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Southern Fabricators

Welder - 1St & 2Nd Shift

Location

Polkton, NC

Wage

$35,360 – $52,000/yr

Employment Type

Full-time

Required Skills & Certifications

MIG WeldingTIG WeldingStick Welding
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Posted on October 27, 2026

Job Description

Overview

The Weld I position is responsible for performing basic welding operations, assembling metal components, and supporting production activities in accordance with company quality and safety standards. This role is ideal for individuals who are developing their welding skills and are eager to grow within a manufacturing environment.

Responsibilities

  • Perform tack welding and basic welds on metal components according to specifications, instructions, and blueprints.
  • Inspect welds for accuracy, appearance, and structural integrity to ensure compliance with company quality standards.
  • Assist in setting up, adjusting, and maintaining welding machines under the guidance of supervisors.
  • Read and interpret blueprints, welding symbols, and part numbers with accuracy.
  • Use appropriate fixtures, tools, and welding consumables for each assigned task.
  • Maintain proper and consistent use of PPE, including welding hoods, gloves, safety glasses, and appropriate lens shades.
  • Follow all company safety protocols, procedures, and best practices.
  • Understand and apply basic welding terminology such as square, flat, and plumb.
  • Keep work areas clean, organized, and free of hazards to support a safe and efficient environment.
  • Report any equipment malfunctions, safety concerns, or quality issues promptly.

Requirements

  • Basic welding experience or completion of a technical welding program preferred.
  • Familiarity with MIG, TIG, or Stick welding processes is an asset.
  • Ability to read blueprints and understand welding symbols.
  • Strong interest in welding and a willingness to learn and improve.
  • Good attention to detail and commitment to delivering high-quality workmanship.
  • Ability to lift up to 100 lbs and perform physical tasks such as standing, bending, and reaching throughout the shift.
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How this job compares in Polkton, NC

Pay in context

At roughly $21/hr, this posting comes in about 38% below the $34/hr median for welding jobs across North Carolina, where the middle half runs $23–$34/hr across 41 postings with published pay. Put another way, it pays more than about 17% 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 Polkton, NC

Polkton, NC is a small market in our index: 1 other active welding opening alongside this one, from 1 employer. Across North Carolina as a whole we're tracking 103 other active welding openings from 52 employers. With this few local postings, most welders here end up either commuting or looking at travel work. Browse welding jobs across North Carolina.

Southern Fabricators currently has 1 other opening live in North Carolina, which is usually a sign of either steady growth or steady turnover — worth asking which in the interview.

The most active employers in North Carolina at the moment, by number of open welding reqs, are Classic Collision (13), Southern Industrial Constructors, Inc. (8), and Environmental Air Systems (8). 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, 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.

Similar openings near Polkton, NC

Pay figures are medians computed from live postings in the Welding Pros index, not from survey data, and they move as employers post. Welder - 1St & 2Nd Shift figures were last recalculated when this page was built.