Essential Information
Soldering is the process of joining two metal pieces. While soldering has many applications, it is commonly used in the electronics industry. Programs offering degrees exclusively in soldering are infrequent, but associate's degrees in electronics technology - in which soldering skills can be acquired - are widely available. For prerequisites, students will need a high school diploma or equivalent, and some schools may require minimum scores on the ACT or SAT.
Associate's Degree Programs in Electronic Technology
Along with practical, experiential learning with electronics, electronic technology associate's programs typically require 100 credit hours of coursework. These programs are typically 2-year programs. Courses might include:
- Soldering technology
- Fabrication techniques
- Solid state devices
- Linear integrated circuits
- Alternating current and direct current circuits
- Digital applications
Employment Outlook and Salary Info
Solderers, as well as welders, cutters, and brazers, can expect slower than average employment growth of 3% in the field between 2019 and 2029, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), www.bls.gov. Automated equipment now provides some of the work done by skilled technicians, including soldering. However, those with a college degree might face better prospects. Soldering technicians' median annual salary was $44,190 as of May 2020.
Continuing Education
For those interested specifically in increasing their soldering skills, courses in soldering are offered by many technical and industrial training companies. The IPC (formerly the Interconnecting and Packaging Electronic Circuits), www.ipc.org, offers both training and certification in soldering.
Students interested in developing their soldering skills can enroll in an associate's degree in electronic technology. Graduates of this program will enter a career field growing as fast as the national average and can earn an annual average salary of $46,690. To improve career prospects, students can pursue training and professional certification through the IPC.