How Much Money does a Welder Make?

If you are interested in a career in welding, you may be curious to know, how much money can a welder make? One of the greatest career advantages is that welding does not require a college degree. This enables welding students to complete their training much quicker than a traditional higher education, as well as cut down on tuition costs. You can be ready to enter the job market and earn money much quicker than your counter-parts that pursue a 4 year college degree.

In an article published by the Wall Street Journal, The $140,000-A-Year Welding Job, James Hagerty wrote "The risks of a mismatch between costly university degrees and job opportunities have become clearer in recent years. Anthony Carnevale, director of the Center on Education and the Workforce at Georgetown University, said nearly a third of people aged 22 through 26 with a Bachelor of Arts degree either don’t have a job or are working at one that doesn’t require a university degree. The numbers are similar for young people with vocational degrees, but those lower-cost degrees don’t typically lead to heavy debts." Most employers are looking to hire a certified welder which can be obtained after under a year of schooling.

On average, an entry level welder can expect to make about $14-16/hr, while an experienced pipe welder makes around $30/hr. This number can vary greatly depending on the industry and location. According to an article in the Wall Street Journal by Josh Mandel, skilled welders have the potential to make up to $150,000 due to a large shortage of qualified workers. Many skilled trade programs have been eliminated in schools which has made it increasingly difficult for employers to find welders. According to the 2011 Skills Gap Survey by the Manufacturing Institute, about 600,000 manufacturing jobs are unfilled nationally because employers can't find qualified workers. "Welders Make 150,000?" See full Wall Street Journal article here.

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