How to hire a mig welder

How to hire a mig welder, step by step

Here's a step-by-step mig welder hiring guide:

• Step 1: Identify your hiring needs
• Step 2: Create an ideal candidate profile
• Step 3: Make a budget
• Step 4: Write a mig welder job description
• Step 5: Post your job
• Step 6: Interview candidates
• Step 7: Send a job offer and onboard your new mig welder
• Step 8: Go through the hiring process checklist

What does a mig welder do?

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1. Identify your hiring needs

   First, determine the employments status of the mig welder you need to hire. Certain mig welder roles might require a full-time employee, whereas others can be done by part-time workers or contractors.

   Determine employee vs contractor status

   Is the person you're thinking of hiring a US citizen or green card holder?

   Yes

   No

   A mig welder's background is also an important factor in determining whether they'll be a good fit for the position. For example, mig welders from different industries or fields will have radically different experiences and will bring different viewpoints to the role. You also need to consider the candidate's previous level of experience to make sure they'll be comfortable with the job's level of seniority.

   This list presents mig welder salaries for various positions.

   Type of MIG Welder	Description	Hourly rate
   MIG Welder	Welders, cutters, solderers, and brazers use hand-held or remotely controlled equipment to join or cut metal parts. They also fill holes, indentations, or seams of metal products.	$13-21
   Fabricator	A fabricator specializes in manufacturing and assembling equipment or devices, ensuring every product's quality and efficiency. There are instances when a fabricator is required to make multiple gears, conduct verification processes on product schematics and specifications, perform quality control inspections, and test the product in different environments... Show more	$12-21
   Metal Fabricator	A metal fabricator manipulates metal for construction and manufacturing companies. They are required to cut, shape, position and align different metals... Show more	$13-23

   Show more

2. Create an ideal candidate profile

   Common skills:

   • Tape Measure
   • Arc Welding
   • Jigs
   • GMAW
   • Torches
   • Aluminum
   • Good Communication
   • Hand Tools
   • Tig Welding
   • Stainless Steel
   • Safety Equipment
   • Carbon Steel
   • Steel-Toed Boots
   • Mild Steel

   Check all skills

   Responsibilities:

   • Manage and run production parts through the brake.
   • Read and interpret blue prints weld steel and aluminum using GMAW process
   • Develop extensive experience in a wide variety of welding styles and positions including MIG, and TIG.
   • Use necessary equipment such as torches, grinders, chop saws, and plasma cutters for assembly and repairs.
   • Assemble flatbed trailers; perform MIG, aluminum, and steel welding; participate in various production duties as assigned
   • Calibrate welding machines to GMAW (calibration).

   More mig welder duties

3. Make a budget

   Including a salary range in your mig welder job description is a great way to entice the best and brightest candidates. A mig welder salary can vary based on several factors:

   • Location. For example, mig welders' average salary in georgia is 44% less than in alaska.
   • Seniority. Entry-level mig welders earn 36% less than senior-level mig welders.
   • Certifications. A mig welder with a few certifications under their belt will likely demand a higher salary.
   • Company. Working for a prestigious company or an exciting start-up can make a huge difference in a mig welder's salary.

   Average mig welder salary

   $35,476yearly

   $17.06 hourly rate

   ---

   Entry-level mig welder salary

   $28,000 yearly salary

   Updated January 23, 2026

   Average mig welder salary by state

   Rank	State	Avg. salary	Hourly rate
   1	Utah	$42,746	$21
   2	California	$40,547	$19
   3	Minnesota	$40,220	$19
   4	Colorado	$39,848	$19
   5	Iowa	$36,501	$18
   6	Pennsylvania	$35,616	$17
   7	Texas	$35,261	$17
   8	Illinois	$35,203	$17
   9	Kansas	$34,946	$17
   10	Nebraska	$34,706	$17
   11	Indiana	$34,584	$17
   12	Virginia	$33,718	$16
   13	Ohio	$33,553	$16
   14	Oklahoma	$33,481	$16
   15	North Carolina	$33,234	$16
   16	Tennessee	$32,809	$16
   17	Florida	$32,553	$16
   18	Michigan	$32,517	$16
   19	Alabama	$31,999	$15
   20	Georgia	$30,295	$15

   Average mig welder salary by company

   Company

   Rank	Company	Average salary	Hourly rate	Job openings
   1	Invacare	$47,816	$22.99
   2	Knapheide	$46,756	$22.48	1
   3	Systems	$44,804	$21.54
   4	GPAC	$44,332	$21.31
   5	Omaha Standard Palfinger	$42,924	$20.64
   6	AGB	$42,755	$20.56
   7	Safe Fleet	$42,240	$20.31	1
   8	NOVAworks	$41,363	$19.89	8
   9	Peerless Industrial Group	$41,363	$19.89
   10	Florys	$41,236	$19.82	2
   11	Cypress	$41,079	$19.75
   12	Manchester Tank and Equipment	$40,762	$19.60	3
   13	UFP Industries	$40,510	$19.48	3
   14	Twin Cities Stores	$40,384	$19.42	1
   15	O'Neal Manufacturing Services	$40,057	$19.26	1
   16	SpaceX	$39,992	$19.23	31
   17	IMMI	$39,819	$19.14	2
   18	Basin	$39,793	$19.13
   19	Kewaunee Scientific	$39,639	$19.06
   20	VisionCorp Rep	$39,475	$18.98	5

4. Writing a mig welder job description

   A job description for a mig welder role includes a summary of the job's main responsibilities, required skills, and preferred background experience. Including a salary range can also go a long way in attracting more candidates to apply, and showing the first name of the hiring manager can also make applicants more comfortable. As an example, here's a mig welder job description:

   Mig welder job description example

   1st shift schedule is 6:00 a.m. - 2:30 p.m. Monday - Friday, overtime is required
   
   We are hiring! Come join us. FWE is growing and we are looking for positive, proactive and efficient individuals to join our dedicated team. No experience necessary. We love to train eager individuals looking to grow with a growing business.
   
   Why FWE?
   
   • We started over 65 years ago and are now an established national company
   • We offer competitive pay, substantial raises within your first 90 days of service, and quarterly bonuses
   • One week of vacation during your first year of service
   • A full-time direct hire position, no need to go through a placement service
   • State of the art, air-conditioned, manufacturing facility. Very clean work environment
   • Medical Insurance, Dental Insurance, Vision Insurance, 401(k), Life Insurance
   • Room for advancement and cross training
   
   Our MIG Welder will be trained to:
   • Perform all job responsibilities according to FWE’s safety, quality, and productivity standards
   • Weld frames together using prints/drawings and square and tape measure to ensure accuracy
   • Weld parts together according to prints/drawings
   • Spot weld parts or product that has been damaged and/or has holes to be repaired
   • Use computer system to generate job stickers to accompany completed work
   • Inspect the condition of metal on all product before welding to make sure there are no scratches, dents, or major imperfections
   • Operate and maintain welder on daily basis
   • Change gas bottles for Argon & Trimix
   • Other duties as assigned
   
   Qualifications, Knowledge and Skills:
   
   Ability to use tape measure, spot welder, hand saw, drill press, torch, plasma cutter, vise grips, hammer, grinder, air drills, measuring tools
   • Basic reading, writing, arithmetic, basic computer skills, and English skills required.
   • Ability to demonstrate good judgment, professionalism and teamwork skills.
   
   EDUCATION and/or EXPERIENCE
   • Minimum of a High School education or General Education Degree (GED)
   • 3-5 years welding experience and/or training classes and/or a combination of both experience and training are required.
   
   Physical Demands of this job are:
   • The employee is regularly required to stand, use hand to finger to handle or touch, talk or hear.
   • The employee is frequently required to walk.
   • The employee occasionally is required to sit, climb or balance.
   • The employee must regularly lift and/or move up to 20 pounds. The employee occasionally is required to lift/move 35 pounds or more. Vision requirements for this job include close vision.

   Copy this example

   

5. Post your job

   To find mig welders for your business, try out a few different recruiting strategies:

   • Consider internal talent. One of the most important talent pools for any company is its current employees.
   • Ask for referrals. Reach out to friends, family members, and your current work to ask if they know any mig welders they would recommend.
   • Recruit at local colleges. Attend job fairs at local colleges to recruit entry-level mig welders with the right educational background.
   • Social media platforms. LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter have more than 3.5 billion users, and they're a great place for company branding and reaching potential job candidates.

   Post your job online:

   • Post your mig welder job on Zippia to find and recruit mig welder candidates who meet your exact specifications.
   • Use field-specific websites.
   • Post a job on free websites.

6. Interview candidates

   Your first interview with mig welder candidates should focus on their interest in the role and background experience. As the hiring process goes on, you can learn more about how they'd fit into the company culture in later rounds of interviews.

   You should also ask about candidates' unique skills and talents to see if they match the ideal candidate profile you developed earlier. Candidates good enough for the next step can complete the technical interview.

   The right interview questions can help you assess a candidate's hard skills, behavioral intelligence, and soft skills.

7. Send a job offer and onboard your new mig welder

   Once you've selected the best mig welder candidate for the job, it's time to write an offer letter. In addition to salary, this letter should include details about the benefits and perks you offer the candidate. Ensuring that your offer is competitive is essential, as qualified candidates may be considering other job opportunities. The candidate may wish to negotiate the terms of the offer, and you should be open to discussion. After you reach an agreement, the final step is formalizing the agreement with a contract.

   You should also follow up with applicants who don't get the job with an email letting them know that you've filled the position.

   To prepare for the new mig welder first day, you should share an onboarding schedule with them that covers their first period on the job. You should also quickly complete any necessary paperwork, such as employee action forms and onboarding documents like I-9, benefits enrollment, and federal and state tax forms. Finally, Human Resources must ensure a new employee file is created for internal record keeping.

8. Go through the hiring process checklist

   • Determine employee type (full-time, part-time, contractor, etc.)
   • Submit a job requisition form to the HR department
   • Define job responsibilities and requirements
   • Establish budget and timeline
   • Determine hiring decision makers for the role
   • Write job description
   • Post job on job boards, company website, etc.
   • Promote the job internally
   • Process applications through applicant tracking system
   • Review resumes and cover letters
   • Shortlist candidates for screening
   • Hold phone/virtual interview screening with first round of candidates
   • Conduct in-person interviews with top candidates from first round
   • Score candidates based on weighted criteria (e.g., experience, education, background, cultural fit, skill set, etc.)
   • Conduct background checks on top candidates
   • Check references of top candidates
   • Consult with HR and hiring decision makers on job offer specifics
   • Extend offer to top candidate(s)
   • Receive formal job offer acceptance and signed employment contract
   • Inform other candidates that the position has been filled
   • Set and communicate onboarding schedule to new hire(s)
   • Complete new hire paperwork (i9, benefits enrollment, tax forms, etc.)

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