Pros And Cons Of The Welding Industry
Pros and Cons of the Welding Industry
If you’re considering becoming a welder, reviewing the pros and cons of this career before you make a final decision.
Welding is a very lucrative career, but it can also be uncomfortable and even dangerous at times. Its important to keep up with the latest welding equipment.
Just like most other careers, it can be very rewarding. Let’s take a look at some of the advantages and disadvantages of choosing welding for your next profession.
What Is Welding?
The welding process is the process of joining pieces of metals together by melting the surfaces with the use of a blowtorch, electric arc, or another item.
Welders use techniques such as pressing and hammering, among others, to complete the process. High heat is always used to fuse parts together, and once they are cooled the items are very strong and built to last.
Welding is different from soldering and other processes because it melts the base metal and those processes do not.
What It’s Like to Be a Welder
Some of the pros of being a welder include:
- You can get certified quickly, sometimes even if you don’t have a formal education.
- You can make a lot of money; the average salary is roughly $60,000 per year.
- You can always find a job and therefore job security is not a problem.
- You can work in tons of different industries, because many industries need welders.
- You can have a flexible work schedule if that’s what you want.
On the other hand, there are some disadvantages of being a welder, and they include:
- You sometimes have to work long hours, including weekends.
- You sometimes have to work in physically challenging positions, including in tight or cramped spaces.
- You have to make sure your employer has strong safety rules because the job can be dangerous.
- You are exposed to constant high temperatures and heat, which can be uncomfortable.
The Bottom Line
In most cities, there seems to be a constant need for more welders, and at times there is even a shortage of them. This can result in a higher per-hour salary for the welders.
If you are good at paying attention to safety rules and you’re a hard worker, welding might be for you. You can take an introductory welding class in high school or at the local community college.
It is in fact easy to learn welding, and since there are many types being used, you can even specialize in one of them if you like.
