Any professional welders?

IRoman

New Member
Joined
Sep 3, 2010
Location
Fayetteville
Im thinking about a career change, I like the idea of being a welder, but I dont actually know any that do it for a living.

So for you guys that do it daily, Is it a good job?
 
Its hot as hell and very expensive to do but the cash is not bad if your willing to travel.
 
My dad has been doing it for close to 30 yrs. the environment is rough. The enconmy has hit this profession and the rest of the manufacturing career hard. But if you are good and willing to work in less than idea situations then it can be a good career.
 
Get certified would be the first step just to have a good starting point and the knowledge an it is a very hot an physical job. The money is good anywhere from 15-18$ a hour starting out to 20-30$ a hour for top pay.
 
pipeline is where you want to be. with your own welding rig you'll make 4500 to 6000 a week. you have to test on every job,have to live on the road and it's dirty grulling work but 5 grand a week don't come easy.
 
I wont mind the heat too much, Im used to bad environments. I was just worried about going to school for it and then finding out there is no jobs because of the economy.
 
underwater welding can make up to that each day of work. World travel and guaranteed jobs basically. Have to be good at what you do and not mind the cold and dark/be claustrophobic. I'm not a welder but a professional diver and have buddies that weld. Can't work for all that many years but they are easily making 250k+ each year. Damn near impossible to have a social/family life though
 
tbone1004 said:
underwater welding can make up to that each day of work. World travel and guaranteed jobs basically. Have to be good at what you do and not mind the cold and dark/be claustrophobic. I'm not a welder but a professional diver and have buddies that weld. Can't work for all that many years but they are easily making 250k+ each year. Damn near impossible to have a social/family life though
Click to expand...

I was a rescue diver in DC for a few years, and I have actually thought about doing commercial diving, my old lady has been telling me to go for that. Im gone for months at a time right now, so we are used to that part
 
I do some welding here. It wouldn't be my choice for making a living. Most welders barely get by, unless you can land a good job. If you want to go to school for it, go to a community college or somewhere that doesn't charge a fortune to learn. Don't know how old you are, but as you get older, it will wear on you. Plus you can become sensitive to light and you inhale a lot of stuff (unless you are underwater or have a really nice ventilation system).
 
My step moms BIL is a dock worker in NYC, he used to weld underwater, piers, etc...
Death rate is over 50%, its extremely dangerous. While the pay is super there are risks.

I took welding shop in HS way back, and while it has served me well, it was something I was happy to take of my potential careers list... Our teacher always stressed it was a hard living (He was a former metal worker) he always tried to teach us how to not be a grunt. We learned a lot of layout and how to understand diagrams/engineering drawings etc..
 
I consider myself a professional welder. I have made my living since 1998 welding and doing fab work. I've also taught at a Community College. These guys are all right. The absolute highest pay and smallest social life is the under water welding. I considered it since I swim like a fish but relationships won out. Pipeline work and shut down (ie power plant repair and the like ranks next). Each require you to go to the work. Next is a local manufacture facility that does high end skilled welding. Usually critical tig work or heavy load structural assymblies. Next is the owner opperator of a small mobile and shop weld repair facility (this can be profitable if your a go getter and can handle the red tape). Lowest on the pay scale is a general line welder putting part x y a Z together all day long.

If its a serious consideration don't play in the back yard dottling weld around go take some courses get aqainted with some old heads at various levels. Honestly the papers do matter if a long term steady cash flow is what your after. I got lucky and have worked in nitch fields making the pay allittle better than average for the work I do, otherwise I'd have to travel or be a contractor and take on more headaches.
Shear boredom is pushing me closer to this however.
 
WARRIORWELDING said:
I consider myself a professional welder. I have made my living since 1998 welding and doing fab work. I've also taught at a Community College. These guys are all right. The absolute highest pay and smallest social life is the under water welding. I considered it since I swim like a fish but relationships won out. Pipeline work and shut down (ie power plant repair and the like ranks next). Each require you to go to the work. Next is a local manufacture facility that does high end skilled welding. Usually critical tig work or heavy load structural assymblies. Next is the owner opperator of a small mobile and shop weld repair facility (this can be profitable if your a go getter and can handle the red tape). Lowest on the pay scale is a general line welder putting part x y a Z together all day long.
If its a serious consideration don't play in the back yard dottling weld around go take some courses get aqainted with some old heads at various levels. Honestly the papers do matter if a long term steady cash flow is what your after. I got lucky and have worked in nitch fields making the pay allittle better than average for the work I do, otherwise I'd have to travel or be a contractor and take on more headaches.
Shear boredom is pushing me closer to this however.
Click to expand...

Thanks for that advice. I really appreciate it.

Honestly after thinking about it, I have spent so much time away from my kids, I dont think the underwater welding bit is for me. I dont mind occasionally traveling for work, but Im done with leaving for 6-9 months at a time.

If I do this, my plan will be to go back to school, but how does that work? Id like to go to a certain vocational school at home, but I need to work while Im going to school. I know if you go to be an electrician, you work during the day and take classes at night. Is welding the same way?
 
Just another angle on things.

I work in specialized construction, mostly pharmaceutical work and the like.

I'mnot a welder, but our top welders do make in the 25+ range, but travel is still a big consideration. the last job i was on we were in a real crunch, and our top welders were working 7 12 hour shifts a week, they went home once over the span of 8-10 weeks that i remember. the pay is definitely there. I dont know why i'm saying this other than to warn you that its not just pipeline welders or underwater welders that have to deal with time away from home, it seems to be pretty common in that job description.
 
I did the high school, comm. college welding cert. classes and did welding, fabrication for a construction company in the east. It was all good for a while as a young man. It was hot,dirty,long hours,confined,boring,dangerous, unpredictable hrs., burns all the time, eye injuries, paint/chemical fumes and the list goes on and on.While I wouldn't trade the experience for anything, I don't think I would want my son to do it for a living, you can get old very quick. Welding=Hobby:beer:
 
I am a pipeline welder. I am heading to PA on Monday for a large job for Marcellus Shale. They are booming up there right now. I would hoave to say I love having my own rig. I Have done everything from Code B pressure pipeing to monell, enconell, hastalloy, 9chrome, 2 1/4 chrome, Duplex and Super Duplex to name a few. I have worked in nuclear plants and regular coal gen plants doing boiler tubes with a mirror. So yes I am a professional welder. I have made great money, good money, bad money and no money. You have to be willing to chase a dollar if you are wanting to "strike it rich". It takes a toll on you and your family. Best of luck to you and your venture. PM me if you want to get some inside on pipe welding. ALso best to start out as a welders helper. Much better than school.
 
another thought

IRoman said:
Im thinking about a career change, I like the idea of being a welder, but I dont actually know any that do it for a living.
So for you guys that do it daily, Is it a good job?
Click to expand...

If you are exploring other options, look at CNC machining. Ya got every thing from hammering out the same part all day on a turning center to being a tool & die maker. A good tool maker can do $25/hr or better in an ac'd environment. (70 degree)
 
Back
Top