Gainesville High School Seniors: Consider Pursing a Welding Education

Gainesville High School Seniors: Consider Pursing a Welding Education

Welders create a permanent bond on metal structures using heated tools. These professionals build infrastructures such as bridges and dams, as well as automobiles, ships and other structures that use metal. Welders should have good hand-eye coordination and enjoy physical activity on the job. The metal welders bond is often heavy and requires lifting and moving metal pieces. In the Gainesville area, occupations related to the services welders support is one of the only industries growing as of 2012, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Training for a career as a welder can lead to a variety of employment opportunities. Attending a Gainesville career school can provide the skills required for this occupation. A Gainesville trade school can also provide training for a welding career.

Welding Training and Education

Attending a Gainesville trade school give students the opportunity to learn the skills of welding and other requirements to do the job successfully. Classroom training includes blue print reading, mathematics, computer-aided drafting, physics and metallurgy. Students also receive practical training and learn how to use tools, equipment and safety gear. They spend time learning the precision of welding and how it should be done. A Gainesville trade school trains students in about six months and results in a certificate or diploma. Many schools often work with local employers to help students find employment after successful completion of training. Many Gainesville schools also prepare students for the certification requirements to obtain credentials from the American Welding Society. Employers prefer students who completed a training program, which is why they work with Gainesville schools to find entry-level employees.

The Work Environment of Welders

Welders can work in a variety of industries and are most commonly found in manufacturing plants that assemble large vehicles such as automobiles, airplanes, ships and construction vehicles. Welder can also work in construction or for local government agencies repairing infrastructure. Some welders are trained to do welds underwater to repair and maintain structures such as bridges and ships. In the Gainesville area, the majority of work for welders is in the manufacturing, construction, transportation and utility services industries. Many welding employment opportunities open because of those retiring from the trade and the need to repair aging infrastructure in Florida and throughout the United States. The average salary for welders in the Gainesville area was $32,200 per year or $15.48 per hour, according to the Bureau. Welders often receive overtime wages, because many jobs related to welding require meeting deadlines for completion of projects. Starting salaries and apprenticeship wages generally range from $10.80 to $12.60 per hour.