The welding industry in the Kentuckiana area has over one hundred and twenty-five employers and with new companies moving into southern Indiana, skilled welders are in great demand. Beginning salaries for welders can range from $20,000 to $30,000 when overtime is factored in. The vocational welding program provides training in the following areas:
1. Oxy-acetylene cutting, welding and brazing and machine torch precision cutting.
2. Shielded Metal Arc welding in all positions including pipe and tubing as well as cast iron welding.
3. Gas Metal Arc welding (Spray Arc Transfer, Globular Transfer, Pulsed Arc Transfer, and Short Circuit Transfer) in addition to an introduction to the stainless steel and aluminum process.
4. Gas Tungsten Arc Welding (both water cooled & air cooled processes) and welding on ferrous and non-ferrous metal (in all positions including plate and pipe).
5. Flux Cored Arc Welding (dual shield and tubular wire processes).
6. Exploratory experiences in underwater welding.
GCCS welding students have the opportunity to participate in a number of district, regional, state, national, and international competitions through Vocational Industrial Clubs of America (VICA). Team competitions take place through the Mid-West Team Welding Tournament.
Students motivated to pursue specialized post-secondary training can choose from over forty job related areas including welding engineering, certified welding inspectors (CWI), sales engineers, repairmen, certified welding educators and many others.
Post-secondary training in welding-related fields often takes place through labor and apprenticeship programs. Private schools offering excellent training include Hobart Welding Institute, Lincoln School of Welding, and the Ocean Corperation for Underwater Welding. In addition, the National Tooling & Machining Association (NTMA) provides training in precision metalworking.
