Getting Into Welding: Well Paid, Varied & A Great Career Choice

Is there a more masculine career than welding? There’s something about power tools cutting through metal and the blue collar work environment that says not. It can be dangerous, too; especially since you progress into different areas such as marine welding.

It’s a well-paid career – welders are in demand all over the country and the world. You can take your skills pretty much anywhere and if you’re good enough you can pick your jobs. Sound good? Here are some more facts that might make you consider investigating welding as a career – or just a hobby.

You don’t need a college degree

If you have missed out on a college education and felt academia isn’t for you, then welding offers a whole world of opportunities. It takes around nine months to get your qualifications, and you can start working on jobs straight away. Don’t be fooled into thinking this is an easy career choice, however. You will need a lot of skill – and toughness – to reach the top of your game.

It’s a great hobby

Welding isn’t just about heavy lifting – there is a lot of skill and delicacy involved, too. Throw in an amazing array of power tools and cutters, and you have one of those careers that can switch between industry and art. Remember the incredible metalwork we reported on a while back? It was pretty inspirational – and even led to me exploring metalwork and welding as a hobby. No, I’m no good – yet. But I’m having fun, and I’m making progress. Fancy joining me? If so, I’d like you to give a warm welcome to my best plasma cutter, the Heyertherm Powermax30 XP. It’s portable, lightweight and comes complete with everything you need to get started. Most important, however, is that it can cut incredibly small areas, so is next to perfect for all kinds of projects.

You can choose your career path

Pretty much any industry needs welders at some point, and you can pick and choose where you go if you have the skills. One day you might be working with robotic companies making amazing machines. The next you could be flying out to oil or gas rigs to make essential repairs. And, because welders are in such high demand, you can travel the world and find work almost anywhere. If you have ever fancied living abroad, welding could be an excellent way to make it happen.

The money

Finally, welding can take you into a six-figure salary if you get training and keep on learning. You can pick up as much as a doctor or a lawyer – and all without the expense of medical and law school fees. The biggest money lies in the underwater or military welding fields. You will earn your money – both are recognized as amongst the most dangerous jobs in the world. But you can make more than $200,000 a year, and not many blue collar jobs will get you close to that. And, even if you take up welding as a fun hobby, who know what you might produce? Create a work of modern art in your backyard and you might end up with a small fortune.

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Oliver

Oliver is an aspiring automotive journalist covering all things cars and motorsports. Drawing on his lifelong passion for vehicles, he provides engaging reviews and stories from his adventures in the automotive world. Oliver pairs his writing with photography to give readers an insider's perspective.

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