What Does a Welder Do?
Welders use various techniques and tools to cut and fill metal parts and products. They melt and join pieces of metal together by creating intense heat using gas flames, lasers, and electric arcs. They make durable, lasting welds by possessing a strong understanding of metal properties.
A successful welder is capable of reading, interpreting, and accurately following technical specifications and drawings. As skilled tradespeople who perform critical work, welders adhere to required safety and quality standards. Additional duties often include metal cutting and shaping.
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National Average Salary
Welder salaries vary by experience, industry, organization size, and geography. To explore salary ranges by local market, please visit our sister site zengig.com.
The average U.S. salary for a Welder is:
$44,500
Welder Job Descriptions
Example 1
The Welder is responsible for operating a multitude of welding equipment working primarily on aluminum, steel, and galvanneal requiring a high grade of skill.
Responsibilities
- Read blueprints and weld metals according to customer or employer requirements
- Operation of heavy equipment such as saws
- Perform set-up of the machine and preventative maintenance as required
- Examine created welds to check for defects/flaws
- Ability to learn and perform different methods of welding to obtain certifications
- Perform safety and quality checks
- Work and adhere to all safety policies
Minimum qualifications
- Basic math, tape measurement, and computer skills
- Basic experience with hand tools
- Able to understand and comprehend measurement
- Able to read and interpret blueprints for special applications
- High School Diploma or equivalent GED
- Must be 18 years old
Preferred qualifications
- Previous experience in manufacturing
- Previous experience working on truck bodies
Physical requirements
This job operates in a manufacturing plant environment. While performing the duties of this job, the team member is regularly required to talk or hear. The team member frequently is required to stand (sometimes for extended periods); walk; use hands to finger, handle or feel; reach with hands and arms; and lift up to 35 pounds. The team member may, at times, sit, bend, stoop, squat, reach overhead, or crawl (may be in confined spaces). The team member is expected to perform repetitive tasks using their hands, and have the ability to climb ladders and/or work in high places.
Example 2
Summary
Under general supervision, applies appropriate welds to fabricate or repair compactors, containers, and carts.
Responsibilities
- Performs minor repairs and applies basic welding processes
- Repairs compactors, containers, and carts
- Performs preventive maintenance inspections, diagnostic and repair of electrical and hydraulic systems on compactors
- Qualified in the welding processes such as arc welding, gas welding, aluminum welding, brazing, and soft soldering on a variety of materials
- Conducts safety checks on compactors and containers
- Completes required paperwork utilizing fleet maintenance software program associated with repairing compactors and containers, documenting parts usage, and accounting for repair times
- Assists senior welders in the completion of project work
- Performs service calls for compactor repair
- Performs related work such as flame cutting, bending, forming, beveling, and notching of metal and plastic parts
- Performs all work within Standard Repair Times (SRTs)
- Works from prints, drawings, and verbal instructions
- Performs standard layouts and set-ups of dimensions and tolerances
- Utilizes standard shop hand tools, measuring devices, and equipment
- Performs other maintenance-related work as required
- Maintains a clean, safe work area in compliance with Corporate/OSHA Standards
- Performs all work in accordance with established safety procedures
Qualifications
- Education: Not required
- Experience: 2 years of relevant experience
- Required: Valid driver’s license
- Basic skills in welding techniques
- Knowledge of safety procedures and practices necessary while operating or repairing compactors, containers, and carts
- Skill in operating tools equipment, parts, and procedures utilized during the repair and servicing of compactors, containers, and carts
- Skill in repair of special purpose equipment
- Ability to perform repairs on a variety of compactors, containers, and carts; and ability to utilize fleet maintenance software program may be required
Example 3
Responsibilities
- Safely utilizes various metal shop tools including horizontal band saw, angle grinder, chop saw, die grinder, mag drill, manual pipe bender, and other metal working tools and equipment
- Safely and effectively operates TIG/MIG welder to industry standards
- Skilled at assessing repair viability of damaged or broken rental items, and repairing or repurposing as needed
- Ability to read shop drawings and use them to create simple components and assemblies accurately and within tolerance
- Manages workflow to ensure a clean and organized workplace. Cleans and organizes daily, or as needed to keep and maintain an organized and functional workspace
- Consistent reporting of in-house inventory of shop consumables and materials to the supervisor
- Assist in the repair department under the supervision of the repair lead. Duties may include but are not limited to sanding, painting, basic electrical repair, carpentry, or other repairs
Qualifications
- Minimum high school diploma
- At least 1-2 years of welding experience including experience with TIG/MIG welding
- Ability to pass a basic welding test with a TIG/MIG welder
- Ability to be certified to wear respiratory protection if required
- Ability to regularly lift at least 50 lbs. or more frequently
- Ability to speak, write and read English
- Must be 18 years of age
- Ability to drive or learn to drive a forklift preferred
- Must have reliable transportation
How to Hire a Welder
When hiring a welder, first consider the following:
- Recruiting: Do you have the knowledge, tools, and resources to attract and screen candidates?
- Complexity: Do you need a senior professional, or will mid or junior-level skills and experience suffice?
- Duration: Is this a one-time project or an ongoing need?
- Management: Do you have the time and expertise to direct the work effectively?
- Urgency: How soon does the work need to be completed?
- Headcount: Do you have the budget and approval for an internal employee, or should you consider alternate options?
Answering these questions will help determine the best course of action for your current hiring need. Fortunately, great options exist for every scenario. These are our recommendations:
1. Use 4 Corner Resources (or another professional recruiting firm)
The heavy lifting is done for you when working with a top-tier staffing company like 4 Corner Resources. We source, screen, recruit, and deliver only the most qualified candidate(s), saving you significant time and effort throughout the hiring process while you remain focused on your core business. Understanding your needs and ensuring the right candidate for the position is the key to our success.
This is the best route to take when:
- You need to fill the position quickly
- You want access to a vast talent pool of high-quality, prescreened candidates
- Your position is suited for temporary hiring services, contract staffing, or contract-to-hire recruiting, and you intend to direct the work activity.
- You are hiring an employee as a direct placement but aren’t able to recruit effectively or efficiently with your internal staff.
- You aren’t familiar with current salary rates, market trends, and available skill sets
2. Advertise your opening on a top job board
Your best option may be to advertise your opening on a proven job board. There are many widely used job sites out there that draw visits from qualified candidates. If you have someone internally who can dedicate the time and energy to sort through applications and screen individuals effectively, this can be a great choice.
We recommend using a job board when:
- Your internal recruiting team has the knowledge and experience to assess candidate qualifications
- You are hiring a direct employee and have time to manage the entire recruiting effort
- You have a process for receiving, screening, and tracking all resumes and applications
- You are prepared to respond to all applicants
There are many career sites out there. Here are the two we recommend for a welder opening:
CareerBuilder
CareerBuilder has been a trusted source for hiring since 1995. Reach 80+ million unique, diverse U.S. job seekers annually by posting your jobs through their talent acquisition channels. Through CareerBuilder, you can engage candidates and drive them into your sourcing pipeline. We recommend using CareerBuilder for hiring when you have the internal resources and processes to review, screen, and reply to all applicants.
LinkedIn is a social network for job seekers, professionals, and businesses. With this popular job site, you can enhance your brand and advertise your open position to a wide audience of motivated, qualified candidates. Job postings on LinkedIn are also extremely streamlined and user-friendly, making it even easier for candidates to apply. Additionally, applicants can use their LinkedIn profile instead of a resume to expedite the process.
3. Leverage your internal resources
You can utilize your own website, social media, and employees to assist in your search for top candidates.
A company website posting should be the first step in notifying prospective candidates that you are hiring. Social media can also be a powerful tool for spreading the word about your new opening. As far as exposure is concerned, this option can be as good as some job boards when you have a large enough following across various platforms, like LinkedIn, Instagram, Facebook, TikTok, and Twitter.
Current employees are every organization’s greatest asset. Encourage your internal team to promote job openings to their network by offering cash and other incentives.
We recommend these options when:
- Your brand has great name recognition
- You can consistently monitor and respond to candidate activity through your website and social media accounts
- You have a process in place to quickly and broadly communicate job openings and requirements
- You have an effective employee referral program in place
If you aren’t sure which path is best, schedule a discovery call today with our seasoned recruiting professionals. The 4 Corner team is on standby to help you find the best option for your unique hiring need.
Sample Interview Questions
- Tell me about the most exciting welding job you have done. Why did you like it?
- Why did you decide to go into welding?
- You notice an error in a colleague’s work. What do you do?
- What do you like about welding?
- What do you not like about welding?
- Are you scared of heights?
- How do you maintain safety in the workplace?
- Can you tell us about your education and experience?
- Tell me about a time when your actions didn’t line up with your core values.
- What is your ideal workspace environment?
- How do you handle customer complaints?
- How do you feel about working 12-hour shifts? How about working overtime?
- Tell me about a time you made a mistake. How did you handle it?
- Welding is a physically strenuous and demanding job. What do you do to stay healthy?
- Describe a time you received criticism from your supervisor. How did you respond to it?
- What welding techniques do you know? Do you have experience with that type of welding?