Is welding a skilled occupation?
The question of whether there is an apprenticeship for the profession of welder is probably asked by many young school leavers. Is it part of another training occupation or is there really a training course for welders?
Since when has training as a welder been available?
Industrialisation in the 19th century led to a veritable outbreak of new craft professions. One of these was that of the welder. This profession was created by a high use of iron and steel. The apprenticeship as a welder is mainly taken up by men. Women occupy about 1.5% of all apprentices. All metalworking companies belong to the field of activity of a welder.
These include apparatus engineering, car body construction, bridge construction, pipeline construction or heating or ventilation construction. As a certified welder, you join metal parts and thus contribute to construction and assembly. Welding seams that have been created during assembly must be checked very thoroughly. The main focus must be on the later load.
What does the salary of a trained welder look like?
The salary of a welder after training depends on various criteria. A demanding job with a good salary is therefore welding objects together at a not exactly harmless height. Furthermore, age, qualification or work experience play a very important role in the salary. If the employment contract is based on a collective agreement, one might assume a gross salary of about $47000. In addition to this, there is the 13th month’s salary, holiday pay and various additional benefits.
Which requirements must be met?
To learn the profession of a welder, you do not need any special qualifications. However, most vocational schools require a secondary modern school certificate. The training can be completed full-time or part-time. The duration of the training is divided according to the previous knowledge, the qualification you want to have at the end and the course and can last 12-20 weeks or longer.
If you enjoy working with metal, you will love this profession. Because metal is not a light material, you should at best have good physical conditions to be able to master everyday life with metal.
Is the profession of a welder popular?
The popularity of the profession depends on the industrial development. Since 1909, training as a welder has been offered here in Germany. However, the number of applicants was relatively low. In 2016 about 200000 participants per year will complete an apprenticeship or further training as a welder. Since the industry is developing further and further, the requirements in the profession of a welder have increased astonishingly. In the early days of the metal industry a welder had to work with five different welding processes. Today, a welder must be able to work with more than 100 welding processes and be able to carry them out without outside help.