Training/ Skills You will Learn

  • Safety procedures

  • Use of hand and power tools

  • Use of manual equipment

  • Blueprint reading

  • Drafting and layout

  • OSHA-10 (Occupational Safety and Health Administration)

Overview

The Taconic High School Welding/Metal Fabrication Program effectively prepares students to enter the workforce as skilled welders, welder technicians, metal fabrication technicians and more. Skilled instructors teach a variety of welding processes, including oxy-fuel cutting and welding, shielded metal arc welding (SMAW), gas metal arc welding (GMAW) and gas tungsten arc welding (GTAW), as well as light plated and sheet metal fabrication. Students will also learn a number of metal fabrication practices including layout, forming, rolling, bending, punching, shearing and inspection, using the latest manual and semi-automatic equipment found in today’s fabrication facilities.

Program Breakdown by Grade Level

Career Opportunities

Entry Level Occupations

  • Apprentice fabricator

  • Arc welder

  • Iron worker

  • Shear operator

With Experience and/or Advanced Training

  • Heating and ventilating air conditioning specialist

  • Shop owner

  • Welding Engineer

  • Welding Inspector

  • Millwright

Welder Salary

Welders in the United States can earn an average of $17.52 per hour nationwide. Final cash compensation to welders varies from around $27,000 to approximately $66,000; choice pay grades include potential for bonuses and profit sharing as high as $5,000 and $8,000, respectively. Geographic location is the main element affecting pay for this group—the company and tenure are driving factors as well. Health benefits are not claimed by all—slightly less than one-third lack any form of coverage—but more than half have medical insurance and just over one-half have dental too. Work is enjoyable for welders, who typically claim high levels of job satisfaction.