Welding is not a career for the faint of heart – that’s nothing new, but a recent survey by a job search Web site ranked it as the fifth worst out of 200 different professions. Ironworker fared even worse, coming in as the third worst job for 2010. Knowing the passion and pride that welders and ironworkers take in their jobs, we suspect the Web site didn’t consult with any while conducting their survey.

The site ranked jobs based on five factors — physical demands, work environment, income, stress and hiring outlook. Although the results are based on what a typical job seeker would look for in a career, welders are often anything but typical and many find the physical demands and work environment to be some of the most rewarding parts of the job. The money can be pretty darn good, too!

Surveys like this fail to reflect the fact that many people thrive on physically demanding work and the rewards of creating things with their own two hands. People like this would never envy the actuary (the top ranked job in the survey) sitting at a desk and staring at numbers on a computer screen all day.

On a more serious note, these types of surveys can actually harm the welding industry by potentially scaring away people who would otherwise enjoy welding as a career or hobby.

They’ve had their chance, now it’s yours. Let’s hear why this Web site is wrong and why welding is a great career. Share your thoughts and stories about how you came to be a welder by posting a comment below.