Jobs in Welding
Shipfitter
Shipfitters fabricate and layout metal for building and repairing ships. They work for private companies as well naval shipyards.
A shipfitter can be tasked with building, maintaining, and repairing small boats such as towboats and tugboats, as well as container ships, icebreakers, and ocean liners.
Military shipfitters work on aircraft carriers, tankers, and submarines.
Responsibilities
Responsibilities
- Understand shipyard operation and safety protocol
- Fitting, setting, and installing fabricated maritime structures
- Cutting and welding with a variety of processes
- Metal forming, bending, finishing, and rigging
- Ability to weld, repair, design, and layout plate or pipe materials
- Ability to work in shop/field environments and sometimes heights
Education and training that can lead
to a successful career may include:
Advanced Education
Associates degree in welding, metals fabrication, machining, etc.
Advanced Training
Apprenticeship program
Minimum Education
High school diploma or equivalent
Recommended Certification
AWS Certified Welder
Recommended Education
Certificate in welding, metals fabrication, machining, etc.
Recommended Training
Related naval or shipyard work experience
Career Spotlight
Jason Hammer, a welding apprentice at Rhoads Industries explains how he got his start in welding and it has unfolded into a successful career working as a welder in the shipyard. Click the video to see more.
Want to see more career spotlight videos? Check all of them out Here!
Essential Skills
- Highly motivated and self-directed
- Flexible and able to work in a team environment or independently
- Physically fit and manual dexterity
- Comfortable working with heights
- Mechanically inclined, able to interpret blueprints, and apply math concepts
Work Environment
Shipfitters work in naval or shipyard environments; nearly all opportunities exist along the coastal regions.
The heat map below showcases the total number of job postings for Shipfitters in the last twelve months by state. As shown, the darker the color of the state, the higher the concentration of job postings. The heat map is intended to provide insight into areas where Shipfitter careers are currently in demand.