Being a welder means that you are a craftsman that fuses materials together.
The salary range for this type of job is between $42,000 and $68,000 annually.
While this job may be very physically demanding, there are a lot of benefits associated with being a welder, such as a high degree of job security, a good work-life balance, good income, and the future outlook for this job is rather good.
Table of Contents
Pros of Being a Welder
Being a welder comes with many benefits.
We will focus on the top seven advantages of being a welder.
1. Good Job Security
As a welder, you will have very good job security.
This job requires you to get your hands dirty.
Many people do not want to do this type of work, meaning that there are not a lot of employees moving into this position.
This means that there are a lot of job openings in this field and you will be spoilt for choice when looking for a new job.
2. A Lot of Free Time on Weekends and Holidays
A great benefit of this job is that most shops are closed on public holidays and during the weekends.
At most, you may only need to work on Saturday, but for most mechanic shops this is rare.
Taking into consideration the many industries that require employees to work over weekends and holidays, this is actually a great benefit to working as a welder.
Examples of industries that worked during this time include the hospitality industry, the fast-food industry, the travel, and tourism industry, etc.
3. You Get to Work with Your Hands
Many people tend to enjoy working in an office.
A lot of people are good with numbers, some are good with animals, and then there are those people who get to work with their hands.
These individuals do rather well in jobs that require them to work with their hands because they end up doing what they love to do.
Repetitive work is not for everyone.
Some enjoy seeing the fruits of their labor.
If you are someone that finds it difficult to focus on a screen all day, then this may be the ideal job for you.
4. Good Future Prospects
When manufacturing was moved out of the US and into China, there were predictions that there would be a major skills gap in the automotive industry.
While welding is not just limited to this industry, it forms a substantial part of it.
In addition to this, many young people prefer to go to college or to do jobs that require them to think more.
This is creating a larger gap in the market and creating a bigger demand for qualified welders.
5. Your Results are Almost Immediate
There are certain career fields that do not offer results immediately.
If you are someone who enjoys seeing the results of your efforts in a relatively short amount of time, a job as a welder may be well suited to you.
Many other fields will require weeks or even months of work and preparation before results are visible.
Take the psychology industry, for example.
You may counsel a patient for years before you see any results from your work.
If you are someone that enjoys seeing instant results from your work, you may find yourself pleasantly surprised to know that you will see results in this field on an almost daily basis.
6. A Good Side Job
Even if you are a full-time welder, you may still be able to do your full-time job on a part-time basis after hours to help you bring in more money from private jobs.
Many people have small to medium private welding jobs and are constantly on the lookout for a qualified and experienced welder.
You could easily make a good few extra dollars doing this kind of work on the side for yourself or your own small business on the weekends or over holidays.
7. Not a Mentally Demanding Job
Welding does require that you have the ability to stay focused while working in order to ensure that you are doing a proper job.
However, it is not nearly as taxing on you mentally as some other jobs that require you to problem-solve and think critically on a daily basis, such as being a lawyer, an accountant, or a business analyst.
Cons of Being a Welder
1. This is a Physically Demanding Job
Working as a welder may be very taxing on you physically.
Most people do not fully comprehend the physical component of this type of work.
Welders spend hours of their day on their knees or in other difficult positions.
In addition to this, welders often work in other strenuous positions, lift heavy things, and carry equipment or other metal objects from one place to another.
This can be a very exhausting job.
2. It May Be Taxing on Your Health
Many welders have to quit their jobs in order to prevent their health from deteriorating further.
This poses many problems for welders, especially those that have been in the trade for most of their lives.
This job is especially taxing on the spine.
The result of having to quit their jobs is that these welders end up jobless or struggling to find work in order to pay their bills.
3. Most Welders Do Not Make Great Money
According to Talent.com, the average pay for a welder is $35,100 per year or $18 per hour.
While this is fairly decent pay, it is by no means excessive.
Furthermore, welders may need to get a second job in order to supplement their income by either working part-time for themselves or finding another method of making a second income.
On the higher end of the scale, though, some welders can earn up to $55,597 annually.
But this is not common and only refers to about 10% of individuals in the industry.
4. Not All Welders Can Afford Decent Health Insurance
Health insurance is a luxury for many welders who have families to feed and live at the lower end of the scale.
There are many health complications that may arise from doing this type of work.
And, in the event that the welder does not have proper health insurance, this may become an issue in the future should the welder be injured at work or have to deal with health complications as a result of work.
5. You May Work in Unpleasant Workspaces
For many welders, the reality is that their working conditions and environments may not be ideal.
Some working environments may be very dirty and unpleasant, while others may be very uncomfortable.
This is the sad reality of working as a welder.
It is a far cry from working in a comfortable office that is temperature-controlled.
6. You Will Fall Behind in the Digital World
While you may be learning about new welding techniques, the world around you is advancing at an accelerated rate in the digital world.
Your job will be far removed from this digital world and you will not enjoy the training that comes with other jobs in terms of changes and developments in the digital world.
You will be left behind.
7. Toxic Fumes are a Part of This Job
You work with toxic fumes on a day-to-day basis.
This means that there are plenty of opportunities for you to inhale the toxic fumes.
They may not cause any damage right away, but over an extended period, these fumes really wreak havoc on your health.
Pros and Cons of Being a Welder – Summary Table
| Pros of Being a Welder | Cons of Being a Welder |
|---|---|
| 1. Good Job Security | 1. This is a Physically Demanding Job |
| 2. A Lot of Free Time on Weekends and Holidays | 2. It May Be Taxing on Your Health |
| 3. You Get to Work with Your Hands | 3. Most Welders Do Not Make Great Money |
| 4. Good Future Prospects | 4. Not All Welders Can Afford Decent Health Insurance |
| 5. Your Results are Almost Immediate | 5. You May Work in Unpleasant Workspaces |
| 6. A Good Side Job | 6. You Will Fall Behind in the Digital World |
| 7. Not a Mentally Demanding Job | 7. Toxic Fumes are a Part of This Job |
Should You Become a Welder?
The good news is that if the demand is high and the supply is low, then the price will go up.
There are predictions that there will be skill shortages in this field in the near future.
With that being said, you may still need to weigh up all your options.
There seem to be many more serious disadvantages to becoming a welder than there are many good reasons to become one.
Chances of landing on the higher end of the salary scale are rare and without health insurance and so many factors posing a threat to your health, working as a welder may not be the best option for you.
But, having said that, it all comes down to personal preference.
If these are factors that you can overlook, then you should consider a career as a welder.
