What’s a Welder Salary in Texas?
Although going through a welder certification training program will teach you the foundations, your welder pay will depend first on your level of experience and what kind of skills are needed for each particular welding job opportunity.
We will go into the specific welding job requirements in the job descriptions below, but in the meantime, here are the most common types of welders and the average welder salary in Texas.
Pipeline Welders
Pipeline welders join and repair tubes and metal pipes and assemble parts related to the construction of different kinds of structures, buildings, and pipelines–in many times used to transport oil and gas.
Arc welders generate enough heat to create a weld using high-voltage electricity and the way you do this depends on whether you are a MIG welder or a TIG welder.
A MIG welding process is one that continuously feeds wire and a TIG welder slowly feeds long welding rods into a weld puddle. The median welder salary is $43,400 in Texas as reported by the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS.gov).
Why Welding?
If you want a hand in shaping the future, becoming a welder is a surefire way to do that. Welders rebuild and repair bridges, highways and pipelines and are crucial for securing our nation’s infrastructure.
Any building that ever goes up, any ship that sets out to sea or vehicle that drives on the road does so due to the work of welders.
That being said, a welder’s salary can depend on the industry one works including ship building, aerospace, oil & gas, energy & power, automobile and other types of manufacturing.
What Does a Welder Do on a Daily Basis?
Welders use electric currents to heat and bond metal together. Depending on what materials are being used and the purpose of the weld, there are many ways to do this.
Although, there is a lot to learn about the welding process, the most common types of welding are arc welding, MIG welding and TIG welding. On any given day, a welder may:
- Look over blueprints or specification sheets
- Create welding dimensions
- Inspect or assess structures or welding materials
- Use torches to heat elements
- Monitor the welding process to ensure proper procedures and avoid overheating
- Check equipment and machines
Welder Salary Depends on Where You Live
Welder salary will also be different depending on where you live because economic factors like the cost of living, and opportunities for welder jobs will vary.
In Texas, here are the average yearly welder salaries by city according to Career Onestop (CareerOneStop.org) from the May 2018 estimate:
- Austin: $40,270
- Corpus Christi: $48,490
- Harlingen: $30,420
- McAllen: $32,090
- San Antonio: $39,330
Welder Skills and Abilities
How do you know if you’d make a great welder? Do you love to work with your hands and see your ideas take shape? Are you searching for an exciting new career but can’t stand the idea of sitting in an office?
Do you have a fascination with fire? A burning desire to create something that lasts forever and helps people move faster into the future?
That’s a great start! Attention-to-detail, willingness to learn, hand eye coordination and patience also help! Join SCI’s training program to learn all about welding and get a head-start in your career!
Why Get Certified as a Welder?
Well for one, you could get paid more. Becoming certified can help open the door to more job opportunities. It shows employers that you are capable of doing the job and many employers will only consider hiring certified welders. If you are ready to turn your passion into a career, get certified as a welder.
Pass the Welding Job Test
Half of the jobs posted require a test. You don’t want to get your foot in the door and an interview with a great company just to get nervous and bomb the weld test.
A certification-based training program can help ensure that you learn the proper techniques that are industry standard and approved.
Get an Edge over Welding Job-Seekers
A certification-based welding training program teaches you cutting-edge techniques and technology. This is expertise that other welders who have only had on-the-job training might not otherwise have been exposed to. This will give you an edge over other candidates applying for the same welding job.
You might be thinking, “Great, so how do I get started in learning to be a certified welder?”
There are a lot of trade schools and programs you can take to learn the skills you need, but not all of them are accredited or get you to a point where you are prepared to get your license or certifications.
Southern Careers Institute, however, is accredited by the Council of Occupational Education (COE) and approved by the Texas Workforce and the Career Colleges & Schools of Texas.
You should also look at the school’s track record. In 2018, 2,040 SCI graduates were able to say, “I got the job” *Based on our graduates from 7/1/17 – 6/30/18 who were placed in their field or related field across all programs and campuses in accordance with reporting guidelines for the Council on Occupational Education.
Learn more today and don’t miss your chance to say, “I got the job!” as a welder in as little as 27 weeks.
Sources
https://www.bls.gov/ooh/production/welders-cutters-solderers-and-brazers.htm#tab-2
https://www.careeronestop.org/Toolkit/Wages/find-salary.aspx?keyword=Welders,%20Cutters,%20Solderers,%20and%20Brazers&soccode=514121&location=Texas
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