Welding seems to be very hard but, at the same time, is a rewarding profession for those who are competent and have hands-on experience. The majority of the welding aspirants frequently ask about what are the best paying welding jobs. And this question is fundamental in deciding whether to opt for this profession or not.
Moreover, welding is a versatile field as the professionals are trained for specific purposes, and each job has its skillset demands and training. In this post, we will tell you which are the highest paying welding jobs and their requirements as well. So, if you are keen on knowing these jobs, then keep on reading.
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The following are the high paying welding careers:
1. Underwater welders
It is not wrong to say that underwater welding is the riskiest welding job you can opt for after graduating from a welding school. But these jobs are ultra-secure because no one is going to replace you due to the challenging nature of the job, and only a handful of welders are willing to work as underwater welders.
Those who like to take on challenges and enjoy the adventure will never lose their interest in it. Aside from the tricky underwater environment, you may also have to deal with cold water and barometric pressure. So it would be best if you became a diver and a passionate swimmer because you might need to weld the outside of the hose underwater.
First of all, you need to complete the welding education that you can do by attending a welding institute and finish their curriculum. In addition, after receiving professional training, you must work as an apprentice for 4 to 5 years with a skilled underwater welder. This learning is essential for those who seriously want to take this role for the rest of their lives.
It is so because underwater welding jobs demand strict implementation of safety measures which you can only learn during practical training. After accomplishing this long and hard underwater welding internship, you can easily land a job. Generally, underwater welding jobs in the United States pay between US$60k and US$125k, making it one of the best welding jobs.
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2. Aerospace welders
Without any doubt, aerospace welding is one of the highest paying welding careers because this job requires more than typical welding knowledge. If you are looking to join the aerospace industry as a welder, you must have a high school degree because the requirements of aerospace manufacturers are very tight.
After that, you have to complete vocational training at a good welding school. You learn their different welding procedures, safety prosecutions, and welding blueprints. Moreover, you should also have a good knowledge of maths and physics because it will come in handy in aerospace welding.
Some welding techniques that are very useful in aerospace welding are GTAM, GMAW, PAW, and MIG. Also, it would help if you become an expert in automated welding because most aerospace welding operations are accomplished using machines.
The working environment in the aerospace manufacturing plant is very safe, so a majority of welders want to get this job. On average, aerospace welders earn $55000, which is much more than other welding domains.
3. Military support welder
Where do welders get paid the most along with job security? Many newbies ask, I say, in the US Army. You may be wondering how the simple answer is that the military has a lot of weapons, and their own manufacturing plants require welding work. Other than that, the military usually hires welders for the construction of their bases inside and outside the USA. Moreover, the safety and security that come with these jobs are incredible that everyone wants.
Other benefits include free food at working sites, healthcare, social security, traveling, and retirement funds. But to enlist in the US army, you need to clear the tough physical and mental test, which is the toughest to pass. You do need to worry about a job. If you are physically and mentally fit along with proper welding knowledge because you can easily enter military service through Military Occupational Specialists (MOSs).
After clearing the test, you’ll be sent to a military training school for further training. There you will get hands-on experience on the various welding procedures, including GTAW, SMAW, GMAW, FCAW, and oxy-fuel weld. The average military support welder salary is around $43000 to $48000 per year.
Other benefits you get are $250 per credit hour for each course you enroll. Also, you can join AWS and other federations free of cost, which is another plus point. When you come back to your private work, clients will prefer you over standard welders.
4. Certified welding inspector
A certified welding inspector or supervisor is a person who has years of welding experience along with management skills. Moreover, it is a dream job of most welding aspirants because it isn’t challenging, and you don’t need to perform welding. But to get this job, you have to go a long, long way.
A company hires a certified welding supervisor to look after their welding pool and examine their work. So, an expert welder can judge the work of another welder. That’s why welding schooling, training, and experience is prerequisite to get these jobs.
Similar to a construction supervisor, as a welding supervisor, you have to handle and hire welding staff. In addition, another responsibility of a supervisor is to oversee the progress of the project and execute it in time. Further, the median yearly wage of welding managers in America is around $75000 to $80000.
5. Pipeline welder
Pipeline welding is the most challenging domain of welding after underwater welding. A typical pipeline welder has to travel a lot because pipelines (gas, water, crude oil) are spread over hundreds of miles. If you are eager to become a pipeline welder, then you must be mentally ready to handle tricky situations like unwanted weather on the worksite.
Pipe welders are in high demand because pipelines are everywhere. Therefore you can get the job in your surroundings which is what every welder wants. But it doesn’t mean you don’t need to travel. Sometimes pipeline welders have to go to other countries due to the international stature of pipelines.
Moreover, this job requires training in both manual and automated welding because sometimes manual welling is the solution. On average, a pipeline welder earns between $64k to $75$ due to their high level of skills.
Conclusions
All these jobs mentioned above are paying better than the rest of the welding fields. However, all these jobs require proper education and on-the-job experience to get into these fields. Moreover, you must be trained in safety measurements to perform welding because life is more important than any other thing.
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