Welder in Fall River, MA

The Salary Picture: Where Fall River Stands

As a local, I’ve watched the job market here for years. Fall River isn't Boston, but it has a distinct industrial backbone, especially in metal fabrication, shipbuilding, and food processing equipment. The welding jobs are here, but they’re niche. The median salary of $49,723/year is a good starting point, but your actual take-home depends heavily on specialization and the specific shop you walk into.

Here’s a realistic breakdown of what you can expect based on your training and experience level. I've pulled this data from local job postings and industry conversations, benchmarked against the national average of $49,590/year.

Experience Level	Annual Salary Estimate	Hourly Rate	Local Context
Entry-Level	$38,000 - $44,000	$18.25 - $21.15	You'll likely start in general fabrication shops or maintenance. Expect to do a lot of grinding and fitting.
Mid-Career	$47,000 - $56,000	$22.60 - $26.92	This is the median range. You're proficient in MIG, TIG, and stick, and can read blueprints. This is where most of the 187 jobs in the metro fall.
Senior/Specialist	$58,000 - $70,000+	$27.88 - $33.65+	Here’s where you see the premiums. Certified welders (AWS) in TIG for aerospace or food-grade stainless steel can command over $30/hr.
Expert/Supervisor	$72,000+	$34.61+	Lead welder, QC inspector, or shop foreman. Requires certifications and often a CDL for on-site work.

Comparison to Other MA Cities:

• Boston Metro: Salaries are 15-20% higher, but rent is 40% higher. The cost of living here is 100.9 (above the US average of 100), while Boston is closer to 160.
• New Bedford (our neighbor): Very similar salary range, but New Bedford has more maritime welding jobs (fishing vessels, offshore wind support). Commuting between the two is common.
• Worcester: Comparable salaries, but more diverse manufacturing (biotech equipment, robotics). A better long-term growth option if you specialize.

Insider Tip: Don’t just look at the base $49,723 median. Many shops offer overtime during peak seasons (Q2 and Q3 for construction and marine). A welder earning the median can easily push their annual income to $60k+ with consistent overtime, which is common in local fabrication shops.

The Real Take-Home: After Taxes and Rent

Let's get real about the numbers. A gross salary of $49,723/year breaks down to roughly $4,144/month before taxes. After federal, state (MA has a 5% flat tax), and FICA, your take-home pay is closer to $3,650/month.

Now, let's build a monthly budget for a single welder in Fall River.

• Take-Home Pay: $3,650
• Rent (1-BR Avg): -$1,398
• Utilities (Elec/Heat/Gas): -$150 (Fall River winters are damp; heating costs are real)
• Car Payment/Insurance: -$350 (Public transit is limited; a reliable vehicle is a must)
• Groceries: -$300
• Health Insurance (Employer Share): -$150
• Discretionary/Student Loan: -$200
• Remaining Buffer: $1,102

Can you afford to buy a home?
With a $1,102 monthly buffer, saving for a down payment is a slow grind. Fall River’s median home price is around $385,000. A 20% down payment is $77,000. At the current savings rate without overtime, you’re looking at a 6-year timeline just for the down payment, without accounting for closing costs or emergencies.

My Take: Many local welders buy in the suburbs (Somerset, Swansea) where home prices are slightly lower, or they buy multi-family properties in Fall River’s North End to offset the mortgage with rental income. It’s tough but not impossible if you’re disciplined.

Where the Jobs Are: Fall River's Major Employers

The job market here is built on legacy manufacturing and a growing maritime sector. The 10-year job growth is only 2%, which is stagnant. Growth isn't in new shops opening, but in replacing retirees and supporting new projects like offshore wind. Here are the key players:

1. BAE Systems (Marine Division): Located in the Battleship Cove area. They maintain and repair US Navy vessels. This is the top-tier employer for structural welders. They prioritize AWS certifications and security clearance. Hiring is consistent but competitive.
2. Savage Marine Services: A key contractor for the nearby New Bedford offshore wind projects. They need welders for custom barge and equipment fabrication. This is a growth area, despite the overall low local growth rate.
3. C.O. Plast & Engineering: A local custom fabrication shop in the North End. They work with food processing and pharmaceutical clients, requiring sanitary TIG welding on stainless. Great for learning specialty skills.
4. Fall River Public Schools Maintenance Dept: A stable, unionized job. You’ll be doing maintenance welding across all city schools—fixing bleachers, railings, and HVAC components. Good benefits, lower pay than private sector.
5. Atlas Tack (now part of Accuride): In the South End. They manufacture industrial fasteners and some light components. More production-line welding, repetitive but steady.
6. Local Pipefitters/Steamfitters Union (UA Local 51): The union hall in nearby Taunton lists jobs for welders on industrial piping projects. The work is often site-based (power plants, hospitals) and pays well, but it's project-based, not a steady 9-to-5.

Hiring Trends: The biggest demand is for welders who can do TIG welding on stainless steel for the food and pharmaceutical equipment sectors. Offshore wind support is the new "it" field, but those jobs are often based out of New Bedford with travel to the Fall River area. Q2 (April-June) is the busiest hiring period as shops gear up for summer construction.

Getting Licensed in MA

Massachusetts does not have a state-level welder's license. You don't need a state permit to weld. However, the employers do. Here’s what you actually need:

• AWS Certifications: This is the real license. The American Welding Society (AWS) certifications (D1.1 for structural, D1.6 for stainless) are what shops look for. You get these by passing a practical test at a certified facility.
• Cost: A certification test typically costs $150 - $300 per position (e.g., MIG, TIG, Stick). Most reputable shops will pay for this if you’re hired, but having one on your resume gets you in the door.
• Timeline: If you’re starting from scratch, a 6-month vocational program (like at Bristol Community College) gets you basic skills. Add another 3-6 months of on-the-job training to get your first AWS cert.
• OSHA 10-Hour: Most employers require this basic safety certification. It’s a one-day course, costs about $80, and is offered weekly at local training centers.

Insider Tip: For the food/pharma jobs (like at C.O. Plast), ask about sanitary welding certifications (3-A or BPE standards). These aren't common and can give you a significant pay bump.

Best Neighborhoods for Welders

Where you live affects your commute and your budget. The city is compact, but traffic on Route 6 and 24 can be a bear.

1. North End: Closest to the industrial riverfront shops (BAE, C.O. Plast). It's walkable, with a community feel. Rent is close to the city average.
   • Rent: $1,250 - $1,400/month
   • Commute: 5-15 minutes to most jobs.
2. South End: Home to Atlas Tack and closer to the I-195 and Route 24 access. More residential, quieter. You’ll be commuting to the North End shops (15-20 mins).
   • Rent: $1,100 - $1,300/month
   • Commute: 10-20 minutes.
3. Highland (West Side): A classic working-class neighborhood. Good value on rent, but older housing stock. Commute is fine, but you’re crossing the city.
   • Rent: $1,000 - $1,200/month
   • Commute: 15-25 minutes.
4. Somerset (Suburb): If you want a single-family home, this is where many local tradespeople live. It’s a 10-minute drive over the Braga Bridge. Riverfront, good schools.
   • Rent/1BR: $1,400 - $1,600 (Similar to Fall River)
   • Home Prices: Higher than Fall River.
5. Maplewood: A quiet, residential area near the South End. Good for families. Commute is easy via Route 6.
   • Rent: $1,150 - $1,350/month

Commute Insight: Most welders live within a 20-minute radius of the industrial zones. The North End is the most convenient for factory work. If you get a job at the shipyard (BAE), living in the North End or South End is ideal.

The Long Game: Career Growth

With a 2% growth rate, you can’t count on the market expanding. Your growth must come from specialization and advancement.

• Specialty Premiums:

  • TIG Welding (Stainless/Aluminum): +$2 - $5/hour.
  • Structural Welding (AWS D1.1): Required for BAE and maritime work. Base requirement.
  • Certified Welding Inspector (CWI): A huge jump. You move from hands-on to quality control. Requires 5+ years of experience and passing a rigorous exam (cost ~$400). Salary jumps to $70k+.
  • Pressure Pipe Welding: This is the golden ticket. Working on boilers or high-pressure systems (often union jobs). Pay can exceed $45/hour.

• Advancement Paths:

  1. Welding Technician -> Lead Welder -> Shop Foreman. The traditional path. You manage people and workflow.
  2. Field Welder -> On-Site QC Inspector. Travel to projects, higher per-diem pay.
  3. Master Fabricator -> Small Business Owner. Many seasoned welders in Fall River start their own custom fabrication shops in their garages, serving local contractors.

• 10-Year Outlook: The offshore wind industry, based 30 minutes away in New Bedford, will be the biggest driver. It will create demand for welders with maritime certifications and the ability to work on dynamic, offshore structures. The local job count (187) may not grow, but the quality and pay of those jobs will improve.

The Verdict: Is Fall River Right for You?

Fall River is a practical, affordable base for a welding career, but it’s not a "hot" market. It’s for welders who value stability over explosive growth.

Pros	Cons
Affordable Cost of Living (Index: 100.9). Your salary stretches further here than in Boston.	Stagnant Job Market (2% growth). Little room for job-hopping.
Stable, Industrial Employers (BAE, local fab shops). Less volatility than tech hubs.	Lower Ceiling. Top pay is capped around $75k for most without going into management or union pipefitting.
Proximity to Major Projects. Offshore wind in New Bedford is a 25-min drive, opening up high-wage opportunities.	Limited Nightlife/Culture. It’s a working-class city. If you want a vibrant social scene, you’ll be driving to Providence or Boston.
No State Welding License Required. Get your AWS certs and you’re ready to work.	Competition for Top Jobs. The best employers (BAE, unions) are competitive. It's who you know.

Final Recommendation: Fall River is a solid choice for mid-career welders or those willing to specialize. If you’re just starting out, the low job growth means you should get your AWS certs first, then move here. For seasoned welders, it’s a place to settle down, buy a home (eventually), and leverage your skills in a niche market without the insane cost of living in Boston. It’s not glamorous, but it can be a durable career.

FAQs

1. Is Fall River a good place for a beginner welder to start?
It’s okay, but not ideal. The job growth is low, so there are fewer entry-level openings. Your best bet is to complete a vocational program (like at Bristol Community College) and get your AWS D1.1 certification before you move. That makes you competitive for the few trainee spots available.

2. What’s the weather like for outdoor welding jobs?
New England winters are tough. Outdoor welding on construction sites or marine projects slows down from December to March. Indoor fabrication shops have year-round work. If you want steady hours, prioritize shop jobs.

3. Do I need my own welding truck?
Not for most shop jobs. However, if you get into union pipefitting or become a mobile fabricator for contractors, you will need your own rig. That’s a later-career move, not an entry requirement.

4. How do I find jobs that aren’t on Indeed?
In Fall River, it’s all about relationships. Join the Bristol County chapter of the American Welding Society. Attend local trade shows at the Fall River Convention Center. Many shops hire through word-of-mouth from existing employees. A direct walk-in with a resume and a photo portfolio of your welds at smaller shops can sometimes land you an interview.

5. What’s the best way to handle the 10-year growth outlook?
Don’t rely on the local market alone. The 2% growth means you need to be proactive. Use Fall River as your affordable home base and commute to higher-growth fields. A 45-minute drive to Providence, RI, or a 1-hour drive to Boston opens up thousands of more job opportunities. Your salary will increase, and your cost of living will stay manageable.