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Thomas Marine

Marine Welding / Fabricator

Location

San Diego, CA

Wage

$20 – $35/hr

Employment Type

Full-time

Required Skills & Certifications

TIG Welding
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Posted on September 4, 2026

Job Description

Overview

Thomas Marine, an established business in the Marine Metal Fabrication industry for over 50 years, is looking to hire 2 welder/fabricators as part of their expansion in Point Loma. The role involves constructing, installing, and repairing metal yacht structures and components, primarily using stainless steel and aluminum.

Responsibilities

  • Construct, install, and repair metal yacht structures and components.
  • Fabricate handrails and ornamental features for high-end homes and public art.
  • Create specialized prototype or developmental items for NWIC and U.S. Navy.
  • Multitask and interface with boat owners, captains, and engineers.
  • Follow safety regulations and interpret fabrication drawings.

Requirements

  • Verifiable TIG welding experience.
  • Minimum of 2-5 years' experience in metal fabrication/welding of stainless and aluminum.
  • Regular use of common metal fabrication tools and machinery.
  • Ability to stand for extended periods and weld outdoors.
  • Ability to lift up to 50 pounds.
  • Valid driver's license and commercially insurable.
  • Strong pride in work and ability to get along with others.

Benefits

  • PTO

Additional Information

  • Pay ranges from $20-$35 to start, depending on experience.
  • Work hours are from 0730 to 1600, with voluntary weekend overtime available.
  • 5 days paid vacation starts after 90 days.
  • Employees are paid every Wednesday.
  • Simple IRA available.
  • Interview scheduling available immediately and after hours.

Benefits

PTO
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How this job compares in San Diego, CA

Pay in context

At roughly $28/hr, this posting comes in about 21% below the $35/hr median for welder fabricator jobs in San Diego, CA, where the middle half runs $28–$36/hr across 8 postings with published pay. Put another way, it pays more than about 13% 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 San Diego, CA

We're tracking 27 other active welding openings in San Diego, CA right now, from 20 different employers. 3 of them were added in the last week. Across California as a whole we're tracking 457 other active welding openings from 227 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 Diego, or widen the search to California.

The most active employers in California at the moment, by number of open welding reqs, are SpaceX (25), Volt (15), and Aerotek (14). Volume like that usually means either a genuine expansion or a staffing agency working several client sites — worth knowing which before you apply.

Within California, the best-paying metros we track by median hourly rate are Santa Ana at $53/hr, Long Beach at $49/hr, and Torrance at $43/hr. If you can relocate or commute, that spread is worth factoring in.

What you'll be running

This posting calls for TIG. 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 Diego, CA

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