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Welding jobs require on-the-job training and are common in manufacturing, stained glass, jewelry, and electronics industries. Employers struggle to find skilled workers, but those willing to relocate have more job opportunities. Welders may be responsible for soldering, cutting, and assembling products, and additional skills increase job prospects. The electronics industry is the largest source of soldering jobs, requiring workers to read technical drawings and understand electronics.
Welding jobs often involve little or no education, but instead rely on on-the-job training. Many manufacturers, stained glass makers, jewelers and electronics manufacturers employ dedicated solders who work an average of 40 hours a week, but overtime is common; according to the US Bureau of Labor and Statistics, about 20% of welders in the US work 50 hours a week. Job prospects are expected to change little through 2018, but employers are currently reporting difficulties finding skilled workers, and workers willing to relocate will have more employment possibilities.
In manufacturing industries, welders are employed as general assemblers whose tasks involve building various products as per blueprints and sketches. Soldering is just a necessary skill, as fitters often have to use hand tools to complete each product from start to finish. For some larger or more complicated projects, welders are part of an assembly line of specialist workers and are only responsible for the solder required on each piece. Additional training in soldering and brazing greatly increases employment opportunities in this field.
Welding work in the production of stained glass is uncommon, except in large-scale production facilities. Additional glazing skills are often required to work in smaller studios where the welder may also be responsible for cutting and assembling glass pieces. Stained glass solder contains lead; therefore, workers should be familiar with basic safety equipment and procedures and should be routinely monitored for lead toxicity.
Jewelry manufacturers often employ welders in an assembly line facility in full-scale production, where other workers are responsible for casting, tooling, and shaping the piece, and the welder would be responsible for the joining. Additional skills in stone cutting and setting would increase job prospects and open up avenues such as jewelry repair. Jewelry welders must also be familiar with fine metals and the precise detail work these tiny pieces require.
By far the largest source of soldering jobs is the electronics industry. Virtually any product that plugs into or runs on batteries contains a circuit board, and most are individually manufactured by hand. Manufacturing circuit boards requires a multitude of different solders, and the work must be precise. Electronic soldering jobs are similar to assembly jobs, and workers are responsible for completing connections and selecting components in addition to the actual soldering application. Workers must be able to read technical drawings and must be familiar with how electronics work.
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