Welder Career Assessment
Joining and cutting metal
Welcome
Welders join and cut metal to build and repair everything from farm equipment to pipelines.
You will explore what this skilled, in-demand trade is really like and whether it fits you.
This takes about 15 minutes.
What is a Welder?
A welder uses heat to join metal parts. They read blueprints, choose the right welding process (like MIG, TIG, or stick), and make strong, clean welds. Welders work in fabrication shops, factories, construction, and the oil patch.
The Reality: Welding is hot, bright, loud, and sometimes smoky. You wear heavy protective gear. Oil field and pipeline welding can mean long days outdoors in extreme cold and wind.
Your Responsibilities:
- Read blueprints and welding symbols
- Set up welding equipment
- Weld using MIG, TIG, stick, or flux-core processes
- Cut metal with torches or plasma cutters
- Inspect welds for quality
- Grind and finish welds
- Repair broken equipment
- Follow safety rules and wear protective gear
You build the metal things that hold North Dakota together.
A Day in the Life
6:30 AM — Arrive at a fabrication shop that builds farm equipment parts.
7:00 AM — Read the blueprint for today's job.
7:30 AM — Cut steel pieces to size.
9:00 AM — MIG weld the frame together.
12:00 PM — Lunch.
12:30 PM — Grind the welds smooth and check the quality.
2:00 PM — Repair a cracked part on a customer's trailer.
4:30 PM — Clean your station.
Focused, skilled work with your hands.
Training in North Dakota
No state license is required. Most welders complete a 1–2 year program. Employers usually test your skills with a weld test.
Training Pathways:
- Short certificates (a few months): Learn one process, like MIG or stick.
- Certificate (about 1 year): Multiple processes and blueprint reading.
- Associate degree (2 years): More advanced skills and inspection.
Where to Train in North Dakota:
- ND State College of Science (Wahpeton and Fargo) — Welding Technology, AAS (73 credits) or certificate; Industry Welding Technology; short certificates in MIG, TIG, flux-core, and stick
- Bismarck State College (Bismarck) — Welding, AAS or 1-year certificate; trains toward the AWS Certified Welder test
- Williston State College (Williston) — Welding Technology, AAS, certificate, or short certificates
- United Tribes Technical College (Bismarck) — Welding Technology Certificate
Before You Start: High school diploma or GED is usually expected. Good hand-eye coordination and eyesight. Basic math.
Tip: Start with financial aid, scholarships, and any help an employer offers — that is where the money starts. After that, ask a career counselor or Job Service North Dakota whether WIOA or other programs can help with what is left over, like training, tools, work boots, or exam fees. What can be paid for depends on the program and on your own situation, so ask before you sign up rather than after. Registered apprenticeships let you earn a paycheck while you learn — see jobsnd.com/job-seeker/apprenticeships for ND programs.
Certification & Licensing
No license. Weld certifications prove your skill. Employers test your welds. Certifications are tied to specific processes and codes.
Certifications Employers Look For:
- AWS Certified Welder — a hands-on weld test
- Code certifications — for example, pipeline (API 1104) or pressure vessel (ASME)
- AWS Certified Welding Inspector (CWI) — advanced career step
The Exams: Weld tests are hands-on. Your weld is inspected or bent to check its strength.
Cost: Varies by test and testing center. Some employers pay.
Keeping It Current: Weld certifications must be kept active by welding regularly and reporting it.
Salary & Job Outlook
North Dakota Welder, Cutter, Solderer, and Brazer Pay (May 2025):
- Starting out (bottom 10–25%): $22.43–$26.28/hour ($46,660–$54,660/year)
- Middle (median — half earn more, half earn less): $29.81/hour ($62,000/year)
- Experienced (top 25–10%): $34.89–$40.05/hour ($72,560–$83,290/year)
What that means: ND pay is well above the national median. Oil field and pipeline welders often earn more, with overtime.
Jobs in North Dakota: About 2,820 people do this work in ND today. By 2034, that should be about 3,050 (about 8% growth). Expect about 310 job openings every year in ND from growth and people retiring or changing jobs. Across the U.S., the change is about 2% growth.
Outlook: Very good, with about 310 openings a year in ND. Manufacturing, ag equipment, and energy keep welders busy.
Who Hires in ND: Ag equipment and steel fabrication manufacturers, oil field and pipeline service companies, and construction companies.
Work Setting: Shops, factories, construction sites, and the oil patch. Oil field work can mean long shifts, travel, and extreme weather.
Physical Demands: High. Standing, bending, heavy gear, heat, sparks, and fumes. Good eyesight and steady hands are important.
Sources: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, North Dakota, May 2025 (SOC 51-4121); North Dakota and U.S. long-term employment projections 2024–2034, via O*NET OnLine. Numbers are rounded.
Where This Leads
Path 1: Pipeline or Pipe Welder — High-paying specialty.
Path 2: Welding Inspector (CWI) — Inspect welds for quality.
Path 3: Fabricator — Build from blueprints.
Path 4: Welding Supervisor — Lead a crew.
Path 5: Welding Instructor — Teach new welders.
Path 6: Own a Shop — Start a fabrication business.
The Real Talk
What's Great:
- Short training
- Lots of openings in ND
- Strong ND pay
- Creative, skilled work
- Many specialties
- Can start your own business
What's Hard:
- Heat, sparks, and fumes
- Heavy protective gear
- Oil field work in extreme cold
- Long shifts and travel for some jobs
- Risk of burns and eye injury
- Physically demanding
Be Honest: Are you OK with heat, sparks, and heavy gear? Do you have steady hands and good eyesight? Are you OK with long days or travel for some jobs?