How to hire a tig welder

How to hire a tig welder, step by step

Here's a step-by-step tig 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 tig welder job description
• Step 5: Post your job
• Step 6: Interview candidates
• Step 7: Send a job offer and onboard your new tig welder
• Step 8: Go through the hiring process checklist

What does a tig welder do?

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1. Identify your hiring needs

   Before you start hiring a tig welder, identify what type of worker you actually need. Certain positions might call for a full-time employee, while others can be done by a part-time worker or contractor.

   Determine employee vs contractor status

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

   Yes

   No

   You should also consider the ideal background you'd like them a tig welder to have before you start to hire. For example, what industry or field would you like them to have experience in, what level of seniority or education does the job require, and how much it'll cost to hire a tig welder that fits the bill.

   This list shows salaries for various types of tig welders.

   Type of TIG Welder	Description	Hourly rate
   TIG 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.	$13-23
   Ship Fitter	Ship fitters are civilian or enlisted people who work on materials like high yield strength steel and high-tensile steel. These people fabricate, assemble, and build structural parts of ships... Show more	$14-30
   Millwright/Welder	A Millwright/Welder installs, dismantles, repairs, and moves machinery in factories, power plants, and construction sites. They cut and join metals and other materials.	$13-22

   Show more

2. Create an ideal candidate profile

   Common skills:

   • Tig Welding
   • Carbon Steel
   • GTAW
   • Arc Welding
   • Hand Tools
   • Calipers
   • Grinders
   • Cranes
   • GMAW
   • Aerospace
   • Tape Measure
   • Safety Equipment
   • Titanium
   • Mild Steel

   Check all skills

   Responsibilities:

   • Manage and run production parts through the brake.
   • Weld 7ga-22ga together through GMAW (TIG) and (MIG) process.
   • Assist with minor repairs on steel and carbon steel with proper tig and flux core operation.
   • Work as TIG and MIG welder on carbon/stainless steel, arc-welder for product repair, and plasma cutter.
   • Weld items using TIG and MIG equipment and tools, bend cut and hammer pieces to fit the correct production piece.
   • Fit and make xray welds on sch.

   More tig welder duties

3. Make a budget

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

   • Location. For example, tig welders' average salary in arkansas is 36% less than in wyoming.
   • Seniority. Entry-level tig welders earn 41% less than senior-level tig welders.
   • Certifications. A tig 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 tig welder's salary.

   Average tig welder salary

   $38,192yearly

   $18.36 hourly rate

   ---

   Entry-level tig welder salary

   $29,000 yearly salary

   Updated December 13, 2025

   Average tig welder salary by state

   Rank	State	Avg. salary	Hourly rate
   1	Oregon	$44,145	$21
   2	California	$42,361	$20
   3	Colorado	$41,927	$20
   4	Minnesota	$40,932	$20
   5	Virginia	$39,732	$19
   6	Arizona	$39,624	$19
   7	Texas	$39,524	$19
   8	Wisconsin	$39,271	$19
   9	Connecticut	$39,266	$19
   10	Oklahoma	$38,451	$18
   11	Utah	$38,225	$18
   12	Pennsylvania	$37,250	$18
   13	Illinois	$37,051	$18
   14	Indiana	$36,330	$17
   15	Ohio	$35,662	$17
   16	New York	$35,252	$17
   17	Missouri	$34,694	$17
   18	Florida	$34,364	$17
   19	North Carolina	$33,977	$16
   20	Georgia	$33,532	$16

   Average tig welder salary by company

   Company

   Rank	Company	Average salary	Hourly rate	Job openings
   1	Alfa Laval	$52,123	$25.06	3
   2	Johnson Controls	$51,685	$24.85	19
   3	ESPO	$47,400	$22.79
   4	Steris	$45,515	$21.88	6
   5	Chromalloy Gas Turbine LLC	$44,944	$21.61	5
   6	Intralox	$44,664	$21.47
   7	PTM	$44,278	$21.29	3
   8	Columbus McKinnon	$43,794	$21.05
   9	Lippert Components	$43,697	$21.01	14
   10	Eastern Metal Supply	$43,657	$20.99
   11	Schrader	$43,321	$20.83
   12	Murray	$43,287	$20.81	1
   13	Phillips & Temro Industries	$42,938	$20.64
   14	Eaton	$42,715	$20.54	23
   15	L&l Products	$42,693	$20.53	1
   16	PEAK Technical Staffing USA	$42,657	$20.51
   17	Leggett & Platt	$42,062	$20.22
   18	SpaceX	$41,834	$20.11	32
   19	Barnes Group	$41,070	$19.75
   20	NCW	$40,792	$19.61	1

4. Writing a tig welder job description

   A tig welder job description should include a summary of the role, required skills, and a list of responsibilities. It's also good to include a salary range and the first name of the hiring manager. To help get you started, here's an example of a tig welder job description:

   Tig welder job description example

   ABL Space Systems was founded in 2017 by veterans of SpaceX and Morgan Stanley to develop low-cost launch vehicles for the small satellite industry. More importantly, we're building a launch system we are truly proud of - no gimmicks or over-design, just reliable, rapidly deployable launches. We're an ambitious team with big goals and, together, we're determined to prove that reaching space can be simple, efficient, and routine.
   When launch day arrives, we want you by our side
   
   As a flight hardware TIG welder, you will be responsible for building the primary structure (tanks) of our rocket, high and low pressure tubing, and various other flight critical parts. No two days will be quite the same, as ABL Is a relatively small and flexible company. Today you might be welding the most critical aluminum circumferential weld on the primary structure, while tomorrow you might be welding exotic refractory elements on a sub-millimeter scale. Communication and written word skills are key. As a startup, by definition our parts are In development, so communication with engineering and management, both verbally and written, is paramount to our success. As a flight hardware welder, you will support all other operations, as everything else attaches to the assemblies you will build. Without a good foundation, a house (rocket) will crumble. It Is our job to build that foundation, so all the other disciplines have a stable footing to build on.
   RESPONSIBILITIES:TIG weld a variety of materials: aluminum alloys, stainless steel alloys, nickel alloys, refractory alloys Interpret and read blueprints and work InstructionsProvide feedback to engineering Cut, form, bend, and grind various metallic assemblies Perform basic weld Inspections
   BASIC QUALIFICATIONS: 5+ years TIG welding Experience welding aluminum alloys, stainless steel alloys, and steel alloys Ability to read and Interpret blueprints Ability to read and Interpret various measurement devices; caliper, pi tape, tape measure, angle finder, etc.Experience using various power tools; vertical band saw, horizontal band saw, bench grinder, pedestal belt sander, etc Experience using various handheld power tools; die grinder, pencil grinder, drill, router, circular saw, dynafile, etc
   PREFERRED SKILLS AND EXPERIENCE: 3+ years TIG welding in the aerospace industry Basic machining ability (manual lathe, manual mill) Experience MIG welding Computer literacy skills; PowerPoint, Word, Excel, etc.
   PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS/WORK ENVIRONMENTS:Ability to sit or stand for extended periods of time Ability to life 50 pounds with reasonable accommodations Ability to use a computer to complete assignments Ability to communicate with individuals and groups in person, by phone and telepresence While performing the duties of this job, the employee will typically work in an office environment
   ITAR Requirement
   This position requires access to information protected under US export control laws, including the International Traffic in Arms Regulations and/or the Export Administration Regulations. As such, US person status (including US citizens, permanent residents, asylees, and refugees) is a required qualification for this position.
   
   Equal Opportunity Employer
   We are an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex (including pregnancy), sexual orientation, gender identity and/or expression, national origin, protected veteran status, disability, genetics, or citizenship status (when otherwise legally authorized to work and access export-controlled data) and will not be discriminated against on the basis of such characteristics or any other status protected by the laws or regulations in the locations where we operate. We encourage applicants of all ages.

   Copy this example

   

5. Post your job

   There are a few common ways to find tig welders for your business:

   • Promoting internally or recruiting from your existing workforce.
   • Ask for referrals from friends, family members, and current employees.
   • Attend job fairs at local colleges to meet candidates with the right educational background.
   • Use social media platforms like LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter to recruit passive job-seekers.

   Post your job online:

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

6. Interview candidates

   During your first interview to recruit tig welders, engage with candidates to learn about their interest in the role and experience in the field. During the following interview, you'll be able to go into more detail about the company, the position, and the responsibilities.

   Remember to include a few questions that allow candidates to expand on their strengths in their own words. Asking about their unique skills might reveal things you'd miss otherwise. At this point, good candidates can move on to 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 tig welder

   Once you've selected the best tig 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.

   It's equally important to follow up with applicants who don't get the job with an email letting them know that the position has been filled.

   To prepare for the new tig 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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