Sparc Academy

THE SPARC THAT CAN LIGHT A FIRE UNDER YOUR CAREER

Facts & Figures

SECURITY: Automation is less of a threat to welders and welding machine operators than to other manufacturing occupations. Welding machines must still be operated by someone who is knowledgeable about welding and can inspect the weld and make adjustments.

~ US Bureau of Labor Statistics

ADVANCEMENT: Welders can advance to more skilled welding jobs with additional training and experience. For example, they may become welding technicians, supervisors, inspectors, or instructors. Some experienced welders open their own repair shops.

~ US Bureau of Labor Statistics

OUTLOOK: Welding schools report that graduates have little difficulty finding work, and some welding employers report difficulty finding trained welders.

~ US Bureau of Labor Statistics

FINANCIAL GOALS: The range of earnings of welders reflects the wide range of skill levels. Income in welding directly relates to your level of skill and training. In 2006, welders earned on average between $17.75 and $25.44 per hour.

~ US Bureau of Labor Statistics

EMPLOYMENT: Welders have excellent job opportunities as some welding employers report difficulty finding trained welders.

~ US Bureau of Labor Statistics

SECURITY: Welding skills are the same across industries, so welders can easily shift from one industry to another depending on where they are needed most. For example, welders laid off in the auto industry have been able to find work in the booming oil and gas industry.

~ US Bureau of Labor Statistics

OUTLOOK: Employment of welding, soldering, and brazing workers is expected to grow about 5 percent over the 2006-16 decade.

~ US Bureau of Labor Statistics

EMPLOYMENT: Welding has grown significantly over the long term because of advances that have allowed it to replace other joining technologies in many applications. Thus, demand for welders is increasing in the construction, manufacturing, and utilities industries.

~ US Bureau of Labor Statistics

OUTLOOK: The outlook for welders in manufacturing is far stronger than for other occupations.

~ US Bureau of Labor Statistics

EMPLOYMENT: Two of every three welding jobs were found in manufacturing. Jobs were concentrated in fabricated metal product manufacturing, transportation equipment manufacturing, machinery manufacturing, architectural and structural metals manufacturing, and construction.

~ US Bureau of Labor Statistics

SECURITY: In custom applications, much of the work is difficult or impossible to automate. This includes manufacturing small batches of items, construction work, and making repairs in factories.

~ US Bureau of Labor Statistics

OUTLOOK: Retirements and job growth in the oil and gas and other industries are expected to create excellent opportunities for welders.

~ US Bureau of Labor Statistics

Welcome to Sparc Academy

Announcements

Welding Boot Camp

  • Skills enhancement classes
  • Call (281) 501-8594

Non-Destructive Testing

  • Advance Your Career
  • Learn the principles behind the processes
  • Courses meet all ASNT SNT-TC-1A requirements
  • Qualify for certification
  • Learn about NDT methods
  • Learn More

We are the premier welder education, equipping and training facility in the upstate area of South Carolina.Welcome to the Sparc Academy web site. We are the premier welder education, equipping and training facility in Houston, Texas. Our goal is to provide our customers with a comprehensive range of services to equip and prepare their welders and welding operators to meet the requirements of any nationally recognized welding specification. Welder qualifications to codes are our specialty.

Sparc Academy can help you with your welder training needs and is here to support your company. Our facility has 23 welding booths, which are outfitted with the equipment to test welders in the GMAW (MIG), GTAW (TIG), FCAW (Flux core) and SMAW (STICK) welding processes in all positions.

We are approved, through the state of Texas, as a training services provider. We also provide "on-site" welder and welding process qualification services. Please contact us for more information.