How to hire a welder first class

How to hire a welder first class, step by step

Here's a step-by-step welder first class hiring guide:

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

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1. Identify your hiring needs

   Before you start hiring a welder first class, 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

   A welder first class's background is also an important factor in determining whether they'll be a good fit for the position. For example, welders first class 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 shows salaries for various types of welders first class.

   Type of Welder First Class	Description	Hourly rate
   Welder First Class	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.	$15-28
   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
   Maintenance Welder	A Maintenance Welder diagnoses and repairs a variety of metal work including construction vehicles and equipment. They cut, fit, and weld metal using gas and electric welding equipment.	$14-25

   Show more

2. Create an ideal candidate profile

   Common skills:

   • Flux Core
   • Arc Welding
   • SMAW
   • FCAW
   • GMAW
   • Stainless Steel
   • Tig Welding
   • Jigs
   • Air Arc
   • Safety Equipment
   • TIG
   • Carbon Steel
   • Safety Guidelines
   • Flame Cutting

   Check all skills

   Responsibilities:

   • Manage and run production parts through the brake.
   • Programme and operate automatic GTAW, and GMAW machines.
   • Fuse metals together using GMAW and FCAW processes within code guidelines.
   • Apply repairs to various types of vessels, utilizing FCAW, and SMAW processes.
   • Operate brazing and soldering equipment.
   • Train in tig and stick pipe welding.

3. Make a budget

   Including a salary range in your welder first class job description is one of the best ways to attract top talent. A welder first class can vary based on:

   • Location. For example, welders first class' average salary in michigan is 36% less than in wyoming.
   • Seniority. Entry-level welders first class 45% less than senior-level welders first class.
   • Certifications. A welder first class with certifications usually earns a higher salary.
   • Company. Working for an established firm or a new start-up company can make a big difference in a welder first class's salary.

   Average welder first class salary

   $45,016yearly

   $21.64 hourly rate

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   Entry-level welder first class salary

   $33,000 yearly salary

   Updated December 15, 2025

4. Writing a welder first class job description

   A job description for a welder first class 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 welder first class job description:

   Welder first class job description example

   Commonwealth Fusion Systems (CFS) has the fastest, lowest cost path to commercial fusion energy.
   
   CFS is collaborating with MIT to leverage decades of research combined with new groundbreaking high-temperature superconducting (HTS) magnet technology. HTS magnets will enable compact fusion power plants that can be constructed faster and at lower cost. The mission is to deploy fusion power plants to meet global decarbonization goals as fast as possible. CFS has assembled a team of leaders in tough tech, fusion science, and manufacturing with a track record of rapid execution. Supported by the world's leading investors, CFS is uniquely positioned to deliver limitless, clean, fusion power to combat climate change. To execute this plan, we are looking to add talented people to the team who are mission-driven and treat people well, improve our team by adding diverse perspectives and new ways of solving problems, have demonstrated exceptional results through a range of different pursuits, and have skill sets and experience that relate to this role.
   
   This individual is responsible for performing all in-house welding work for cutting edge high-field superconducting magnets and tokamak assemblies. This individual also partners with the welding engineer and R&D engineers to develop the weld geometry and techniques, weld specs, and inspection methods needed for welded assemblies for the SPARC tokamak.
   
   This individual will cover our First Shift which will be 7 am to 4 pm EST.
   This team member will:Weld and inspect large metallic structures and tooling within specified timelines and budgets Set up welding processes as per specifications, incl. determining the correct equipment to use and methods based on the requirements Read and analyze drawings and take detailed measurements to plan the project layout Cut and join material Perform hand welding or semi-automated welding. Utilize advanced forms of welding when needed. Weld components in vertical, flat, and overhead positions Provide manufacturability feedback to design engineers for weld geometries and material selection Perform welding equipment qualification trials Troubleshoot and resolve manufacturing discrepancies with a focus on continuous improvement Follow safety procedures at all times
   The ideal candidate will have most, if not all, of these requirements: Documented Training or Certification in most of the following: Blueprint Reading and Fabrication, Oxyacetylene Welding, Cutting, Brazing, Basic Shielded Metal Arc Welding, (SMAW), Gas Metal Arc Welding (GMAW), Gas Tungsten Arc Welding (GTAW), Advanced Shielded Metal Arc Welding (SMAW)5+ years' experience as a welder on large structural systems and tooling Experience with large metallic structures and manufacturing processes related to welding Experience in producing welds to pass industry standard requirements
   Additional experience and/or qualifications:Experience in advanced welding techniques such as TIP-TIGExperience in pressure vessel welding Experience in structural welding Constant Current (CC) Welding MachinesMIG, Stick, TIG, Gas, Plasma Arc and/or Electron Beam and Laser WeldingThe ability to read and interpret technical drawings and documentation Excellent attention to detail Knowledge of various forms of welding equipment and procedures The capacity to work unsupervisedA detailed understanding of mathematical and numerical data and calculations Project and time management Ability to lift up to 50 lbs regularly Perform activities such as stooping, typing, standing, and sitting for extended periods of time Dedication to safety to mitigate hazards that may include heat, cold, fumes, and noise Willingness to travel occasionally or do required nights/weekends/on-call
   CFS team members thrive in a fast-paced, dynamic environment and have demonstrated exceptional results through a range of different pursuits. We all tightly align with our company values of integrity, execution, impact and self-critique. As we grow, we are looking to add talented people who are mission driven and bring diverse perspectives and new ways of solving problems.
   
   At CFS, we deeply value diversity and are an equal opportunity employer by choice. We consider all qualified applicants equally for employment. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, ancestry, citizenship status, protected veteran status, religion, physical or mental disability, marital status, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, age, or any other basis protected by law, ordinance, or regulation.

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5. Post your job

   There are a few common ways to find welders first class 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 welder first class job on Zippia to find and recruit welder first class candidates who meet your exact specifications.
   • Use field-specific websites.
   • Post a job on free websites.

6. Interview candidates

   Recruiting welders first class requires you to bring your A-game to the interview process. The first interview should introduce the company and the role to the candidate as much as they present their background experience and reasons for applying for the job. During later interviews, you can go into more detail about the technical details of the job and ask behavioral questions to gauge how they'd fit into your current company culture.

   It's also good to ask about candidates' unique skills and talents. You can move on to the technical interview if a candidate is good enough for the next step.

   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 welder first class

   Once you've selected the best welder first class 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 also good etiquette to follow up with applicants who don't get the job by sending them an email letting them know that the position has been filled.

   To prepare for the new employee's start date, you can create an onboarding schedule and complete any necessary paperwork, such as employee action forms and onboarding documents like I-9 forms, benefits enrollment, and federal and state tax forms. Human Resources should also ensure that a new employee file is created.

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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