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What is a weld inspector and how to become one
Avg. Salary $50,441
Avg. Salary $59,228
Growth rate -3%
Growth rate 0.3%
American Indian and Alaska Native 0.86%
Asian 8.07%
Black or African American 11.80%
Hispanic or Latino 16.55%
Unknown 4.94%
White 57.78%
Genderfemale 9.67%
male 90.33%
Age - 46American Indian and Alaska Native 3.00%
Asian 7.00%
Black or African American 14.00%
Hispanic or Latino 19.00%
White 57.00%
Genderfemale 47.00%
male 53.00%
Age - 46Stress level is high
7.1 - high
Complexity level is intermediate
7 - challenging
Work life balance is fair
6.4 - fair
Weld inspector career paths
Key steps to become a weld inspector
Explore weld inspector education requirements
Start to develop specific weld inspector skills
Skills Percentages Pipeline Project 8.66% NDT 7.99% NDE 7.11% Inspect Welds 6.89% PT 5.79% Complete relevant weld inspector training and internships
Accountants spend an average of 1-3 months on post-employment, on-the-job training. New weld inspectors 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 weld inspector based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data and data from real weld inspector resumes.Gain additional weld inspector certifications
More About CertificationsWeld inspector 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 weld inspector certification, having one may help you stand out relative to other applicants.
The most common certifications for weld inspectors include Certified Welding Inspector (CWI) and OSHA Safety Certificate .
Research weld inspector duties and responsibilities
- Inspect all coating application to ensure proper application and WFT is achieved per clients and manufacturers specifications and standards.
- Instruct current and new welders in drawing and WPS reading.
- Monitor compliance with WPS, specifications, codes, and standards.
- Review shop drawings while performing tasks according to specifications of SMAW type welding
Prepare your weld inspector resume
When your background is strong enough, you can start writing your weld inspector 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 weld inspector resume. You'll find resume tips and examples of skills, responsibilities, and summaries, all provided by Zippi, your career sidekick.
Choose from 10+ customizable weld inspector resume templates
Build a professional weld inspector 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 weld inspector resume.
Apply for weld inspector jobs
Now it's time to start searching for a weld inspector job. Consider the tips below for a successful job search:
- Browse job boards for relevant postings
- Consult your professional network
- Reach out to companies you're interested in working for directly
- Watch out for job scams
How did you land your first weld inspector job
Are you a weld inspector?
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Average weld inspector salary
The average weld inspector salary in the United States is $50,441 per year or $24 per hour. Weld inspector salaries range between $33,000 and $77,000 per year.
What am I worth?
How do weld inspectors rate their job?
Weld inspector reviews
People who object to getting things right the first time and try to slip slop past me.
In a lot of places, a QA Inspector tends to be a dead-end job at that particular company because it is difficult to find people willing to stay in that position long term (most leave within 2 years). However, it is a valuable stepping stone to gaining a promotion in a new company! Also, the job itself is thankless. Production dislikes QA, management never likes to receive bad news...it is a job where you never get thanked for preventing bigger errors, only punished if you end up missing anything. I takes a hardy person who likes working independently to perform well in this role.
Updated January 8, 2025
