If you’re living in Florida and you want to become a welder you will find in this article all the information you need for this career.
You will learn about types of welding, welding certificates, job prospects, and schools that offer training in this profession.
Contents
Job Description
You already know in broad lines at least what you will do as a welder: you will join two pieces of metal together.
But, besides MIG and TIG welding, the two most frequent ways of doing that, there are also other welding techniques, such as aircraft welding or thin alloy welding.
The more delicate the weld, the more skills you need and the higher the pay.
Or you can specialize in pipe welding a well-paid technique where a strong, error-free weld is required.
Among other responsibilities, a welder’s job description usually includes:
- Joining pieces of metal together
- Repairing metal components
- Melting metal components
- Reviewing blueprints
- Cutting the metal into shape
- Removing creases from molten metal
Any major project regarding infrastructure will require welders so it isn’t a job that will go out of style in the near future.
Career Path
A high school diploma or equivalent is all that you need to start your career as a welder.
If your high school provides shop classes, it’s a good idea to take them, good hand-eye coordination is a must in this profession and this is a skill you can perfect with practice.
Courses such as blueprint reading, mechanical drawing are also useful and it is a good idea to take them if you can.
As you would expect, most employers prefer the candidate that has some formal training although there are still some who will train you on the job.
As a resident of Florida, you will be happy to hear that the American Welding Society has its headquarters in Miami and this is good news because of all those professional events hosted by the welding industry.
If you know how to weld, you can work as a welder but also as a welding inspector once you have more experience, if you desire a supervisory role.
No matter if you are a new or experienced welder, you can seek the help of a welding recruiter to find the job best suited for you.
A good welding recruiter understands the market and can make the job-seeking process easier for you.
Licensing Requirements
The main certification employers require is the basic AWS Certified Welder certification and you can take this at many accredited testing facilities.
There aren’t any experience requirements needed to take this exam but you need good technical skills and theoretical knowledge in the field of welding.
Professional Hazards
The International Agency for Research on Cancer found that welding fumes and UV radiation from welding are carcinogenic.
These fumes and radiation have been linked to eye, lung, and kidney cancer.
Given this research is always a good idea to follow safety instruction, work in rooms with good ventilation and wear respiratory protective equipment when needed.
Welding Schools
If you want to become a welder, you should first complete some formal education in the field.
Welding programs are available at many trade schools and community colleges across Florida with tuition costs varying between less than $5000 and more than $15,000.
Below we have compiled information about some of the top schools that offer welding programs in Florida.
54 Welding Schools in Welding Schools In Florida
Salary
According to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), the median annual salary for welders, cutters, solderers, and brazers was $44,190 as of May 2020.
In Florida salaries for welders range between less than $33,000 and more than $74,000 with the median for mid-level welders calculated at $47,541, according to a report published by salary.com in April of 2021.
The average wage across all professions in Florida is $50,020 which means that many welders, especially new employees, earn less than average.
Salaries vary widely depending on the level of experience.
Most entry-level welders earn between $33,000 and more than $52,000.
On average entry-level employees in this line of work make $41,162 while experienced welders make $57,573.
The most experienced 10 percent of all Florida welders reportedly made more than $74,661.
Salaries for this profession also vary depending on the city of employment.
Experienced welders in Miami earned $58,998, on average while the median annual wage for welders with the same level of experience who were located in Spring Hill made $57,291.
Annual Salary Range:| Item | Percent |
|---|---|
$32K | |
$47K | |
$74K |
Average Salary of Welders in Welding Schools In Florida
| City Name | Salary |
|---|---|
| Jacksonville | $47,431 |
| Florida | $48,718 |
| Tampa | $47,631 |
| Saint Petersburg | $47,641 |
| Hialeah | $48,342 |
| Orlando | $47,606 |
| Fort Lauderdale | $48,597 |
| Tallahassee | $45,389 |
| Hollywood | $48,597 |
| Pembroke Pines | $48,282 |
