If you want to become a welder in Texas, your job prospects are looking good, especially if you want to specialize in car or machinery manufacturing.
This article will provide you with more information about the schools that offer training in your area, salary prospects, and job description.
Contents
What Does a Welder Do?
The short definition is that a welder assembles pieces of metal together and repairs damaged metal objects using machinery that emits high heat.
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics(BLS), the biggest employer for welders, cutters, solderers, and brazers were metal manufacturers, specialty trade contractors, and the repair and maintenance field.
As a welder, especially after earning a few years of experience and certifications, you can start your own business.
Read further to find out more about the welder’s job description, employment prospects, and training options.
Job Prospects
BLS estimates that employment for welders will grow by 3 percent from 2019 to 2029, with most job openings occurring on infrastructure repair and rebuild projects.
Welders who have completed post-secondary training and/or hold a certificate offered by the American Welding Society are expected to have the best employment prospects.
How to Become a Welder
If you want to become a certified welder, there are several steps you usually need to follow:
- Get your high-school diploma or GED
- Find the right training program- this will help you prepare for the welding certification testing
- Take the certification exam offered by the American Welding Society
From trade schools to community colleges and apprenticeships, there are many places where you can learn how to weld in Texas.
It is important to know that most training schools require a high school diploma or GED equivalent before admission.
Although curriculum varies depending on the institution, a good welding school will usually teach you all the important skills you need in this career, such as:
- How to read blueprints
- Several techniques for welding metal parts
- How to calculate the dimensions that will be weld
- How to make sure that the welding is correctly done
- How to maintain the equipment
- How to follow safety procedures
Training programs last between 7 months and 2 years depending on the type of program and the curriculum.
In the table below we have compiled information about the schools that offer training programs for welders in Texas.
37 Welding Schools in Welding Schools In Texas
Welders in Texas
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the average annual wage reported in Texas is $52,400.
Texas is the state with the highest employment level for welders, cutters, solderers, and brazers, according to BLS.
The median hourly wage for Texas workers who practice these trades is $23.11 which translates into $48,070 annually.
Houston-The Woodlands-Sugar Land, TX area is the metropolitan area with the highest employment level for these professions.
The average wage for welders, cutters, solderers, and brazers who worked in this region was $51,260.
Manufacturers are one of the biggest employers for welders.
Manufacturers in Texas account for $13.07 percent of the state’s total output and employs approximately 7.04% of the workforce, according to the National Association of Manufacturers.
The total output for all manufacturers was approximately $241 Billion in 2019.
The third biggest manufacturing industry in Texas, motor vehicle and parts manufacturing contributes approximately $16.3 Billion to the state’s economy, followed by machinery manufacturers with $15.3 Billion.
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, manufacturers of metal products, motor vehicle, and parts manufacturers, and machinery manufacturers are some of the biggest employers for welders.
Salaries for Welders in Texas
According to salary.com, the median annual wage for Texas welders with less than 3 years of experience is $42,548 as of April 2021- lower than the state average but salaries increase as welders become more experienced and earn additional certifications.
As an entry-level welder, you can make anywhere between less than $34,000 and more than $54,000.
Earning a post-secondary degree or certificate and learning multiple welding techniques can improve your starting salary.
The same report calculates the median annual salary for welders with 3-5 years of experience at $49,141 with wages ranging between less than $39,000 and more than $61,000 depending on other factors, including the industry of employment and the level of education.
Welders with 5-7 years of experience reportedly earn $59,510 per year on average.
The lowest 10 percent of experienced welders reportedly made less than $45,421 while the highest 10 percent made more than $77,173.
Salaries for Texas welders also vary depending on the city and local economy, as the table below shows.
Annual Salary Range:| Item | Percent |
|---|---|
$32K | |
$48K | |
$77K |
Average Salary of Welders in Welding Schools In Texas
| City Name | Salary |
|---|---|
| Houston | $50,821 |
| Dallas | $49,259 |
| San Antonio | $48,213 |
| Austin | $48,764 |
| El Paso | $43,368 |
| Fort Worth | $48,313 |
| Arlington | $48,234 |
| Corpus Christi | $46,537 |
| Plano | $49,048 |
| Garland | $49,154 |
