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Welder

Craft Career

Sparks fly as a welder joins metal with a welding torch


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With a quick nod, Josh Morror’s welding helmet snaps into place. It shields him from the bright light of the welding arc. As he works, sparks fly around him.

To someone outside the welding craft, it looks like melting metal. To someone inside, it’s chemistry, precision and intuition.

Morrow is a pipefitter and welder at TVA’s Boone Dam. Pipefitters are highly skilled tradespeople who work on high-pressure and complex piping systems – the kind you find in many power plants!

“My grandpa is the one who guided me into this trade,” he said. “I fell in love with it.”

A Day in the Life

Welding joins two pieces of metal by melting them together. The melted area is called the puddle – a liquid that must be protected from outside elements in order to maintain its integrity.

Science is the magician.

Welders use gasses like argon to shield the molten metal from oxygen. If not done correctly, the weld can develop tiny holes that result in a weak, brittle weld.

Some of the skills welders use include:

  • Read sketches and specifications
  • Study blueprints
  • Use and maintain specialized equipment
  • Weld components
  • Inspect welds for quality and to identify flaws

Safety is an important part of welding. Welders wear a helmet that protects their eyes. They wear flame-resistant clothing and long gloves to protect their skin from the heat and sparks. They wear sturdy boots to protect their feet. They use a respirator or a fume extraction system to avoid breathing the toxic metal fumes and gasses.

Welders can work full time directly for a company, work as a contractor for specific jobs, or own their own welding company.

Morrow has some words for the next generation of welders.

“It’s a tough, technical job,” Morrow said. “I just tell them to never give up. Take your breaks, come back fresh, and start over.”

Becoming a Welder

Becoming a welder requires specialized training from a technical school or through apprentice programs.

Technical school training can take 6 to 18 months to complete. Some high schools offer welding programs, as well.

Welders can specialize in different types of metal or different types of work environments, including underwater!

Starting pay for a welder at TVA is about $110,000 a year.