9781422273340

CAREERS WITH EARNING POTENTIAL

WELDER ANDREW MORKES

CAREERS WITH EARNING POTENTIAL

BECOME INVALUABLE IN THE WORKPLACE: SET YOURSELF APART MACHINERY MAINTENANCE & REPAIR PHARMACY TECHNICIAN POLICE OFFICER AND DETECTIVE WEB DEVELOPER WELDER

THE ARTS CAR MECHANIC CHEF COSMETOLOGIST DOG GROOMER FARMER MASSAGE THERAPIST PRESENTING YOURSELF

CAREERS WITH EARNING POTENTIAL

WELDER

Andrew Morkes

MASON CREST PHILADELPHIA MIAMI

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Copyright © 2022 by Mason Crest, an imprint of National Highlights, Inc. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, taping, or any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the publisher. Printed in the United States of America First printing 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 Series ISBN: 978-1-4222-4479-1 Hardcover ISBN: 978-1-4222-4475-3 ebook ISBN: 978-1-4222-7334-0 Cataloging-in-Publication Data on file with the Library of Congress Developed and Produced by National Highlights, Inc. Production: Andy Morkes

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TABLE OF CONTENTS

CHAPTER 1: The World of Welding . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7 CHAPTER 2: What Welders Do . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17 CHAPTER 3: Terms of the Trade . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32 CHAPTER 4: Preparing for the Field and Making a Living . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 39 CHAPTER 5: Key Skills and Methods of Exploration . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 51 CHAPTER 6: Looking to the Future . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 65 Series Glossary of Key Terms . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 72 Further Reading & Internet Resources . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 75 Educational Video Links . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 76 Index . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 77 Author Biography & Photo Credits . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 80

KEY ICONS TO LOOK FOR:

WORDS TO UNDERSTAND: These words with their easy-to-understand definitions will increase the reader’s understanding of the text while building vocabulary skills

SIDEBARS: This boxed material within the main text allows readers to build knowledge, gain insights, explore possibilities, and broaden their perspectives by weaving together additional information to provide realistic and holistic perspectives EDUCATIONAL VIDEOS: Readers can view videos by scanning our QR codes, providing them with additional educational content to supplement the text Examples include news coverage, moments in history, speeches, iconic sports moments, and much more! TEXT-DEPENDENT QUESTIONS: These questions send the reader back to the text for more careful attention to the evidence presented there RESEARCH PROJECTS: Readers are pointed toward areas of further inquiry connected to each chapter Suggestions are provided for projects that encourage deeper research and analysis SERIES GLOSSARY OF KEY TERMS: This back-of-the-book glossary contains terminology used throughout this series Words found here increase the reader’s ability to read and comprehend higher-level books and articles in this field

WORDS TO UNDERSTAND

blacksmith: a craftsman who fabricates objects out of iron using hot and cold forging on an anvil (a large block of metal with a flattened surface on the top) bronze age: the first period of time in human history in which bronze (an alloy of copper and tin) was used; the start date varies by regions (for example, the Bronze Age began in China before 3000 BCE, whereas in Britain it did not start until about 1900 BCE) forge welding: a welding technique that joins two pieces of similar or different metal by heating them to a high temperature and then hammering them together gross domestic product (GDP): the total value of all goods and services produced in a country during a specific period of time, often a year

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CHAPTER 1

THE WORLD OF WELDING WELDING: YESTERDAY AND TODAY Welding is the process of using high heat, and often a filler metal, to join two or more pieces of metal or to fill gaps in metal parts. Welders may also connect thermoplastic pipe and other materials. Some welding methods use pressure to help join the two pieces together, while others use pressure and high heat, or just high heat. The two metals that are being welded must be similar in chemical makeup. When the weld is completed and the metals cool, a joint has been created that is as strong or stronger than the base metal. There aremany types of welding processes. Welding plays an important role in construction, manufacturing, and other industries. It is used in approximately 50 percent of the industrial and commercial products that make up the gross domestic product (GDP) of the United States, according to the American Welding Society (AWS). The technical process of welding may seem modern, but archaeologists have found evidence of welding all the way back to the Bronze Age , when

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early welders created small circular gold boxes. In the Iron Age, Egyptians and other cultures of the eastern Mediterranean Sea used welding techniques to create iron tools and weapons. The Iron Age was a period in which tools and weapons made by iron supplanted (replaced) in quality those made of bronze or other metals. Starting dates for this era vary by region. In the Middle East and southeastern Europe, the era began in about 1200 BCE, but in China it did not begin until about 600 BCE.

Learn more about careers in welding.

During the Middle Ages, blacksmiths used forge welding to build and repair weapons, armor, chains, and ornaments. Their metalworking methods remained largely the same until the 1800s, whenmodern processes such as gas welding and cutting (established around 1850 CE) and two different methods that used electricity—arc welding (1880s) and resistance welding (early 1900s)—were developed. Other welding techniques continued to emerge from the 1920s through the 1970s and beyond. Today, new welding technologies are being combined with robotics and automated systems. These systems have replaced

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humans in some settings where repetitive welding processes are needed, but human welding professionals are still in strong demand to work on complex welding jobs (including those that are located underwater), troubleshoot issues that arise during automated or human-involved welding, and program and monitor automated welding systems.

Welders create metal structures that will be used in industrial production.

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OPPORTUNITIES IN WELDING

The AWS reports that welders work in the following areas: • Construction: buildings, structures, bridges, etc. • Transportation: aerospace, automotive, rail, and maritime (on water, especially the sea) • Manufacturing: fabrication, production, robotics, etc. • Professional: engineering, inspection, and education • Agriculture and Natural Resources: farming, mining, oil and gas pipelines • Industrial: power generation, industrial shutdowns, and mechanical maintenance

Welding is a great career for those who like to work with their hands and enjoy a constantly changing work environment.

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CAREERS WITH EARNING POTENTIAL: WELDER

DECIDING TO PURSUE A CAREER IN WELDING

Choosing a career is one of the most important decisions that you’ll make in life. If you make the right choice, you’ll find a job that is fulfilling, pays well, and offers a good work environment and strong employment prospects. If youmake a poor career choice, life will be a lot harder. So how do youmake the right choice? First, you should do a lot of research about a particular career. Take classes in that area, read books and watch videos, join school clubs for people interested in the field, and talk to people in the occupation about the pros and cons of their jobs. If you’re considering a career in welding, you should ask yourself the following questions: • Do I like to build and repair things? • Do I enjoy projects that allow me to work with my hands and use my creativity? • Do I have good problem-solving and critical-thinking skills? • Am I a detail-oriented person who doesn’t mind working alone? • Am I seeking a career that is never boring and in which no day is the same? • Am I looking for an occupation that pays well, offers good benefits, and does not always require a college degree? • Am I looking for a career inwhich there is currently a shortage of workers and many new job opportunities? If you answered yes to these questions, there’s a strong chance that a career in welding is a good match for your interests and skills. Continue to explore welding in every possible way. Learn to weld. Attend appropriate summer camps and participate in welding competitions. Visit a manufacturing plant or construction site and observe welders at work. The more information you have, the easier it will be to make a decision.

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A welding apprentice practices his skills.

THE COLLEGE QUESTION For many years in the United States and other countries, there has been an emphasis on earning a college degree as the key to life success. This is part of the reason that in 2018, nearly seven out of every ten students in the United States who graduated from high school went on to attend college, according to the U.S. Department of Labor (USDL). But unlike many careers, you do not have to earn a college degree to become a welder. You can prepare for a career in welding by participating in an apprenticeship, learning the ins and outs of the field in the military, by receiving on-the-job training (although this method is no longer that common), and by attending a two- or four-year college.

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CAREERS WITH EARNING POTENTIAL: WELDER

A college student learns how to weld pipes.

No trainingmethod is better than another. You just need to choose the best path for you based on your preferred learning style, how quickly you want to enter the profession, if you want to get paid while you learn by training via an apprenticeship or through the military, or you prefer to go to college and are ok with paying tuition, and other criteria. For example, Neil, who has worked as an underwater welder for seventeen years, chose the college route. “When I was in high school,” he recalls, “I was unsure what I wanted to do with my life. I knew I wanted to do something in engineering or the trades, but I didn’t know what field.” Neil’s momand dad suggested that he attend a two-year college and take classes in a variety of technical and scientific areas to explore his interests. “I ended up taking an introduction to welding class and became fascinated by the process of welding,” Neil says. “Welding seemed like an appealing combination of technical skill and a kind of art.” Neil became intrigued by underwater welding after seeing a presentation by someone in the field. “I was always a good swimmer and enjoyed the outdoors, so this type of welding career appealed to me,” he recalls. “The fact that underwater welders can earn $100,000 to $200,000 a year also sparked my interest!”

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On the other hand, Keisha applied to an apprenticeship programbecause therewas a long history of this training path in her family. “Bothmy grandfather and father trained to become welders via an apprentice program,” she says. “I liked the mixture of classroomand hands-on training offered by the apprenticeship program. I also liked the idea of getting paid as I learned. That doesn’t happen in college.” Keisha had a great experience during her apprenticeship. “I learned a lot, made a living while I was training, and, most importantly, didn’t graduate with any college debt.” (Debt is money that is owed to a person, company, or organization.)

Although women make up only 4 percent of welders, more females are entering the field.

DID YOU KNOW?

The Wall Street Journal reports that students who graduate from college with debt start their professional lives with an average financial burden of $37,712. That much debt takes more than a decade to pay off, if not longer!

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CAREERS WITH EARNING POTENTIAL: WELDER