Welding is a high-level skill that is a very well-paying career. But they needed some expertise and skills for performing their work that helps them to earn high earnings. The properly certified welder gets a high-paying job in the manufacturing industry. With high-level skills and working experience for many years, welders can earn more than 10,000 dollars in a single year.
Normally, high-paying salaries for welding job holders are about $60,000 to $100,000. They get different packages and payment for overtime work. In this post we discuss different high-paying welding jobs. So let’s get started with.
Best-Paying Welding Jobs
Underwater Welder Jobs
- Underwater welders weld structures and components that exist underwater. They work on offshore oil rigs, ships, and marine projects. This job requires high-level skills and certifications since they also work in harsh conditions.
- Their salaries are based on working location, the project’s complexity, and underwater depth.
- For an underwater job, there is a need for certain certifications for diving and welding. Normally, these certifications are required for underwater welder jobs: AWS D3.6 Underwater Welding Code, ASME Underwater Welder, and ADCI certification.
- Some important skills required for underwater welder jobs are scuba diving, welding work in harsh underwater conditions, and the use of devices underwater.
- With that, you must also have physical endurance for handling different conditions.
- The average salary for underwater welders in one year is $53,990 to $115,540 based on experience.
Oil Rig Welder
- Rig welders are highly paid welding jobs, and a person in this job can get more than 80000 for a single year. Their work is in difficult conditions and needs proper care and precautions since working in these conditions, any fault can cause significant damage.
- A highly skilled welder is required for this job and is considered for this job, and he must have many years of experience and different certifications based on welding for different offshore oil rigs.
- Some rig welders live on the rig where they are working, and they also use helicopter flights for movement from rigs.
Welding Engineer
- • A welding engineer’s main work is to design, develop, and work on welding processes, devices, and instruments.
- Their work is in different industries such as manufacturing, construction, aviation, and the energy sector. They also collaborated with manufacturing teams and other engineering teams.
- For welding engineering jobs, there is a need for BSC degrees in materials engineering, metallurgical engineering, and other related programs.
- Some skills that make for a high chance of getting this job are Certified Welding Engineer (CWEng) from the American Welding Society (AWS).
- Some other skills for these jobs are high-value engineering knowledge, welding process features, and problem-solving abilities for problem solving. There is also a need for communication skills for this job and to gain knowledge of welding codes and different technologies.
- The salary range for welding engineers is $70,000 to $110,000 in one year.
- Highly experienced engineers for these jobs can get higher salaries.
Industrial Pipeline Welder
- Industrial pipeline welders employ different welding methods and instruments for pipeline installation and maintenance in different conditions. Their work is in longer days and also in extreme conditions. They work in high-temperature and cold areas like winters in Alaska.
- The average salary for industrial pipeline welders is in the range of $45,000 to $85,000 and can be higher based on experience.
- But overall, this job is difficult and dangerous for some conditions. Since welding in awkward conditions is not easy, welding in water is also difficult. That needed high-level training, experience, and ability.
Military Support Welder
- In the military, there are different job options for welders. High-skill welders can work on repairing different instruments and pipelines. Welding jobs can be found in the Middle East, and there are options for underwater welding.
- The military welder jobs can be difficult in different conditions, but you can also earn a handsome amount.
- The salary for a military welder is more than 50000 dollars.
- The working of a welder for military fields is based on services. Air Force welders work on welding aircraft, so they need highly skilled experience for handling the task. Navy welders do repairs and maintenance on ships that they work on in underwater conditions.
Nuclear Welder
- Nuclear welders work to manufacture and repair different components in atomic power plants. Since this job also involves high-risk and safety measures, you must have a high-quality skill set and experience in welding plants.
- The salary range of this job is $47,000 to $90,000 in one year. An experienced person can earn more based on projects and experience.
- For this job there is need of some certifications, such as ASME nuclear certifications, AWS D1.1 structural welding code, steel, etc. Some other skills needed for nuclear welders are
- You must have knowledge for reading complicated blueprints and technical details.
- Welding process for atomic components.
- Follow atomic codes and safety measures.
Robotic Welding Programmer
- Robotic welding programming works by making and applying different programs for controlling automated welding robots and other projects used for manufacturing purposes across different industries.
- The salary range of this job is $42,000 to $70,000 based on experience in one year. The programmers that have high-level skills for different robotics systems and specialization in manufacturing sectors get a high salary.
- The certifications needed for these jobs are Certified Robotic Arc Welding (CRAW) and robotic programming certifications such as FANUC, ABB, or Yaskawa, which help to get a high salary.
- There are some required skills for programming engineers, such as Python, robotics-based programming, automation, information and manufacturing processes, and hands-on welding experience.
Certified Welding Supervisor
- Certified welding supervisor services are based on welding, and they also need managerial skills for managing the team and their work. Their main work is to give direction to team welders, check that they are working in safe conditions, and perform their duties in the required way within the given time and budget.
- Certified welding supervisors have many years of experience and also have supervisor certifications from the American Welding Society.
- The average salary for a welding supervisor is more than 60000 in one year.
Factors Affecting Welding Salaries
Some factors affect the salary range of welding services.
- Experience is the most important factor for defining welder salary. Starting or entry-level welders get low earnings, about $20,000 to $40,000, according to experience. But with high skills and high experience, the salary is higher. With five to ten years of experience, you can get $50,000 to $70,000. More experienced welders with more than 10 years can earn $70,000 to $100,000+ salaries.
- Certification also affects salary. Welders who have different certifications and working experience, such as AWS D1.1, ASME Section IX, API 1104, etc., can help you earn more. Underwater welders, aviation industry welders, and some others who work in difficult conditions can earn more than a 6-digit salary.
- Industry also affects salaries for welders, such as oil, gas, aviation, nuclear power, and other industries, as they have their own salary levels for welders. Manufacturing and construction industries are highly paid industries.
- Geographic location is also important for welder salary, and each location has its own salary values.
- If you continuously grow your skill set and work for a long time, it will also affect your salary.
Should You Consider a High-Paying Welding Job?
- High-paid welding jobs can earn more than $70,000 or $100,000 in one year. You will have financial security for this job and a good life for your family. The skilled welder can earn a handsome amount in some years.
- There are many career options for this field if you are a specialist for this job. Through this job, you can explore underwater welding on offshore rigs and also in aviation. There are job options in the nuclear, pipeline, and oil rig welding industries.
- There is no need for any specific degrees, as other fields require just some vocational training certification and some experience to get this job. So instead of a 4-year degree, this profession can earn good earnings with certification and some skills.
- This job has skilled welders in different industries all over the world. So if you have working experience for this job, you have high chance of getting the job.
- Welding jobs not only provide good earning opportunities but also offer the chance to travel to different countries and locations. It helps to explore new job ideas and opportunities.
FAQs
What are the important factors affecting higher welding salaries?
- High experience and advanced certifications, skill sets, and working in high-level industries such as oil, gas, and aviation, and locations that have high salary ranges help to increase welding payments.
Is underwater welding as risky as it looks?
- Yes, underwater welding is a dangerous job. There is a chance for breathing gases at high temperature, hypothermia, low visibility, and decompression sickness. It needs high-level safety measures.
Do military welders work in combat zones?
- Yes, some military welders work in combat locations. But mostly work at shipyards, bases, and other supporting features rather than in active combat.
What’s the working of a welding engineer?
- Welding engineers work to design, develop, and make changes to welding processes, instruments, and methods. They work to provide high efficiency, quality, and safety for different welding works.
What are the safety measures for underwater welders?
- The main parameters must be followed for underwater welders to try to avoid currents near water, monitor gas supply, and use a welding camera. Also get some important training.
Are there female welders in these high-paying roles?
- In the past, mostly men worked in this field, but now most women are finding careers in this field. But there are very few women in this field.
How is maintaining work-life as a rig welder?
- Rig welding is needed for longer stretches at remote areas. So properly rotate the schedule for your family time.
