Structural Welder Jobs in Charleston, SC
Weld hulls, decks, bulkheads, and steel structures — new build and repair.
What structural welders earn around Charleston
The median, range, and annual figures above are market data — Source: BLS Occupational Employment & Wage Statistics for Charleston-North Charleston, SC Metro Area, via the U.S. Department of Labor's CareerOneStop. Cost of living here runs right around the national average. AMS pays $35–$40/hr plus overtime opportunities.
Structural Welders in the Charleston market
Charleston is one of the busiest ship-repair harbors on the East Coast, anchored by Detyens Shipyards at the former Charleston Naval Shipyard on the Cooper River — a major commercial and government repair yard. It's a Southeast market AMS is hiring welders and fitters for right now.
Structural Welders working Charleston are on the plate and structural work — bulkheads, framing, foundations — that carries the vessel's load, through yards like Detyens Shipyards. What that means day to day depends on whether the yard is running new construction or repair — the fit-up problems are not the same.
- Detyens Shipyards
Named as public-record market activity — where marine work happens in this area, not a statement of AMS contracts.
- City population
- 152,014
- Median household income
- $90,038
- Average commute
- 24 min
- Cost of living (US = 100)
- 99.105
Source: U.S. Census ACS 5-year · BEA Regional Price Parities. Figures are for Charleston city, South Carolina, not the wider metro area.
What a structural welder does in Charleston
Structural welders build and repair the steel that holds a vessel together — hulls, bulkheads, decks, foundations, catwalks, and platforms — welding to structural code on onshore and offshore projects, new constructions, retrofits, and repairs. Flux-core, stick, and MIG in tight, out-of-position spots. AMS handles every aspect to the highest quality standards.
Why Charleston needs structural welders right now
Steel renewal drives structural demand in every repair harbor: cropping out wasted shell plate, welding in inserts, renewing frames and foundations, and repairing the wear a working ship accumulates between dockings. Charleston's repair work spans commercial and government hulls, so structural welders here weld to code under survey — flux-core, stick, and MIG, mostly out of position, often inside existing structure. Repair welding rewards adaptability over repetition: no panel line, no fixed station, just a different problem on a different vessel each availability. Welders who like solving steel problems tend to stay in repair markets for good.
AMS is hiring structural welders in Charleston right now at $35–$40 an hour plus overtime opportunities — the same rate it pays across the Gulf. Industry-wide, GAO reported in 2025 that all seven Navy private shipbuilders struggle with recruitment and retention, competing for welders against construction, energy, and manufacturing employers — and repair yards fish from the same pool. That's leverage for a qualified structural hand. If Charleston isn't home, AMS treats travel and per diem as a normal part of the job, and a resume is optional to apply.
If you've welded hull inserts in a graving dock, run overhead flux-core on bulkhead repairs, or held structural quals across both new construction and repair, Charleston is a straight fit. Module welders from the big new-construction yards adapt fast — same processes, harder access, more inspection. Experienced structural welders who can pass a test and produce inside old steel are the hardest fill in this industry, and AMS is hiring them in Charleston now at $35–$40 an hour, paying for the experience instead of discounting it.
Bring your experience to AMSStructural Welder jobs in Charleston — FAQ
How much do structural welders make in Charleston, SC?
In the Charleston-North Charleston, SC Metro Area, structural welders earn a median of about $26.95 per hour — typically $20.70–$35.52 per hour (BLS Occupational Employment & Wage Statistics via the U.S. Department of Labor's CareerOneStop). With local prices at 99.105 against a national 100, that median buys roughly what $27.19 an hour would nationally. AMS pays $35–$40/hr plus overtime opportunities; the rate for a specific role is discussed when you apply.
Does AMS hire structural welders in Charleston?
AMS recruits structural welders across the Gulf Coast, including the Charleston market, for marine fabrication and repair work. Apply and tell us your trade, your experience, and whether you can travel.
What do I need to get hired as a structural welder in Charleston?
For structural welders, AMS looks first at flux-core, stick, mig and structural code. Every role also requires passing a shipyard safety orientation and a drug screen, and a TWIC card is usually needed for yard access at Detyens Shipyards and similar facilities. Bring your certifications — apply and an AMS representative will go over the specifics.
What is the commute like for Charleston yard work?
Workers in Charleston city, South Carolina report an average commute of about 24 minutes (U.S. Census ACS). Yard start times are early, so most crews plan the drive around shift change rather than rush hour. If you would rather travel to the work than commute to it, AMS runs per-diem assignments across the Gulf Coast.
Ready to work as a structural welder in Charleston?
Tell us your trade and experience — an AMS representative will follow up. Résumé optional.