welding as a career?

[TedH71]

Am currently taking Mig welding. Passed my Oxy-Ace classes with a B. Was told you could make $200k a yr mig welding "frogs" for the railroad (frogs are the parts where either the railroad tracks seperate or merge) and that you could make good money welding rusted or ruined parts of bulldozers that came in with front loader parts ruined. My hand is hurting from the first few hours of practice! Was wondering if people actually make a career doing welding?

Am currently almost done with my cnc machining courses. I really like Catia programming but am still struggling with the cnc programming aspects.

[ErinP]

I know a lot of people who weld for a living.

Don't know a soul who makes $200K, though!

[Nevada]

Sounds like a lot of work...

But seriously, I used to weld truck frames in a factory when I was in college. There was a lot of carrying & cutting of large pieces of steel involved. While I suppose there are welders and then there are welders, if you do heavy welding like I was doing you're going to get old before your time.

[Beeman]

200k??? sounds like someone blowing smoke. You might be able to gross 200k working for yourself maybe net 30-50k once established and debt is paid. Most work described is done by employees of a company, not many making 200k. My co-driver is a welder that rebuilt dozer blades and loader buckets and such, he's driving a truck with me.
You can make money welding and a pretty fair living. It's tough, hot physical work but can be very rewarding.

[Home Harvest]

My son goes to a vo-tech high school. I know the welding teacher. He says he has jobs lined up for his entire senior class. You can definately make a living by welding.

His kids start at about $18/hr right out of school. Nowhere near $200K, but still good money.

[rean]

Starting welding wages in a mfg. facility is around $12.00 an hour here. I took a basic welding course with no degree, and started out at the same amount as one who graduated.

[big rockpile]

I know some guys that went to school in Tulsa including my Son.The one I know making the most was working large Jobs around the country.He would be gone from home for up to a year at a time.

Most of them working Local make $5+ an hour.My Son he got hired they had him cutting all day.He got mad because he wasn't Welding and quit.Like I said its a Job.But his Brother says he is not wanting to work.

big rockpile

[lostspring]

I made my living for over 30yrs as a welder. There is no way you will make 200k a yr. maybe as a underwater welder or some other exotic specialty type. Pipefitters union would be a good place to check into. Average wage in outside construction would be $48 an hour before dues and such, clear about $25. Welding in outside construction rates about the same danger level as farming!
If you are learning CNC I would stick with it.
There are many welding jobs in manufacturing but most are low paying and production line type, mainly mig.
I enjoyed it but there are downsides just like everyother job. Smoke,toxic fumes and burns to mention a few.

Tom

[Karenrbw]

My brother-in-law called and asked if I had any graduates that were certified welders with their own rigs. His company is working on a pipeline in OK and they are paying $95/hr for welding, all the overtime you could ever want, and $50 a day per diem for living expenses. It is nasty, demanding work. This is for a high pressure gas pipeline. Their welds are sonagramed and tested before they bury the pipes and they are working in all sorts of weather. Seems like it would be a good deal for a young kid with the right credentials to build up a bank account.

[Rowdy]

My brother and his father-in-law are both full time welders. Well, his father-in-law is anyway. Lots of welders got laid off around here in the last month, and my brother was one of them. Almost a 100 people at the company my brother worked for, and 70 at another local company.
His father-in-law is and my brother was making close to $20 working inside on boilers. Both of them were doing TIG mostly.

A friend of mine working in DFW is making way more than twice that, but he has his own rig.

[Ken Scharabok]

These days railroad track sections are fused using thermal welding. Essentially a controlled explosive. If you want to see the process I'll provide a link.

[MN Gardener]

Originally Posted by Karenrbw

My brother-in-law called and asked if I had any graduates that were certified welders with their own rigs. His company is working on a pipeline in OK and they are paying $95/hr for welding, all the overtime you could ever want, and $50 a day per diem for living expenses. It is nasty, demanding work. This is for a high pressure gas pipeline. Their welds are sonagramed and tested before they bury the pipes and they are working in all sorts of weather. Seems like it would be a good deal for a young kid with the right credentials to build up a bank account.

I have heard the same around here. Enbridge is adding additional pipelines and they are hurting for welders. I don't know that it is something you can do until you retire, but it is probably a way to get some $$$ in the bank until you can find another way (something that you like) to make a living until you retire.

[Razorback21]

We live in an oil patch and a number of welders are layed off right now. Back when times were good, welding was a great occupation.

[fantasymaker]

Yep enbridge is behind on building in this area I didnt know it was a lack of welders I thought its was grumpy landowners like me holding things up.
I know of two guys that have made that sorta money welding.
One was a HS chum who wanted to weld the mainline of the Alaska pipeline. He was pretty bummed when he wound up on call out at the Valdez hall but it worked out to big bucks. Seems like he got 8 hours pay for the first call out of the day and 4 hours for each call out after that. Unlike most guys he would do a job fast then head back to the hall to hustle work.It wasnt unheard of for him to get 50 hours work in a day.
The other was from that same class , he really wanted to be the guy that went hundreds(1000?) of feet down and stayed there for weeks at a time. In stead when he couldnt find work and was needing a job his Dads fishing boat busted something ( rudder post?) and instead of having the boat towed a few hundred miles to be fixed bought the gear and had him flown out to repair the problem underwater at sea. That developed into a carrer and last I knew he made his living doing those sorts of jobs.....in less than 10 feet of water most of the time.
The money might be there but chances are its in odd corners of the welding life.

[fantasymaker]

Originally Posted by Ken Scharabok

These days railroad track sections are fused using thermal welding. Essentially a controlled explosive. If you want to see the process I'll provide a link.

Sounds Cool lets see it!

[Beeman]

Originally Posted by Karenrbw

My brother-in-law called and asked if I had any graduates that were certified welders with their own rigs. His company is working on a pipeline in OK and they are paying $95/hr for welding, all the overtime you could ever want, and $50 a day per diem for living expenses. It is nasty, demanding work. This is for a high pressure gas pipeline. Their welds are sonagramed and tested before they bury the pipes and they are working in all sorts of weather. Seems like it would be a good deal for a young kid with the right credentials to build up a bank account.

That is self employment..no benefits and all expenses are yours including motel rooms and maintaining the rig you own. Jobs don't last either and the next one isn't close by. It's good money if you want that life and can handle being self employed.

[Cotton Picker]

Hi TedH71,

Congratulations on learning how to weld.

Yeah.... I know right where you can get a job making $200k a year. You'll just need to send me a $500 finders fee..... Payable in advance...... I've got a bridge I'm needing to sell cheap too.

Speaking from experience, I would aspire to be a machinist first, welder second. They are both very compatible fields. If you learn manual machining (non CNC) you could maybe land a decent paying job at a job-shop out in the country to supplement your income while you establish your homestead. If you got a portable welder might have you a good income there too. I would avoid getting a production welding job unless your idea of a good time is watching paint dry.

In order to make the big bucks welding you will need to become certified. On big money projects, your welds will more than likely need to stand up to x-ray porosity checks. Like with any skilled trade, if you are willing to work in remote locations, living out of suitcases, you might make some serious coin.

Welding is a fascinating process. I find it very satisfying to be able to weld and fabricate. It is definitely not a glamor job. Toxic fumes, hot and dirty, it can be dangerous too. Have ya had a big ol' chunk of molten slag roll down your shirt sleeve yet?..... It kinda sizzles.... Catches you clothes on fire..... Makes it kinda tough to concentrate on holding an arc too.

Your welding skills can serve you well, if anything, to assist you in your quest to become more self-reliant.

Happy Trails

[Big Dave]

Check the Navy See bee's They need welders. I was WAS a pipe fitter for the union(29) and was told by my BA " I got better things to do than find you a job " went in the next day and Quit. My boy Has had six jobs welding this year. No 200 grand. One of my bud's came in from pipe lining. He is making GOOD $$$$ but he is not home and has to furnish his own equipment. I agree there is some smoke being blown up your dress.

[Mrrsteelers]

My dad lost a leg welding for the railroad. He was cutting up a derailment when a bulldozer ran over his legs. He didn't even get 200k for losing his leg. (over 30 years ago)
Shame on your teacher for giving you guys unrealistic expectations. Did he mention the above things, how you cover your own costs if your self employed? Did he mention those 200k a year jobs go to the best most expierienced welders out there, not the guy who just completed a tech school class?
The only realistic way you'll make 200k welding or doing anything is years of HARD work becoming the best. Your work ethic, and finding a boss that will recognize and reward excellence, are more important than which field you choose. imo

[AlaOutlaw]

You can make a pretty decent living as a welding inspector. I know some welding inspectors who make $100,000+ a year. Level II radiographers, with certifications in various other testing methods are in high demand. I know of jobs in Afghanistan that pay inspectors $1,000 a day with all expenses paid. The works fairly easy just a lot of travel involved. I am a Level II radiographer and most of my work is with various power companies or petroleum refineries. I have only been in this field for 2 years and I make $22 an hour plus $595 to $763 (depending on the contract) a week tax free in per diem.