Salary, Job Description, How To Become One, and Quiz
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Welders, Cutters And Welder Fitters
Welders, Cutters And Welder Fitters use hand-welding or flame-cutting equipment to weld or join metal components or to fill holes, indentations, or seams of fabricated metal products.
Table of contents
What they do
Welders, Cutters And Welder Fitters use hand-welding or flame-cutting equipment to weld or join metal components or to fill holes, indentations, or seams of fabricated metal products.
- Weld components in flat, vertical, or overhead positions.
- Operate safety equipment and use safe work habits.
- Layout, position, align, and secure parts and assemblies prior to assembly, using straightedges, combination squares, calipers, and rulers.
- Examine workpieces for defects and measure workpieces with straightedges or templates to ensure conformance with specifications.
Typical day
On a daily basis, Welders, Cutters, and Welder Fitters operate safety equipment and use safe work habits. They weld components in flat, vertical, or overhead positions.
- Remove rough spots from workpieces, using portable grinders, hand files, or scrapers.
- Connect and turn regulator valves to activate and adjust gas flow and pressure so that desired flames are obtained.
- Prepare all material surfaces to be welded, ensuring that there is no loose or thick scale, slag, rust, moisture, grease, or other foreign matter.
- Mark or tag material with the proper job numbers, piece marks, and other identifying marks as required.
- Select and install torches, torch tips, filler rods, and flux, according to welding chart specifications or types and thicknesses of metals.
Other responsibilities
Besides their typical day, Welders, Cutters, and Welder Fitters also gouge metals, using the air-arc gouging process. They may also Operate brazing and soldering equipment.
On a weekly to monthly basis, Welders, Cutters, and Welder Fitters mix and apply protective coatings to products. They might also check grooves, angles, or gap allowances, using micrometers, calipers, and precision measuring instruments.
In addition, they fill holes and increase the size of metal parts.
Although specific duties may vary, many of them guide and direct flames or electrodes on or across workpieces to straighten, bend, melt, or build up metal.
To some Welders, Cutters, and Welder Fitters, it is also their responsibility to preheat workpieces prior to welding or bending, using torches or heating furnaces.
What is the job like
Job satisfaction
Is this job meaningful
57% said they were satisfied with their job and 43% said they found their job meaningful.
Pros
Suitable for people who like practical and hands-on work.
Suitable for people who want to work in a supportive work environment.
It is not too difficult to get into this career. Previous work-related skill, knowledge, or experience is required to get started.
Demand for this career is growing.
Cons
Not suitable for people who like to help and teach others.
Salary is below average.
How much do they make
Average salary
Average hourly wage
Entry-level Welders, Cutters And Welder Fitters with little to no experience can expect to make anywhere between $30,640 to $36,140 per year or $15 to $17 per hour.
| Salary by experience | Annual | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Highest (Top 10%) | $66,250 | $32 |
| Senior (Top 25%) | $53,820 | $26 |
| Median | $44,190 | $21 |
| Junior (Bottom 25%) | $36,140 | $17 |
| No experience (Bottom 10%) | $30,640 | $15 |
This table shows the top 10 highest paying industries for Welders, Cutters And Welder Fitters based on their average annual salary.
| Salary by industry | Annual | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Scheduled Air Transportation | $92230 | $44.34 |
| Natural Gas Distribution | $79680 | $38.31 |
| Electric Power Generation, Transmission and Distribution | $77620 | $37.32 |
| Petroleum and Coal Products Manufacturing | $73570 | $35.37 |
| Other Pipeline Transportation | $68840 | $33.09 |
| Utility System Construction | $64600 | $31.06 |
| Metal Ore Mining | $63970 | $30.75 |
| Pipeline Transportation of Natural Gas | $61910 | $29.77 |
| Local Government | $61540 | $29.59 |
| Pipeline Transportation of Crude Oil | $61330 | $29.48 |
View more salary by industries here.
Where can they work
Where can Welders, Cutters And Welder Fitters work? Here is a table showing the top 10 largest employers of Welders, Cutters And Welder Fitters including the average salary in that industry.
| Employers | Total Employed | Annual Salary | Hourly Wages |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fabricated Metal Product Manufacturing | 68560 | $43780 | $21.05 |
| Machinery Manufacturing | 58760 | $44610 | $21.45 |
| Fabricated Metal Product Manufacturing | 22610 | $43370 | $20.85 |
| Motor Vehicle Body and Trailer Manufacturing | 21420 | $41180 | $19.80 |
| Foundation, Structure, and Building Exterior Contractors | 14910 | $49520 | $23.81 |
| Machine Shops; Turned Product; and Screw, Nut, and Bolt Manufacturing | 14780 | $43610 | $20.96 |
| Employment Services | 14720 | $44240 | $21.27 |
| Commercial and Industrial Machinery and Equipment Repair and Maintenance | 14190 | $46240 | $22.23 |
| Utility System Construction | 12680 | $64600 | $31.06 |
| Ship and Boat Building | 12550 | $52720 | $25.35 |
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What is the work day like
Working hours
Working schedule
How often do you use email in this job?
Telephone
How often do you have telephone conversations in this job?
Group discussions
How often do you have group discussions in this job?
Public speaking
How often does this job require you to do public speaking?
Level of competition
How much competitive pressure is in this job?
What is the work environment like
Office-style environment
Indoors in an environmentally controlled condition
Warehouse-style environment
Indoors in a non-controlled environmental condition such as a warehouse
Outdoors
Outdoors exposed to all weather conditions
Outdoors – Under Cover
Outdoors but under cover (e.g. structure with roof but no walls)
How to become one
Difficulty to become one
Required level of education
What level of education do you need to perform the job?
Relevant majors
Welding Technology/Welder
Welding Engineering Technology
Relevant work experience
How much related work experience do you need to get hired for the job?
On The Job Training
How much on the job training do you need to perform the job?
Should you become one
Best personality type for this career
People with this personality type likes practical and hands-on work. They prefer working with plants, animals, and real-world materials like wood, tools, and machinery.
People with The Builder personality type likes practical and hands-on work. They prefer working with plants, animals, and real-world materials like wood, tools, and machinery.
People with The Thinker personality likes to work with ideas that require an extensive amount of thinking. They prefer work that requires them to solve problems mentally.
People with The Artist personality likes to work with designs and patterns. They prefer activities that require self-expression and prefer work that can be done without following a clear set of rules.
People with The Helper personality type likes to work with people and in teams. They prefer work that allows them to build relationships with others.
People with The Leader personality likes to start and work on projects. They also like leading people and making many decisions.
People with The Organizer personality type likes to follow set procedures and routines. They prefer working with data and details more than with ideas.
You can read more about these career personality types here.
People who are suitable for this job tend to like work activities that include practical, hands-on problems and solutions. They like working with plants, animals, and real-world materials like wood, tools, and machinery.
They also like following set procedures and routines. They like working with data and details more than with ideas.
Take this quiz to see if this is the right career for you.
Work Values
Which values are the most important to a person’s satisfaction for this job?
You are someone who is results oriented. You prefer work that allows you to utilize your skills and abilities while at the same time giving you a sense of accomplishment.
You are someone who values job security, steady employment, and good working conditions. You also prefer work that keeps you busy all the time with something different to do every day.
You are someone who values job advancement and leadership roles. You prefer work that receives recognition for the work you do and jobs that are looked up to by others in the company and your community.
You are someone who likes to provide a service to others. You prefer a work environment where you can work with your co-workers in a friendly non-competitive environment.
You are someone who values a company that stands behind their employees. You prefer a work environment where everyone is treated fairly and is being supported by the company.
You are someone who likes to work on your own and make your own decisions. You prefer work that requires little supervision and are allowed to try out your own ideas.
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