The best man for the job might be a woman

San Jacinto College’s Emily Choate and Amber Tyler are breaking stereotypes and demonstrating that women can excel in the male-dominated welding industry.

The education and career paths of the two ladies are remarkably similar. Choate earned a welding technology associate degree from San Jacinto College in 2004 and went straight to the field as a welder with Burlington Northern and Santa Fe Railway, and later to GE Oil and Gas as a welding inspector. In the field, she earned $25 to $35 an hour. After a few years, she accepted a position as a part-time welding instructor at San Jacinto College, and is now a full-time welding instructor at the College.

Amber Tyler, left, and Emily Choate are well-respected welding instructors at San Jacinto College.
Photo credit: Rob Vanya, San Jacinto College marketing, public relations, and government affairs department.

Tyler worked for four years as a contract welder shortly after graduating from high school. She earned a welding technology associate degree from San Jacinto College in 2009, the same year she began as a part-time welding instructor at the College, where she now serves as a full-time welding instructor. The two San Jac Certified graduates are aware that welding might not be a “glamorous” profession, but there are positives and benefits that are rewarding. “There’s job security and very good pay,” Tyler commented. “It’s a career where people can make a future for themselves, and for their family. There is also a certain pride in workmanship that I find rewarding. You can feel good about performing a skilled craft and about knowing that your work will hold up – it has a lasting quality.”

Choate says welding is not just a job; it is a career with endless possibilities. “It’s not limited to one location, it’s not a 9-to-5, Monday-to-Friday job,” she remarked. “You can work as much or as little as you want. You can work close to home, or travel the world. You can work for a large company, a small company, or be your own boss. To me welding is like going to the gym. Yes it is work, but when you get done, you feel good about what you accomplished.”

Tyler says females have certain traits that can help them to excel as welders. “Women generally are good at communication, have a lot of patience, and tend to have an eye for detail, which are qualities that are important for anyone who wants to consistently make quality welds,” she said.

Choate and Tyler are a “dynamic duo” according to Eddie Foster, industrial technology department chair at the San Jacinto College North Campus. “Both of the ladies are a great asset to the College,” Foster remarked. “Not only are they talented welders, they are also gifted educators. Their lessons are well prepared, interesting, and informative. They are up to date with multimedia teaching tools, which keeps students engaged. The students respect them, and they serve as positive role models.”

– Rob Vanya