Explore
Structural & pipe
Welder
Joining metal for bridges, pipelines and shops.
Typical pay
$40k-$120k+
How you get in
Trade school or apprenticeship, 6-24 months
Outlook
Steady; specialized welders in short supply
Welders fuse metal parts using heat. Specialties range from shop fabrication to underwater and pipeline work, where pay climbs fast with certifications.
A day in the life
- 5:00aGear up: leathers, hood, gloves
- 6:00aToolbox talk and safety briefing
- 6:30aFit up joints, tack, then run beads
- 11:00aGrind and inspect welds for porosity
- 2:00pX-ray inspection on critical joints
- 4:00pShut down, wire brush, secure the bay
How to get in
Trade school certificate
Duration
7-12 months
Cost
$5,000-$20,000
Credential
AWS certifications (D1.1, 6G and up)
- Enroll in a welding program at a technical or community college
- Learn the processes shops actually hire for — MIG, TIG, stick
- Test for the AWS certifications your target work requires
- Start in a fab shop and add certifications as you go
Start as a helper
Duration
1-3 years
Cost
$0 — paid from day one
Credential
Certifications earned along the way
- Get hired as a shop helper or fitter's assistant
- Grind, fit and tack while watching the welders work
- Practice on scrap after hours until your beads pass
- Test for certification once a welder vouches for you
Union apprenticeship (Pipefitters, Boilermakers, Ironworkers)
Duration
4-5 years
Cost
$0 — paid while you train
Credential
Journeyman card plus process certifications
- Apply to a local when they open the books
- Pass the entrance test and interview
- Work the job while attending classes
- Come out with a journeyman card and the highest-paying certifications
What people love
- · Certifications unlock big pay jumps
- · Travel and rig work options
- · Skill is portable worldwide
What wears people down
- · Hot, loud, dirty environments
- · Fumes and burns are routine
- · Layoffs between projects