She is now in an apprenticeship program and hopes to be a union welder soon. Being part of the union has a lot of advantages such as a higher rate of pay and benefits. What she enjoys most about her work is the actual welding and being outside. Katie is a graduate of Dean Vocational Technical High School, where she studied welding and was lucky enough to get a job right after graduation. Katie's dad is also a welder and both her parents have encouraged her to have a career that she really enjoys and is good at, even though there are very few women who choose welding.
Welders do either manual or automatic welding.
Manual welders may work on buildings, bridges, and other structures, while automatic welders tend to work in factories. Vocational technical high school graduates in welding are sought for entry level positions. Some welders become certified through union apprenticeship programs.