San Jacinto College provides an array of learning options in welding technology, a career field that offers excellent pay and benefits, and ranks among the hottest job markets in the greater Houston area.

San Jacinto College welding student Fernando Morales works on a project at the College’s well-equipped shop area.

Demand is high for well-trained welders and all signs indicate the demand will continue. According to the American Welding Society, there will be more than 200,000 positions available nationwide for qualified welders by the year 2010.

San Jacinto College is going to great lengths to meet that demand. The College’s North and Central campuses operate well-equipped welding training facilities and offer students a wide range of flexible and affordable degree and certificate programs. The Central Campus recently purchased 16 new multi-process machines capable of performing shielded metal arc welding, gas metal arc welding, gas tungsten arc welding, and Flux-cored arc welding processes. “These are ‘inverter’ machines, which use computer boards for converting electrical current,” commented Bryan Suarez, welding technology department chair at San Jacinto College Central. “It’s the most current type of welding technology.”

The College offers a two-year Associate of Applied Science (AAS) degree program, as well as one-year Certificate of Technology options. Students who earn a welding technology AAS degree will receive introductory, advanced and high technology skills in welding methods. The College’s AAS program offers a versatile curriculum for all individuals seeking a career in manufacturing, industry or research in related welding professions.

The one-year combination welder Certificate of Technology provides intermediate and advanced welding experience to students interested in taking shielded metal arc welding and gas tungsten arc welding on plate and pipe welding certification tests as required by industry. Instruction is provided on plate and pipe positions on carbon steel. The one-year gas shielded welding Certificate of Technology provides entry-level experience to students interested in taking gas metal arc and gas tungsten arc plate and pipe welding certification tests as required by industry. Instruction is provided on plate and pipe welding positions on carbon steel and on stainless steel.

The one-year welding Occupational Certificate program meets the needs of students who desire to enter the welding field in the least amount of time. Students are eligible for a certificate when they complete their classes, with at least a grade of “C”, in either structural welding or stick pipe welding.

The graduation rate of San Jacinto College welding technology students participating in either the AAS program or a certificate program is consistently high and job placement after graduation is generally at or near 100 percent.

Companies are paying all types of welders very well in the Gulf Coast region. “Industry is currently paying structural welders $22 to $28 per hour and combination welders $28 to $32 per hour,” Suarez said. “Rig welders are making around $50 per hour in the Houston area. Most welders in the area are working more than 40 hours per week with some working up to 84 hours per week.”

Welding technology students at San Jacinto College will soon be able to gain valuable on-the-job experience by participating in an intern program. “We recently implemented a co-op class within our degree program and two certificate programs,” noted Suarez. “At this time we have not offered classes within the course offerings, but plan to offer them next Spring.”

The College’s welding program is helping San Jacinto College student Fernando Morales achieve his educational and career goals.

“The welding equipment we get to use in class is outstanding,” commented Morales, who lives in Pasadena. “The welding instructors are very well trained and they are always there for you. If you ever have any questions, they are right there by your side to help you perfect your welding skills.”

San Jacinto College offers welding technology at the North and Central campuses. For more information, please call 281-998-6150 or visit http://www.sanjac.edu/.