--- title: "Manufacturing Job Profiles: Welder" description: Learn about how to become a welder, the training and certification required, and who would love these job opportunities in manufacturing. image: https://blog.ontarioeast.ca/hubfs/Imported%20sitepage%20images/bEfS9HtdHxogAlcxx7vRUzdQx3LqRgbID01dOXvl2rTXIKOh1NLJ1zp3NlC3EldNh7FRHkgp50PS_fbZdIohEz8-loOd6BNOo79sK83sI2UyFXwoBRkrPhT9PsbhF8W6HLL_vHFu.jpg --- [Skip to main content](https://blog.ontarioeast.ca/manufacturing-job-profiles-welder#main) - FAQs - [News](https://ontarioeast.ca/news) - [Events](https://ontarioeast.ca/events) - [Ontario East Municipal Conference](https://ontarioeast.ca/happenings/our-team-partners) - [About Us](https://ontarioeast.ca/about-us/) - Search [![site_main_logo](https://blog.ontarioeast.ca/hubfs/site_main_logo.svg) ![site_main_logo_scrolled](https://blog.ontarioeast.ca/hubfs/site_main_logo_scrolled.svg) ![Ontario East Economic Development logo](https://blog.ontarioeast.ca/hs-fs/hubfs/logo.png?width=245&height=150&name=logo.png) ![Ontario East Economic Development logo](https://blog.ontarioeast.ca/hs-fs/hubfs/logo.png?width=245&height=150&name=logo.png)](https://ontarioeast.ca/) - 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[Jobs & RFPs](https://ontarioeast.ca/jobs-rfps/) - [Ontario East Municipal Conference](https://oemc.ca/) - [Contact Us](https://ontarioeast.ca/contact-us/) - [Contact Us](https://ontarioeast.ca/contact-us/) [Contact Us](https://ontarioeast.ca/contact-us/) Search ![Canada, Employment Ontario, Government of Ontario logos](https://ontarioeast.ca/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/ontario-employment-logos.svg) This Employment Ontario project is funded in part by the Government of Canada and the Government of Ontario. # Manufacturing Job Profiles: Welder For Ontario East May 06, 2019 ![](https://blog.ontarioeast.ca/hs-fs/hubfs/Imported%20sitepage%20images/bEfS9HtdHxogAlcxx7vRUzdQx3LqRgbID01dOXvl2rTXIKOh1NLJ1zp3NlC3EldNh7FRHkgp50PS_fbZdIohEz8-loOd6BNOo79sK83sI2UyFXwoBRkrPhT9PsbhF8W6HLL_vHFu.jpg?width=565&name=bEfS9HtdHxogAlcxx7vRUzdQx3LqRgbID01dOXvl2rTXIKOh1NLJ1zp3NlC3EldNh7FRHkgp50PS_fbZdIohEz8-loOd6BNOo79sK83sI2UyFXwoBRkrPhT9PsbhF8W6HLL_vHFu.jpg) According to the data compiled by Ontario East's project Eastern Ontario Manufacturing Workforce Development Plan (EOMWDP) project, welders are the 7th most popular job in eastern Ontario’s manufacturing sector. In an industry that employs 65,000 people, welders are in high demand. > A career in welding combines technology and creativity to produce products and solutions. The demand for welders in the future might decrease on assembly lines due to automation, but that same automation increases [job opportunities](https://blog.ontarioeast.ca/how-to-get-the-most-out-of-job-opportunities-in-eastern-ontario) in other manufacturing applications. You might even consider training in additional areas to become a more specialized welding expert. Let’s take a look at how to get certified and where you’ll find work in the future. ## **What It Takes to Become a Certified Welder** Welders have an excellent understanding of mathematics, engineering, and metallurgy. In addition, welders are craftspeople, enjoy working with their hands, and likely excelled in all their technology courses. Welders have [transferable skills](https://primeweld.com/blogs/news/how-to-become-a-welder) that include:  - hand-eye coordination - as mentioned, a good understanding of math and geometry - the ability to do physically demanding work - a good attention to detail  - spatial awareness If you want to pursue a career in this high-tech field, you’ll also need a certification from an [Ontario college](https://www.ontariocolleges.ca/en/programs/professions-and-trades/welding). A few of the available training programs are offered at [St. Lawrence College](https://www.stlawrencecollege.ca/) and [Loyalist College](https://www.loyalistcollege.com/).  You can either take a one-year accelerated course or a more extensive two-year diploma program. Both options require an apprenticeship before you can obtain your [skilled trades](https://blog.ontarioeast.ca/manufacturing-jobs-profile-skilled-trades) certification. The one-year course teaches you basic welding techniques as well as how to read blueprints and create technical drawings. The diploma program adds a greater depth of knowledge and provides you with career planning and trades practices. > The great thing about an apprenticeship is that while you’re learning, you’re earning. After you gain your certificate, the average salary for a welder according to [2016 Statistics Canada data](https://www12.statcan.gc.ca/census-recensement/2016/dp-pd/dt-td/Rp-eng.cfm?APATH=3&DETAIL=0&DIM=0&FL=A&FREE=0&GC=0&GID=0&GK=0&GRP=1&LANG=E&PID=113339&PRID=10&PTYPE=109445&S=0&SHOWALL=0&SUB=0&THEME=123&Temporal=2016&VID=0&VNAMEE=&VNAMEF=) is $52,107. Starting salaries will typically be lower than this figure, but if you find work within a unionized trade you can expect to make more than this average salary. ## **How a Career as a Welder Could Change in the Future** ![welder](https://blog.ontarioeast.ca/hs-fs/hubfs/Imported%20sitepage%20images/8NrH4ovtvzpHC5lERypD_CrXz52Gf9Q0h9Sxsf1Y08NNycByWBBXJNEIIP54KEkU-FSm_O9wCbjfOHMhY-85AlCgzj--2_NckKZexojbXq2tOLGKaqA29cShgUlta6cZWxdd1xkR.jpg?width=300&height=200&name=8NrH4ovtvzpHC5lERypD_CrXz52Gf9Q0h9Sxsf1Y08NNycByWBBXJNEIIP54KEkU-FSm_O9wCbjfOHMhY-85AlCgzj--2_NckKZexojbXq2tOLGKaqA29cShgUlta6cZWxdd1xkR.jpg) According to EOMWDP data, there is a 94% chance that welders will be [affected by automation](https://blog.ontarioeast.ca/will-automation-and-technology-adoption-in-manufacturing-hurt-jobs). As assembly lines move towards using robots to do the welding, the people that used to do those tasks will be out of work. But it’s not all bad news, because there are ways to add to your knowledge to ensure you always have a job in the field of welding and manufacturing. Take your skills to businesses that are constantly innovating. In other words, businesses where a robot can’t keep up with the pace of change. You could work for a smaller company that does a lot of one-off piecework, or creates new prototypes all the time. Examples of businesses where a master welder is going to always be in demand include hot-rod shops, small-scale mechatronics or engineering firms, university test labs, and race teams (motorsports). In a setting like this your work is exciting, ever-changing, and you’ll always be learning something.  The second thing you could do is add to your skills toolbelt. Think about how you could take your skills as a welder and add on knowledge about robotics, for example, to fix or install robotic welders in manufacturing plants. If you like working with code, you could also develop skills as a [programmer](https://blog.ontarioeast.ca/manufacturing-jobs-information-technology-professionals) to write the software that powers the welder robots. To take it one step further, if you love to build things and design, you could look into [becoming an engineer](https://blog.ontarioeast.ca/manufacturing-jobs-profile-engineering-professionals) or an engineering technician that designs the robots used for welding. The sky’s the limit if you continue to embrace learning new things. And don’t forget, your employer might support this additional learning part-time as you continue to work. ## **Get The Roadmap To Your Future Career** Now that you’ve read up on becoming a welder, and what the future might hold, find more information on what training and opportunities are available. [![New call-to-action](https://no-cache.hubspot.com/cta/default/4499088/d630d4d5-50f5-4cd1-87fb-1875b55bbe82.png)](https://cta-redirect.hubspot.com/cta/redirect/4499088/d630d4d5-50f5-4cd1-87fb-1875b55bbe82)   *External links are provided as informational resources only and are not necessarily endorsed by Ontario East.* **References:** [https://www12.statcan.gc.ca/census-recensement/2016/dp-pd/dt-td/Rp-eng.cfm?APATH=3&DETAIL=0&DIM=0&FL=A&FREE=0&GC=0&GID=0&GK=0&GRP=1&LANG=E&PID=113339&PRID=10&PTYPE=109445&S=0&SHOWALL=0&SUB=0&THEME=123&Temporal=2016&VID=0&VNAMEE=&VNAMEF=](https://www12.statcan.gc.ca/census-recensement/2016/dp-pd/dt-td/Rp-eng.cfm?APATH=3&DETAIL=0&DIM=0&FL=A&FREE=0&GC=0&GID=0&GK=0&GRP=1&LANG=E&PID=113339&PRID=10&PTYPE=109445&S=0&SHOWALL=0&SUB=0&THEME=123&Temporal=2016&VID=0&VNAMEE=&VNAMEF=) [https://www.ontariocolleges.ca/en/programs/professions-and-trades/welding](https://www.ontariocolleges.ca/en/programs/professions-and-trades/welding) ![Ontario East](https://blog.ontarioeast.ca/hubfs/Ontario%20Website%202021/Mask%20Group%20(11).png) ## Ontario East [For job seekers](https://blog.ontarioeast.ca/tag/for-job-seekers) - [![linkedin-1](https://blog.ontarioeast.ca/hubfs/linkedin-1.svg) Post](https://www.linkedin.com/company/ontarioeast/) - [![square-x-twitter](https://blog.ontarioeast.ca/hubfs/square-x-twitter.svg) Post](https://x.com/OntarioEast) - [![facebook](https://blog.ontarioeast.ca/hubfs/facebook.svg) Share](https://www.facebook.com/Ontario.East/) - [![envelope-solid](https://blog.ontarioeast.ca/hubfs/envelope-solid.svg) Email](mailto:info@ontarioeast.ca) ## You Might Also Be Interested In ### [![](https://blog.ontarioeast.ca/hs-fs/hubfs/image11-1.jpg?height=485&name=image11-1.jpg) November 13, 2019 Opportunities for Working in Eastern Ontario Keep Getting Better Read Now For job seekers](https://blog.ontarioeast.ca/opportunities-for-working-in-eastern-ontario-keep-getting-better) ### [![](https://blog.ontarioeast.ca/hs-fs/hubfs/Imported%20sitepage%20images/8NsOtDK-g6lFp10wp2rkjPgok6XYqHNfXA84HXLKTBT-BawudfAZBec7nKT1bIZE82MGBdVxSlC_5aZfkOavBwdi_rLJTnC9mUHTMTf145MOASi-e3vHbxzURn20R7165qeRr4waTQaVASBWrRiZx.jpg?height=485&name=8NsOtDK-g6lFp10wp2rkjPgok6XYqHNfXA84HXLKTBT-BawudfAZBec7nKT1bIZE82MGBdVxSlC_5aZfkOavBwdi_rLJTnC9mUHTMTf145MOASi-e3vHbxzURn20R7165qeRr4waTQaVASBWrRiZx.jpg) November 17, 2022 Job Seekers: You Want to Read This Read Now For job seekers](https://blog.ontarioeast.ca/job-seekers) ![](https://ontarioeast.ca/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/Mask-Group-4.svg) ## Subscribe to our eNewsletter ###### CONTACT US (613) 634-8569 623 Fortune Crescent, Suite 100 Kingston, ON K7P 0L5 [Email Us](mailto:info@ontarioeast.ca) ###### LINKS [Regional Profile](https://ontarioeast.ca/regional-profile/) [Available Properties](https://ontarioeast.ca/available-properties/) [Key Employment Sectors](https://ontarioeast.ca/key-employment-sectors/) [FAQs](https://ontarioeast.ca/faqs/) [News](https://ontarioeast.ca/news/) [Jobs & RFPs](https://ontarioeast.ca/jobs-rfps/) [Members](https://ontarioeast.ca/members/) [About Us](https://ontarioeast.ca/about-us/) [Events](https://ontarioeast.ca/events/) [Ontario East Municipal Conference](https://ontarioeast.ca/ontario-east-municipal-conference/) [Contact Us](https://ontarioeast.ca/contact-us/) ###### ZoomProspector [Admin Access Login](https://auth.zoomprospector.com/Account/Login?returnUrl=https%3A%2F%2Fadmin.zoomprospector.com%2FAccount%2FLoginCallback%3FreturnUrl%3Dhttps%253A%252F%252Fadmin.zoomprospector.com%252F) © Ontario East Economic Development, 2026 Acme Co, Inc. 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