If you are looking to be part of an ever-growing industry, consider a career as a welding fabricator! Skilled welders are needed in high demand for a wide range of industries including manufacturing and construction. Continue reading →

With many machinists reaching retirement age, the demand for machinists to replace them is on the rise. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, machinists can expect to see jobs grow by an estimated 10 percent from 2014 to 2024. Continue reading →

If you live in anywhere near Pittsburgh and Erie, PA or even Cleveland OH, you are witnessing firsthand how each city’s urban development and city planning teams are changing the landscapes and waterfronts of the areas around you. Acres of unused shorelines, suffering neighborhoods, and aging commercial areas are being transformed and revitalized into multi-purpose communities attracting residents and businesses to build up the region’s economy. Sounds like a lesson in community planning and urban design, doesn’t it?
Truth is, while the concepts may derive from residents and city planners, it’s the architects, draftsman and metal fabricators that make it all happen! This month, PMI focuses on the importance of metal fabricators, the welding industry and why now is the perfect time to consider a career in the field of welding!
What Does a Metal Fabricator Do?
Metal fabricators typically work for construction and manufacturing companies, cutting, shaping, positioning and aligning different types of metal that will then be used for structural framework, heating and cooling systems, exterior walls, roofs and more. A lucrative field, nearly every industry requires someone with a metal fabrication skillset. Here are just a few things they help produce:

• Power plants and energy production
• Residential and commercial development
• Agricultural and food processing
• Manufacturing
• Hospitals
• Mass transportation
• Air transportation
• Automotive
• Pollution control
• Amusement parks and recreation
  …the list goes on!

As a metal fabricator it’s important to receive formal welding training at an accredited school so you can learn a series of welding techniques, take courses on blueprint reading and most importantly, understand industry safety standards. Other skills include mathematics, computer literacy and mechanical skills. As of 2015, the average salary for a metal fabricator is around $40,000, but your income can increase depending on your location and your skill level.
At PMI, you can become certified in our Electric Arc Welding Program and be on your way to a solid career with a great income and plenty of room for advancement. Located just north of Erie, and less than two hours from Cleveland, OH and Pittsburgh, PA, our Meadville, PA location is looking for students like you! Call us and schedule a visit at 814-333-2415.

If you are working towards earning your welding certificate, you may be wondering which states have the most opportunity for Certified Welders. In 2016, the U.S. Bureau of Statistics reported there were 397,900 welders, cutters, solderers and brazers working successful jobs across the United States. And with innovation and technology found at every corner, it took some digging to figure out which of the Nifty Fifty present the best job opportunities for welders. This month, PMI presents a list of the top five states for welding jobs. You’ll be happy to know; two of the five states might be our own backyards! Continue reading →