The majority of those in manufacturing were employed in the transportation equipment, industrial machinery and equipment, or fabricated metal products industries. Those employed in the service sector worked mainly in repair shops and for personnel supply agencies. All welding machine operators were employed in manufacturing industries, primarily fabricated metal products, machinery, and motor vehicles. Formal training is available in high schools, vocational schools, and post secondary institutions, such as vocational-technical institutes, community colleges, and private welding schools. The Armed Forces operate welding schools as well.
Some employers provide training to help welders improve their skills.
Courses in blueprint reading, shop mathematics, mechanical drawing, physics, chemistry, and metallurgy are helpful. Knowledge of computers is gaining importance, especially for welding machine operators, as some welders are becoming responsible for the programming of computer-controlled welding machines, including robots. Some welders become certified, a process whereby the employer sends a worker to an institution, such as an independent testing lab or technical school, to weld a test specimen to specific codes and standards required by the employer. Testing procedures are based on the standards and codes set by one of several industry associations with which the employer may be affiliated. If the welding inspector at the examining institution determines that the worker has performed according to the employer's guidelines, the inspector will then certify the welder being tested as able to work with a particular welding procedure.