Is It Worth It Being a Welder? 5 Career Considerations

There is no one-size-fits-all career that will work for everyone, so it’s worth it to consider your interests, aptitudes and goals when embarking on any career path. Welding is the type of career that typically requires technical training, specialized knowledge, physical strength and attention to detail.

If you’re thinking about investing in welding training, it might be time to weigh your options, talk to experienced welders in the field and do some research. This may help you get a better idea of if welding is the right career for you.

Here are 5 factors to consider about a welding career if you are thinking about enrolling in welding school.

5 Reasons Why Welding Could Be a Worthwhile Career

Relatively short training time, opportunities to travel and fulfilling work are just a few reasons why welding could be a worthwhile career.

Get a closer look at these and 5 other reasons to consider a career in welding below.

1. Welders Enjoy Relative Job Security

As long as buildings, bridges, cars, ships and other industrial structures are being constructed, welders will likely be needed to join the metal parts of these complex products. Welding is used in a wide variety of industries, from aerospace to oil to mining to manufacturing.

Welding is typically a stable career path. Demand stays fairly consistent nationwide, and welders are needed all over the world. Job prospects for welders willing to relocate can be especially good.

Here in the U.S., welders are part of the key workforce responsible for rebuilding the country’s aging infrastructure, including bridges, highways and buildings.

2. Welding Can Be Physically Rewarding

Not everyone loves to work with their hands, but for those who do, welding could provide fulfillment.

For those who love physical challenges, welding can require plenty of endurance and skill. Welding is a physical job that can require manual dexterity, strength and stamina. But welders come in all shapes and sizes. A welding team can generally provide plenty of opportunities to shine for individuals with complementary attributes and skills.

While some more abstract career paths do not necessarily offer a physical finished project, welding usually does. Finishing a project and looking at the job well done can come with a deep sense of accomplishment. There can be a lot of job satisfaction for those who love transforming metal and creating incredible, useful projects that fulfill many important purposes.

And for people who really like a structured day, welding jobs typically have some sense of beginning and end, with specific tasks or goals that can contribute to a great sense of productivity.

3. Welders Can Specialize or Expand Their Skillset

While most welders begin at the same basic level in a welding training program, there can be a lot of different directions to go in as your career progresses.

As mentioned earlier, welding is needed in so many industries. In addition to the ones already discussed, welding is also relevant to engineering, robotics, energy, cruise ships, agriculture, the military and more. For instance, underwater welding is one particularly specialized path where welders work in deep-sea conditions repairing pipelines, dams, ships and other structures.

After becoming an experienced welder, other welding career advancement avenues may be available outside of metal joining, as well. For example, education, inspection, sales or project management are related options that require welding experience but need a different level of expertise, such as teaching or sales skills. Some welders also become entrepreneurs and start their own business.

4. Welders May Have Opportunities to Travel

Because welders are needed all over the world, traveling could be an option for some welders. If you love seeing new sights, experiencing different cultures and moving around often, becoming a traveling welder might be appealing.

For some welders, travel is a chosen way of life, and they consider it a perk of the job. These “Road Warriors” may often travel to remote locations, visit unique places, eat at different local restaurants, meet new people and more.

Some welding jobs officially require a certain amount of travel, such as weekly travel. This travel may be locally, nationally or otherwise, and may include paid hotel rooms and meal allowances.

Other types of welding jobs may only require travel occasionally, such as to off-site national or international service locations.

Before taking a welding job, it could be a good idea to determine what level of travel you are comfortable with or excited about.

5. Welding Is Relatively Easy to Start

The good news for anyone interested in a welding career is that you don’t need anything more than a high school diploma or GED to enroll in vocational school. Then it could be only a matter of months before you obtain the entry-level skills needed to start looking for welding jobs.

While some people choose to enter an apprenticeship or get a two-year welding technology degree, it’s not absolutely necessary in order to start working.

Vocational schools generally provide basic welding training, safety training and equipment training. They typically provide hands-on practice alongside classroom instruction with experience welders.

Train for a Welding Career with TWS

Tulsa Welding School has four different welding programs to choose from that range from 7 to 14 months in length (programs available vary by campus). The Professional Welder program, for example, can be completed in as little as 7 months and introduces students to different welding techniques, including SMAW, MIG, TIG, pipe welding and aircraft welding. Upon first-time enrollment, students receive a gear package that includes high quality professional welding tools.

Are you ready to invest in your welding future? If so, call Tulsa Welding School at 1-855-806-4921 to find out about the next enrollment dates.