If you’re looking for the best welding schools in Alabama, this is your one-stop shop. The 23 Top Welding Schools For Certification In Alabama includes a complete directory, so say goodbye to hunting all over the internet for the best welding schools near you!
Overview
- Roles & Duties of a Welder in Alabama
- Why You Should Be a Welder in Alabama
- Welding Employment Outlook: Average Welding Salaries in Alabama
- Certified Welding Jobs in Alabama: 6 Industries Where Welders Find Employment
- Essential Welding Equipment
- Get Your Welding Certification: The 23 Top Welding Schools for Certification in Alabama
- Welding Certification in States Bordering Alabama
- Careers Similar to Welding in Alabama
- Welding Safety Tips
What are the roles and duties of a welder in Alabama?
Welding is the most common way of permanently connecting two pieces of metal together. In order to do this, welders heat the metal pieces with various tools to melt and fuse them together. There are a variety of different types of welding processes, such as Stick or MIG. As simple as it sounds, the entire welding process requires precise skill and technique.
The 4 Main Responsibilities of a Welder
- Before welding a new project, certified welders study and follow specific blueprints or sketches to carry out projects to precise specifications.
- Next, they must inspect the raw structure/material to determine the proper welding method and dimensions. It’s important to realize that there are more than 100 methods of welding. Depending on the material and conditions, the proper welding methods may include gas tungsten arc welding, shielded metal arc welding, or gas metal arc welding.
- Another overarching responsibility of welders is to determine the proper welding equipment and machinery required to execute the plan. For example, this may include chipping and cleaning completed welds.
- Finally, a crucial part of the job is to maintain the welding equipment and machinery required to meet the project requirements. This may include different tools that are electric, manual, or even a combination of the two, such as welders and grinders.
Life After Certification:
Why You Should Become a Welder in Alabama
You should consider becoming a certified welder in Alabama because the work you do is important, rewarding, and something you’ll take pride in for years to come. The structures you build will be around for a considerable length of time.
If you’re a hands-on kind of person, you’ll like this next benefit: you’ll be constantly working outdoors with your hands, with heat, flames, and sparks. You’ll create impressive finished projects, such as joining steel beams in the construction of buildings, bridges, and other structures.
Additionally, the outlook for welders is promising, as the demand for welders is high. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics projects welding careers to grow by 6% in 2016 to 2026 (an increase of 22,500 jobs) with no expectations of stopping.
If the following skills sound like you, you’ll find exploring a career in welding even more enjoyable.
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- Detail oriented
- Manual dexterity
- Physical stamina
- Physical strength
- Spatial-orientation skills
- Technical skills
How much do welders make in Alabama?
Welders in Alabama earn a median salary of $39,170 per year $18.83 per hour which is just a little lower than the median average of $39,390 per year $18.94 per hour.
Nationally welders in the top 10% of median pay make more than $62,100 annually, while welders in the top 10% of median pay in Alabama make more than $55,170 according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics in 2016.
Certified Welding Jobs in Alabama:
What industries do welders?
Welding graduates work in a variety of industries, such as:
- Construction of buildings and bridges
- Aerospace applications
- Manufacturing
- Shipbuilding
- Gas & oil field power plants and refineries
- Auto & motorcycle fabrication and repair.
What type of equipment do welders use working in Alabama?
Top welding schools for Certification in Alabama:
We’ve done the hard work for you if you are looking for the top welding schools for certification in Alabama. In the table below we’ve included all 23 welding programs in Alabama currently approved by the American Welding Society’s SENSE Accreditation Program.
The school’s programs in the list below provide classes in Gas Tungsten Arc Welding (TIG), Shielded Metal Arc Welding (Stick), or Gas Metal Arc Welding (MIG), ensuring that you get the training you want.
Often, the only admission requirement is having a high school diploma or your GED if you want to enroll in the welding program with a few schools only requiring at the very least the tenth grade to be completed. To become a certified welder a high school diploma, combined with technical and on-the-job training is required.
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As always the information within the training programs listed below is continually changing so we encourage you to contact them directly with the information supplied.
Underwater Welding Schools in Alabama
Currently, there are no underwater welding schools in Alabama. That being said, there are only 9 in the entire country. For more about how to get your underwater welding certification, check out The Top 9 Underwater Welding Schools in the USA.
Looking For Welding Information On States Bordering Alabama?
You might also be interested in the top welding schools for certification in bordering states:
Important Welding Safety Tips
Safety comes first. After all, welding can be extremely dangerous if things go awry.
- First, make sure to read everything. Because equipment manuals have important warnings, reading them carefully is a great way to prevent accidents.
- Second, invest in the best welding gear. This includes the best auto-darkening welding helmet, gloves, glasses, jacket, and shoes. And of course, make sure your skin is covered up to protect yourself from the heat.
- The third most crucial welding safety tip is to be mindful of the environment. In other words, make sure the area is clean, tidy, and well-ventilated.
Conclusion
After taking a look at this list of the best welding schools in Alabama, as well as basic welding tips and employment info, we hope you’re ready to take the next step. This could be one of the most important steps you take that impacts you for the rest of your life!