Author: Scott Kearns

Career Map

Stackable Credentials

Welding

Stackable Credentials Defined

The path to advancement in the welding industry

Degree, Jobs, Salary

Skills Mastered

Stackable credentials utilize classes, certifications and work experience that serve as building blocks to the next level of classes and certifications in a given career field. Stackable credentials allow you to enter the workforce quickly and continue taking classes to earn higher level certificates and degrees to advance your career.

Bachelor’s Degree + Experience
Welding Engineer, Production Engineer
$20 - $45/Hour*

Operations Analysis, Financial Analysis, Advanced Manufacturing and Technical Competencies

Welding and Management
A.A.S. degree + Experience
Welding Inspector, Fabricator
$15 - $30/Hour*

Welding Inspection, Advanced
Welding Theory, Project/Facilities Management

Welding MIG, MIG/TIG, AWS Level II certification** + Experience
Entry-level warehouse,
distribution center, or
shipping/receiving worker
$10-14/Hour*

Code, Welding, Cutting, Light
Fabrication Print Reading, Quality
Control, Workplace Safety

Subsidized

Basic Welding, AWS Level I Certification**
Entry-level Welder or Fabricator
$11-$15/Hour*

Welding, Cutting, Light Fabrication,
OSHA and Workplace Safety

This workforce solution was funded by a grant awarded by the U.S. Department of Labor’s Employment and Training Administration. The solution was created by the grantee and does not necessarily reflect the official position of the U.S. Department of Labor. The Department of Labor makes no guarantees, warranties or assurances of any kind, express or implied, with respect to such information, including any information on linked sites and including, but not limited to, accuracy of the information or its completeness, timeliness, usefulness, adequacy, continued availability or ownership. This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 Unported License. To view a copy of this license, visit creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/.

Subsidized

High School/GED
Production/Shipping/Warehouse worker
$10 - $13/Hour*

Soft Skills, Reading/Writing, Arithmetic, Equipment Operations, Basic Computers

*Base wage not including benefits. Wages based on MERIC research.
**SCC program offerings.

REV. December 2014