A Career Solid As Steel:
Precision Metal Working Programs That Lead To A Career in Welding
by Elizabeth Buckner
The US Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts that welders will be in demand over the next decade. So now is the perfect time to find the college program in precision metalworking or welding technology that's right for you!
A Solid Career Choice In Welding or Precision Metal Working
Welding is the most common way of permanently bonding metal and is used extensively in manufacturing and construction. Welders read blueprints, plan and execute welds. According to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics, job prospects for welders and precision metal workers should be excellent over the next decade.
Median Earnings for Welders and Precision Metal Workers
The median hourly wage of machinists was $18.52 in May 2010. The median wage is the wage at which half the workers in an occupation earned more than that amount and half earned less. The lowest 10 percent earned less than $11.59, and the top 10 percent earned more than $27.91.
The median hourly wage of tool and die makers was $22.56 in May 2010. The lowest 10 percent earned less than $15.34, and the top 10 percent earned more than $33.57.
The pay of apprentices is tied to their skill level. As they gain more skills and reach specific levels of performance and experience, their pay increases.
Get the Training You Need: College Programs in Welding Technology and Craftsmanship
Training needed for welders or precision metalworkers varies widely and employers prefer to hire welders with formal training from a college or
vocational program in welding technology and craftsmanship. College programs in welding and precision metalworking are offered at vocational schools,
community colleges and private welding schools. Coursework will include blueprint reading, shop mathematics, mechanical drawing, physics, chemistry,
and metallurgy.
So what are you waiting for? A college program in welding technology and craftsmanship could be your ticket to a secure future in welding!
