Airgas in Dodge Center is a local branch of one of the largest industrial and medical gas suppliers in the United States, serving farms, factories, healthcare providers, and more right here in southeastern Minnesota. If you've ever seen a welder sparking at a construction site, a hospital patient breathing supplemental oxygen, or dry ice keeping food cold during shipping, there's a good chance Airgas had something to do with it. This location is small but connected to a massive national network — meaning real career opportunities with real room to grow, starting right in Dodge Center.
Post-secondary note: Airgas is a subsidiary of Air Liquide, a global industrial gas company operating in 70+ countries. Students interested in chemistry, engineering, logistics, or business will find the corporate structure and career pathways especially relevant.
What This Business Does
The Airgas store at 20753 636th St in Dodge Center supplies industrial gases, medical gases, welding equipment, and safety products (PPE) to businesses and individuals across the region. Think of it as a specialty store and service hub — customers can shop in-store, arrange delivery, pick up orders, or bring in welding equipment for repair. The Dodge Center branch is part of Airgas's North Central Region and is classified as both an industrial and medical gas location, meaning it serves a wide range of customers from manufacturing shops to healthcare providers.
Airgas nationally is a leading U.S. producer and distributor of gases including oxygen, argon, acetylene, nitrogen, helium, and medical-grade specialty gases, as well as the equipment and safety gear that goes with them. Their customers span industries including metal fabrication, construction, aerospace, food production, healthcare, and life sciences.
Careers Available Here
The Dodge Center location is a small branch, so day-to-day roles tend to be hands-on and varied. Based on Airgas's branch model and what this location offers, careers here likely include:
Store Associate / Customer Service Representative — Helping customers find the right gas, equipment, or safety product; managing orders and inventory; handling in-store and phone inquiries.
Delivery Driver (CDL) — Transporting gas cylinders and equipment to local businesses and medical facilities. Airgas is known for prioritizing CDL driver careers with competitive pay and strong safety culture. ( Needs follow-up: Confirm whether CDL delivery is based out of this specific Dodge Center location or a regional hub.)
Welding Repair Technician — This location specifically advertises welding repair as a service, meaning there is likely at least one technician on staff who inspects, maintains, and services welding equipment.
Outside Sales Representative — Airgas employs sales reps who visit local businesses to consult on gas needs, equipment, and safety products. ( Needs follow-up: Confirm whether this role is based out of Dodge Center or served from a larger regional office.)
At the corporate/national level (relevant for post-secondary students), Airgas offers 700+ career paths including roles in operations and engineering, finance, supply chain management, human resources, data analytics, and more.
Growth Trajectories
A career at Airgas — even starting at a small branch like Dodge Center — can lead in many directions. A store associate can move into sales, management, or logistics. A technician can advance into a specialist or engineering role. Airgas has an explicit commitment to internal growth and offers structured programs to support it.
For post-secondary students and recent graduates, Airgas runs the Airgas Rotational Career (ARC) Program — a paid two-year program with three 8-month rotations across departments like Engineering, Finance, Operations, Supply Chain, and HR. It's designed for recent college graduates and is highly competitive. They also offer a Sales Trainee Program and a one-year Welding Apprenticeship Program that prepares welding professionals to become Weld Process Specialists.
For high school students, entry-level roles in customer service or warehousing can provide a strong foundation, especially for those interested in skilled trades, logistics, or business.
Skills You'd Develop
Working at Airgas — even in a small branch role — builds a genuinely useful and transferable set of abilities. Employees learn to identify and handle regulated industrial and medical gases safely, which requires careful attention to compliance and procedure. Customer-facing roles develop the ability to listen carefully, diagnose what a customer actually needs, and recommend the right product — a skill that translates to nearly any career. Technician roles build hands-on mechanical competence and precision. Delivery roles develop logistics awareness, route planning, and a working knowledge of DOT safety regulations. Across all roles, safety is a foundational value at Airgas, so employees leave with a mature understanding of workplace hazard awareness and risk management.
Post-secondary students would add industry-specific knowledge in areas like gas chemistry, supply chain operations, and industrial sales processes.
Dodge Center, MN 55927
