What Does a Welding Foreman Do?
A welding foreman supervises a team of welders, overseeing fabrication and welding operations to ensure quality, safety, and adherence to project schedules and specifications.
Other Job Titles for This Work
Workers in this occupation report titles such as Assembly Supervisor, Line Supervisor, Manufacturing Supervisor, Molding Supervisor, Plant Supervisor, Production Manager, Production Supervisor, Quality Assurance Supervisor (QA Supervisor).
Welding Foreman Duties and Responsibilities
The primary responsibilities of a welding foreman include:
- Supervise and coordinate the daily activities of welding crews
- Review blueprints and welding procedure specifications (WPS)
- Assign work tasks based on welder certifications and project needs
- Inspect welded joints and structures for quality and code compliance
- Ensure proper safety practices and PPE usage on the work site
- Train and mentor junior welders on techniques and procedures
- Coordinate with project managers and other trade foremen
- Track material usage, crew productivity, and project timelines
- Arrange for weld testing and quality inspections as required
- Maintain equipment and schedule repairs for welding machines
Required Skills and Qualifications
To succeed as a welding foreman, you will need the following skills and qualifications:
- Advanced welding expertise across multiple processes
- Leadership and crew management skills
- Knowledge of welding codes (AWS, ASME) and inspection standards
- Blueprint reading and weld symbol interpretation
- Safety management and hazard prevention
- Scheduling and resource planning abilities
- Quality assurance and inspection skills
- Clear communication for directing diverse crews
Education and Training
Extensive welding experience (5+ years) with relevant certifications (AWS CWI preferred). A trade school diploma or associate degree in welding technology. OSHA safety certification is typically required.
Salary and Job Outlook
Typical pay: $58,630 - $91,680 per year, with a median of $74,450.
The range covers the middle half of earners nationwide. Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025, First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers.
BLS projects employment of first-line supervisors of production and operating workers to grow about 2 percent from 2025 to 2035, with about 61,000 openings a year. Welding foremen are valued in heavy construction, shipbuilding, pipeline, and manufacturing industries. Career advancement paths include welding inspector, project superintendent, or shop manager.
Outlook source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections, 2025 to 2035, First-line supervisors of production and operating workers.
Welding Foreman Pay Range
| Earners | Annual pay |
|---|---|
| Bottom 10% earn less than | $47,130 |
| Bottom 25% earn less than | $58,630 |
| Median (half earn more, half less) | $74,450 |
| Top 25% earn more than | $91,680 |
| Top 10% earn more than | $108,750 |
What the Work Is Like
O*NET surveys people who work as first-line supervisors of production and operating workers about their daily conditions. Of those surveyed:
- 92% wear safety gear such as gloves, safety glasses or a hard hat every day
- 87% say teamwork is very or extremely important in their job
- 85% use email every day
- 83% usually work more than 40 hours a week
- 82% say being exact and accurate is very or extremely important
- 72% deal with loud or distracting noise every day
- 70% spend more than half the workday on their feet
Education Workers Say the Job Needs
| Education level | Share of workers |
|---|---|
| High school diploma or GED | 33% |
| Some college | 15% |
| Less than high school | 14% |
| Associate's degree | 14% |
Tools and Software Welding Foremans Use
Tools and equipment
Software
Is This Job a Good Fit for You?
People who do well in this job tend to enjoy leading, persuading and making business decisions as well as organized work with data, records and clear procedures.
Skills O*NET rates most important: Active Listening, Speaking, Time Management, Management of Personnel Resources, Critical Thinking, Monitoring.
Knowledge areas used most: Production and Processing, Administration and Management, Personnel and Human Resources, English Language, Computers and Electronics.
Preparation: O*NET places this occupation in Job Zone 3 of 5, which means medium preparation.
Related Careers
These jobs use similar skills, according to O*NET's related-occupation data:
Applying for a Welding Foreman Job
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Sources
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025.
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections, 2025 to 2035.
- O*NET 30.1 Database, occupation 51-1011.00 (First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers). View on O*NET OnLine.
This page includes information from the O*NET 30.1 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA. The Job Explorer has modified some of the information; USDOL/ETA has not approved, endorsed or tested these changes.