Welders make use of heat to join metals and fabricate new materials. This is an oversimplification as the typical duties of a welder usually include so much more, including an in-depth understanding of engineering instructions, calibrating machinery, and managing resources.
For their efforts, welders in Illinois are rewarded with an impressive salary, constant demand, and enormous opportunities for growth.
The pathway to starting a career in the field is also relatively straightforward for aspiring welders in the state. First, you will have to understand the different types of welding and then enroll in a training institution. Lastly, you will also have to fulfill the licensure requirements to start getting contracts or seeking employment from notable companies in the area.
How to Become a Welder in Illinois
There are three general steps involved in becoming a welder in Illinois. These include the preparatory steps, the technical training steps, and the associated skill requirements.
We take a look at all of these below.
Preparatory Steps
The first thing you must do on your journey to become a welder in Illinois is to ensure you meet the basic requirements. This includes being at least 18 and having your high school diploma or GED ready.
Another important preparatory step is to ensure you know the areas of specialization involved in welding.
Ultimately, you will have to choose one or more of these areas yourself, and knowing what they are from the start will help in the future.
Among the most common types of welding include MIG welding, TIG welding, and oxy-acetylene welding, among others.
Technical training
Technical training to learn actual welding skills can be obtained from trade schools and community colleges with welding programs, and it can also be obtained through apprenticeship programs.
Those looking for a structured classroom environment will prefer attending technical college programs, while those looking for hands-on training usually gravitate towards apprenticeship programs.
Of course, it is possible to combine both by first graduating from a formal training program and then spending a few months in an apprenticeship program to obtain more hands-on training.
Associated Skills
Lastly, an aspiring welder will need additional skills not strictly about welding alone. These include critical thinking, problem-solving, attention to detail, time management, interpersonal skills, commitment to growth, safety awareness, and physical stamina.
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Top Welder Schools in Illinois
Below are some of the most prominent welding schools in Illinois:
1. Richard J Daley College
Accredited by the Higher Learning Commission, Richard J Daley College has a reputation for being one of the best destinations to acquire technical training in Illinois. Its welding training program operates at the same standards with rigorous classroom training and hands-on sessions.
2. Triton College
Triton College is another institution in Illinois known for its high-quality welding program. The school teaches the fundamentals of welding, including primary and advanced welding, blueprint reading, and TIG welding.
With more than 10,000 enrollments every year, the school has a reputation for high-level expertise and excellent instructors.
Notable Mentions
Other notable institutions in Illinois offering high-quality welding technology programs include Kennedy-King College in Chicago, BIR Training Center also in Chicago, ETI School of Skilled Trades in Willowbrook, Prairie State College in Chicago Heights, William Rainey Harper College in Palatine, and Elgin Community College in Elgin.
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Licensure and Certification Requirements
The state of Illinois does not have mandatory licensing requirements for its welders. With a high school diploma or GED and graduation from a training program, they can seek other employment and work in any establishment of their choice.
It is worth mentioning, however, that most welders in Illinois still choose to get certified by the American Welding Society not because it is mandated by law but because it gives them an edge and allows them to showcase proof of their expertise to prospective employers.
Additionally, getting certified by AWS can pave the way for better career opportunities, making it easier to practice in other states where AWS certification is mandatory.
Salary and Job Outlook
Welders in Illinois earn an annual average salary of $44,888. This is the same as the national average. Those with more experience and work in better establishments tend to make as high as 63,235 per year, while those just starting may earn closer to an annual average salary of $31,865.
Sorting by experience only, welders in Illinois with less than one year of experience earn an annual average salary of $47,595. In contrast, those over ten years on the job earn an average yearly salary of $51,290.
Aurora, Decatur, and Chicago are the highest-paying cities for welders in Illinois, with annual average salaries of $51786, $50,591, and $47,505, respectively.
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