Underwater welding life expectancy, Salary, Death Rate & More

Life expectancy is the term that gives statistical data about the average time of an organism that is expected to be alive. Hence, underwater welding is considered a high-risk job for the danger it holds.

Though it is a very profitable job, underwater welders are exposed to severe health hazards. As a result, it affects life expectancy also.

You may be thinking about the overall scenario of an underwater welding job. 

Well, accordingly, this article describes the matter of underwater welders’ life expectancy in detail.

Let’s begin.

Underwater welder life expectancy

As mentioned earlier, underwater welding is one of the riskiest jobs for welders out there. It is not a comfortable one for you in the beginning without any doubt.

Now, what is the life expectancy of an underwater welder? This is a very common question but an uncomfortable one to answer indeed. It is because life expectancy depends on various factors and terms.

The life expectancy of underwater welding is comparatively higher than those who work on the land. However, the life expectancy in the case of an underwater welder is usually about 10 to 15 years.

Is underwater welding dangerous?

Yes, underwater welding is surely a dangerous job having the risk a welder needs to take.

Underwater welders essentially do the welding job that includes cutting, pipeline repairing, etc in deep sea level or water conditions.

There is always the risk of accidents. Besides, the changes in water pressure can even cause death by drowning. Along with this, there is always the danger of shark attacks or other marine creatures.

In total, due to the working condition of underwater welding, it is a very dangerous one compared with other welding jobs.

Know Details: Why Is Underwater Welding Dangerous?

How dangerous is underwater welding?

As an underwater welder, you will need to work on taking risks. There you will always be operating dangerous equipment in water or dark places undersea.

As a result, accidents can take place along with injuries also. This may often lead to severe health issues, in the long run, resulting in death occasionally.

Without any doubt, this underwater welding is a highly dangerous job that may lead to death also. And for the danger it carries, proper expertise and awareness should be maintained to minimize the risks. 

Another phenomenon is that the toxic fumes created while welding contain harmful chemicals like Carbon dioxides, carbon monoxides, sulfur, etc. These toxic gasses can be very dangerous for a welder.

Accordingly, you should maintain proper PPE and other necessary precautions while welding underwater.

Is underwater welding bad for your health?

Underwater welding is done in hazardous conditions for a welder. A welder needs to perform and expose to greater hazards than those who are working on the land surface.

Accordingly, severe health issues may occur to a welder working underwater.

The problems are given below –

• Underwater welders have to face hearing problems sometimes.
• Muscle ache is a common problem for welders
• There can be an issue of memory loss in the long run
• A welder can get a severe electric shock while working
• Drowning is an issue because of tool shortage 
• Hypothermia, as well as decompression illness, may occur

Deep sea underwater welding life expectancy

You need to have proper diving skills as an underwater welder. In addition, you need the proper diving and survival skills for working in the deep sea.

Moreover, the deep-sea level has a great pressure difference from the upper sea and surface level. This makes the working condition more hazardous for welders.

Surely, it impacts the calculation of the life expectancy of welders. Deep sea welders tend to have less life expectancy than surface welders.

Text Dependent Analysis or TDA study shows that the life expectancy of deep sea welders is 10 to 15 years as usual.

How much do underwater welders make?

You must be overwhelmed by now while reading about the negative aspects as well as dangerous issues of this job. 

However, these uncertainties with challenges make the welding job underwater a vary demanding one in the marine construction industries.

Thus, an underwater welder is highly paid for the job, no one can argue with this!

At the beginning of your career, you may be paid less and can earn up to $ 20,000 a year. But with experience, your pay scale will upgrade with time.

Studies show that an underwater welder can earn on average $ 50,000 yearly. However, it is seen that the yearly income of a welder can vary from $20,000 to $80,000. 

Moreover, There are a number of welders who earn more than $ 100,000 annually. They are highly professional and have long working experience underwater.

Another key point, underwater welders do welding in two ways. A welder can get employment from an organization or company. It means you have to work under a company and get paid on a monthly or hourly basis.

Another one is that a welder can do a contact-based job. You will be getting paid based on the contact or projects you get.

Usually, contact-based welders tend to earn more than an employment-based welders. Undoubtedly, working under a company will give you greater job security. 

How do underwater welders die?

Underwater welders are exposed to hazardous working conditions. As a result, severe accidents may take place while working that can lead to death also.

Previously, you have come to know about the danger of this job. In the case of the majority, these dangers can be avoided using preventive measures. 

Despite the precautions you maintain, there is always the risk of any unwanted occurrence that can cause death.

The cause of death of underwater welders can be many. Major causes are given here-

• Welding done in water produces toxic fumes and gasses. Besides gasses like hydrogen and oxygen can make explosions. This type of explosion can cause a welder to be injured severely and cause death.
• Wet welding is done following the cathode and anode systems. A welder can get severely shocked and electrocuted while working underwater. Severe electric shock can make a welder die on the spot.
• A welder needs to work under deep sea levels where pressure changes rapidly. These phenomena can lead to decompression illness in the body that can lead to the death of a welder.
• Welders have to face serious pressure changes in deep water levels. This pressure changes in water uncertainty can lead to occurrences like drowning and the death of a welder.
• Shark attacks and other harmful marine creatures can attack a welder that can cause severe injury or death.

How many underwater welders die in a year?

You must be thinking by now, what is the underwater welder’s death rate annually?

Though underwater welding is a risky job to do, welders follow their survival method and expertise underwater. As a result, the death of welders is much higher than surface welders.

The death rate is the statistical term that shows how many people die yearly. In addition, the underwater welder’s death rate shows the statistical data of how many welders die yearly working underwater.

Accordingly, it is seen that the death rate of underwater welders is 15 percent. It means 15 underwater welders out of 100 die yearly.

Shocking one, right?

However, underwater welding may seem dangerous to you. You need not worry. Highly professionals deal with this job sincerely with preventive measures to avoid accidental cases.

Conclusion

Underwater welding life expectancy depends on various factors. However, according to specialists, the life span of welders is about 40 years on average.

To sum up, you may find it dangerous to become an underwater welder keeping in mind the life expectancy, hazards, and death rate. In contrast to this, this job is highly paid and will thrill you with adventurous work.