Trade pathway
Welder
Join and fabricate metal structures for construction, manufacturing, pipelines and energy.
Typical salary range
$42K – $90K
Median $58,000
- Time to qualify
- 6 months–2 years
- Education
- Certificate
- Outlook
- Moderate (2% growth)
- Remote
- On site
A typical day
What the work actually looks like between nine and five
A representative day combines hands-on work, coordination with a team, documentation, and problem-solving against a deadline.
The pathway
What the route actually looks like, stage by stage
- 1
Learn the fundamentals
Coursework, certificate or the first stage of an apprenticeship.
≈ 3 months
- 2
Get credentialed
Pass the license or certification the role requires.
≈ 3 months
- 3
Work and specialize
Build hours, take the harder jobs, pick a specialty.
≈ 2 years
- 4
Lead or own
Move into supervision, or take the ownership route.
≈ 3 years
Skills that matter
- MIG/TIG/stick
- Blueprint reading
- Metallurgy basics
- Precision
- Safety
Credentials
- AWS certification
Apprenticeship route available — you earn while you train.
The path to ownership
Where this leads if you want to run it yourself
Welder → certified specialist → inspector → fabrication shop owner.
Explore training
Where to start, and where the openings are listed
- Education, training and licensing profileO*NET OnLine (U.S. Department of Labor)Training · opens in a new tab
- Find local training programsCareerOneStop (U.S. Department of Labor)Training · opens in a new tab
- Registered apprenticeship openingsApprenticeship.govOpenings · opens in a new tab
- Search current job listingsCareerOneStop (U.S. Department of Labor)Openings · opens in a new tab
Occupation profile at U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (illustrative)