Most employers require 1-2 years of prior experience. Some recruit applicants through newspaper advertisements. Surveys indicated that union wages were typically at the top end of the range. Spanish fluency may also be important. Apprenticeship training usually takes about 3 years to complete.
Most employers provide medical insurance.
Almost all provide a paid vacation. Many also provide vision insurance. Some provide dental insurance, life insurance, paid sick leave, and a retirement plan. Welding repair shops and manufacturers of fabricated metal products. Employment of welders, cutters, and welding machine operators is expected to grow more slowly than the average for all occupations through the year 2008, reflecting rising automation and productivity in many of the industries that employ these workers.