Welding Schools in Vermont

Good welders are in high demand in the United States in construction, factories, as well as infrastructure projects.

The projected growth rate for this profession is 3 percent in the next 10 years, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.

If you’re located in Vermont and you want to start a career in welding, we invite your read-on for more information about how to get there.

Job Description

Job descriptions for welders vary depending on the employer, the industry of employment, and their experience level.

Welders are usually responsible for:

• Joining metals and other materials using welding equipment
• Reading blueprints
• Starting power supplies
• Monitoring the welding process
• Maintaining equipment
• Calculating the dimensions of the parts that will be welded together
• Evaluating the final product to make sure the welding is correctly done

Education Requirements

If you want to become a welder in the state of Vermont, in order to improve your employment prospects the first step is to become certified by the American Welding Society.

This credential will prove to potential employers that you have the required skills and knowledge needed for this profession.

AWS offers different types and levels of certification.

• Certified Welder- this is the basic certification
• Certified Associate Welding Inspector
• Certified Welding Inspector
• Senior Certified Welding Inspector
• Certified Welding Educator
• Certified Resistance Welding Technician
• Certified Radiographic Interpreter
• Certified Welding Supervisor
• Certified Welding Sales Representative
• Certified Welding Engineer
• Certified Robotic Arc Welding

The type of certification employers usually required is basic certification.

To earn this credential you will have to prove that you know the procedures used in welding across different industries: structural steel, sheet metal, chemical refinery welding, and petroleum pipelines.

The way to prove this is by taking a test at a facility accredited by the American Welders Society.

The application fee for the Certified Welder exam is $50.

Welding Schools Vermont

Before applying for certification you will need to learn the skills needed for this profession through post-secondary education.

Welding classes are available at many trade schools in different regions of Vermont so it shouldn’t be hard to find one near you.

Tuition costs vary between several thousand and more than $15,000 but many schools offer lower costs for in-state students so it’s best to check all your options before signing up for a course.

Welder in Vermont

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the average annual wage in Vermont is $53,420 as of May 2020.

The median annual wage for Vermont welders, cutters, solderers, and brazers is $44,610.

Manufacturers are one of the biggest employers for welders.

In Vermont, manufacturers account for 9.24 percent of the state’s total output and employ approximately 9.91 of the state’s total workforce, according to the National Association of Manufacturers

The total output for all manufacturers was approximately $3.14 Billion in 2019.

The industry of fabricated metal products manufacturing accounts for approximately $364 Million of the state’s total output.

The total output was $161.7 Million for manufacturers of metal products.

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 Vermont

According to salary.com, the median annual wage for Vermont welders with less than 3 years of experience is $41,726 as of April 2021.

The median salary shows us that half of all workers in this profession earned less than this amount while half earned more.

This is 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 $53,000.

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 $48,192 with wages ranging between less than $38,000 and more than $60,000 depending on other factors, including the industry of employment and the level of education.

Welders with 5-7 years of experience reportedly earn $58,361 per year on average.

The lowest 10 percent of experienced welders reportedly made less than $44,544 while the highest 10 percent made more than $75,682.