Welders

Welders are tradespeople who join metal parts by heating the materials to their melting point and fusing them together, often using a filler material. Welders work across industries including construction, manufacturing, shipbuilding, aerospace, and automotive, performing tasks from fabricating components to repairing structures.

Common welding processes include arc welding (shielded metal arc welding or stick, gas metal arc welding MIG, gas tungsten arc welding TIG), flux-cored arc welding, and more advanced methods such as oxy-fuel cutting, resistance welding, and laser or electron beam welding. They use protective equipment such as a welding helmet with a filtered lens, gloves, and flame-resistant clothing, and tools like power sources, welding rods or wires, clamps, and grinders.

Training typically involves vocational programs or apprenticeships, with some regions requiring certification. The American Welding Society and other organizations offer credentials for specific processes and performance qualifications. Employers value experience with different metals, welding positions, and the ability to read blueprints and perform joint preparation.

Safety is a key concern due to burns, eye injuries, electric shock, fumes, and heat. Workplaces emphasize ventilation, fume control, shielding against radiant energy, proper PPE, and fire prevention. Welders may work indoors, outdoors, or in confined spaces, sometimes under demanding conditions.

The occupation spans many specialties, including structural welders, pipe welders, fabrication welders, and underwater or robotic welding. Job prospects depend on construction activity and manufacturing demand; salaries vary by region and experience. In many economies, welding remains a foundational trade with opportunities for advancement through certification and skilled specialization.