Welder/Equipment Operator

Location

Springdale, AR

Wage

$18 – $23/hr

Employment Type

Full-time

Required Skills & Certifications

MIG WeldingTIG WeldingSteelAluminum
Apply for This Position

Posted on August 20, 2026

Job Description

Overview

Thomas Fence is a trusted provider of high-quality fencing solutions, recognized for exceptional craftsmanship, dependable service, and customer care. The Welder/Equipment Operator plays an important role in both the fabrication of custom fencing components and the day-to-day operation of the shop and yard, ensuring that materials, equipment, and personnel are organized to support residential and commercial fencing projects.

Responsibilities

  • Fabricate and assemble custom metal components for fencing projects based on blueprints and project specifications.
  • Read and interpret fundamental prints and project drawings to determine fabrication requirements.
  • Perform TIG and MIG welding with precision and consistency.
  • Measure, cut, drill, bend, grind, polish, and shape materials using hand tools and power tools.
  • Oversee the day-to-day organization and operation of the shop and yard.
  • Assign daily tasks and coordinate shop and yard activities.
  • Provide guidance, training, and mentorship to shop and yard personnel.
  • Safely operate welding equipment, forklifts, and other shop equipment.
  • Inspect tools and equipment regularly for proper operation and safety.
  • Maintain accurate inventory of fencing materials and supplies.
  • Follow all safety policies, procedures, and OSHA requirements.
  • Communicate effectively with project managers and team members.

Requirements

  • High school diploma or equivalent.
  • Welding certification or equivalent professional welding experience.
  • Minimum of 5 years of MIG welding experience.
  • Minimum of 1 year of TIG welding experience.
  • Demonstrated proficiency in TIG and MIG welding.
  • Experience working with galvanized steel, steel, aluminum, and other metals.
  • Ability to read and understand fundamental prints and project specifications.
  • Experience in a shop, fabrication, construction, fencing, or similar environment.
  • Strong attention to detail and commitment to high-quality workmanship.
  • Ability to safely operate and maintain shop equipment and tools.
  • Strong organizational, communication, and problem-solving skills.
  • Ability to work independently while also directing and supporting other team members.
  • Experience supervising or leading shop or yard personnel.
  • Experience with plasma cutters and other fabrication equipment.
  • Forklift and/or heavy equipment operating experience or certification.
  • Basic computer skills for inventory and record-keeping.
  • Mechanical aptitude and experience performing equipment maintenance.
  • Ability to regularly lift and move materials weighing up to 80 pounds.

Benefits

  • Health Insurance
  • Dental
  • Vision
  • Life Insurance
  • PTO

Additional Information

  • People with a criminal record are encouraged to apply.
  • Work Location: In person.

Benefits

Health Insurance
Dental
Vision
Life Insurance
PTO

How this job compares in Springdale, AR

Pay in context

At roughly $21/hr, this posting comes in about 11% below the $23/hr median for welding jobs across Arkansas, where the middle half runs $21–$32/hr across 31 postings with published pay. Put another way, it pays more than about 19% of the comparable postings we have wage data for. That gap is worth raising directly — in a market this size there is normally room to negotiate toward the median, particularly if you already hold the certifications the posting asks for.

The local market in Springdale, AR

Springdale, AR is a small market in our index: 1 other active welding opening alongside this one, from 1 employer. Across Arkansas as a whole we're tracking 47 other active welding openings from 39 employers. With this few local postings, most welders here end up either commuting or looking at travel work. Browse welding jobs across Arkansas.

The most active employers in Arkansas at the moment, by number of open welding reqs, are PDS Tech Commercial (2), XPO (2), and Veterans Health Administration (2). Volume like that usually means either a genuine expansion or a staffing agency working several client sites — worth knowing which before you apply.

What you'll be running

This posting calls for MIG and TIG work. MIG (GMAW) feeds a continuous wire electrode through a shielding-gas nozzle. It lays down metal fast and is forgiving on clean material, which is why it dominates production and light fabrication work. TIG (GTAW) uses a non-consumable tungsten electrode with filler added by hand, giving the operator the most control of any process. It is slow, demanding, and the standard for stainless, aluminum, and anything where the bead has to look as good as it holds.

Similar openings near Springdale, AR

Pay figures are medians computed from live postings in the Welding Pros index, not from survey data, and they move as employers post. Welder/Equipment Operator figures were last recalculated when this page was built.