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Welding is a skill used in many industries. From automotive fabrication to construction, having the skills to heat and fuse materials together can put you in all kinds of settings.
One particular area of work that welders can explore is pipeline welding. Pipelines are a crucial part of the infrastructure of a city, transporting water, natural gas and more. Pipeline welders are responsible for installing and repairing this crucial network.
If you have a desire to work with your hands and a love for working in the field — outdoors in most cases — then you may want to consider pursuing a path to become a pipeline welder.
Keep reading to find out more about the job and how a background in welding can help you become a pipeline welder.
So what exactly is a pipeline welder? As mentioned above, they help install and repair different pipes in a town or city. Pipeline welders can deal with pipes carrying a range of substances, from water to chemicals and gases.
A pipeline welder needs to be able to decide what materials to use and then transport them to a job site. They’ll assemble pipes to form a network by using different welding methods.
Other job duties of a pipeline welder might include cutting or reshaping pipe sections and components, or constructing supports for pipes. They might need to perform “hot-tapping” or weld “live” pipelines, and they will need to maintain their welding equipment.
There are many sectors where pipeline welders could work, including:
Depending on the location of the job, a pipeline welder might have to work under extreme weather conditions. It’s a physical job requiring a lot of skill and experience.
The usual place to start a career in the welding industry is in an entry-level position. Once you gain more on-the-job-experience, it’s possible to pursue a more specified role in pipeline welding.
The welding industry continues to grow, and employers are looking to hire those with the right qualifications. Total welder employment is expected to exceed 452,000 by 2030.50 This signals plenty of opportunity for those wanting to work their way into a pipeline welding position.
Two of the most important things to possess when pursuing any job in the skilled trades is education and hands-on training. Having a foundation of knowledge before getting into the welding industry will help you on your path to becoming a pipeline welder.
There are several paths you can take to gain the experience you need, including attending a trade school like Universal Technical Institute (UTI).
Students can graduate in just 36 weeks from the Welding Technology Training program at UTI. Students are taught the four major types of arc welding used in the industry, which include:
UTI also offers a dedicated Pipe Welding course, so students can gain firsthand experience with this type of welding. Students can learn the different methods of welding pipes and tube using different kinds of metal transfer.
Students learn different positions used for pipe welding, along with the equipment needed for beveling and cutting joints during the pipe welding process.
After graduating from the Welding program at UTI, you can have the knowledge you need for an entry-level career in the welding industry.1 With time, experience and hard work, it can be possible to work your way up to a position as a pipeline welder.
Does a career in welding sound like it would be a good fit? Get foundational knowledge and experience you can build upon when you enroll in UTI’s Welding program, which is offered at campuses nationwide:
Take the first step today toward a future you’re excited about. Request more information here or by calling 1-800-834-7308.
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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.
50) The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics projects that total national employment for Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and Brazers will be 434,900 by 2031. See Table 1.2 Employment by detailed occupation, 2021 and projected 2031, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, www.bls.gov, viewed October 13, 2022. UTI is an educational institution and cannot guarantee employment or salary.
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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