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What is a maintenance welder and how to become one

Updated January 8, 2025
3 min read
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A maintenance welder performs welding in the repair, fabrication, and modification of equipment and establishments. He/she does this by joining metal together, cutting metal, or filling by using extreme heat and gas and sophisticated welding equipment. He/she is also responsible for inspecting works to pick out faults and initiate repairs or replacements if necessary.

A successful maintenance welder should have previous experience as a welder and expertise in using the welding equipment and procedures. They should be well endowed with technical skills combined with other skills such as manual dexterity, attention to detail, communication skills, and attention to detail.

A maintenance welder works full-time Monday to Friday from 9 to 5. On rare occasions, they may be required to work over the weekends to complete a project with tight deadlines.

ScoreMaintenance WelderUS Average
Salary
3.2

Avg. Salary $40,659

Avg. Salary $59,228

Stability level
5.8

Growth rate 2%

Growth rate 0.3%

Diversity
9.4
Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 1.60%

Asian 2.65%

Black or African American 10.30%

Hispanic or Latino 17.73%

Unknown 3.98%

White 63.74%

Gender

female 7.24%

male 92.76%

Age - 40
Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 3.00%

Asian 7.00%

Black or African American 14.00%

Hispanic or Latino 19.00%

White 57.00%

Gender

female 47.00%

male 53.00%

Age - 40
Stress level
5.8

Stress level is manageable

7.1 - high

Complexity level
7.7

Complexity level is challenging

7 - challenging

Work life balance
6.9

Work life balance is good

6.4 - fair

Maintenance welder career paths

Key steps to become a maintenance welder

  1. Explore maintenance welder education requirements

    Most common maintenance welder degrees

    High School Diploma

    34.6 %

    Associate

    27.0 %

    Diploma

    15.4 %
  2. Start to develop specific maintenance welder skills

    SkillsPercentages
    MIG9.98%
    Arc Welding7.64%
    Hand Tools7.40%
    GMAW6.63%
    SMAW6.26%
  3. Complete relevant maintenance welder training and internships

    Accountants spend an average of 6-12 months on post-employment, on-the-job training. New maintenance welders learn the skills and techniques required for their job and employer during this time. The chart below shows how long it takes to gain competency as a maintenance welder based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data and data from real maintenance welder resumes.
  4. Gain additional maintenance welder certifications

    Maintenance welder certifications can show employers you have a baseline of knowledge expected for the position. Certifications can also make you a more competitive candidate. Even if employers don't require a specific maintenance welder certification, having one may help you stand out relative to other applicants.

    The most common certifications for maintenance welders include Certified Welder and Certified Welding Engineer.

    More About Certifications
  5. Research maintenance welder duties and responsibilities

    • Manage and run production parts through the brake.
    • Experience in welding pressure tanks, stainless pipes and aluminum tanks using GMAW, FCAW, GTAW.
    • Perform rework utilizing SMAW and FCAW welding skills.
    • Perform TIG welding of stainless pipe and equipment repairs.
  6. Prepare your maintenance welder resume

    When your background is strong enough, you can start writing your maintenance welder resume.

    You can use Zippia's AI resume builder to make the resume writing process easier while also making sure that you include key information that hiring managers expect to see on a maintenance welder resume. You'll find resume tips and examples of skills, responsibilities, and summaries, all provided by Zippi, your career sidekick.

    Choose from 10+ customizable maintenance welder resume templates

    Build a professional maintenance welder resume in minutes. Browse through our resume examples to identify the best way to word your resume. Then choose from 10+ resume templates to create your maintenance welder resume.
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    Maintenance Welder Resume
    Maintenance Welder Resume
  7. Apply for maintenance welder jobs

    Now it's time to start searching for a maintenance welder job. Consider the tips below for a successful job search:

    1. Browse job boards for relevant postings
    2. Consult your professional network
    3. Reach out to companies you're interested in working for directly
    4. Watch out for job scams

How did you land your first maintenance welder job

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Average maintenance welder salary

The average maintenance welder salary in the United States is $40,659 per year or $20 per hour. Maintenance welder salaries range between $30,000 and $54,000 per year.

Average maintenance welder salary
$40,659 Yearly
$19.55 hourly

What am I worth?

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How do maintenance welders rate their job?

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Maintenance welder reviews

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A zippia user wrote a review on Sep 2020
Pros

Good job for a person like me. Just put my hood down and weld without much instruction. I am quiet and welding fits good with my personality.

Cons

I don't like getting burned, but as long as I wear proper protection, it is very preventable.


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A zippia user wrote a review on Apr 2020
Cons

I have more to offer than n various task. My resume spells out my duties.


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A zippia user wrote a review on Jan 2020
Pros

It's challenging it keeps focused

Cons

Not to be appreciated, when we work hard, l love my work ND l wana learn more


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Updated January 8, 2025

Zippia Research Team
Zippia Team

Editorial Staff

The Zippia Research Team has spent countless hours reviewing resumes, job postings, and government data to determine what goes into getting a job in each phase of life. Professional writers and data scientists comprise the Zippia Research Team.

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