Industry Spotlight Canada

Welder

What does a Welder do?

Welders use a variety of welding processes to join and sever metals in beams, piping and other metal components. Heat is applied to metal pieces to melt and fuse them together.

- They make metal parts used in construction and manufacturing plants.
- They develop patterns for projects and read blueprints, layouts and work orders.
- They clean, check for defects and shape component parts.

There are two types of Welders in Alberta: Welders and Wire Process Operators. Wire Process Operators work primarily in manufacturing plants.

What kind of person makes a good Welder?

Welder might be the job for you if you:

- Have good vision, or wear glasses
- Have good manual dexterity
- Are patient
- Have good hand-eye coordination
- Are able to concentrate on detailed work

How do I become a Welder?

1. Find a company willing to take you as an apprentice
2. Register with AAIT (Alberta Apprenticeship and Industry Training)
3. Apprentice for 3 years, which includes 1560 hours of on the job training and 8 weeks of technical training at school each year.
4. Take the interprovincial Red Seal exam to become a registered Welder.
5. Now you can work almost anywhere in Canada!

Where does a Welder work?

Welders in Alberta work in the manufacturing, construction, and mining, oil and gas industries.

How much does a Welder make?

On average, Welders in Alberta make $31.37 an hour. That’s about $68,000 a year.

Apprentice Welders earn 60% of a journeyman’s wage rate in the first year, 75% in the second, and 90% in the third.

Welder Case Studies

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