Welders can very easily burn or seriously hurt themselves. This has a tendency to create stress. You're also working under demanding deadlines. Often you have to work at night or outdoors (because you're on a construction project and it's hard to build a building indoors).
It can be a stressful job, too, given the level of danger to personal safety and the need to do high-quality work for projects that can range from working on a skyscraper to working on airplanes. It can be a rewarding job, though.
Welding is physically demanding and takes some practical coordination to master. It's not as physical as a builder's job, but there's usually a fair amount of lifting and climbing over things, which some people don't like.
Prolonged exposure to welding fume may cause lung damage and various types of cancer, including lung, larynx and urinary tract. . Health effects from certain fumes may include metal fume fever, stomach ulcers, kidney damage and nervous system damage.
Cons To A Welding Career
These include burns, radiation, explosions, electric shock, and exposure to dangerous gases, in addition to the intrinsic dangers that come with operating in and around heavy machinery, like falls and other traumas.
If working with your hands sounds appealing to you and you have a creative streak, then being a welder will be right up your alley. The trade provides great compensation, the chance to create and design beautiful masterpieces, a solid work-life balance, career stability, and numerous specialization opportunities.
Welding projects can take a long time where you focus and maintain precision with your materials to ensure you have properly secured your welds. Welding in tight or constricted areas for periods of time may be physically challenging.
Welding fumes are far worse for you than smoking. Any time you weld, you should wear a respirator with appropriate filters or even an approved fresh air supplied mask with an approved supply of fresh air(NOT of your shop compressor, as it contains oil).
Cons of the Welding Profession
Welders may experience some dangers and discomfort on the job including burns, eye discomfort, exposure to hazardous materials and a lot of physical effort.
Welder's lung normally describes metal deposition in the lung from exposure to welding fume. It is thought to be a benign type of pneumoconiosis. On its own, the welder may not complain of health problems. However, if COPD also exists, welder's lung could make the COPD symptoms worse.
The overhead position is the most challenging welding position, as gravity can cause the weld metal and slag to fall out of the joint.
If you're looking for a new career, you might want to consider welding. It could be the perfect job for you if you like working with your hands, prefer not sitting behind a desk all day, enjoy the variety of working on different locations, and like building things.
Overall, being a welder can be a fulfilling career for those who enjoy working with their hands, have a passion for metalworking, and are committed to following safety procedures.
A day in the life of a welder includes working alone or as part of a team to complete their required duties. These professionals use materials with intense heat and gas to repair metal faults and join parts in a construction project.
Welding Pay Varies by Job
It's pipeline work, and the welding school graduates have to be willing to go where the work is. That's not unusual as specialized welding skills are going to garner higher wages than those that don't require certifications.
Welding is a labor-intensive career; you operate large machinery and work with delicate materials using high heat. Precision is also essential in this career. But skilled workers in this trade can make a good salary with a fairly easy entry into the industry.
Welding joins metals by melting and fusing them together, typically with the addition of a welding filler metal. The joints produced are strong – usually as strong as the metals joined, or even stronger.
You're almost always going to make more than minimum wage, even starting out. But the downside, economically, is that welding has a pretty low salary ceiling. Welders at the 90th percentile of income for the profession, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, earn $63,000 a year before taxes.
To be a great welder, you need to be willing to learn new things when you're just starting out – and it's also best to continue to train and learn more through professional development courses later in your career, too.
Welder's lung is a rare occupational disease which is usually seen after chronic exposure to iron dust.
The average welder age is 40 years old. The most common ethnicity of welders is White (63.2%), followed by Hispanic or Latino (18.0%), Black or African American (10.0%) and Unknown (4.1%). Welders are most in-demand in Houston, TX.
It's very easy to get burned during the welding process, but thankfully, these burns are also extremely easy to prevent if you take proper precautions.
Becoming a welder takes a lot of talent, skill, and determination. However, it is unlikely to get a job as a welder without mastering the necessary techniques. A welder's profession necessitates a thorough understanding of architectural plans and other core competencies.
Job Outlook
Employment of welders, cutters, solderers, and brazers is projected to grow 2 percent from 2021 to 2031, slower than the average for all occupations. Despite limited employment growth, about 47,600 openings for welders, cutters, solderers, and brazers are projected each year, on average, over the decade.
Welders work for 38-40 hours a week on average with possibilities of shift work and overtime.