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Job Description

Overview

The Welder/Fabricator is responsible for performing welding, fabrication, and structural repairs on emergency response vehicles, ensuring their operational reliability and compliance with industry standards. Safe Industries values service, teamwork, accountability, and readiness in their operations.

Responsibilities

  • Perform MIG, TIG, and stick welding on steel, stainless steel, and aluminum components.
  • Fabricate, modify, and repair structural components of emergency vehicles including frames, compartments, mounts, brackets, and supports.
  • Repair damaged apparatus components caused by wear, corrosion, or collision.
  • Cut, grind, and prepare materials for welding and fabrication.
  • Read and interpret blueprints, technical drawings, and fabrication specifications.
  • Measure and verify dimensions to ensure proper alignment and fit of fabricated components.
  • Assist with installation of equipment and components on new or refurbished apparatus.
  • Maintain welding equipment, tools, and shop work areas in safe operating condition.
  • Inspect completed welds to ensure strength, durability, and compliance with quality standards.
  • Collaborate with service technicians during repairs and apparatus rebuilds.
  • Document completed work and report any structural concerns identified during repairs.

Requirements

  • Experience with MIG, TIG, and/or stick welding processes.
  • Ability to fabricate and repair components using various metals including steel, stainless steel, and aluminum.
  • Ability to read and interpret technical drawings, blueprints, and measurements.
  • Skilled in the use of fabrication tools including grinders, saws, torches, and cutting equipment.
  • Knowledge of safe welding practices and shop safety procedures.
  • Strong attention to detail and quality workmanship.
  • Experience working on fire apparatus, ambulances, or heavy-duty vehicles is preferred.
  • Knowledge of fire apparatus body construction and compartment structures is preferred.
  • Experience with aluminum apparatus bodies and stainless-steel fabrication is preferred.
  • Experience performing structural repairs following vehicle damage or collision is preferred.
  • Welding certifications (AWS or equivalent) are preferred.
  • Mechanical aptitude and ability to assist with apparatus equipment installation is preferred.

Benefits

  • Health Insurance
  • Vision
  • Dental
  • Life Insurance
  • PTO
  • 401k

Benefits

Health Insurance
Vision
Dental
Life Insurance
PTO
401k
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How this job compares in San Antonio, TX

Pay in context

This employer didn't publish a rate. For reference, welding jobs in San Antonio, TX currently run a median of $33/hr in our index, with the middle half of them falling between $27–$38/hr across 8 postings with published pay. That median is a reasonable floor to anchor on when a recruiter asks what you're looking for.

The local market in San Antonio, TX

We're tracking 14 other active welding openings in San Antonio, TX right now, from 13 different employers. None of them were added in the last week, so this is a slower-moving market. Across Texas as a whole we're tracking 1,339 other active welding openings from 720 employers. A metro this active generally means you have real leverage — employers here are competing for the same welders. Browse every welding job in San Antonio, or widen the search to Texas.

The most active employers in Texas at the moment, by number of open welding reqs, are Welding Shop in Houston, TX (27), Zachry Group (22), and Austin Industries (16). Volume like that usually means either a genuine expansion or a staffing agency working several client sites — worth knowing which before you apply.

Within Texas, the best-paying metros we track by median hourly rate are Pasadena at $40/hr, Arlington at $39/hr, and Midlothian at $38/hr. If you can relocate or commute, that spread is worth factoring in.

What you'll be running

This posting calls for MIG, TIG, and Stick 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.

See all welder fabricator openings if you want to compare this against similar roles.

Similar openings near San Antonio, TX

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