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 in the United States is $51,750 as of May 2026. The lowest 10 percent earn less than $39,890 annually, while the highest 10 percent earn more than $68,210. Wages vary by industry, with structural metals manufacturing paying a median of $55,420.
Q What visa options are available for foreign welders to work in the United States in 2026?
USCIS offers H-2B visas for temporary non-agricultural welders, with a cap of 66,000 visas for FY 2026 split between 33,000 for first half and 33,000 for second half. Employers must file Form I-129 at least 75 days before work start and obtain a temporary labor certification from DOL. Permanent residency via EB-3 requires Schedule A designation for skilled welders with 2 years experience.
Q What education and experience are required for entry-level welder jobs in the US?
The Department of Labor states that entry-level welders typically need a high school diploma or equivalent and completion of a 6-18 month apprenticeship program with 2,000 hours of paid on-the-job training. No prior experience is required for registered apprenticeships, but basic math and blueprint reading skills are essential. Most programs require applicants to be at least 18 years old.
Q What documents are needed to apply for welder apprenticeship programs in the United States?
DOL requires submission of a high school diploma or GED, proof of age (18+), a valid driver's license, and a drug test result for welder apprenticeship applications. Additional documents include a resume listing any metalworking experience and results from an aptitude test administered by the sponsor. Applications must be submitted through the Apprenticeship.gov portal by the program's deadline.
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