At the end of the day, a welder salary comes down to the skill level.  Not all welders are the same; they are classified into three job grades from entry level to advance.

To start working, one needs a high school diploma or its equivalent and a professional certificate which can be obtained through any test facility accredited by the American Welding Society (AWS).  This is not as simple as taking one test and doing well. A welder who has passed a test on pipe welding cannot claim to be certified on aerospace welding or any other field; he is only certified on pipe welding. To work on different types of welding jobs, there are several certifications that should be obtained and these are specific to the material, process and structure.

Welder Salary – Level I

A worker classified as welder I is basically a beginner. It is assumed that a welder of this job grade understands basic metallurgy, the study of the physical and chemical behavior of metallic elements.  He should be skilled at basic cutting and welding processes, particularly shielded metal arc welding (SMAW) and gas metal welding (GMAW).  He will likewise be expected to read blue print and symbols for welding. Those who have one or two years of audit-able welding experience may fall in this category. Based on survey data, welder salary for level I is about $34,000 annually.

Welder Salary – Level II

Welder salary for Level I is also low because of these types of workers still need supervision and simply rely on instructions from more experienced welders. It is assumed that they have limited capabilities and still have a lot to learn.  Welders at Level II meanwhile are expected to be able to make sound judgment on their own, and consequently work with less supervision.  They may have already gone through apprenticeship and are certified in more types of jobs.  Welder salary for Level II is roughly $40,000 per year.

Welder Salary – Level III

To be in this job grade, one must have four years of experience in the field.  As a senior welder, he should be familiar with more concepts, practices and welding procedures. He thus earns about $48,000 a year. Welder salary of these advanced workers are higher too because with their level of competence, they are expected to lead, plan out and supervise the work of novices.

As mentioned earlier, self-proclaimed “certified” welders must not be readily believed though. To guarantee that standards are met, welders must take a variety of very specific tests. Certifications and audit-able work experience must be well-documented as well. Still need more information? The American Welding Society (AWS) is a good resource for learning more about welders.