More than 100 high school counselors, educators and administrators from Wisconsin got the message that the future is bright for welding at a symposium on welding careers sponsored recently by Miller Electric Mfg. Co., Airgas, Miron Construction and AZCO Inc.

The symposium “Career Horizons: Welding” was designed to inform educators about the salary potential and wide variety of careers that can originate with an education in welding.

It featured presentations by current welding students, graduates of welding programs, industry experts and high school administrators.

The symposium is an initiative of the New North Manufacturing Alliance, a consortium of businesses, educational institutions, chambers of commerce and other organizations within an 18 county region of northeastern Wisconsin.

“I had no idea how many career pathways were available through a welding education until I became involved in this program,” Larry Haase, principal at Menasha High School, said. “We've all ascended through our careers by starting at step one, and a welding education can be a launching pad for a wide variety of careers in dozens of industries.”

Attendees learned that there are 2,900 unfilled welding jobs in Wisconsin, and that 360 new openings are created each year with an average salary of nearly $19/hour and potential salaries of more than $100/hour.

Further, they were told that there is an anticipated nationwide shortage of over 200,000 welders predicted by 2010 that will increase the demand for and salaries of trained welders.

One of the goals for the event was to encourage high school personnel to reach out to the industries and businesses in their communities to form partnerships that can improve the quality of the schools' technical education programs.

Menasha High School and AZCO Inc. are example of such a partnership. Journeyman Steam Fitter Scott Meneau visits with the regular teacher several times a week to discuss different questions that arise during class.

“There are things that the teachers don't know, but that the skilled trades people are able to help with, and that's going to help the students develop a deeper understanding of the material,” Menasha Metals Teacher Paul Koski said. In addition to expert knowledge, the company also helped the school to select and purchase welding equipment, ventilation systems and other materials.

Another focus of the symposium was to dispel the myths that welding is a low-paying occupation with little potential for advancement.