5 Unique Industries You Can Enter as a Welder
When you think of a welder, you probably imagine sparks flying as a heavily protected factory worker joins parts in some kind of a manufacturing plant. And while it’s true that most welders work in manufacturing, there are other options if you have finely-honed welding skills. From manufacturing to motorsports, agriculture to aeronautics, there are unique industries where you could find work as a welder. Check out five opportunities you may not have considered:
1. Welders in the Medical Device Industry
Many types of medical equipment contain parts that have been precisely welded together. Often using a process known as micro-welding, welders work with very small pieces of metal ranging from small to tiny percentages of millimeters. You might use pulse arc or laser welders to complete jobs on such life-saving medical equipment as MRI machines, CT scanners, X-ray machines, surgical instruments, and even wearable implants.
2. Motorsports and Welders
Motorcycles, racing bikes, and racecars will all need repairs at some time or another. As a welder working in motorsports, you might weld together a car’s chassis or repair parts on a motorbike. Your job is to make sure vehicles are reliable, safe, and built for peak performance. Companies that build and sponsor cars in prestigious races like the Indy 500 and Daytona 500 need welders. But to land a job in this competitive space, you need training, proficiency with TIG and MIG welding, fabrication skills, and some previous experience.
3. Aerospace
Before rockets can launch to the moon or airplanes soar across the blue skies, welders connect their critical components and machinery. As you fabricate metal, weld together wings, and connect engine parts, you must keep in mind the extreme temperature, pressure, altitude, and environment these parts must withstand. Among the kinds of welding you need to know are GTAW, spot, and seam welding. You also need to understand equipment plans and blueprints and may need experience with CNC machining to work in aerospace welding.
4. Shipbuilding
Shipyards also employ welders to construct their large sea vessels. These could include professional shipping vessels, commercial fishing boats, yachts, or cruise ships. In this industry, you work outdoors at the dock, welding together parts of the ship. You might make the welds or examine parts for defects. You read schematics to determine what part goes where, and you conduct repairs on older ships that may need parts replaced. At the end of each day, your supervisor inspects your work to make sure it’s sound, and you may need to log the work you do for future inspections.
5. Welders in Agriculture
Farmers use a wide range of farming tools and equipment to plant and harvest their crops. As a welder, your skills are needed to maintain these machines, which include tractors, balers, plows, and seeders. You might also weld together parts of facilities like silos and other storage facilities and livestock shelters. Within this industry you could be employed by production farms, food manufacturers, food equipment dealers, or seed production companies.
Whether you want to be a welder in a manufacturing plant, at a pipeline or something a bit more unique, you can start on your joining by learning the fundamentals of welding. Charter College offers a Certificate in Welding that can prepare you for entry-level work. Our faculty have years of professional experience in welding and are dedicated to your success. The program can be completed in as few as 10 months and is offered in a blended learning format for convenience and flexibility. Call 888-200-9942 or fill out the form to learn more.