Career Paths in Welding - American Welding Society



Career Paths in Welding | |

| | | | | |

|Trade |Types Of Welding Involved |Typical Products |Training / Education |Base Annual Earnings Potential |

| | | | | |

|Basic Welding |SMAW (Stick) |Repair |High School |$20,000 - $40,000 |

|  |GMAW (MIG) |Construction |Vocational |  |

|  |FCAW (Flux Core) |Manufacturing |Community College |  |

|  |MCAW (Metal Core) |Plumbing |On The Job / Apprenticeship |  |

|  |Brazing |Ornamental |Home / Garage |  |

|  |RW (Resistance Welding) |Automotive |Military |  |

|  |SW (Spot / Stud Welding) |Sheet Metal |  |  |

|  |OFW (Oxy - Fuel) |  |  |  |

|  |  |  |  |  |

| | | | | |

|Mid Level Welding |SMAW (Stick) |Heavy Structure |High School |$25,000 - $45,000 |

|  |GMAW (MIG) |Piping Systems |Vocational |  |

|  |FCAW (Flux Core) |Ship Building |Community College |  |

|  |MCAW (Metal Core) |Basic Welding Supervision |On The Job / Apprenticeship |  |

|  |Brazing |Robotic Welder Operation |Military |  |

|  |Plastics Bonding |Automotive |  |  |

|  |GTAW (TIG) |Oil Field |  |  |

|  |SAW (Sub Arc) |Rail Road |  |  |

|  |RW (Resistance Welding) |Sheet Metal |  |  |

|  |SW (Spot / Stud Welding) |  |  |  |

|  |  |  |  |  |

| | | | | |

|Advanced Welding |SMAW (Stick) |High Strength Metals |Community College |$35,000 - $65,000 |

|  |GMAW (MIG) |High Pressure Pipe |On The Job / Apprenticeship |  |

|  |FCAW (Flux Core) |Robotic Welder Programming |University |  |

|  |MCAW (Metal Core) |Exotic Metals |Technical Certification |  |

|  |GTAW (TIG) |Automotive |Military |  |

|  |SAW (Sub Arc) |Aerospace |Technical School |  |

|  |PAW (Plasma Arc) |Oil Field |  |  |

|  |TM (Thermite Welding) |Rail Road |  |  |

|  |ESW (Electro Slag) |Pipe Lines |  |  |

|  |  |Welding Supervision |  |  |

|  |  |Welding Inspection |  |  |

|  |  |  |  |  |

| | | | | |

|High Tech Welding |SMAW (Stick) |Under Water |On The Job / Apprenticeship |$50,000 - $100,000 |

|  |LBW (Laser Beam) |Aerospace |University |  |

|  |EBW (Electron Beam) |Electronics |Technical Certification |  |

|  |FSW (Friction Stir) |Automotive |Military |  |

|  |  |Exotic Metals |Technical School |  |

|  |  |Welding Supervision |  |  |

|  |  |Welding Inspection |  |  |

|  |  |  |  |  |

| | | | | |

|Welding Engineering |All Types |All Types |University |$100,000 - $300,000 |

|Metallurgist |  |Product Design / Development |  |  |

|  |  |Failure Analysis |  |  |

|  |  |  |  |  |

| | | | | |

|Private Contractor |SMAW (Stick) |Repair |On The Job / Apprenticeship |$0 - $150,000 |

|  |GMAW (MIG) |Construction |University |($0 - due to involved risk) |

|  |FCAW (Flux Core) |Manufacturing |Technical Certification |  |

|  |MCAW (Metal Core) |Plumbing |Military |  |

|  |GTAW (TIG) |Ornamental |Technical School |  |

|  |  |Automotive |Practical Experience |  |

|  |  |Sheet Metal |  |  |

|  |  |Heavy Structure |  |  |

|  |  |Piping Systems |  |  |

|  |  |Oil Field |  |  |

|  |  |Rail Road |  |  |

|  |  |High Strength Metals |  |  |

|  |  |High Pressure Pipe |  |  |

|  |  |Welding Supervision |  |  |

|  |  |Welding Inspection |  |  |

|  |  |  |  |  |

| | | | | |

|Business Owner |All Types |All Types |High School |$0 - Millions |

|Inventor |  |Product Design / Development |Vocational |($0 - due to involved risk) |

|  |  |Failure Analysis |Community College |  |

|  |  |  |On The Job / Apprenticeship |  |

|  |  |  |Military |  |

|  |  |  |University |  |

|  |  |  |Technical Certification |  |

|  |  |  |Technical School |  |

|  |  |  |Practical Experience |  |

|  |  |  |  |  |

| | | | | |

|Notes - | | | | |

|Each type and level of welding application has increased earnings potential for those who advance through various levels of Supervision and Management. |

|Many welding related trades often have increased earnings potentials due to variances in job location and over time wages. | |

|Considering the vast array of available options, the types of welding and typical products listed are very basic and no where close to complete. |

|Every welded joint first has to be fitted together. Those who have combination abilities in cutting, fitting and welding applications are those who quickly advance in their field. |

|Many welders receive the advanced training they need in order to learn new process techniques and advance in their chosen field through OJT (On the Job Training), |

| which basically means being paid wages while they learn rather than paying tuition. | | |

|Being successful in the welding fields requires only three things: | | |

| Willingness to learn new things. | | | |

| A good work ethic. | | | |

| To not be afraid of hard work and getting dirty. | | | |

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