How many welders does Puget Sound Naval Shipyard actually need this year? Enough that Vigor, Todd Pacific, Nichols Brothers Boat Builders, and the Navy's own Bremerton yard are all competing for the same certified hands, alongside smaller dry dock repair outfits scattered from Seattle to Anacortes. That competition has pushed wages up, but it has not lowered the bar: Stick Welding tests, TWIC clearance, and drug screening still gate entry.
Employers range from federal contractors building destroyers to family-owned repair yards patching fishing vessels between seasons, and each sets its own qualifying standards.
The practical tension is timing: yards hire in bursts tied to vessel schedules, so a welder's certifications need to be current and 6G weld test-ready before openings post, not after.
Common Shipyard Welding Jobs and Classification Levels
In shipyard welding jobs, the difference between ship fitting and welding is not a conflict between two unrelated career paths. It is a division of labor: fitters position and align the steel, and welders make the joint permanent. In Washington repair and new-construction yards, job postings often blur the line by asking for "ship fitter/welder" combinations, which rewards workers who can move between both skill sets.
Where Fitters and Welders Divide the Work
Ship fitters read blueprints, mark and cut plate, bevel edges, and use dogs, wedges, come-alongs, and jacks to pull hull plates, frames, bulkheads, and deck sections into tolerance. They tack parts in place before the full weld pass, so fit-up quality directly controls weld quality. Structural welders then run the load-bearing welds on decks, stiffeners, foundations, and shell plate, frequently in flat, horizontal, vertical, and overhead positions. Pipe welders work in engine rooms, pump rooms, and auxiliary spaces, fitting and welding carbon steel, stainless steel, and copper-nickel piping. Their work requires tight root passes on small-diameter and heavy-wall pipe, often in confined spaces and awkward access points.
Helper, First-Class, and Journeyman Levels
Most Washington shipyards classify welders in steps rather than by a single job title. A helper or entry-level welder grinds, fits clips and brackets, preps joints, and tacks under supervision. A first-class welder has passed a classification weld test and can work without constant direction, usually in at least two processes and multiple positions. A journeyman carries the highest classification in the yard, backed by an apprenticeship or equivalent verified hours, and holds welder certifications that cover the full range of code work the yard performs. Some Puget Sound yards add letter grades within helper and first-class levels, and raises are tied to passing progressively harder weld tests.
Processes in Pacific Northwest Postings
The three welding processes below cover the overwhelming majority of Pacific Northwest shipyard work.
- SMAW: Stick welding is the baseline for outdoor structural and repair work.
- FCAW: Flux-cored arc welding appears in heavy plate production and shipyard fabrication.
- GMAW: MIG shows up more in aluminum fabrication and boat work than in hull steel.
Postings in Bremerton, Seattle, Tacoma, and Anacortes commonly ask for FCAW and SMAW on steel, with aluminum GMAW experience listed as a plus. Pipe test requirements often specify a 6G open-root test, while structural tests lean toward 3G and 4G full-penetration groove welds. A repair yard on the Duwamish Waterway may test for vertical and overhead stick before assigning a new hire to hull plating, while an Anacortes new-build yard may prioritize flux-cored flat and horizontal production work.
Washington Shipyard Welder Pay at a Glance
Shipyard welding pay in Washington often starts at or above the statewide welder median, with many marine and repair yard roles adding overtime, shift differentials, and per diem.
Certifications, Weld Tests, and Clearance Requirements
Hiring requirements in Washington shipyards vary by yard, contract, and vessel, here’s what to expect before you test.
- Common weld certificationsShipyard welding jobs often ask for AWS D1.1 for structural steel or AWS D1.2 for aluminum; many Navy-support roles require passing NAVSEA weld tests for MIG, stick, and flux-core processes. Some employers accept prior ABS or NAVSEA certifications.
- TWIC cardA Transportation Worker Identification Credential (TWIC) is increasingly required for access to ports and secure shipyard areas. You'll need to complete the federal application and pass a security threat assessment before your first day.
- Drug screening and background checksExpect a pre-employment drug test, including marijuana for federal and Navy-contracted positions, plus a criminal background check. Some employers like Vigor and SAFE Boats require screening for all new welder hires.
- Security clearancesClearance requirements vary by yard and contract. Puget Sound Naval Shipyard roles generally require an interim or final security clearance before you start; other Navy postings may require a DoD Secret clearance. Private yards like NASSCO may hire welders with no clearance.
- Employer-specific weld testsMost shipyards make you pass an in-person weld test. Vigor's aluminum welder test is 3G and 4G to AWS D1.2; structural welders face NAVSEA tests in MIG, stick, and flux-core. Some Puget Sound projects require passing the test within the first two days onsite, failure removes you from the job.
Your TWIC card isn't a one-time deal. The Security Threat Assessment behind it expires five years from the date of issuance, and according to the Transportation Security Administration, only about 60 percent of active cardholders renew when that window closes. For shipyard welders in Washington, keeping your credential current is part of staying employable.
Entry-Level Pathways and Apprenticeships
Maritime welding entry points in the Seattle area
- South Seattle College/Vigor Maritime Shipyard Welding: In-person program on Harbor Island, Seattle. It typically runs about six months.1 Applicants must be at least 18, have a high school diploma or GED within six months of hire, meet income or BFET eligibility guidelines, and be able to work in the U.S. without sponsorship. The program uses a call-for-appointment application process.2
- Seattle Jobs Initiative Maritime Welding at Vigor: Located at 1801 16th Avenue Southwest in Seattle. This six-month paid training pathway reports starting pay of $20 to $25 per hour plus benefits while preparing trainees for shipyard welding work.2
- West Sound Technical Skills Center Welding Pre-Apprenticeship: Located at 101 National Avenue North in Bremerton. Listed as apprenticeship preparation, but current sources do not publish its length, admissions requirements, or a direct shipyard placement guarantee.3
Union and college-affiliated pathways
- Eastern Washington Tri-Welding Trades Pre-Apprenticeship: 16610 East Euclid Avenue in Spokane Valley. No cost, administered by the Pacific Northwest Ironworkers Apprenticeship and Employers Training Trust, Local 14. Course length, minimum age, and education prerequisites are not established in the reviewed sources.4
- Puget Sound Naval Shipyard Welder Apprenticeship: Bremerton. This shipyard welder apprenticeship requires a minimum age of 18 and a high school diploma or GED.5 Olympic College is a partner,6 but public sources do not establish a 2026 application window, selection criteria, program length, or security clearance requirements.
- Everett Community College Entry Level Welding: Everett. This Entry Level Welding Certificate, included in the Washington Welding Schools directory, typically takes six months. The program is not specifically tied to shipyard work in the sources reviewed, and no direct employer partnership was listed.7
- Washington State Ferries metal-trades apprenticeships: Recognized under the 2025-2027 labor agreement with apprentice-to-journeyperson ratios of 1:1 and later 1:2. No 2026 welder intake or sponsoring union is identified.8
What entry-level applicants can expect
Requirements vary. The clearest minimums are age 18 and a high school diploma or GED, with some pre-apprenticeship programs adding income guidelines or work authorization checks. Union locals such as the Boilermakers or Puget Sound Shipbuilders may fill welding jobs through the local hall rather than a public listing, so interested applicants should call directly.
Paid training is common. Seattle Jobs Initiative reports $20 to $25 per hour plus benefits during maritime welding training.2 The Eastern Washington Tri-Welding Trades program is free to participants.4 Most formal apprenticeships combine paid on-the-job hours with classroom or lab instruction, but exact on-the-job hour totals are not published in the sources reviewed.
How Washington Shipyard Welding Hiring Works
Two hiring channels dominate Washington shipyard welding: direct employment with the yard itself and placement through a maritime agency. Direct hire means you apply straight to Vigor, Nichols Brothers Boat Builders, or a similar employer and, once through probation, receive their full benefit package and seniority clock. Staffing agencies fill the gap when yards need welders fast for a specific hull or overhaul, often placing workers at Puget Sound Naval Shipyard support contractors or smaller repair docks on 90-day to one-year assignments that can convert to permanent roles if the work continues.
The Application to Offer Timeline
Most postings you will see for structural welder, pipe welder, or shipfitter openings follow a similar sequence. An online application and resume screen comes first, followed by a phone or in-person interview focused on your process experience (FCAW, SMAW, GTAW) and vessel type background. If you clear that step, the yard schedules a hands-on weld test, typically a plate or pipe coupon in the position and process the job actually requires. Passing the test moves you to a conditional offer pending drug screening, background check, and TWIC card verification. Candidates who already hold an active TWIC and recent weld certifications tend to move from application to start date in two to three weeks; those still waiting on TWIC processing or certification renewal can add several weeks to that timeline.
Seasonal Peaks and Project Cycles
Hiring is not steady year-round. Yards ramp up welding crews around specific contract milestones: new construction keel-to-launch phases, scheduled Navy or ferry overhaul periods, and dry dock docking windows that compress months of repair work into tight schedules. Washington State Ferries maintenance cycles and Coast Guard cutter overhauls have historically driven visible upticks in postings during late winter and early summer, when yards need extra hands to hit delivery dates. Watch job boards and yard career pages closely during these windows, since postings can fill quickly once a project timeline is locked.
Reading Current Postings
Active listings from yards like Vigor and Nichols Brothers frequently specify the exact process and position (6G pipe, flat and vertical plate, aluminum GTAW) required for the test, along with minimum months of shipyard or structural experience. Treat that language as a checklist: if a posting calls for structural experience in FCAW flux-cored arc welding on steel-hulled vessels, tailor your resume and test prep to that process before you apply rather than after you get the callback.
According to the Washington State Employment Security Department, employment for welders, cutters, solderers, and brazers in Washington is projected at 8,539 in the second quarter of 2026, up from 8,537 in the same quarter of 2024. That is a gain of two jobs, or roughly 0.02 percent.
Union Representation, Benefits, and Working Conditions
Union coverage at Washington shipyards isn't a single blanket arrangement. It varies by craft and by employer, so two welders on the same waterfront can work under very different contracts. Understanding which union covers your trade classification matters as much as knowing the shipyard's name.
How Representation Actually Breaks Down
At Vigor, electrical work in Washington falls under an IBEW Local 48 collective bargaining agreement1, while a separate wage report from IBEW Local 46 covers shipyard classifications with their own overtime rules.2 Production and marine trades, including many welding and fitting jobs, may fall under different bargaining units entirely, so a fitter and an electrician working the same hull could be covered by different agreements. Boilermakers are also active in Washington shipbuilding and repair, though specific 2026 contract terms for particular yards aren't published in detail. Safe Boats' current union status for production staff isn't clearly established in available records, and Puget Sound Naval Shipyard, as a federal facility, operates under its own framework rather than private-sector shipyard contracts, so Vigor's terms don't transfer over.
Pay Structure and Overtime
Where IBEW terms apply at Vigor, the general pattern under the 2024-2026 Local 48 agreement is 1.5 times the applicable shift rate for pre-start work or hours beyond an 8-hour shift, with a hard cap of double straight-time on any single hour, and no pyramiding of overtime rates.1 The Local 46 wage report describes a similar structure: time and a half after 40 hours in a week or 8 hours in a day, climbing to double time past 12 hours or on holiday work.2 Vigor workers also saw a $750 ratification bonus tied to their 2025 contract, with additional $500 payments scheduled for September 2026 and September 2027, a detail worth asking about if you're weighing an offer there against a non-union yard.3
Shifts and Working Conditions
Swing and graveyard shifts are common across Washington shipyards, generally running from about 4 p.m. to midnight and midnight to 8 a.m., though exact scheduling depends on the employer.4 Washington's Office of Financial Management tracks shift differential pay for marine trades, but there's no single statewide number; each yard sets its own premium.4 Union shops typically bundle in healthcare and pension contributions alongside apprenticeship training pipelines, which can matter more over a career than the base hourly rate. Non-union positions may offer faster hiring or different scheduling flexibility, but benefits and training structure vary widely and should be confirmed directly with the employer before you sign on.
Shipyard Welder Pay in Washington
Shipyard welder pay in Washington varies by role, project, and whether the job includes travel per diem. Current 2026 postings from Vigor Marine in Seattle and shipyard contractors in Bremerton show hourly rates from about $28 to $46 for skilled welders and fitters. Overtime is often available at time and a half, and per diem typically applies to qualified travelers or contract roles rather than all direct hire positions.
| Role | Employer / Location | Hourly wage (2026) | Overtime hourly | Per diem (daily) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Marine Structural / Aluminum Welder | Vigor Marine, Seattle | 30 to 35 | 52.50 | 150 |
| Pipe Welder | Vigor Marine, Seattle | 33 | N/A | 150 |
| Shipyard Welder | Vigor Marine, Seattle | 32 | N/A | N/A |
| Pipe Welder 6G | Bremerton, WA contractor | 32 to 46 | N/A | 130 to 170 |
| Combo / Structural Welder | Bremerton, WA contractor | 30 to 40 | N/A | 120 to 160 |
| Shipfitter | Bremerton, WA contractor | 28 to 36 | N/A | 120 to 150 |
| Structural Welder | Seattle, WA | 31 | N/A | 160 |
| Pipefitter | Washington | 32 | N/A | 160 |
| Structural / Aluminum MIG Welder | Seattle, WA | 30 to 34 | N/A | 178 |
Washington Welder Employment by the Numbers
Washington employed about 7,720 welders, cutters, solderers, and brazers in the latest state-level federal data.
Washington Welding Schools and Training Programs
Walking into a Puget Sound shipyard hiring event with a completed welding program and a stack of passed test plates beats walking in with raw enthusiasm every single time. Yards do train, and several run their own apprentice pipelines, but the candidates who clear the initial weld test on the first attempt are almost always the ones who already spent a few hundred hours under a hood before they applied.
Why Pre-Hire Training Pays Off
Shipyard weld tests are pass/fail and often scheduled tight. A candidate who has never welded 3G on plate or passed a 4G SMAW Certification on plate is being asked to learn a new position and prove it on the same day. Formal training removes that gamble. It also shortens your time at the lowest classification level, because supervisors can see immediately that you understand heat input, travel speed, joint prep, and why a fit-up gap matters before the arc ever strikes.
Just as important, a good program teaches shop discipline: reading blueprints and weld symbols, grinding and cleanup between passes, and working safely in confined spaces. Those habits transfer directly to tank work and double-bottom compartments.
Processes Worth Learning
Marine and ship repair work leans on a specific mix of Types of Welding:
- SMAW (stick): Still the backbone of structural repair work, especially on dirty or weathered steel and in awkward outdoor positions.
- FCAW (flux-cored): The production workhorse for hull plate, bulkheads, and heavy structural assemblies.
- GTAW (TIG): Required for stainless, aluminum superstructures, and high-purity or thin-wall systems.
- Pipe welding: 6G Pipe Welding-capable welders are the hardest slot for any yard to fill, and it shows in the pay.
A program that only teaches MIG on flat plate will not get you far in ship repair. Look for position welding, open root pipe welding, and an instructor who talks about code qualification rather than just bead appearance.
Finding a Program in Washington
Community and technical colleges across the state run welding certificate and degree programs, and several sit within commuting distance of the Bremerton, Everett, Seattle, and Tacoma yards. For a current list of Washington schools, program lengths, and locations, see the dedicated Washington welding schools page.
When comparing options, prioritize programs that prepare you for AWS D1.1 structural qualification or offer testing that shipyards recognize, and ask directly whether local yards recruit from that campus. That one question separates a resume-line credential from a hiring pipeline.