---
title: "Stick Welding: How SMAW Works and Where It Is Used"
description: "Stick welding explained: how shielded metal arc welding works, common electrodes like 6010 and 7018, where it is used, and tips for beginners."
url: https://shapemycareer.com/guides/stick-welding/
updated: 2026-10-11
site: ShapeMyCareer
---

Guides · Stick welding

# Stick welding

The process that works outdoors, in wind, on dirty steel.

Process guide

Stick welding, or shielded metal arc welding, is the oldest common arc process and still the workhorse of structural steel, pipelines and repair work.

In short

Stick welding (SMAW) uses a flux-coated electrode, the "stick," that melts into the weld while the flux creates its own shielding gas and slag. Because it needs no gas bottle, it works outdoors and in wind, which is why it dominates structural, pipeline and repair work. Common electrodes include 6010 for deep penetrating root passes and 7018 low-hydrogen rods for strong structural welds. Many welding certification tests use stick.

**Sources checked October 11, 2026** Pay, training and outlook come from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Pay is the middle (median) figure nationally; your first paycheck in the trade will usually be lower.

## Reading an electrode number

In a rod like E7018, "70" means 70,000 psi minimum tensile strength, "1" means all positions, and "8" describes the coating and current.

## Beginner tips

- Keep a short, steady arc length
- Watch the puddle, not the arc
- Chip slag completely between passes
- Store low-hydrogen rods dry as the manufacturer directs

| Middle pay | $53,750 a year, roughly $25.84 an hour (May 2025) |
|---|---|
| How most people start | High school or GED to start, then moderate-term on-the-job training |
| People in the trade | About 437,700 nationwide (2025) |
| Growth to 2035 | BLS expects 2.4% growth |
| Openings a year | Around 40,300, counting retirements |

From the [BLS](https://www.bls.gov/emp/tables/occupational-projections-and-characteristics.htm) Employment Projections table (2025 to 2035) and May 2025 wage survey. These are U.S. numbers. Local shops may pay above or below them, and apprentices start well under the middle figure.

### Find welding programs

Tell us your ZIP and we will send welding schools nearby.

[Find training near me](#smc-form)

## Straight answers

### Is stick welding hard to learn?

It takes practice to strike and hold an arc, but it is a core skill taught early.

### What is 7018 used for?

Structural and code welds where strength and low hydrogen matter.

### Can you stick weld aluminum?

It is possible with special rods but rarely done; TIG or MIG is preferred.

## Where this comes from

- [BLS Employment Projections, Table 1.2 (2025 to 2035)](https://www.bls.gov/emp/tables/occupational-projections-and-characteristics.htm)
- [Welders, cutters, solderers, and brazers in the BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook](https://www.bls.gov/ooh/production/welders-cutters-solderers-and-brazers.htm)
- [BLS OOH: Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and Brazers](https://www.bls.gov/ooh/production/welders-cutters-solderers-and-brazers.htm)
- [OSHA: Welding, Cutting and Brazing](https://www.osha.gov/welding-cutting-brazing)

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