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Welder's Helper
Skilled TradesYou'll grind metal, clean welds, and set up materials so the welder can do their thing. It's hot, loud, and sparky, and you'll go home smelling like burnt metal every single day. You'll learn to use a grinder before you learn to strike an arc, and that's by design — grinding is 40% of welding that nobody tells you about.
Salary Range
Low
$28k
Median
$30k
High
$33k
10-Year Growth
2%
US Workers
427K
Education
No formal education required — safety training + on-the-job learning
Environment
outdoor
Tools & Technical Skills
- ▸Grinding & surface preparation
- ▸Material handling & staging
- ▸Basic hand tool operation
- ▸Wire brushing & weld cleanup
- ▸Clamp & jig setup
People & Mindset Skills
- ▸Physical stamina
- ▸Reliability
- ▸Willingness to learn
- ▸Safety awareness
- ▸Teamwork
- ▸Attention to detail
Learn the skills
Courses and certifications to get you job-ready
Material handling & staging
What you'll actually do
- 01Grind and prep metal surfaces until they're ready for welding
- 02Set up materials, clamps, and jigs so the welder can work efficiently
- 03Clean welds with a wire brush and chipping hammer
- 04Haul metal stock, cylinders, and welding equipment around the shop or site
- 05Learn to read welding symbols on blueprints by looking over the welder's shoulder
- 06Accept that your arm hair is never growing back — ever
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