Structural Welder Jobs in Pascagoula, MS
Weld hulls, decks, bulkheads, and steel structures — new build and repair.
What structural welders earn around Pascagoula
The median, range, and annual figures above are market data — Source: BLS Occupational Employment & Wage Statistics for Gulfport-Biloxi, MS Metro Area, via the U.S. Department of Labor's CareerOneStop. AMS pays $35–$40/hr plus overtime opportunities.
Structural Welders in the Pascagoula market
Pascagoula is the single biggest shipbuilding cluster on the Gulf Coast — Ingalls Shipbuilding is the largest manufacturing employer in Mississippi, building destroyers and amphibious ships, with Bollinger's Mississippi yards next door in Moss Point and Escatawpa. AMS has crews working the Pascagoula market now.
Structural Welders working Pascagoula are on the plate and structural work — bulkheads, framing, foundations — that carries the vessel's load, through yards like Ingalls Shipbuilding (HII) and Bollinger Mississippi Shipbuilding (Pascagoula & Moss Point). 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.
- Ingalls Shipbuilding (HII)
- Bollinger Mississippi Shipbuilding (Pascagoula & Moss Point)
Named as public-record market activity — where marine work happens in this area, not a statement of AMS contracts.
- City population
- 21,812
- Median household income
- $43,286
- Average commute
- 19 min
Source: U.S. Census ACS 5-year. Figures are for Pascagoula city, Mississippi, not the wider metro area.
What a structural welder does in Pascagoula
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 Pascagoula needs structural welders right now
Pascagoula is planned as the production center for the Coast Guard's Polar Security Cutter — a heavy-hull program landing on top of an already loaded book of destroyer and amphibious work that runs into the early 2030s. For a structural welder that means steel in volume: bulkheads, decks, and foundations going up in sequence on destroyers and amphibious ships, flux-core and stick out of position, to structural code. Multiyear contracting is the part that matters most — the steel doesn't stop when one hull launches, because the next contract hull is behind it.
Two honest notes for anyone weighing this market. First, pay: AMS runs $35–$40 an hour plus overtime opportunities, with crews active here now — and if you'd rather travel, per-diem jobs across the Gulf are common. Second, risk: shipbuilding and repair logged 4.8 recordable injuries per 100 full-time workers in 2024, versus 2.9 in boatbuilding. This trade is genuinely hazardous, and working safe is a production skill — structural welders who can prove both the weld and the discipline are the ones who stay busy longest.
If you've run flux-core on hull blocks, welded bulkheads and foundations out of position, or made a living passing structural code inspection in a Gulf yard, Pascagoula-scale work is what your ticket was built for. This market runs on serial Navy construction, and it needs hands who don't need a season to get up to speed. Experienced structural welders are one of the industry's hardest fills — entry classes teach the basics, but fast, clean code welds in tight structure take years. AMS pays $35–$40 an hour for that, no re-proving required.
Bring your experience to AMSStructural Welder jobs in Pascagoula — FAQ
How much do structural welders make in Pascagoula, MS?
In the Gulfport-Biloxi, MS Metro Area, structural welders earn a median of about $30.50 per hour — typically $18.73–$30.50 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 Pascagoula?
Yes. AMS has crews working the Pascagoula 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 Pascagoula?
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 Ingalls Shipbuilding (HII) and similar facilities. Bring your certifications — apply and an AMS representative will go over the specifics.
What is the commute like for Pascagoula yard work?
Workers in Pascagoula city, Mississippi report an average commute of about 19 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 Pascagoula?
Tell us your trade and experience — an AMS representative will follow up. Résumé optional.