Beginner's Guide to Shielded Metal Arc Welding (SMAW)
Get a rundown on shielded metal arc welding. Learn about SMAW welding techniques and its applications with UTI training!
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Welding technicians are creative and meticulous, transforming strong metal materials into structures and parts.
Welding technicians in Florida face stiff competition for professional welding positions due to the lack of state requirements for becoming a welder. To be prepared for the welding industry, aspiring welders should build a foundation of credentials, skills and training, such as principles of welding, pipe welding, engineering and fabrication, and welding applications.
Most entry-level welding jobs in Florida require a high school diploma or GED diploma, so obtaining one is a crucial step toward pursuing a career in welding. Completing a trade program like UTI's Welding Technology program can provide the necessary credentials and hands-on training to stand out to employers.1
UTI's welding program offers training in various welding techniques and has an industry-aligned curriculum developed in collaboration with Lincoln Electric.
Continue reading to learn more. We relay our learning-based strategy on how to become a welder in Florida!
How To Become a Welder in Florida in 3 Steps
Get a high school or GED diploma
Welding in Florida doesn’t require certification or licensing. However, even entry-level welding jobs often require specific credentials and some years of work experience. While these requirements could vary among job openings, most employers ask for a high school diploma or GED diploma.
Like Universal Technical Institute, most trade schools also require a high school or GED diploma to enroll. That’s because these documents establish that the graduate has completed a structured curriculum, an accomplishment that needs critical thinking, reasoning and discipline.
Without these documents, you could face a tough journey in pursuing a career. If you want to be a welder but don't have a high school or GED diploma, make getting one your top priority!
Read More: Welding History Goes Back Farther Than You Think
Attend a welding trade program
So, you have a high school or GED diploma. But are you really prepared for a welding job?
To help with your job search, complete a trade program like UTI’s Welding Technology program and earn a graduation document. This can help you get noticed by employers who are looking to hire candidates who have specific credentials and hands-on training.
Unlike learning on the job, getting the training you need beforehand can save you a lot of frustration. In the controlled environment of a welding classroom, you can make mistakes more freely and improve with the support of instructors who have industry experience. Before pursuing a welding job with higher-stakes responsibilities, technical schooling can help you iron out and learn from any rookie mistakes.
UTI’s welding program was developed in collaboration with Lincoln Electric, a leading brand in the industry, and is designed to take 36 weeks to complete. That’s a little less than nine months to learn industry skills and earn a diploma or certificate!
In our Welding Technology program, students learn various welding techniques. Our welding courses help students learn four different types of welding:
- Gas metal arc welding (GMAW)
- Shielded metal arc welding (SMAW)
- Gas tungsten arc welding (GTAW)
- Flux-cored arc welding (FCAW)
Read More: What is a Military Support Welder & How Can You Become One?
Start seeking welding opportunities
Becoming a welder in Florida may be easier with trade school credentials since they indicate training that helps technicians develop their skills. With a diploma or certificate from UTI's welding program, for example, graduates can demonstrate that they have the skills and knowledge needed to take on entry-level responsibilities.
Additionally, Lincoln Electric helped develop our welding curriculum according to industry standards. For that reason, students can trust that they’ll get industry-aligned training to prepare them for an entry-level welding role!
Our manufacturer and employer relationships also mean opportunities through our Early Employment Program! In this program, students can obtain part-time jobs while completing their training.36
It’s important to note that eligibility requirements and conditions for these positions are established by participating employers and are between the employer and the student. Eligible applicants for the Early Employment Program must also be enrolled at or currently attending UTI (program currently offered at select UTI campuses based on employer availability and hiring needs).
Welder Job Description
A welder's main role involves joining metal pieces together and fixing damage in metal components using specialized machinery to melt the metal into shape. Their daily tasks can include examining blueprints, shaping metal by cutting it into various forms and refining molten metal surfaces.
Our grads are prepared to pursue entry-level roles. As with any industry, over time, technicians may be able to advance in their careers with experience and hard work. Some welding career paths include:77
Entry Level
- Welder
- Fabrication welder
- Welder fitter
Advanced
- Inspector
- Quality control
- Certified welding inspector
- Welding project manager
Welder Salary in Florida
You may be wondering, “How much does a welder make in Florida?” According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), the median pay for welders, cutters, solderers and brazers in the United States was $48,940 annually as of May 2023.26 This means half of welders, cutters, solderers and brazers earned more and half earned less. Do note that salary is determined by several factors, including experience, employer, demand and cost of living in the area.
You can explore other career opportunities using our welding career guide.
Welder Job and Career Outlook
The BLS estimates that total welder employment in the U.S. will exceed 437,000 by 2032.50 And the BLS projects 42,000+ estimated average annual welding job openings in the U.S.42 Welding technicians are needed in various industries including:
- Oil
- Construction
- Energy
- Aerospace
- Manufacturing
- Transportation
- Motorsports
- Robotics
Read More: How to Create Your Welding Resume: Examples and Tips
Learn How To Become a Welder in Florida at UTI!
There are no laws preventing people from entering Florida’s welding industry without training, but if you want to learn how to become a welder in Florida with some hands-on education and training, our program can help get you prepared.
Our 36-week Welding Technology program teaches students essential welding skills that can help prepare them for a career in the industry. UTI’s manufacturer relationships also mean students train on equipment used in the field.
We have two Universal Technical Institute Florida campuses, and our Miramar location offers the welding program. When you're ready, apply to our welding school and take another step toward an exciting career!
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1 ) UTI is an educational institution and cannot guarantee employment or salary.
2 ) For program outcome information and other disclosures, visit www.uti.edu/disclosures.
18 ) UTI now offers all of its automotive, diesel, motorcycle and marine technician training in a blended-learning format consisting of online lecture courses along with in-person, hands-on lab training.
26 ) UTI’s Welding Technology Training Program prepares graduates for entry-level positions using the provided training, primarily as welders. Estimated annual salary shown above is for Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and Brazers as published in the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics’ May 2023 Occupational Employment and Wages. Entry-level salaries are lower for graduates. UTI is an educational institution and cannot guarantee employment or salary. Graduates’ achievements may vary. Individual circumstances and wages depend on economic factors, personal credentials, work experience, industry certifications, the location of the employer, and their compensation programs. Some UTI graduates get jobs within their field of study in positions other than as a welding technician, such as inspector and quality control. Salary information for the Commonwealth of Massachusetts: The average annual entry-level salary range for persons employed as Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and Brazers (51-4121) in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts is $40,060 (Massachusetts Labor and Workforce Development, May 2022 data https://lmi.dua.eol.mass.gov/lmi/OccupationalEmploymentAndWageAllIndustries/OEWResult?A=01&GA=000025&OG=514121&Dopt=TEXT). Salary information for North Carolina: The U.S. Department of Labor estimates the hourly median wage for skilled welders in North Carolina is $23.38 (Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, May 2023 Occupational Employment and Wages, Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and Brazers). The Bureau of Labor Statistics does not publish entry-level salary data. However, the 25th and 10th percentile of hourly earnings in North Carolina are $20.82 and $18.17, respectively.
36 ) Students enrolled in select UTI programs are eligible to apply for the Early Employment Program. Participating employers will contact selected applicants to conduct interviews. Hiring, employee retention and compensation decisions are made solely by the prospective employer. Employer participation and program details are subject to change. For additional information, please contact Career Services. UTI is an educational institution and cannot guarantee employment or salary.
42 ) For Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and Brazers, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics projects an annual average of 45,800 job openings between 2023 and 2033. Job openings include openings due to net employment changes and net replacements. See Table 1.10 Occupational separations and openings, projected 2023–33, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, www.bls.gov, viewed November 4, 2024. UTI is an educational institution and cannot guarantee employment or salary.
50 ) The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics projects that total national employment for Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and Brazers will be 463,800 by 2033. See Table 1.2 Occupational projections, 2023–33, and worker characteristics, 2023, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, www.bls.gov, viewed November 4, 2024. UTI is an educational institution and cannot guarantee employment or salary.
77 ) UTI is an educational institution and cannot guarantee employment or salary. UTI prepares graduates for entry-level careers using the provided training. UTI graduates’ achievements may vary. Some UTI graduates get jobs within their field of study in positions other than those listed.
Universal Technical Institute of Illinois, Inc. is approved by the Division of Private Business and Vocational Schools of the Illinois Board of Higher Education.
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