From shipbuilders to car manufacturers, many industries use different types of metals in their manufacturing process and need good welders to join these pieces together.
If you are located in Utah and you’re contemplating the idea of starting a career in welding, on this page we have compiled relevant information about this career path.
Contents
What Does a Welder Do?
Although this profession is very complex, the short definition is that welders join pieces of metal and repair damaged objects that are made of metal using special machinery that emits high heat.
The biggest employers for welding professions are metal manufacturers, specialty trade contractors, and businesses in the field of repair and maintenance, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Some experienced welders start their own business after spending a few years as employees in a factory or shop.
Read further to find out more about a welder’s training options and salary prospects in the state of Utah.
How to Become a Welder?
In order to find employment as a welder, you will need a few skills, such as:
- Studying blueprints and specifications
- Inspecting the materials that will be welded
- Starting power supplies
- Joining the metals together using the right technique
- Monitoring the welding process
- Performing maintenance tasks on the equipment
- Safety rules and regulations
If your high school offers technical classes and hands-on shop courses, then you can learn the above skills during high school and be ready for hire after graduation.
Or you can become a welder through a post-secondary program or apprenticeship.
Below we have compiled information about some schools that offer welding programs.
We invite you to do your own research as well before signing up for a welding class and find out all you need to know regarding costs, curriculum, duration, and other aspects that are relevant to you.
18 Welding Schools in Welding Schools In Utah
Welders in Utah
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the average annual wage reported in Utah is $51,430.
The median annual wage for Utah welders, cutters, solderers, and brazers is $46,960, according to the same source.
Manufacturers are one of the biggest employers for welders.
Manufacturers in Utah account for $10.46 percent of the state’s total output and employs approximately 8.87% of the state’s total workforce, according to the National Association of Manufacturers
The total output for all manufacturers was approximately $20.41 Billion in 2019.
The biggest manufacturing industry in Utah is miscellaneous durable good manufacturing with a total output of approximately $2.75 Billion.
Manufacturers of fabricated metal products contribute $1.45 Billion to the state’s economy.
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.
As a welder in Utah, your job prospects are looking good especially if you an experienced welder who has completed some post-secondary training.
Salaries for Welders in Utah
According to salary.com, the median annual wage for Utah welders with less than 3 years of experience is $41,051 as of April 2021- lower than the state average but salaries increase as welders become more experienced and earn additional certifications.
The median salary shows us that half of all workers in this profession earned less than this amount while half earned more.
As an entry-level welder in Utah, you can make anywhere between less than $33,000 and more than $52,000, according to the same source.
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 $47,413 with wages ranging between less than $37,000 and more than $59,000 depending on other factors, including the industry of employment and the level of education.
Welders with 5-7 years of experience reportedly earn $57,417 per year on average.
The lowest 10 percent of experienced welders reportedly made less than $43,824 while the highest 10 percent made more than $74,459.
As the table below shows, salaries for Utah welders also vary depending on the city of employment.
Annual Salary Range:| Item | Percent |
|---|---|
$31K | |
$46K | |
$74K |
Average Salary of Welders in Welding Schools In Utah
| City Name | Salary |
|---|---|
| Salt Lake City | $47,118 |
| Provo | $45,392 |
| Sandy | $46,989 |
| Orem | $45,392 |
| Ogden | $45,932 |
| West Jordan | $46,946 |
| Layton | $45,761 |
| South Jordan | $46,903 |
| Lehi | $45,177 |
| Logan | $45,288 |
