What Are Common Jobs That Require Welding? We look at the Types of Welding Jobs & Careers that make use of welding equipment. Welding Supplies Coventry offer welding equipment suppliers for Coventry, Nuneaton, Lutterworth, Royal Leamington Spa, Rugby, Warwickshire
Types of Welding Jobs & Careers
Welding is a crucial skill in many careers and industry sectors. And its applications go beyond simply joining two bits of metal together. Welders can work in a range of environments, including underwater and in the open ocean maintaining ships or oil rigs.
Careers on more solid ground can include working on pipelines for oil and gas companies. But there are many more besides these few examples. Here we'll take you through some of the most common jobs and careers for welding professionals.
Common Jobs That Require Welding
Here is our list of the most common jobs that need the skills of a professional welder:
Pipe Welder
Any industry using large pipes needs professional welders. The obvious industry would be oil and gas since they have thousands of miles of industrial pipelines to maintain.
Welders willing to travel far and wide for their work can secure a significant salary working in this industry.
Welding Engineer
Welding engineers focus mainly on the planning and design stages of industrial projects. They don't do any of the welding themselves, but help to create the procedures and methodologies for those working on these projects. They must also oversee that quality and safety standards are maintained.
Manufacturing Welder
This is possibly the largest classification of welders. Essentially, any industry producing or using metal products requires professional welders. Anything from agriculture to the automotive industry employs welders. This is a more generalised career, meaning you won't find the high salaries available in other welding work.
Underwater Welder
Underwater welding is another specialisation for those who aren't afraid of deep water. This type of welding is most common in the maritime industry. Underwater welders are called on for shipbuilding and repairs, alongside working on dams or oil rigs. While some underwater welding occurs on the open ocean, you can also find it in rivers and lakes on-shore. However, if this work sounds interesting to you, you'll need to complete specialist training both for diving and safe welding underwater.
Aerospace Welder
If working with rockets and satellites sounds enticing, then aerospace welding is the career for you.
This is almost the complete opposite of manufacturing welding, despite the similar nature of the work. This is a highly specialised industry, requiring exceptional professional skills.
Nuclear Welder
Another highly specialist field for welders. You need to gain appropriate qualifications before you can become a nuclear welder. There is also a higher standard of quality and safety, given the hazards involved in the work. Nuclear welders can find themselves working on nuclear submarines or nuclear reactors.
Welder Instructor
Given the level of training and qualifications you need to become a welder, it's natural that one of the key jobs for welders is as an instructor. Aside from teaching welding to the next generation, instructors must also stay up-to-date with the latest technology and welding methods.
Military Support Welder
The armed forces are one of the biggest users of metal, meaning they have a serious need for welders. While it's safe enough to weld on military bases, if you are a military support welder in action, things can become more dangerous.
Industrial Shutdown Welding
Manufacturing facilities need to shut down from time to time to perform repairs and maintenance. When these shutdowns are necessary, these companies can lose vast amounts of money due to these interruptions.
Industrial shutdown welders must be able to work quickly. Whether performing inspections, repairs, upgrades or renovations.
Shipbuilding
This is a more specific area of underwater welding. Modern ships are made from large sheets of metal, which need professional welders to put together. Again, you'll need to gain professional underwater welding and diving qualifications to perform these tasks.
Automotive Racing
Motorsport teams always need professional welders. From designing to building their cars, these teams need experienced professionals to get the most out of their motors. Also, it's an unfortunate fact that motorsports often involve crashes. Meaning welders are also needed to repair and rebuild cars and motorbikes.
On-Board Ship Maintenance & Repair
After the shipbuilding is done, they still need the odd bit of welding. Ships that spend most of their time on the open sea need a live-in crew to keep them afloat. This includes welders, who need to fix any issues as soon as they arise. The most common places to find onboard welders are cruise ships and oil rigs.
Robotics
Robots and robotic prototypes are usually made from thin metals requiring precision welding. Some robots are even used to perform welding duties.
But we still need humans to run and maintain these robots. Whether you want to work on or alongside robots, welders in this industry need to be highly skilled and competent.
Fabricator / Welder
Fabricators use their wielding skills to design, cut out and shape metal components. Beyond welding, they must be able to understand engineering drawings to determine what their employers want. Analysing plans and diagrams allow fabricators to cut and weld metal objects for various uses.
Master plumber
Master plumbers perform different duties than regular plumbers. While they have the same skills, including welding, they are responsible for planning the maintenance of pipework as well as repairing it. They are also responsible for safety when working and improving plumbing systems. They might also need drafting and sketching skills when proposing plans.
Oil rig welder
As you can imagine, oil rig welders are there to repair and maintain the rig structure while in operation. From routine repairs to constructing new pipes, bonding metals is an integral part of oil rig work. Preserving equipment is also an important part of working as an oil rig welder.
Master jeweller
While jewellery making is intricate work, the design, fabrication and repair skills welders have are valuable in the industry.
Most jewellery includes metal components, the most common being gold and silver. Styling and creating jewellery pieces with these metals involve soldering and welding joints that welders specialise in.
MIG welder
MIG welding is a particular type of welding professionals can specialise in. It involves the same skills as other welding duties, such as interpreting plans and ensuring safety. However, MIG welding involves using electric arcs and inert gas to weld joints. Therefore, MIG welders must also be able to mix the right gas ratios to perform their work.
Sheet metal worker
These welding professionals are responsible for designing and fabricating thin metal sheets or products. This includes creating metal seams between pieces and potentially building supporting frameworks. It might also include bolting to join metals together.
Pipefitter
Welders are also essential in the pipefitting industry. Designing the layout of pipework, assembling it and ensuring it continues to operate. Soldering or welding joints in pipes is a key duty. Pipefitters are also called to resolve issues, such as blockages and replace or upgrade existing pipework.
Auto body welder / technician
Another area of the automotive industry where welders are invaluable is in manufacturing.
Constructing bodies and vehicle chassis involves a lot of metalwork and welding. Body welders or technicians can also be expected to repair issues and install upgrades.
Industrial boilermaker
Industrial boilermakers' duties extend beyond making boilers. They essentially build containers for different gasses or liquids. These containers are typically made of air-tight metal, which means welding secure seams between pieces. Again, designing and planning skills are essential. You might also have to cast metal pieces and shape them to the right proportions.
Structural iron & steelworker
As the name suggests, structural iron and steelworkers fabricate and shape iron or steel to build structures. Welding and cutting structural metal is a large part of the job. You might also need to cut larger metal bars for structural support. Cables are also an integral part of construction projects, which welders may need to repair and tighten.
Tool & die maker
Tool and die makers follow plans to create machine tools and dies for use in other industries. This involves shaping metal blocks and potentially using computer software to create the tools and dies. Drilling to create assembly joints and mounting materials onto production equipment are also key duties.
Welding Inspector
Welding inspectors can be placed in the same category as instructors. While they don't do much welding themselves, they are responsible for overseeing the quality of other welders' work.
They might also have more administrative duties. Sourcing and ensuring ordered materials are of the right quality is also important. As is monitoring work rates for project timelines and looking out for safety.
Are you looking for welding equipment suppliers in Coventry and Warwickshire. Contact our welding equipment specialists working across Coventry, Rugby, Oxford and the surrounding areas.
