Maybe you are searching for new career opportunities, so look into welding as an option.
This article will provide tips on welding, as well as which are the best training schools in Louisiana.
Job Responsibilities in Louisiana
A welder fuses metal pieces together using certain tools.
These instruments are used to heat and melt the metal pieces before merging them.
Most Important Job Duties
Below are the 6 main duties of a welder:
- Analyzing and having knowledge of the guidelines, sketches, and blueprints
- It is essential for a welder to respect the guidelines.
- Studying the materials to choose the best welding method
- Deciding on the instruments required to finish the task
- Preserving the tools and knowing how to combine them according to the chosen technique
- Some instruments are manual while others are electrical.
Why You Should Get Hired in Louisiana
Welding is a profession that allows you to see the results of your work.
You will be working on impressive tasks such as building structures.
Welding is on the rise and career opportunities will increase by 6% until 2026, according to The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
A welder should:
- Be meticulous
- Be technically skilled
- Have physical force and endurance
- Good at working with his hands
- Have positional awareness skills
The Median Wage in Louisiana
A Louisiana welder typically makes $37,541 yearly.
Top 10% welders in the state make at least $43,129 a year.
In the rest of the country, a welder earns about $39,533 annually, while welders in the top 10% make $45,418 a year.
Annual Salary Range:Average Salary of Certified Welders in Louisiana
| City Name | Salary |
|---|---|
| New Orleans | $39,246 |
| Baton Rouge | $36,367 |
| Shreveport | $36,347 |
| Lafayette | $36,086 |
| Lake Charles | $35,824 |
| Kenner | $39,225 |
| Bossier City | $36,347 |
| Monroe | $36,157 |
| Alexandria | $35,027 |
| New Iberia | $35,875 |
Regional Salary
| Region | Employed | Avg. Annual Salary | Avg. Hourly Pay | Top 10% Annual Salary | Bottom 10% Annual Salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alexandria, LA | 310 | $51,100 | $24.57 | $78,010 | $31,510 |
| Baton Rouge, LA | 3,040 | $68,820 | $33.09 | $99,100 | $43,310 |
| Hammond, LA | 80 | $52,150 | $25.07 | $80,790 | $36,920 |
| Houma-Thibodaux, LA | 1,370 | $48,990 | $23.56 | $60,640 | $27,780 |
| Lafayette, LA | 1,490 | $52,590 | $25.28 | $67,730 | $37,850 |
| Lake Charles, LA | 830 | $63,570 | $30.56 | $82,020 | $39,020 |
| Monroe, LA | 270 | $49,130 | $23.62 | $60,560 | $36,440 |
| New Orleans-Metairie, LA | 1,880 | $54,730 | $26.31 | $76,460 | $39,190 |
| Shreveport-Bossier City, LA | 730 | $52,570 | $25.27 | $84,340 | $33,450 |
* Employment conditions in your area may vary.
Where Can I Work As a Professional Welder?
Some of the options include:
- Building structures
- Manufacturing
- Aerospace applications
- Gas or oil field power plants and refineries
- Ship construction
- Car and motorbike manufacturing and repair
Best Welding Schools in Louisiana
Read below for a list of the best welding schools accredited by the American Welding Society’s SENSE Accreditation Program.
The programs offered by these schools feature classes like Gas Tungsten Arc Welding (TIG), Shielded Metal Arc Welding (Stick), Gas Metal Arc Welding (MIG), and more.
If you want to enroll in a school, remember to bring your GED or high school diploma.
While some schools accept 10th graders, this is not always the case.
16 Welding Schools in Louisiana
| School Name | Address |
|---|---|
| Acadian Technical Institute | 1933 West Hutchinson Ave. Crowley, LA 70526 United States |
| Advanced Welding School LLC | 10340 Florida Blvd Walker, LA 70785 United States |
| Bossier Parish Community College | 6220 East Texas Street Bossier City, LA 71037 United States |
| Caddo Career Center | 5950 Union Ave. Shreveport, LA 71108 United States |
| Central Louisiana Technical Community College | 4311 South MacArthur Drive Alexandria, LA 71302 United States |
| College St. T & I Voc Center | 736 W College St. Lake Charles, LA 70607 United States |
| Delgado Community College | 5200 Blair Drive Metairie, LA 70001 United States |
| Grant High School | 17779 HWY 167 Dry Prong, LA 71449 United States |
| Louisiana Tech College System | PO Box 489 Hammond, LA 70404 United States |
| Lousiana Technical College Lafayette | 1101 Bertrand Dr Lafayette, LA 70506 United States |
| Moore Career College | 14141 Airline Hwy Bldg 1 Ste X Baton ROuge, LA 70817 United States |
| Northshore Technical Community College Florida Parishes Campuses | PO Box 1300 948 Hwy. 1042 Greensburg, LA 70441 United States |
| Shreveport Job Corp Center United States | 2815 Lillian St, Shreveport, LA 71109, USA |
| South Central Louisiana Technical College | 181 Regala Park Rd Reserve, LA 70084 United States |
| South Central Lousiana Technical College | 900 Youngs Road Morgan City, LA 70380 United States |
| Sparx Welding And Technology Institute | 280 A Equity BLVD Houma, LA 70363 United States |
It’s best to have the details above re-checked, in case they might change.
Other Career Options in Louisiana
If welding doesn’t appeal to you but you’d like something similar, look into:
- Boiler making
- Plumbing Pipe-fitting, and Steamfitting
- Sheet Metal Work
Welding Schools by City
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