Are you interested in training for a manufacturing or mechanic job in Jacksonville? If you have an interest in pursuing a career path in the welding, repair, or machining fields, we can help you find the hands-on training to help you get started.

Cars, trucks, and other vehicles often come to mind first when you first think of such jobs. But there are more options than just autos out there! If you have a natural mechanical skill, you may want to consider other jobs in the manufacturing industry.

But what do welders and machinists do, exactly? They read blueprints and specifications, prepare machinery and equipment, and complete projects. Welders and machinists also monitor machines, inspect finished materials, and ensure that the work is completed according to the necessary requirements. Some of these jobs, particularly welding, require a great deal of physical stamina. In both jobs, workers wear a lot of protective equipment and use special tools designed to complete their jobs efficiently and safely.

The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) indicates that welders, cutters, solderers, and brazers earned a national average annual salary of $41,000 in May 2017. Machinists and tool and die makers, meanwhile, earned an average of about $44,000 in the same timeframe. The job outlook for 2016 to 2026 is mostly flat for machinist jobs, with welders and similar jobs expected to grow about 6% over those ten years.

If you’re looking for a job in Florida that involves working with your hands, the state has one of the highest employment levels of welders, cutters, solderers, and brazers according to the BLS, with over 13,000 such jobs statewide in May 2017. In Jacksonville, production occupations (including welders and machinists) accounted for over 38 jobs out of every 1,000 in the metropolitan area at that time.

Still, there are reports of a skills gap in the state. The Florida Weekly notes that some employers find themselves seeking candidates outside the area to fill open skilled trade positions. In this 2018 article, https://charlottecounty.floridaweekly.com/articles/southwest-florida-adjusting-to-needs-of-labor-market/ they list maintenance and repair workers as one of the top 10 biggest employment gaps for the year.

Are you ready to find a training program to become welder or machinist in Jacksonville, Florida? The Imagine America Foundation has a robust network of schools https://www.imagine-america.org/our-schools/that can support you on your education journey. Career training programs for welders, solderers, and machinists (and other similar tracks) can be completed in as little as a year and typically include hands-on training specifically designed to prepare you for the certifications and skills you need to work in the industry.

Plus, IAF has scholarship and award programs to help lower the cost of tuition when you enroll at our member institutions. These award-winning scholarships and awards are designed to support recent high school graduates, adult learners, and current or honorably discharged military personnel. They help thousands of students attend one of our more than 400 partner campuses each year. We’ve given more than 700 such awards to welding students in the state of Florida alone. They provide a $1,000 discount on your tuition.