Structural Welder Jobs in Morgan City, LA
Weld hulls, decks, bulkheads, and steel structures — new build and repair.
What structural welders earn around Morgan City
The median, range, and annual figures above are market data — Source: BLS Occupational Employment & Wage Statistics for Southwest Louisiana Balance of State, via the U.S. Department of Labor's CareerOneStop. AMS pays $35–$40/hr plus overtime opportunities.
Structural Welders in the Morgan City market
Morgan City grew up around the offshore-oil and shipbuilding trade at the mouth of the Atchafalaya, and Conrad's home yard still builds and repairs vessels here. It's a short reach from Houma and part of the Louisiana market AMS recruits from.
Structural Welders working Morgan City are on the plate and structural work — bulkheads, framing, foundations — that carries the vessel's load, through yards like Conrad Shipyard and Bollinger Amelia. 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.
- Conrad Shipyard
- Bollinger Amelia
Named as public-record market activity — where marine work happens in this area, not a statement of AMS contracts.
- City population
- 11,208
- Median household income
- $56,729
- Average commute
- 29 min
Source: U.S. Census ACS 5-year. Figures are for Morgan City city, Louisiana, not the wider metro area.
What a structural welder does in Morgan City
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 Morgan City needs structural welders right now
Hull steel drives this market twice over. The workboat trade puts structural welders on barge rakes, dredge hulls, tug fenders and foundations — plate-heavy builds where flux-core production welding is most of the job. And the corridor just got a demand signal: Saronic announced a $300 million expansion at the former Gulf Craft site in Franklin, projecting 1,500 direct jobs at $87,936 average pay, with construction running through 2026. Announced isn't hired — but it says where vessel-building money thinks this corridor is headed.
This trade earns its pay: shipbuilding and repair logged a 4.8 recordable-injury rate per 100 full-time workers in 2024, and a structural welder who works clean and safe inside a hull is worth real money to any contractor — safety capability is a production skill. AMS pays $35–$40 an hour plus overtime opportunities and recruits from Morgan City. Travel and per-diem work are common, with Houma's active AMS crews the nearest regular stop.
If you've burned flux-core on barge or dredge hulls — long production passes on flat panel, then stick in the corners where the machine can't reach — you know workboat structural welding is about consistency at volume. That's a skill set yards can't conjure from a six-week class, which is why experienced structural hands stay the hardest seats to fill. AMS pays $35–$40 an hour for that track record, no entry-level re-audition.
Bring your experience to AMSStructural Welder jobs in Morgan City — FAQ
How much do structural welders make in Morgan City, LA?
In the Southwest Louisiana Balance of State, structural welders earn a median of about $27.26 per hour — typically $15.49–$34.52 per hour (BLS Occupational Employment & Wage Statistics via the U.S. Department of Labor's CareerOneStop). 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 Morgan City?
AMS recruits structural welders across the Gulf Coast, including the Morgan City 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 Morgan City?
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 Conrad Shipyard and similar facilities. Bring your certifications — apply and an AMS representative will go over the specifics.
What is the commute like for Morgan City yard work?
Workers in Morgan City city, Louisiana report an average commute of about 29 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 Morgan City?
Tell us your trade and experience — an AMS representative will follow up. Résumé optional.