Welding is a good choice when you are looking for a new career.
In order to realize if its the right option for you, read on for a list of tips and info.
A Welder’s Duties
Before you settle on your career path, you should first know what the job entails.
Welding seems easy, but still requires some specific skill sets.
What is welding?
Welding is a practice through which metals are merged with heat and specific tools.
Job responsibilities
Some duties are more important than others, and these are:
- Adhering to the set guidelines and comprehending the sketches, drawings and instructions provided
- Analyzing the materials and deciding on the technique required by the project at hand
- Gas tungsten arc welding, shielded metal arc welding, and gas metal arc welding are a few of the 100 techniques.
- Determining which instruments will be used
- Keeping the gear in good condition and ready for usage
- A welder needs to know how to combine manual and electric instruments if needed.
Required skills:
The skills needed to become a successful welder are:
- Attention to detail
- Technical strengths
- Physical force
- Physical endurance
- Good at handiwork
- Spatial-orientation awareness
The Median Wage in North Carolina
You might want to know how much you will earn from your new career.
In US, an average welder makes around $39,533 in a year, while in North Carolina, the salary is $37,715 per year.
Also, a top 10% welder in this state earns $43,328 annually.
In other areas, the same welder will have a salary of about $45,418 per year.
Annual Salary Range:Average Salary of Certified Welders in North Carolina
| City Name | Salary |
|---|---|
| Charlotte | $38,726 |
| Raleigh | $37,928 |
| Greensboro | $37,675 |
| Durham | $37,714 |
| Winston-Salem | $37,873 |
| Fayetteville | $36,276 |
| Cary | $37,928 |
| High Point | $38,007 |
| Wilmington | $36,058 |
| Asheville | $36,315 |
Regional Salary
| Region | Employed | Avg. Annual Salary | Avg. Hourly Pay | Top 10% Annual Salary | Bottom 10% Annual Salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Asheville, NC | 410 | $51,830 | $24.92 | $66,310 | $38,020 |
| Burlington, NC | 120 | $49,970 | $24.02 | $60,540 | $37,040 |
| Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC | 3,690 | $52,760 | $25.37 | $70,460 | $39,400 |
| Durham-Chapel Hill, NC | 320 | $52,640 | $25.31 | $65,400 | $38,430 |
| Fayetteville, NC | 110 | $48,780 | $23.45 | $64,040 | $35,040 |
| Goldsboro, NC | 120 | $47,770 | $22.97 | $62,610 | $33,560 |
| Greensboro-High Point, NC | 1,330 | $50,390 | $24.23 | $62,890 | $37,880 |
| Greenville, NC | 290 | $54,530 | $26.22 | $65,970 | $44,730 |
| Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton, NC | 430 | $46,410 | $22.31 | $58,810 | $35,840 |
| Jacksonville, NC | 30 | $49,200 | $23.65 | $66,240 | $32,170 |
| New Bern, NC | 80 | $57,910 | $27.84 | $73,220 | $36,550 |
| Raleigh, NC | 1,020 | $52,270 | $25.13 | $69,100 | $38,530 |
| Rocky Mount, NC | 240 | $50,800 | $24.43 | $68,640 | $37,480 |
| Wilmington, NC | 210 | $50,390 | $24.23 | $67,020 | $37,000 |
| Winston-Salem, NC | 1,420 | $49,280 | $23.69 | $63,100 | $37,830 |
* Employment conditions in your area may vary.
Where can I get hired in North Carolina?
After getting certified, you can work in:
- Boat-building
- Manufacturing
- Aerospace applications
- Gas & oil field power plants and refineries
- Maintaining and repairing cars and motorbikes
Best schools in North Carolina
We have also compiled a list of training schools in North Carolina.
These schools offer important classes like Gas Tungsten Arc Welding (TIG), Shielded Metal Arc Welding (stick), or Gas Metal Arc Welding (MIG).
To start a program, you will need your GED or high school diploma.
However, 4 of the high schools in North Carolina provide welding training programs.
This makes it easy to start developing your skills after you graduate.
Out of the 24 welding schools in the state, 16 are community colleges.
The others are places at the Job Corps or tech schools.
No matter what school you choose, each of them is accepted by the American Welding Society’s SENSE Accreditation Program.
24 Welding Schools in North Carolina
| School Name | Address |
|---|---|
| Ashe County High School | 184 Campus Drive, PO 450 West Jefferson, NC 28694 United States |
| Catawba Valley Community College | 2550 Highway 70 South East, Hickory, NC 28602 United States |
| Central Carolina Community College | 1105 Kelly Dr, Sanford, NC 27330 United States |
| Central Piedmont Community College | P.O. Box 35009, Charlotte, NC 28235 United States |
| Crest High School | 800 Old Boiling Springs Rd Shelby, NC 28152 United States |
| Davidson County Community College | 297 DCCC Rd., Thomasville, NC 27360 United States |
| Equipment & Supply, Inc | 4507 Hwy 74 West Monroe, NC 28110 United States |
| Guilford Tech Community College | P.O. Box 309, Jamestown, NC 27282 United States |
| Lenoir Community College | P.O. Box 188, Kinston, NC 28502 United States |
| Lyndon B. Johnson Job Corps Center | 3170 Wayah Rd, Franklin, NC 28734 United States |
| McDowell Technical College | Library, 54 College Dr, Marion, NC 28752 United States |
| Nash Community College | P.O. Box 7488, Rocky Mount, NC 27804 United States |
| North Iredell High School Agriculture Department | 156 Raider Road, Olin, NC 28660 United States |
| Pitt Community College | 2064 Warren Drive, Winterville, NC 28590 United States |
| Randolph Community College | 110 Park Drive, Archdale, NC 27263 United States |
| Roanoke Chowan Community College | 109 Community College Road, Ahoskie, NC 27910 United States |
| Rowan-Cabarrus Community College | 1333 Jake Alexander Blvd, P.O. Box 1595, Salisbury, NC 28145 United States |
| Schenck Job Corps Center | 98 Schenck Drive, Pisgah Forest, NC 28768 United States |
| Southwestern Community College | 447 College Dr. Sylva, NC 28734 United States |
| Stanly Community College | 141 College Drive, Albemarle, NC 28001 United States |
| Surry Community College | 630 S. Main Steet Dobson, NC 27017 United States |
| Vance Granville Community College | 200 Community College Road, PO Box 917, Henderson, NC 27536 United States |
| Watauga High School | 400 High School Drive, Boone, NC 28607 United States |
| Wilson Community College | 902 Herring Ave, Wilson, NC 27893 United States |
Other job opportunities in North Carolina
Maybe you don’t want to become a welder but would like a similar job.
If so, check out these options:
- Boiler-making
- Soldering and Brazing
- Plumbing, Pipe-fitting, and Steamfitting
- Sheet Metal Work
Conclusion
You will easily be able to find a training school in North Carolina and begin your career.
Hopefully, this article provided the info you were looking for about welding and will help you make a decision.
Welding Schools by City
This page is also available in Spanish.
