postings.

What to look for

Where to find welders

• Registered apprenticeship programs and union halls
• Trade and technical school placement offices
• Pre-apprenticeship and veterans programs
• Referrals from current crew members
• Job postings that use common alternate titles: Welder-Fitter, Structural Welder, Pipe Welder, Fabricator

Screening checklist

• Verify state licenses (apprentice registration, journeyworker, master) where required
• OSHA 10 or OSHA 30 cards and prior safety record
• Valid driver’s license and driving record if operating company vehicles
• A practical skills test or supervised trial task

Follow federal, state and local rules on background checks, drug testing and fair-chance hiring, and apply screening consistently to all candidates for the role.

Interview questions to ask

Ask every candidate the same questions and score answers on a structured scorecard.

1. “Which welding processes are you comfortable with?”

What a strong answer includes: List processes and positions honestly, and offer to take a weld test.

2. “How do you prevent porosity?”

What a strong answer includes: Mention cleaning base metal, proper gas flow, avoiding drafts and checking for leaks.

3. “Can you read weld symbols?”

What a strong answer includes: Explain the basics: arrow side versus other side, weld type, size and length.

4. “Tell me about a time you had to fix a bad weld.”

What a strong answer includes: Describe finding the defect, grinding it out and rewelding correctly.

5. “What PPE do you use?”

What a strong answer includes: List helmet, safety glasses, gloves, FR clothing, boots and respiratory protection when needed.

Practical skills checks

A short demonstration beats a perfect resume. Ask candidates to talk you through, or perform under supervision, tasks such as:

• Set Up a MIG Welder (see the steps)
• Run a Horizontal Fillet Weld (see the steps)
• Inspect a Weld for Common Defects (see the steps)

Red flags

• Can’t describe basic safety practices for the role
• Vague or inconsistent work history with no explanation
• Unfamiliar with core terms such as SMAW (stick), GMAW (MIG), FCAW (flux-core)
• Negative talk about every past employer or coworker

Onboard for retention

The first 90 days decide whether a new hire stays. Use our Welder 30-60-90 day onboarding plan and give every new hire the same foundation with Welder training. Show them the path forward: Welder Helper → Certified Welder → Specialist or Lead Welder → Welding Inspector (CWI) or Supervisor.

Hiring welders: FAQ

How much should I pay a welder?

The U.S. median wage for welders is $53,750 per year ($25.84/hour), according to BLS May 2025 data. Entry-level offers often fall near the 25th percentile ($46,790), while experienced hires command closer to the 75th percentile ($63,010). Adjust for your local market.

What qualifications should a welder have?

BLS lists “high school diploma or equivalent” as the typical entry-level education. Look for AWS Certified Welder and Structural welding (AWS D1.1) where relevant, plus skills such as smaw, gmaw, fcaw and gtaw processes, blueprint and weld symbol reading, and metal preparation and fit-up.

How long does it take to train a new welder?

Becoming qualified typically takes 3–18 months. After hire, plan for a structured 30-60-90 day onboarding period; BLS classifies on-the-job training for this occupation as “moderate-term on-the-job training.”