Structural Welder Jobs in Orange, TX
Weld hulls, decks, bulkheads, and steel structures — new build and repair.
What structural welders earn around Orange
The median, range, and annual figures above are market data — Source: BLS Occupational Employment & Wage Statistics for Beaumont-Port Arthur, TX Metro Area, via the U.S. Department of Labor's CareerOneStop. Cost of living here runs about 9% below the national average — your paycheck goes further. AMS pays $35–$40/hr plus overtime opportunities.
Structural Welders in the Orange market
Orange sits on the Sabine River at the Texas-Louisiana line, with new-construction and repair yards building tugs, barges, and government vessels. It rounds out the East Texas triangle — Houston, Port Arthur, Orange — that AMS actively recruits welders and fitters from.
In Orange the structural welder's work goes through Conrad Orange Shipyard and Bludworth Marine, and it is the plate and structural work — bulkheads, framing, foundations — that carries the vessel's load.
- Conrad Orange Shipyard
- Bludworth Marine
Named as public-record market activity — where marine work happens in this area, not a statement of AMS contracts.
- City population
- 19,178
- Median household income
- $60,183
- Average commute
- 23 min
- Cost of living (US = 100)
- 91.079
Source: U.S. Census ACS 5-year · BEA Regional Price Parities. Figures are for Orange city, Texas, not the wider metro area.
What a structural welder does in Orange
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 Orange needs structural welders right now
Tugs, barges, and government vessels get built in Orange — Conrad's Sabine River yard is a new-construction shop, which means structural welding from the keel up: bottom plate, framing, bulkheads, decks, deckhouses, all sequenced and welded to structural code with surveyors watching. New-build structural work rewards consistency above everything — pass after pass of sound flux-core and stick, in position and out, that clears inspection the first time through.
In a metro of about 1,980 welders where energy work competes hard for structural hands (BLS, May 2025), new-build vessel experience makes an Orange welder stand out. AMS recruits structural welders from the Orange market at $35–$40/hr plus overtime for new construction, retrofits, and repairs across the Gulf. Travel and per-diem work is common, and the welding stays on ships — hulls, decks, foundations, platforms — not on plant maintenance rotations.
If you've welded hull plate on new tugs or barges in Orange, run framing and bulkhead seams to structural code, or built deck structures for government vessels, your hood time is the kind Gulf yards compete for. GAO found in 2025 that every one of the Navy's seven private shipbuilders struggles to recruit and keep experienced people — the market has spoken. AMS pays $35–$40/hr plus overtime and hires you at your skill level.
Bring your experience to AMSStructural Welder jobs in Orange — FAQ
How much do structural welders make in Orange, TX?
In the Beaumont-Port Arthur, TX Metro Area, structural welders earn a median of about $28.46 per hour — typically $19.27–$40.23 per hour (BLS Occupational Employment & Wage Statistics via the U.S. Department of Labor's CareerOneStop). With local prices at 91.079 against a national 100, that median buys roughly what $31.25 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 Orange?
AMS recruits structural welders across the Gulf Coast, including the Orange 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 Orange?
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 Orange Shipyard and similar facilities. Bring your certifications — apply and an AMS representative will go over the specifics.
What is the commute like for Orange yard work?
Workers in Orange city, Texas 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 Orange?
Tell us your trade and experience — an AMS representative will follow up. Résumé optional.