Average Retirement Age of Welders
The average age of a welder is 55. With the retirement of baby boomers, the age gap is expected to widen. Many companies offer excellent compensation and benefits packages to attract welders.
How Long Do Welders Last?
On average, a welder can have a life expectancy of about 40 to 50 years, given the severe risks and health hazards of welding.
Welding Hazards and Safety Measures
Welders risk developing vision problems due to exposure to ultraviolet (UV) radiation from welding arcs. To avoid welder’s flash, proper precautions such as wearing appropriate eye protection like a welding helmet with a proper shade lens are necessary.
Welding certifications are usually valid for anywhere from six months to three years. Welding training typically ranges between 7 months and 2 years of hands-on instruction.
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the average salary of welders is $42,000 a year, with entry-level welders starting at about $17 per hour.
Most welders are between 35 and 44 years old, with welders between 45 and 54 being the second-largest group. Pipeline construction offers high pay and travel opportunities for welders.
The welding industry faces a shortage of 400,000 welders by 2024. Retirements leave a deficit in skilled welders. Experience matters in the welding profession.
Many welders consult past retirement age due to physical demands and hazards associated with the profession.