Structural Welder Jobs in Mobile, AL
Weld hulls, decks, bulkheads, and steel structures — new build and repair.
What structural welders earn around Mobile
The median, range, and annual figures above are market data — Source: BLS Occupational Employment & Wage Statistics for Mobile, AL Metro Area, via the U.S. Department of Labor's CareerOneStop. Cost of living here runs about 12% below the national average — your paycheck goes further. AMS pays $35–$40/hr plus overtime opportunities.
Structural Welders in the Mobile market
Mobile County is one of the largest shipbuilding centers on the Gulf Coast — Austal USA builds Navy vessels on the Mobile River, Alabama Shipyard runs a major repair yard nearby, and the marine trade runs south through Chickasaw and Theodore down to the boatbuilding town of Bayou La Batre, where Metal Shark and Steiner build for the Coast Guard and the commercial fleet. It's home ground for AMS, whose base sits just across the bay in Loxley, and crews are working here now.
Structural Welders working Mobile are on the plate and structural work — bulkheads, framing, foundations — that carries the vessel's load, through yards like Austal USA and Alabama Shipyard, World Marine of Alabama, Metal Shark & Steiner Shipyard (Bayou La Batre), MMIF & Silver Ships (Theodore). 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.
- Austal USA
- Alabama Shipyard
- World Marine of Alabama
- Metal Shark & Steiner Shipyard (Bayou La Batre)
- MMIF & Silver Ships (Theodore)
Named as public-record market activity — where marine work happens in this area, not a statement of AMS contracts.
- City population
- 185,097
- Median household income
- $51,090
- Average commute
- 23 min
- Cost of living (US = 100)
- 87.797
Source: U.S. Census ACS 5-year · BEA Regional Price Parities. Figures are for Mobile city, Alabama, not the wider metro area.
What a structural welder does in Mobile
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 Mobile needs structural welders right now
Mobile's structural story is steel, and more of it. Austal USA's announced expansion — roughly $750 million and 2,000 projected jobs — is aimed at submarine modules and large steel assembly (announced, not current jobs), on top of steel programs like the T-ATS towing and salvage ships and the Coast Guard's Offshore Patrol Cutter (OPC). Alabama Shipyard's repair and conversion drydock adds cropping and renewal on in-service hulls, and the small-craft cluster down through Bayou La Batre and Coden keeps aluminum in the mix.
For a welder weighing it: new-construction modules, repair steel, and aluminum small craft are three different day-to-day jobs, and Mobile has all three within one commute — rare on the Gulf. Every Navy private shipbuilder reports trouble recruiting and keeping people (GAO, 2025), competing with construction and oil-and-gas employers for the same hands, which is why proven structural welders can name their terms here. AMS pays $35–$40/hr plus overtime, runs active crews in Mobile now, and offers travel and per-diem work when you want it.
If you've burned flux-core on hull modules, welded decks and bulkheads out of position to structural code, or hold aluminum experience from the small-craft yards down the bay, Mobile will take all of it. Repair work at a conversion drydock and module assembly for new hulls both come down to the same thing: welders who pass structural inspection the first time. That's the hire the industry can't make fast enough — and it's why AMS pays $35–$40/hr instead of asking you to start over at entry level.
Bring your experience to AMSStructural Welder jobs in Mobile — FAQ
How much do structural welders make in Mobile, AL?
In the Mobile, AL Metro Area, structural welders earn a median of about $29.53 per hour — typically $21.33–$35.83 per hour (BLS Occupational Employment & Wage Statistics via the U.S. Department of Labor's CareerOneStop). With local prices at 87.797 against a national 100, that median buys roughly what $33.63 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 Mobile?
Yes. AMS has crews working the Mobile market and hires structural welders for shipbuilding and ship repair. Apply through our Employment / Job Application page and tell us your trade and experience.
What do I need to get hired as a structural welder in Mobile?
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 Austal USA and similar facilities. Bring your certifications — apply and an AMS representative will go over the specifics.
What is the commute like for Mobile yard work?
Workers in Mobile city, Alabama report an average commute of about 23 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 Mobile?
Tell us your trade and experience — an AMS representative will follow up. Résumé optional.