There are many reasons why you may want to become a professional welder. The opportunities for those able to build the skills and become certified abound. For someone just beginning this career path, consider the following reasons why welding is a great career choice.

As you’re reading this blog post, if you have further questions and would like to speak with a professional welder, contact Missouri Welding Institute at (800) 667-5885. Our Nevada, MO welding school is here to help you every step of the way in your career — from just getting started to job placement and beyond.

5 Reasons You Should Become a Welder

For those of us who are good with our hands, particularly when it comes to designing, creating, and repairing things, welding is a well-suited career choice. Here are 5 reasons we think it’s an excellent career choice:

#1: Welding Is In Demand

Anywhere there is construction of maintenance taking place, there is likely a demand for welders. The projected future outlook in terms of career growth in the US is 3% to 4% — a healthy growth rate. Now is the perfect time to receive professional training in welding and enter this growing career field.

#2: No University Degree Required

Unlike many other similarly paying jobs, welding does not require you to have a university education. While many if not most jobs that don’t require a university degree pay poorly, welding is an exception. You’re not going to be a millionaire anytime soon through welding, but it’s far superior to many other options. Becoming a welder is a reliable way for people with university degrees to make a reliable income in a career that is in demand.

#3: It Pays Well

The average salary for a welder is between $33,000 and $52,000 a year. The longer you stay in the field, the more that raises, as well. An experienced welder can expect to make between $50,000 all the way up to $500,000 a year, if they get into a good sub-field (e.g. at the extreme end, underwater welding). The average rig-welder earns approximately $90,000 a year, while welders working power stations can expect a starting salary of about $75,000 a year. While you won’t get rich as an entry-level welder, a wealth of opportunities await.

#4: Industry Variety

A skilled welder is a valuable, sought-after asset in a wide variety of different industries and economic sectors, including:

  • Energy

  • Manufacturing

  • Construction

  • And More

This gives professional welders a lot of opportunities to move around and find a niche that best suits their needs and preferences. However, that being said, it all comes down to experience. That’s why, even though you may be able to begin as an entry-level welder without going to welding school, choosing to take courses at a school such as Missouri Welding Institute gives you the training you need to become proficient and truly employable. We offer three primary courses:

  1. Master Pipe Welding and Fitting

  2. Master Structural Welding and Fitting

  3. Custom Welding

You can learn more about those here.

#5: Learn a Useful, Enjoyable Skill

If you want to know the biggest reason while some succeed and others fail at becoming professional welders, it comes down to valuing the craft. Most welders who succeed love what they do, appreciate the challenges, and feel satisfied with well-done work. What is more, the skills you learn by being a welder translates into things such as working on cars, upgrading your property, and even can be beneficial for hunting and fishing. The experience you gain as a welder translate well into the rest of your life.

Invest in Your Future

There are so many jobs out there that lack in variety of work and really are just total dead-ends. Once you have reached a certain point in life — whether that’s as a young man or an old one — the desire to work with your hands, make a steady paycheck, and do something interesting and engaging may lead you to the choice of becoming a welder. If that’s where you are, our team here at Missouri Welding Institute would be happy to help. We aim to provide students with the best welding education in the nation. Contact us today to get started!