Blacksmith & Welder

Blacksmith & Welder

Chicago, United States

Company
Chicago Transit Authority
Location
Chicago, IL
Job Type
Full-time
Salary
58.91 an hour
Posted
3 days ago
Via
via ZipRecruiter

Job Description
SALARY

$58.91

POSITION SUMMARY

Performs various blacksmith and welding activities in the maintenance of buses and automotive equipment.

PRIMARY RESPONSIBILITIES

Welds, forges, heats, shapes and bends metals.

Tempers and dresses tools; fabricated and repairs springs involving tempering, repairing, potting, case and dichloride hardening.

Operates furnaces, forging machines, drop-forging machines, belt machines and Bradley hammers.

Performs heavy forging, forms heavy plates, links and rings, makes tools and tempers and heat treats new tools.

Performs electric arc welding, carbon arc welding, cutting and melting, acetylene welding, cutting and melting, acetylene welding, tungsten (non-consumable inert gas welding and metal (consumable) inert gas welding and silver soldering.

Cuts and heats ferrous and non-ferrous metals.

Takes accurate measurements as required and reads and interprets blueprints and schematic drawings.

Performs other related duties as assigned.

SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITIES

Reporting to this position are the following jobs:

Job Title

CHALLENGES

EDUCATION/EXPERIENCE REQUIREMENTS

Must have a minimum of five-(5) years verifiable trade experience in a recognized shop.

Required to submit to and pass drug and alcohol testing as mandated by the Federal Transportation Administration.

Required to pass a physical examination.

Required to perform the physical activities associated with this position.

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS

Required to be standing operating hydraulic press, walking to and from within work area and sitting at welding table to weld small parts.

Required to lift raw materials, (up to 50 lbs.), carrying sheet of steel, converter housing, pushing welding machine, torch cart and pulling welding machine, torch cart and air hose.

Required to climb ladders, pit stairs, scaffolding and balancing while climbing ladders and stairs.

Required to stoop to repair bus floors, to retrieve broken parts, to kneel, to crouch and to craw to repair underneath bus.

Required to reach to retrieve radiance rods, small work tools and to hand burning or cutting torch, hammers, goggles and helmets.

Required to finger and to feel surface of a piece to be welded.

Required to talk and to hear to co-workers and team work jobs, while performing teamwork jobs, giving instruction and observing surface prior to repair.

Required to see and to be acute near and far to read blueprints and schematic drawings, while doing lay-out work, to observe surface prior to repair and to see dangerous situations in shop area and color vision while examining welding jobs.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES

Must possess the knowledge and have experience in the process of silver soldering.

Must possess a comprehensive knowledge of blacksmith and welding techniques.

Must have a practical knowledge of arithmetic operations, including fractions, decimals and percentages.

Required to possess the knowledge and skills necessary to use power operated and hand tools.

WORKING CONDITIONS

Required to work occasional on buses parked in the yards inside or outside.

Usual blacksmith/welder shop conditions.

Required to work under extreme cold outside on buses during repairing on winter months.

Required to work under extreme heat inside welding underneath bus during summer months.

Required to work in wet, humid and noise and vibration conditions outside during work raining periods, body shop, carpentry shop, tin shop, ventilation system, rivet guns, welding machines and tools.

Required to manage mechanical cutting machines and hydraulic press, electrical welding machines, burns sparks from grinding metal, torches, oxygen tanks, chemical bath and heights atop scaffolding around the bus and ladders.

Required to work under atmospheric conditions welding fumes or burning rubber, odors from welding rod, dust shop floors and bus floors, mist while working on buses parked outside when raining, gases from torch welding and burning gas or argon gas and others.

EQUIPMENT, TOOLS, AND MATERIALS UTILIZED

Standard hand tools, torches and welders and soldering devices.
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Frequently Asked Questions

Quick answers about Welder Jobs in United States

Q What is the median annual salary for welder jobs in the United States in 2026?
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the median annual wage for welders, cutters, solderers, and brazers is projected at $51,200 in 2026 based on May 2023 data of $48,290 adjusted for 2% annual wage growth through 2033. Entry-level welders earn $39,600 annually (10th percentile), while experienced ones earn up to $68,500 (90th percentile). Overtime pay at 1.5 times the regular rate adds an average of $5,000 yearly.
Q What visa is required for foreign nationals to work as welders in the United States in 2026?
Foreign welders typically qualify for H-2B temporary non-agricultural worker visas, with a FY2026 cap of 68,500 visas plus up to 64,000 supplemental, processed starting October 1, 2025. Employers must file Form I-129 at least 75 days before need, proving no US workers available. Visa valid up to 12 months, extendable to 3 years maximum.
Q What education and experience are required to become a welder in the United States?
A high school diploma or GED is the minimum education requirement, with most employers requiring completion of a 6-month to 1-year vocational training program or apprenticeship. Entry-level positions need no prior experience, but 1-2 years of on-the-job training is standard for certification. Associate degrees in welding technology improve hiring chances by 25%.
Q What documents are needed to apply for welder apprenticeship programs in the US?
Required documents include a high school diploma or GED, proof of US work authorization (SSN or I-9 eligible), resume listing any vocational training, and birth certificate or passport for age verification (minimum 16-18 years). Safety eyewear and basic tools may be needed at orientation. Applications are submitted via state apprenticeship agencies by December 31 for January starts.
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