Welders 

Welders operate welding equipment to weld ferrous and non-ferrous metals. This unit group also includes machine operators who operate previously set up production welding, brazing and soldering equipment. They are employed by companies that manufacture structural steel and platework, boilers, heavy machinery, aircraft and ships and other metal products, and by welding contractors and welding shops, or they may be self-employed.

Main Duties

• Read and interpret blueprints or welding process specifications.
• Operate manual or semi-automatic flame-cutting equipment.
• Operate brazing and soldering equipment.
• Operate metal shaping machines such as brakes, shears and other metal straightening and bending machines.
• Repair worn parts of metal products by welding on extra layers.

10-year Job Openings

There are 551 job openings forecasted between 2023-2032. 

Average Annual Salary

$53,400

Employment Requirements

• Completion of secondary school is usually required.
• Completion of a three-year apprenticeship program or A combination of over three years of work experience in the trade and some college or industry courses in welding is usually required to be eligible for trade certification.
• Trade certification is compulsory in Alberta and available, but voluntary, in all other provinces and the territories.
• Red Seal endorsement is also available to qualified welders upon successful completion of the interprovincial Red Seal examination.