It’s easy to feel like financial security can only be found working in a dull office day-in and day-out. And it’s easy to feel like you can only get one of those jobs after taking on a mountain of debt to earn a degree. But if you’re cycling between low-paying jobs and weary of pursuing a college degree without the guarantee of a higher paying job, consider a career in welding.
A welding career offers great pay, diverse career pathways, and opportunities for growth all beyond the confines of cubicle. Those perks have you wondering how to become a welder? Start with Orange Technical College’s Welding Program. We bring your dreams of a rewarding career with financial stability within reach. The best part? You don’t need to break the bank or spend half a decade to get there.
Build Necessary Welding Skills Today
When you enroll in the Orange Tech Welding Program you begin cultivating the skills you need to succeed from day one. At the conclusion of the program, you’re ready to take the American Welding Society’s Certified Welder exam and can begin your career in welding. But all the learning that happens in between is what really counts.
Successful welders rely on various welding job skills on a daily basis. These include hand-eye coordination, mathematical skills, project planning, quality control, thermal cutting, arc welding, and other mechanical skills. Learning mathematical skills and the fundamental principles behind welding are formed through classroom instruction, but what sets the Orange Tech Welding Program apart are the hands-on learning opportunities.
Students in the program develop their skills through first-hand use of blueprints, shop drawings, and welding equipment. The theoretical becomes highly practical as your lab opportunities expose you to different welding techniques like oxyacetylene cutting (OFC), Shielded Metal Arc Welding (SMAW), Gas Metal Arc Welding (GMAW), Flux Cored Arc Welding (FCAW), and Gas Tungsten Arc Welding (GTAW).
The program will also equip you with skills beyond the welding techniques you’ll need to succeed. You’ll experience the demands of the workplace, learn and appreciate the personal protective equipment you need to stay safe, and discover how to work as a team of welders to complete a project. It’s this additional level of skill acquisition that sets the Orange Tech Welding Program apart from previous learning experiences.
Explore Diverse Welding Career Paths
Welding is a foundational skill to numerous career paths that open up to students who complete the Orange Tech Welding Program. With your established skills in hand, you can pursue careers on land, air, and sea.
- Ironworker: If you’re comfortable working at heights, you can find a rewarding career as an ironworker. These welders build and disassemble the iron foundations of modern construction. Others even create the decorative elements of major construction projects providing an outlet for artistic expression.
- Underwater Welder: If adventure is an essential element of your career plans, consider becoming an underwater welder. These welders use arc welding and diving knowledge to assist in shipbuilding, underwater pipelines, and open ocean wind turbines.
- Boilermaker: Boilermakers aren’t limited to just boilers. They make, install, and repair tanks, vats, and pressure vessels in addition to boilers. Some boilermakers even work on building rocket boosters
- Robotic Welding Technicians: Another cutting-edge career in welding can be had as a robotic welding technician. These welders operate and maintain robotic welding equipment. These roles are in-demand across large industrial manufacturers that rely on robotic welding daily.
- Shipfitter: Another career path for those looking to weld near the water are shipfitters. These welders work on constructing and repairing vessels of all sizes and for various employers. Some can be employed by private cargo carriers, smaller private companies, and even the military.
Welding Career Opportunities
Beyond the dynamic and exciting occupations are rewarding welding career opportunities. When you pursue a career in welding through the Orange Tech Welding Program you’re stepping into a career with a median wage in Orlando of above $45,000/yr and earning potential above $70,000. There’s also room for growth and stability because the need for welders is expected to grow between now and 2033.
Beyond great wages and ample job opportunities, are the intangible opportunities afforded by a career in welding. Welders can travel as independent contractors, picking and choosing where and when to work as projects come. This also gives welders a chance to form business skills that can translate into owning their own welding companies.
There’s also the opportunity to pursue a career as a welding instructor and help develop the next generation of welders by sharing your knowledge and experience. This can be a rewarding experience for anyone looking to give back to their community. Similarly, welding can be used as an artistic skill and enable you to channel self-expression into a project or to create art pieces of your own.
Apply to the Orange Tech Welding Program Today
Getting out from behind a desk and into the exciting world of welding is possible through Orange Tech’s Welding Program. With our combination of classroom instruction, and hand-on experience, all led by experienced welders, you can build the career you’ve always wanted. Our affordable program equips you with the knowledge and skills you’ll need to enter this diverse industry and find rewarding work that offers something different every day.