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Want to become a welder in New Mexico?
If yes, this article is for you.
Here, you can find the list of the best welding certification schools in the state as well as a bunch of useful info about welding career.
Learn about welder’s basic skills, salary, job options and so on.
This article will help you to learn the most essential info about welding.
Article Table of Contents
Welding in New Mexico: What is Welding?
If you want to understand what is welding, we prepared a simple answer for you.
In fact, it’s a process of connecting metal or thermoplastic pieces together fusing them.
It means that welder should use various tools to heat and melt metal.
Welders only fuse pieces and don’t use any additional materials such as glue.
It means that a final construction is more firm, solid and can be manipulated easily.
Welder’s Career in New Mexico
Becoming a welder in New Mexico, you’ll be able to find a whole bunch of career options.
There are lots of offers for those who want to work as underwater welders.
If you are interested in gas tungsten arc welding, you also can find a job easily.
In fact, despite your choice, there is plenty of job offers and you’ll be satisfied and proud of the work you do with your own hands.
Consider the fact that there is an incredible outlook for welders in New Mexico.
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the number of job offers for welders will be growing constantly.
What It Is Necessary to Be a Welder?
In fact, welders should have a whole bunch of skills and characteristics but, of course, some of them are especially important.
A professional welder should be initiative, responsible and motivated.
It’s absolutely important as you should be able to work on projects independently.
It’s your opportunity to succeed in your career.
Also, welders should be:
- Detail oriented;
- Technical skills;
- Physical strength;
- Physical stamina;
- Manual dexterity;
- Spatial-orientation skills.
Average Welder’s Salary in New Mexico
Welders in New Mexico have an excellent salary.
In fact, you can earn a median salary of $50 850 per year ($24.45 per hour) while throughout the country – it’s $39 390 per year ($18.94 per hour).
Speaking of the top 10% of welders, in New Jersey, they earn about $87 530 annually.
At the same time, welders throughout the USA have an average salary which is about $62 100 per year.
Where Can Certified Welders Work in New Mexico?
Starting your career as a welder in New Mexico, you can find numerous job offers in various spheres.
The most popular sphere where welders in New Mexico work are:
- Construction of buildings and bridges;
- Manufacturing;
- Aerospace applications;
- Gas & oil field power plants and refineries;
- Shipbuilding;
- Auto & motorcycle fabrication and repair.
Top 9 Welding Certification Schools in New Mexico
In New Mexico, there are 9 schools that offer a welding training program and are approved by the American Welding Society’s SENSE Accreditation Program.
To enroll in any program of the list, you need to have a high-school diploma or GED.
| School | Location | Contact Information | Phone Number |
|---|---|---|---|
| Albuquerque Job Corp Center | 1500 Indian School Rd W, Albuquerque, NM 87104 United States | (505) 346-2562 | |
| Central New Mexico Community College | 525 Buena Vista SE, Albuquerque, NM 87106 United States | James Berry | (505) 224-3347 |
| Clovis Community College | 417 Schepps Blvd, Clovis, NM 88101 United States | Sean Poindexter | (575) 769-4917 |
| Clovis High School | 1900 Thornton St, Clovis, NM 88101 United States | Charles Jordan | (575) 769-4350 |
| Dona Ana Branch Community College | Box 30001, Dept 3DA, Las Cruces, NM 88003 United States | David L Twitty | (505) 527-7597 |
| Eastern New Mexico University | P.O. Box 6000, Roswell, NM 88202 United States | Brandon Whatley | (505) 624-7318 |
| New Mexico Junior College | 5317 N Lovington Hwy, Hobbs, NM 88240 United States | David Moghaddam | (575) 492-2575 |
| Roy Municipal Schools | P.O. Box 4305th & Roosevelt, Roy, NM 87743 United States | Ken Shaw | (505) 485-2242 |
| University of New Mexico – Gallup Branch | 200 College Rd, Gallup, NM 87301 United States | Joe Sanchez | (505) 863-7510 |
Keep in mind that the information in the table may change so we recommend you to double-check it.
Welding Training Programs and Career Options in Albuquerque
There are lots of people who are especially interested in welding training and career in Albuquerque.
The best option is Albuquerque Job Corp Center where you can get your certification and find a job.
One another excellent choice is Central New Mexico Community College.
Of course, there are great schools in other cities such as Las Cruces, Clovis, Roswell, Hobbs, Gallup, and Roosevelt.
Each school for the list above provides all the essential classes such as Gas Tungsten Arc Welding (TIG), Shielded Metal Arc Welding (stick), or Gas Metal Arc Welding (MIG).
Popular Degree Programs
Similar Career Options in New Mexico
These options may as well interest you:
- Boilermaker;
- Plumber, Pipefitter, and Steamfitter;
- Sheet Metal Worker.
Conclusion
You’ve learned some important info about welding and training programs in New Mexico.
It’s time to make a decision and start moving towards your successful career.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many amps does a welder use?
Although 90-100 amps are quite common, there are smaller and larger welders that use amps well outside of that range.
For example, an air compressor will probably only use about 20-30 amps for 220v.
A large MIG welder, on the other hand, might use anywhere from 40 to 225 amps.
Where can I rent a welder?
There are many places where you can rent a welder.
Red-D-Arc Welderentals, Home Depot, and United Rentals are just a few examples of places that rent out welding equipment.
These companies have locations all over the US, but you can also opt for local companies.
What are the disadvantages of stick welding?
Stick welding may be a popular type of welding, but there are some disadvantages you need to consider.
For example, each electrode can only weld a few inches of metal at a time, which some might consider an inconvenience.
Another potential drawback is the high level of skill that is required to conduct stick welding.
Beginners should probably just stick to MIG welding to ensure their own safety.
Lastly, many electrodes in stick welding have low penetration, which can be frustrating for welders who want to penetrate deeply into the metal.
Read the full guide: How to Become a Certified Welder
Welding Schools by City
Welding Schools by State