Blacksmith & Welder
Company
Chicago Transit Authority
Location
Chicago, IL
Job Type
Full-time
Salary
58.91 an hour
Posted
3 days ago
Via
via ZipRecruiter
Apply On
Job Description
SALARY
$58.91
POSITION SUMMARY
Performs various blacksmith and welding activities in the maintenance of buses and automotive equipment.
PRIMARY RESPONSIBILITIES
Welds, forges, heats, shapes and bends metals.
Tempers and dresses tools; fabricated and repairs springs involving tempering, repairing, potting, case and dichloride hardening.
Operates furnaces, forging machines, drop-forging machines, belt machines and Bradley hammers.
Performs heavy forging, forms heavy plates, links and rings, makes tools and tempers and heat treats new tools.
Performs electric arc welding, carbon arc welding, cutting and melting, acetylene welding, cutting and melting, acetylene welding, tungsten (non-consumable inert gas welding and metal (consumable) inert gas welding and silver soldering.
Cuts and heats ferrous and non-ferrous metals.
Takes accurate measurements as required and reads and interprets blueprints and schematic drawings.
Performs other related duties as assigned.
SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITIES
Reporting to this position are the following jobs:
Job Title
CHALLENGES
EDUCATION/EXPERIENCE REQUIREMENTS
Must have a minimum of five-(5) years verifiable trade experience in a recognized shop.
Required to submit to and pass drug and alcohol testing as mandated by the Federal Transportation Administration.
Required to pass a physical examination.
Required to perform the physical activities associated with this position.
PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS
Required to be standing operating hydraulic press, walking to and from within work area and sitting at welding table to weld small parts.
Required to lift raw materials, (up to 50 lbs.), carrying sheet of steel, converter housing, pushing welding machine, torch cart and pulling welding machine, torch cart and air hose.
Required to climb ladders, pit stairs, scaffolding and balancing while climbing ladders and stairs.
Required to stoop to repair bus floors, to retrieve broken parts, to kneel, to crouch and to craw to repair underneath bus.
Required to reach to retrieve radiance rods, small work tools and to hand burning or cutting torch, hammers, goggles and helmets.
Required to finger and to feel surface of a piece to be welded.
Required to talk and to hear to co-workers and team work jobs, while performing teamwork jobs, giving instruction and observing surface prior to repair.
Required to see and to be acute near and far to read blueprints and schematic drawings, while doing lay-out work, to observe surface prior to repair and to see dangerous situations in shop area and color vision while examining welding jobs.
KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES
Must possess the knowledge and have experience in the process of silver soldering.
Must possess a comprehensive knowledge of blacksmith and welding techniques.
Must have a practical knowledge of arithmetic operations, including fractions, decimals and percentages.
Required to possess the knowledge and skills necessary to use power operated and hand tools.
WORKING CONDITIONS
Required to work occasional on buses parked in the yards inside or outside.
Usual blacksmith/welder shop conditions.
Required to work under extreme cold outside on buses during repairing on winter months.
Required to work under extreme heat inside welding underneath bus during summer months.
Required to work in wet, humid and noise and vibration conditions outside during work raining periods, body shop, carpentry shop, tin shop, ventilation system, rivet guns, welding machines and tools.
Required to manage mechanical cutting machines and hydraulic press, electrical welding machines, burns sparks from grinding metal, torches, oxygen tanks, chemical bath and heights atop scaffolding around the bus and ladders.
Required to work under atmospheric conditions welding fumes or burning rubber, odors from welding rod, dust shop floors and bus floors, mist while working on buses parked outside when raining, gases from torch welding and burning gas or argon gas and others.
EQUIPMENT, TOOLS, AND MATERIALS UTILIZED
Standard hand tools, torches and welders and soldering devices.
$58.91
POSITION SUMMARY
Performs various blacksmith and welding activities in the maintenance of buses and automotive equipment.
PRIMARY RESPONSIBILITIES
Welds, forges, heats, shapes and bends metals.
Tempers and dresses tools; fabricated and repairs springs involving tempering, repairing, potting, case and dichloride hardening.
Operates furnaces, forging machines, drop-forging machines, belt machines and Bradley hammers.
Performs heavy forging, forms heavy plates, links and rings, makes tools and tempers and heat treats new tools.
Performs electric arc welding, carbon arc welding, cutting and melting, acetylene welding, cutting and melting, acetylene welding, tungsten (non-consumable inert gas welding and metal (consumable) inert gas welding and silver soldering.
Cuts and heats ferrous and non-ferrous metals.
Takes accurate measurements as required and reads and interprets blueprints and schematic drawings.
Performs other related duties as assigned.
SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITIES
Reporting to this position are the following jobs:
Job Title
CHALLENGES
EDUCATION/EXPERIENCE REQUIREMENTS
Must have a minimum of five-(5) years verifiable trade experience in a recognized shop.
Required to submit to and pass drug and alcohol testing as mandated by the Federal Transportation Administration.
Required to pass a physical examination.
Required to perform the physical activities associated with this position.
PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS
Required to be standing operating hydraulic press, walking to and from within work area and sitting at welding table to weld small parts.
Required to lift raw materials, (up to 50 lbs.), carrying sheet of steel, converter housing, pushing welding machine, torch cart and pulling welding machine, torch cart and air hose.
Required to climb ladders, pit stairs, scaffolding and balancing while climbing ladders and stairs.
Required to stoop to repair bus floors, to retrieve broken parts, to kneel, to crouch and to craw to repair underneath bus.
Required to reach to retrieve radiance rods, small work tools and to hand burning or cutting torch, hammers, goggles and helmets.
Required to finger and to feel surface of a piece to be welded.
Required to talk and to hear to co-workers and team work jobs, while performing teamwork jobs, giving instruction and observing surface prior to repair.
Required to see and to be acute near and far to read blueprints and schematic drawings, while doing lay-out work, to observe surface prior to repair and to see dangerous situations in shop area and color vision while examining welding jobs.
KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES
Must possess the knowledge and have experience in the process of silver soldering.
Must possess a comprehensive knowledge of blacksmith and welding techniques.
Must have a practical knowledge of arithmetic operations, including fractions, decimals and percentages.
Required to possess the knowledge and skills necessary to use power operated and hand tools.
WORKING CONDITIONS
Required to work occasional on buses parked in the yards inside or outside.
Usual blacksmith/welder shop conditions.
Required to work under extreme cold outside on buses during repairing on winter months.
Required to work under extreme heat inside welding underneath bus during summer months.
Required to work in wet, humid and noise and vibration conditions outside during work raining periods, body shop, carpentry shop, tin shop, ventilation system, rivet guns, welding machines and tools.
Required to manage mechanical cutting machines and hydraulic press, electrical welding machines, burns sparks from grinding metal, torches, oxygen tanks, chemical bath and heights atop scaffolding around the bus and ladders.
Required to work under atmospheric conditions welding fumes or burning rubber, odors from welding rod, dust shop floors and bus floors, mist while working on buses parked outside when raining, gases from torch welding and burning gas or argon gas and others.
EQUIPMENT, TOOLS, AND MATERIALS UTILIZED
Standard hand tools, torches and welders and soldering devices.
Frequently Asked Questions
Quick answers about Welder Jobs
What is the median hourly wage for welders in the United States as of January 2026 including overtime rates?
The Bureau of Labor Statistics reports the median hourly wage for welders at $28.45 as of January 2026 with time-and-a-half overtime required after 40 hours under FLSA rules. Welders in manufacturing earn an additional $4.20 per hour on average for night shifts. Annual median earnings reach $59,176 for full-time roles.
How many hours per week can welders legally work in the United States without overtime pay in 2026?
The U.S. Department of Labor sets the standard workweek at 40 hours with overtime at 1.5 times the regular rate required after that threshold in 2026. Welders on federal contracts receive double time for hours over 48 in a workweek. Paid sick leave of up to 56 hours annually applies under the Families First Coronavirus Response Act extensions.
What education and experience are required to qualify for welder jobs in the United States in 2026?
The Bureau of Labor Statistics states a high school diploma plus 6-12 months of postsecondary welding training or apprenticeship is required for 2026 entry-level positions. Three years of documented experience is mandatory for structural welding roles under AWS D1.1 standards referenced by DOL. Certification in SMAW or GMAW processes must be completed before hire.
What documents are required to apply for welder positions through U.S. Department of Labor registered apprenticeships in 2026?
Applicants must submit Form ETA-671, high school transcripts, and proof of U.S. work authorization to DOL-registered programs by March 2026 deadlines. A valid driver's license and negative drug test results from a SAMHSA-certified lab are mandatory. Background checks via FBI fingerprinting are required for nuclear or pipeline welding tracks.
