Welder Resume: Examples & Guide (2026)

A welder resume is screened for credentials and capability first: your welding certifications, the processes you run, and the materials and positions you can weld to code. After that, shops want a clean safety record and evidence you produce quality work that passes inspection the first time.

Here is how to structure a welder resume that gets you to the test plate and the job.

What employers screen for first

• Certifications: AWS certs, and the codes you weld to (e.g. D1.1, ASME Section IX).
• Processes: MIG (GMAW), TIG (GTAW), stick (SMAW), flux-cored (FCAW).
• Materials and positions: carbon steel, stainless, aluminum; flat through overhead (1G–6G).
• Safety and quality: a clean record and a high first-pass inspection or X-ray rate.

How to structure a welder resume

• Header: name, location, phone, and email.
• Certifications: AWS certs, codes, processes, and positions qualified — list these high.
• Summary: years welding, your strongest processes, and a standout result.
• Experience: each shop with work type, materials, and quality/output outcomes.
• Skills: processes, materials, positions, blueprint reading, and inspection.
• Education and trade/technical school last.

Skills and keywords to include

Match the posting’s wording. If it names "TIG" and "stainless", those exact terms should appear in your skills and at least one bullet so the ATS and shop lead both catch them.

• Processes: MIG/GMAW, TIG/GTAW, stick/SMAW, flux-cored/FCAW, pipe welding.
• Materials & positions: carbon steel, stainless, aluminum; 1G–6G, all-position.
• Codes & certs: AWS D1.1, ASME Section IX, API 1104, certified weld inspector (CWI) familiarity.
• Skills: blueprint and weld-symbol reading, fit-up, grinding, NDT/X-ray, OSHA safety.

Resume bullet examples

Weak: "Welded parts and assemblies for the shop."

Strong: "Ran TIG and MIG on stainless and aluminum assemblies, passing 98% of welds on first X-ray inspection over 3 years."

Weak: "Worked safely and met deadlines."

Strong: "Maintained a 0-incident safety record across 8,000+ shop hours while exceeding daily fabrication quotas by 15%."

Common mistakes to avoid

• Leaving certifications, processes, and qualified positions off the top of the page.
• No quality numbers — first-pass or X-ray rates prove your work holds up.
• Omitting the materials, codes, or positions the shop names in the posting.
• No safety record where safety is a primary screen.

Quick checklist

• Certifications, processes, and positions visible in the top third.
• Materials and codes clearly stated and matched to the posting.
• Bullets show quality (inspection/X-ray rate) and output.
• A clean, verifiable safety record is present.
• One page is plenty for most welders; clean, ATS-readable layout.

Ready to build yours? Browse more resume examples, start from a free Applygrid resume template, keep it ATS-friendly, and pair it with a tailored letter from our AI cover letter generator.