About Metalworking Careers
Metalworking includes several occupations. Most metalworkers are machinists, tool and die makers, or welders. All are highly skilled "hands-on" jobs and opportunities are excellent, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), despite projected declines in the next few years. Many young people able to master the high skill levels are opting for other professions. In fact, there are shortages of metalworkers in some areas. So if work that involves a high level of craftsmanship appeals to you, a metalworking career is something you should consider.
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Types
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Welding is the use of heat to fuse metal parts together. Welders use arc welding (using electricity to generate the heat) or about 80 other methods to create extremely strong bonds. Machinists fashion precision parts using lathes, metal cutters and milling machinery. A machinist works from blueprints to plan and execute the manufacturing operation. The most highly skilled metalworkers are tool and die makers. They build much of the precision equipment and tools used by machinists and in manufacturing plants. In some cases tool and die makers design and build specialty tools and machinery.
Employment
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Machinists, welders, and tool and die makers are employed in virtually every area of manufacturing. The leading employers are those that involve heavy or large machinery, including aerospace, automobiles, shipbuilding and parts manufacturing. In addition, tool and die makers are often employed by specialty manufacturing firms that build the equipment that other industries use in factories. Welders work in many areas other than manufacturing, ranging from construction to auto repair.
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Education
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Young people considering a metalworking career can begin actively training while still in high school by taking shop classes in welding or other metal fabrication skills. Employers and postsecondary schools strongly recommend academic courses in physics, chemistry and trigonometry as well. Postsecondary training normally combines coursework in a vocational-technical school or community college with on-the-job training as an apprentice. Apprenticeship programs are typically sponsored by unions and manufacturers. The main difference between metalworking occupations is the amount of time required to become fully qualified. For welders, training may require anywhere from a few weeks to a year and machinist training generally requires about two years. Training for tool and die makers averages four to five years.
Certification
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There is no legal requirement for licensing or certification for metalworkers. However, there are optional certification programs for each specialty. Welders can take certification courses in specific skills through the American Welding Society. For both machinists and tool and die makers, many states now have state boards that certify competency. Typically the required courses to earn state certification are included in coursework at technical schools or community colleges.
Benefits
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Opportunities for advancement come mainly in the form of promotion to supervisory status. Metalworkers who supplement their skills with academic study in business can move into management. According to the BLS figures for 2006, welders had a median hourly wage of $15.10. The lowest 10 percent averaged $10.08/hour while the highest paid 10 percent made in excess of $22.50/hour. The median wage for machinists was $16.71. The upper 10 percent earned more than $25.29/hour. The lowest wages (primarily apprentices) were under $10.29/hr. Tool and die makers had the highest wages of the metalworking occupations with a median hourly rate of $21.299. The lowest paid 10 percent earned under $13.85/hour; the top 10 percent made more than $32.41/hour.
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Comments
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Nov 21, 2009
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