There are some great welding jobs in Ontario right now, and in this post, we’re going to show interested job seekers how to break into the welding trade.
We’ll also delve into the certification process, a typical certified welder salary, and where to go for more information.
Before we get started, though, we wanted to take a look at what welding is and what certified welders do.
What Does a Welder Do?
We turned to our friends over at Job Bank for an excellent definition:
Welder Job Description
Welders operate welding equipment to weld ferrous and non-ferrous metals. This unit group also includes machine operators who operate previously set up production welding, brazing and soldering equipment. They are employed by companies that manufacture structural steel and platework, boilers, heavy machinery, aircraft and ships and other metal products, and by welding contractors and welding shops, or they may be self-employed.
Welder Job Duties
- Read and interpret blueprints or welding process specifications
- Operate manual or semi-automatic welding equipment to fuse metal segments using processes such as gas tungsten arc welding (GTAW), gas metal arc welding (GMAW), flux-cored arc welding (FCAW), plasma arc welding (PAW), shielded metal arc welding (SMAW), oxy-acetylene welding (OAW), resistance welding and submerged arc welding (SAW)
- Operate manual or semi-automatic flame-cutting equipment
- Operate brazing and soldering equipment
- Operate metal shaping machines such as brakes, shears and other metal straightening and bending machines
- Repair worn parts of metal products by welding on extra layers.
- Welders may specialize in certain types of welding such as custom fabrication, ship building and repair, aerospace precision welding, pressure vessel welding, pipeline construction welding, structural construction welding, or machinery and equipment repair welding.
Welding, brazing and soldering machine operators
- Operate previously set up welding machines such as spot, butt and seam resistance or gas and arc welding machines to fabricate or repair metal parts
- Operate previously set up brazing or soldering machines to bond metal parts or to fill holes, indentations and seams of metal articles with solder
- Start up, shut down, adjust and monitor robotic welding production line
- Assist with the maintenance and repair of welding, brazing and soldering equipment
- May adjust welding heads and tooling according to work specifications.
Job Titles
- welder apprentice
- electric arc welder
- welder-fitter
- journeyman/woman welder
- brazing machine operator
- brazing machine setter
- laser welding operator
- soldering machine operator
- spot welder
- production welder
- aviation welding technician
- submerged arc welder
- pressure vessel welder
- welder
Welding is a highly diverse trade. And at HCR Personnel, the candidates we place are also a diverse group.
HCR is a leading skilled trades recruiting company in the welding, automotive, forklift, heavy equipment, and manufacturing industries in Greater Toronto and Southwestern Ontario. HCR Personnel Solutions is a valued resource for both employers and employees. Both sides of the hiring equation benefit from our proven experience with hiring organizations of all sizes and scopes. Our people, programs, and processes reflect our knowledge and commitment to both job seekers and employers. HCR is also proudly affiliated with ACSESS – Association of Canadian Search, Employment, and Staffing Services.
We want to hear your story. Call one of our recruiting professionals at 416-622-1427, or get in touch online today!
How to Become a Welder
There are three essential requirements:
1) Secondary School
A high school diploma or equivalent is required to get aspiring welders into a recognized apprenticeship program.
2) Recognized Apprenticeship Program
Welders must get certified through an authorized apprenticeship program. Authorized on-the-job training hours must be logged and certified by a trained, accredited supervisor.
Skilled Trades Ontario is tasked with managing and monitoring welding apprenticeship programs for the Ministry of Labour in Ontario. Skilled Trades Ontario is a relatively new Crown agency that has replaced the Ontario College of Trades.
We’ll talk more about apprenticeship programs a bit later in the post in the “How long does it take to become a welder?” section.
3) Canadian Welding Bureau (CWB) Certification
The CWB, aka The CWB Group, oversees welding certifications for the Canadian Standards Association, or CSA Group. The CSA defines the criteria for welding standards, including Standard W47.1., known as the standard for Fusion Welding of Steel. This is the most common certification for welders.
After completing the apprenticeship program, a final test is required for certification as a welder. The test allows for six hours to complete. Skilled Trades Ontario will issue the final certificate upon successful completion of the test.
What is the CWB?
In a nutshell, the Canadian Welding Bureau is a non-profit organization that administers the CSA Code for the certification of welders and companies. CWB oversees the examination and certification process for welders on behalf of CSA.
CWB also manages the certification of welding engineers, supervisors, and inspectors.
Types of Welding Certifications
- Fusion Welding of Steel Company Certification CSA W47.1
- Fusion Welding of Aluminum Company Certification CSA W47.2
- Welding of Reinforcing Bars Company Certification CSA W186
- Resistance Welding Company Certification CSA W55.3
- Welding Inspection Organizations Company Certification CSA W178.1
- Welding Inspector Certification CSA W178.2
Each certification requires a specific test.
How Long Does it Take to Become a Welder?
An apprenticeship training program consists of on-the-job and in-school training. Generally, the time-frame to become competent in the trade of Welder is 6,000 hours (approximately three years) consisting of 5,280 hours of on-the-job work experience and 720 hours of in-school training.
ON-THE-JOB TRAINING
An apprenticeship involves practical training provided on-the-job by a skilled worker, or trainer. The skills or competencies to be developed are set out by the trade’s Apprenticeship Training Standard and are recognized by the industry as being essential to the practice of the trade.
As these essential skills are developed, the apprentice’s sponsor or trainer signs the relevant sections of the training standard to indicate that the apprentice has met the individual training objectives by demonstrating the skills required of a skilled worker, or journeyperson, in the trade.
When the apprenticeship is complete, the apprentice is eligible to take the certification test.
Important Skills for Welders
Welders rely on blueprints, schematics, and mechanical drawings to guide them through their daily projects. Precision is critical, and the work can also sometimes be physically demanding.
Three skills that all great welders possess are:
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Attention to Detail
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Mathematical Ability
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Manual Dexterity
How Much Does a Welder Make?
AT HCR, we keep our finger on the pulse of certified welder salaries, available jobs, and other metrics. Here’s what we’re seeing for the hourly compensation ranges of certified welders in Ontario, based on the experience and qualifications spectrum of the workforce:
- Low end-$18.00
- Midrange-$24.00
- High end-$35.00
Those are some excellent numbers for sure, but there’s more.
Are There Perks in the Welding Trade?
Certified welders can expect to access jobs that offer flexibility, job satisfaction, and independence. Work schedules typically cover all three shifts, depending on the position and the company’s hours of operation.
Your work environment can often be flexible as well. You will usually have the flexibility to schedule your tasks as long as they’re complete within your shift. And if you’re open to flexible workforce options, you have several employment plans to consider, including:
- Temporary and Contract Positions
- Temporary-to-Hire
- Direct Hire
- Full and Part-Time Positions
At HCR, we’re engaged in skilled trades recruiting every day, and we have some great welding jobs in Ontario available right now. Welding jobs can provide you with personal satisfaction, great pay, health and retirement benefits, and a career path with a future.
Does a career in the welding trade sound like something you’re interested in pursuing? We can help you get started.
Find a Welding Job in Ontario with HCR Today!
This is the easy part. Give us a call today.
Are you looking for skilled labour staffing agencies in Ontario? Look no further! HCR Personnel will help you with your career path and job search. We can help you find the companies looking for candidates just like you.
Whether you’re searching for reliable and skilled workers or looking for new job opportunities, HCR has the solutions you need. We match job seekers with excellent career opportunities every day.
Why settle for just any job when you can choose an opportunity uniquely suited to you?
Of all the skilled labour staffing agencies In Ontario, HCR stands out. You will notice that the first time you talk with us. Your recruiter will get to know you beyond your resume. We focus on your personal and professional career goals and objectives, not just the first job that comes along.
At HCR Personnel, we’ll treat you as an individual, not just a number. HCR recruiters have decades of experience and far-reaching connections in the welding, manufacturing, engineering, and industrial sectors. We know which employers are looking for great employees with your skills, knowledge, and goals.
Give one of our professional recruiters a call today at 416-622-1427, or get in touch online today.
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