Trade Career Comparison

Which trade career fits you best?

Welder

Join metal parts using heat and pressure. Welders work in construction, manufacturing, and infrastructure.

$51,000/yr median

$33,810$70,080

Little/No ChangeHeavyUnion: ModerateEntry: Low

Training Path

Certificate or apprenticeship (6 months - 2 years)

Environment

Indoor/Outdoor

Outlook

Little/No Change (+1%)

BLS Code

51-4121

Pros

✓One of the fastest trades to enter — you can complete a welding certificate in 6-12 months and start earning immediately.
✓Diverse work settings — welders work in construction, shipyards, aerospace, manufacturing, oil and gas, and custom fabrication shops.
✓Specialized welding certifications (TIG, pipe welding, underwater welding) can push your earnings well above the median into the $70K-$100K+ range.
✓Creative potential — skilled welders can do custom metalwork, artistic fabrication, and ornamental work as a side business or full career.
✓Travel opportunities — pipeline welders, shutdown welders, and industrial maintenance welders can earn premium rates working on the road.

Cons

✗Exposure to intense UV radiation, fumes, and heat is a daily reality — long-term respiratory issues and eye damage are real risks without proper protection.
✗The physical environment is harsh — you work in extreme heat near molten metal, often in awkward positions for extended periods.
✗Base pay for general welders is lower than many other trades — the good money requires specialized certifications and willingness to travel or do dangerous work.
✗Job outlook is flat overall, meaning competition for the best positions can be stiff in some regions.
✗Welding certifications must be maintained and re-tested periodically, and different employers may require you to re-certify on their specific procedures.
✗Seasonal and project-based work is common, especially in construction and pipeline welding, leading to periods without a paycheck.

What the Life Is Like

A welder's daily experience varies enormously based on the work setting. Shop welders in manufacturing facilities work indoors in relatively controlled environments, often welding the same types of assemblies on a regular schedule. Construction welders work outdoors on structural steel, pipelines, or infrastructure projects — the conditions are rougher but the pay is usually better. Specialty welders in shipyards, refineries, or aerospace facilities work on high-stakes projects where weld quality is rigorously inspected.

Typical hours for shop work are standard 40-hour weeks with occasional overtime. Field welders and pipeline welders may work 50-60+ hour weeks during a project, often on a schedule like 10 days on, 4 days off. The culture among welders tends to be proud and quality-focused — a good weld bead is a point of genuine pride, and experienced welders can look at a weld and tell you whether it will hold or fail.

Physically, welding demands sustained focus in uncomfortable positions. You will spend hours in a welding hood with limited visibility, holding a torch steady while crouched, overhead, or lying on your side. The heat, sparks, and fumes are constant companions. Eye strain and burns (even minor ones) are common. Despite this, many welders describe a deep satisfaction in their work — there is something primal and rewarding about joining metal with fire and skill.

How to Get Started

Take a welding program at a trade school or community college

Programs range from 6-month certificates to 2-year associate degrees. Focus on learning multiple welding processes: MIG (GMAW), stick (SMAW), TIG (GTAW), and flux-core (FCAW). Hands-on practice time is the most important factor in choosing a program.

Get certified through the American Welding Society (AWS)

AWS certifications are the industry standard. Start with structural welding certification (D1.1) or your program's recommended first cert. Each certification requires passing both a written knowledge test and a hands-on weld test evaluated by a Certified Welding Inspector.

Build your skills with entry-level work

Look for positions as a welder's helper or tack welder at fabrication shops, manufacturing facilities, or construction companies. The pay will be modest at first, but you are building real-world experience and speed.

Pursue specialized certifications for higher pay

Pipe welding (using TIG root with stick fill), stainless steel, and aluminum certifications open doors to higher-paying industrial work. These require additional training and testing but can significantly boost your earning potential.

Consider union membership or travel work

Joining the Boilermakers, Ironworkers, Pipefitters, or other unions that employ welders can provide better wages, benefits, and steady work. Alternatively, traveling welders who go where the work is — shutdowns, pipeline projects, new plant construction — can earn premium rates.

Felony Record & Licensing

Generally Accessible

AWS certifications are skill-based and do not screen for criminal history. No state license required.

Welder is one of the more accessible trades for people rebuilding after a conviction.

Training Funding & Support

Pell Grants Are Available Again

As of July 2023, the FAFSA no longer asks about drug convictions. The FAFSA Simplification Act restored Pell Grant eligibility for incarcerated and formerly incarcerated students. If a past drug conviction kept you from financial aid before, you can apply again.

WIOA Workforce Funding

The Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) funds free job training, career counseling, and supportive services (transportation, work clothes, childcare) for people reentering the workforce. Contact your local American Job Center (careeronestop.org) to see what's available in your area.

Ban-the-Box & Fair Chance Hiring

Over 37 states and 150+ cities have "ban-the-box" or fair chance hiring laws that prevent employers from asking about criminal history on job applications. Many require waiting until after an interview or conditional job offer. These laws are expanding rapidly — check your state's specific rules.

Licensing laws vary by state and change frequently. This is general guidance, not legal advice. Always verify with your state's licensing board before enrolling in a training program.

Data last verified March 2026 · View sources

We verify our data against official sources. Verification dates show when we last checked — they do not guarantee the information is still current. Laws, rates, and thresholds can change at any time. Always confirm critical information at the official source or with a qualified professional.

National Employment Law Project (NELP) — Fair Chance Hiring

General trade accessibility levels for people with felony convictions — categorized as generally-accessible, varies-by-state, often-restricted, or highly-restricted

https://www.nelp.org/policy-issue/criminal-records-and-employment/

Verified March 2026

trade-schools.net — Jobs for Felons

Trade accessibility and reentry employment guidance for specific trades

https://www.trade-schools.net/articles/jobs-for-felons

Verified March 2026

Hire Felons — Reentry Employment Guide

Employer reentry hiring policies and trade accessibility for people with felony convictions

https://www.hirefelons.org/

Verified March 2026

ASE — About ASE Testing

ASE (Automotive Service Excellence) certification — no criminal history screening

https://www.ase.com/certification-series/

Verified March 2026

OSHA — Powered Industrial Trucks

OSHA forklift certification — employer-provided, no criminal history screening

https://www.osha.gov/powered-industrial-trucks

Verified March 2026

EPA — Section 608 Technician Certification

EPA Section 608 refrigerant certification — no criminal history screening

https://www.epa.gov/section608

Verified March 2026

Federal Student Aid — FAFSA Simplification Act

Pell Grant eligibility restored for people with drug convictions and incarcerated individuals, effective July 1, 2023; PELL_GRANT_RESTORED_DATE: "July 2023"

FAFSA Simplification Act, Pub. L. 117-103 (2021); 20 U.S.C. § 1070a

https://studentaid.gov/announcements-events/fafsa-simplification

Verified March 2026

National Conference of State Legislatures (NCSL) — Ban the Box Legislation

Ban-the-box and fair chance hiring laws — 37+ states + DC + 150+ localities as of 2026; BAN_THE_BOX_STATE_COUNT: 37; BAN_THE_BOX_CITY_COUNT: 150

https://www.ncsl.org/labor-and-employment/ban-the-box-legislation

Verified March 2026

NELP — Ban the Box: U.S. Cities, Counties, and States

Fair chance hiring law coverage — 37+ states + DC + 150+ localities; BAN_THE_BOX_PRIVATE_EMPLOYER_STATES: ["California", "Illinois", "New Jersey", "Washington"]

https://www.nelp.org/publication/ban-the-box-fair-chance-hiring-state-and-local-guide/

Verified March 2026

U.S. Department of Labor — Reentry Employment Opportunities (REO)

WIOA Section 169 workforce funding for reentry — job training, career counseling, and supportive services

Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act, 29 U.S.C. § 3224; WIOA Sec. 169

https://www.dol.gov/agencies/eta/reentry

Verified March 2026

Legal Information Institute — 18 U.S.C. § 922

18 U.S.C. § 922(g) — federal prohibition on felons possessing firearms, effectively barring law enforcement careers

18 U.S.C. § 922(g)(1)

https://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/text/18/922

Verified March 2026