The oil industry is always looking for people who know their way around welding equipment. Qualified welders can earn a lot of money working offshore, with some oil rig based welding jobs paying double the average salary of land based welding jobs.

To get a job welding in the oil industry, you will need to be certified in handling the required welding gear. If you know how to use profile cutting equipment, stick welders, MIG welders, and other welding equipment, then that is a nice bonus.

Most offshore welding jobs are considered to be senior jobs; however there are some entry level positions. Rig welding still pays well, for example, but requires less experience and fewer qualifications than many other welding positions.

What qualifications are needed?

To get a job working as a welder in the oil industry, you will need to be certified up to “6 GR” by the CITB. Earning this certification requires that you perform certain welds, and have their standard checked by X-Ray testing. Your welds must be precise, and of a very high standard. If you don’t have any experience with welding, then you should really take a course or an apprenticeship to get used to working with the kinds of welding equipment that you will see on an oil rig.

When you apply for a job, you may get tested in the use of profile cutting gear and specialist welding equipment. These tests are necessary to ensure that you are capable of delivering welds at a high standard outside of a classroom environment. Oil rigs are isolated environments, and if you make a mistake while welding something important on a rig then you could be putting your life, and the lives of your colleagues, at risk. The companies know this, and want to make sure that only the best welders get sent out to the rigs, even for entry level positions.

What’s it like working on an oil rig?

Working on an oil rig is physically demanding, and there is an element of risk. If you are stationed on the oil rig then you will need to get used to spending long stretches of time away from home. The pay is good, however, so many younger workers are willing to make the sacrifice in order to build up some savings.

Many oil rig vacancies are not advertised, but instead offered up first of all to friends or family of rig workers. So, if you know someone who works on an oil rig then you will have a head start when it comes to applying for jobs. If you want to have even more of a leg-up, then ask your friend what kind of profile cutting gear and other welding equipment they work with, and the materials that they use most of the time. Knowing this information in advance will help you prepare for any tests that the company might throw at you. Once you have a foot in the door, you should have lots of opportunities for promotion and extra training in the long term.

This article was written by Amy Fowler on behalf of Westermans International; suppliers of welding equipment and machinery.