Ironworker

Welders join metal parts together using various welding techniques including MIG, TIG, stick welding, and flux-cored processes. The work spans construction, manufacturing, shipbuilding, aerospace, pipeline, and repair industries. Welders read blueprints, calculate dimensions, inspect structures for defects, select appropriate materials and methods, prepare metal surfaces, operate welding equipment, and verify weld quality through visual inspection and testing. Advanced positions involve welding exotic metals, working on pressure vessels, or performing structural work requiring certification to specific codes. Work environments vary dramatically—from climate-controlled fabrication shops to outdoor construction sites, underwater structures, and confined spaces. Physical demands include prolonged positioning, exposure to heat and fumes, and wearing protective equipment. Career advancement includes specialized certifications, inspection roles, and welding engineering positions.

Elevator installers and repairers assemble, install, maintain, and repair elevators, escalators, chairlifts, moving walkways, and other lifting equipment in buildings. The work involves reading blueprints and electrical schematics, installing electrical wiring and control systems, assembling elevator cars and counterweights, aligning guide rails, adjusting safety mechanisms, troubleshooting malfunctions, and performing required safety inspections. Modern elevators incorporate sophisticated electronic controls, variable frequency drives, destination dispatch systems, and computerized monitoring that technicians must understand alongside traditional mechanical and electrical components. The work requires operating in elevator shafts—confined vertical spaces with significant fall hazards—as well as machine rooms housing motors and control equipment. Elevator technicians must understand complex safety systems including door interlocks, overspeed governors, and emergency brakes that protect passengers. The role demands exceptional attention to detail given the life-safety implications of elevator work, strong mechanical and electrical aptitude, and comfort working in heights and confined spaces.

Boilermakers construct, assemble, maintain, and repair boilers, closed vats, and other large vessels that hold liquids and gases in power plants, refineries, factories, and ships. The work involves reading blueprints and specifications, using rigging equipment to position heavy components, fitting and bolting together components, welding seams and joints using various welding techniques, testing vessels for leaks and weaknesses, and performing maintenance to extend equipment life. Boilermakers work on massive industrial equipment—power plant boilers can be several stories tall—requiring them to work at heights, in confined spaces, and with heavy materials. The job demands expertise in multiple welding processes, knowledge of metallurgy and pressure vessel codes, and the ability to interpret complex technical specifications. Many boilermakers work on traveling repair crews, moving between job sites as maintenance needs arise. The physical demands are significant, involving heavy lifting, awkward positions, and exposure to heat, noise, and hazardous materials requiring protective equipment.