Aerospace Welder Eligibility, Experience, Duties, Skills, and Salary

Aerospace Welder is a skilled profession with a combination of technical expertise and aptitude. They carry out various welding activities such as repair of engine hot sections, and mechanical/structural components for all aircraft types. Aerospace welding involves various welding processes i.e. gas tungsten arc welding, electron beam, gas metal-arc, and resistance. Further, they perform welding to join different plates, structures, sheets, metallic frames, and jigs. For keeping a safe and healthy work environment, they employ welding and flame spray coatings.

Most aircraft and spacecraft construction utilize aerospace welding (structural welding). The manufacturers use it for making large structures used in commercial spacecraft and aircraft.

Post Highlights:

Educational Qualifications
Certification/License
Work Experience
Duties/Responsibilities
Abilities/Skills
Work Environment
Physical Requirements
Top Industries
Job Types
Salary Information
Benefits/Perks

Educational Qualifications

Aerospace Welder requires the following educational levels-

A High School Diploma or GED (minimum)
An Associate’s Degree in Welding Technology or a Related Field (preferred)

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Certification/License

Candidates should have obtained certifications from the American Welding Society and preferably be an AWS Certified Aerospace Welder
Possess certification to D1.1, AWS D17.1_D17.1M or equivalent fusion welding for aerospace applications specifications

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Work Experience

Possess work experience in the following areas-

FAA Airframe rating
Industrial facility and heavy vehicle welding
Non-destructive Testing (NDT) experience
Practical aircraft welding experience
TIG welding experience
Welding rocket/satellite propulsion system experience
Working with fluid systems experience
X-ray inspection Experience

Duties/Responsibilities

Aerospace welders perform the following duties-

Develop/fabricate fixtures and tooling to support aircraft
Ensure communication of all work handoffs
Examine welds for bead size/other specifications
Lay out/fit all parts that maintain all dimensional parameters
Lay welds in horizontal, vertical, flat, or overhead positions
May require to tack assemblies together
Operate helium leak detector, chop saw, drill press, TIG welder, or orbital tube welder
Perform TIG butt and fillet welding types
Position or clamp workpieces together
Prepare parts for post-weld inspection processes
Provide manufacturing feedback to all required working colleagues
Weld together metal components as per the blueprints, or diagrams
Weld/inspect the high purity fluidic system welds

Abilities/Skills

The required competencies are as follows-

Ability to use torches/flame-cutting equipment
Able to calculate mathematical problems
Able to use a computer on a daily basis
Determine weld requirements as per blueprints
Employ proper safety/work habits
Familiar with industrial safety practices
Follow instructions accurately
Heat-treating/arc welding knowledge
Knowledge of welding steel, aluminum, and titanium
Proficiency in oxyacetylene gas welding
Self-motivated and adept in nature
Understand welding symbols as per AWS 2.4
Verbal/written communication skills

Work Environment

Work at an airport, indoors, or in an aircraft factory
Usually, work in noisy and hot conditions

Physical Requirements

Able to lift up to 40 lbs.
Work in a standing position up to 8 hours per day

Top Industries

Aircraft Industry
Spacecraft Industry

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Job Types

The following are some of the near/dear or related job types-

Aerospace Component Fabricator
Aerospace Production Welder
Aerospace Structural Welder
Aerospace TIG Welder
Aerospace Welder
Aerospace Welding Technician
Certified AWS Aerospace Welder
Orbital Tube Welder

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Salary Information

The salary of aerospace welders is not the same at all places in the United States. They fetch differently based on their work experience, skills, education level, certification, and the volume of the company. Their hourly rates range from $25 to $35. On average, they earn $49,794 annually and $31 hourly. Along with this, they also get bonuses and compensation. The experienced or certified aerospace welders earn more hourly/yearly than the individuals with less or no experience.

Benefits/Perks

Each employer offers various types of benefits packages to new recruits. The benefits may vary from position to position. The most common benefits are as follows-