Bridge Welder is a professional who constructs, erects, installs, and repairs structures and fixtures of steel using welding equipment. The work includes setting steel with a crane, erecting steel joists, columns, and beams, and installing angel iron and bridging. Basically, they work to maintain and repair bridges using various welding types.
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
The education levels are as follows-
- A High School Diploma or GED (minimum)
- A Bachelor’s Degree in Technical field (preferred)
- An Associate’s Degree in Technical field (preferred)
Certification/License
- AWS Bridge Certification (preferred)
- Certification in the SMAW process (3G/4G positions)
Work Experience
- Possess job-related work experience
- Man-lift, scissor lift, and forklifts experience (preferred)
Duties/Responsibilities
The functions are as follows-
- Assure the highest quality workmanship
- Clean/maintain equipment (daily basis)
- Ensure all company safety requirements and policies are followed
- Fabricate miscellaneous metal parts as the needs
- Inspect work and ensure it as per specifications required
- Involve in all aspects of construction, form/strip, rebar/concrete placement, and installation
- Perform services on equipment by cleaning and repairing hand/power tools
- Preheat/clean metals before laying welds
- Read blueprints and communicate with the Field Superintendent accordingly
- Repair leaks in metal ceilings, roofs, and walls
- Weld metals and perform alterations/repairs
Abilities/Skills
To perform the job nicely, have the following competencies-
- Ability to set own goals and tasks
- Ability to travel (timely)
- Ability to use all safety devices and safe work practices
- Commitment to safety
- Diplomatic while working with others
- Good communication and written skills
- Possess a Valid Driver’s License
- Possess analytical/critical thinking
- Proactive with a sense of urgency
- Progressive responsibilities (field knowledge)
- Resolve construction issues independently
- Well organizational/planning skills
Work Environment
Job conditions are as follows-
- Adaptability to variance noise intensity (quiet to loud)
- Exposure to dust/fumes
- Work at high exposed places (high bridges)
- Work under extreme weather conditions (heat, humid, wet, cold)
Physical Requirements
Individuals need stamina, energy, and physically fit to handle this hard-working job-
- Ability to see visual details (depth perception)
- Frequently move/carry items up to 50-75 pounds (with/without assistance)
- Frequently required standing, crouching, walking, kneeling, stooping, bending
- Manual dexterity (grasping, holding, pinching, grabbing)
- Required balancing, pushing, climbing, crawling
- Required long-standing on feet (up to 12-hour shifts)
- Required to walk on all types of outdoor surfaces
Top Industries
The workplaces are as follows-
- Civil Industry
- Construction Industry
- Railway Industry
Job Types
The near/dear job types are as follows-
- Assembly Welder
- Bridge Crewman
- Bridge Technician
- Bridge Welder Helper
- Installation Welder
- Mechanic Welder
- Rebar Fabricator
- Structural Welder
- Trade Welder
- Welder
- Welder Fabricator
Salary Information
The salary of a Bridge Welder depends on education level, work experience, certification, and the volume of the company. On average, they fetch $27.30 hourly and $56,786 yearly in the United States. The salary ranges from $18 to $31 per hour from place to place. The salary trends increase or decrease with the passage of time.
Normally, the freshers or guys with less experience earn lesser than their counterparts with years of work experience. A certified Bridge Welder also gets more salary both hourly/yearly. Bridge Welders can earn more salary by obtaining work experience, improving their education level, and changing companies.
Benefits/Perks
All the employers offer various job benefits packages depending on the position levels. All employees do not get the same. Yet, some of the common benefits are as follow-
- 401(k) with a Company Match
- Competitive Wages
- Dental Insurance
- Employee Assistance Program
- Health Insurance
- Life Insurance
- Maternity/Paternity Leave
- Paid Time Off
- Tuition Reimbursement Program
- Vision Insurance
Related: Other Welding Professions