welding as a career?

Well making 200k a year welding is not very practical. Underwater welding might get you close, but nothing I've ever done will get you in that price range. Just remember you have to be above average in order to be a good welder. making a b in welding class won't do it either. what ever you learn about welding in a booth in class might as well throw it out the window. You hang onto the basics, and of course all the safety applications. I am a certified welder in the Ironworkers union, stick and wire papers, back up my skills, but most employers will have you retest. I have experience in stick,tig, oxy-acetylene,submerged arc,flux core(wire).magnesium lance, air arc, torch cutting, scarfing,track torch,plasma,etc etc. It all boils down to the experience you gain over the years and working for different employers. but also you either have it or you don't. You have to beat out the rest of the competition, be productive,and teach those who want to learn. I don't try to horde my skills, but rather help anyone who will listen. Then you have got to get the credentials to weld for the railroad, which would be performed by someone in the union or a certified contractor. Also you have got to pass x-ray,ultra-sound,dye penetrate, or other nondestructive application to check the integrity of your weld. Destructive tests are usually done in a shop environment. Out in the field it's a complete different story, pre-heat the metal, long hours, weather, crappy mood, and then there are those days when you just can't seem to get it together. Can't even join two pieces of gum together. Need any advice? will happily help.

Ps, being in the ironworkers union allows you to be diversified. Not just a welder but a connector, rigger, bolt-up, shaking out iron, rod patch, safety certifications, journeyman upgrading, anything to promote your skills in this trade. Very blessed to be in the Ironworkers Union#14.

Check with your local pipe fitters union and see when they are giving the next tests for an apprenticeship. My husband was a pipe fitter for over twenty years and his crew had great welders. They all made around $28 an hour and had benefits. He was in the union and managed to get into the pipe shop at our major university here. He never traveled and after he finished his schooling for his apprenticeship (union paid for his schooling) he quickly became a foremen. Welding is a great career and we know several people, including women who have done well in this field.

The Ironworkers union, 30 or so years ago, was another one that was very, very, difficult to get into. If they were really short of help they would let some guys work on permit but very seldom sold them a book, unless they had the right connections. Have things changed or is it still a " it's who you know" deal

basically a who you know. I guess things have changed with the times,but I can imagine it being very difficult to get in around the Chicago, new york, area. But not too sure. I do know that if i were to boom out in that area it would be very hard for me to get a job, cause the locals would fill the job quick. But if they are shorthanded and you contacted the hall there and put your name on the list for that particular job, then maybe you could land one. Not a 100% positive.

When I was 19 I applied to the Boilermakers union. 2 year waiting list.
I stuck with it and got a second interview after 18 months.
Then was put on another waiting list.
I said screw it after about 6 months of more waiting.
I figured 2 years was a long enough wait.

I remember them saying that alot of traveling was involved throughout the central states.

Yeah traveling is a must but I want to go where the money is. In my trade you can easily make 130k. alot of hours though. Last year i was working around several hundred pipefitter/welders, and most are lazy. one guy working and 6 others standing around watching.that went on for almost a year. Made me very sick watching them. What a disgrace to themselves, but hey I'd love to stand around all day making $45 an hour plus killer benefits, and receiving a monthly vacation check for $1800. Kinda freaks me out.mybe I'm in the wrong trade.

I'M Goatservant's husband Bob. This is very interesting. My dad raised two kids as a welder in a shop in rural Ohio. His specialty was going out to the coal mines (Strip mining) and welding on down equipment. As a matter of fact, he died at 51 while harnesed to the boom of a drag line while it was still working. He would come home from the shop and go out into his own shop and work till midnight on neighbors farm equipment. He had to do this in order to make a living. I somewhat followed in his foot steps by being a shipfitter/welder in the shipyards of Seattle. I now have chronic back pain, chronic headaches, no sense of smell or taste, and extremly bad eyes. Ever have flash burn? Most of the time I was a forman or a super. The only good thing I got out of that trade was my wife "Goatservant". She was one of the welders that worked with the fitters on my crews. I would look for a vocation entirely different if I had it to do over.

__________________
Bob and Nancy Dickey
Laughing Stock Boer Goats
"Seriously Great Bloodlines"
and the meat goes on....
Near Seattle

Don't underestimate the toll the toxic fumes can take on your health. Sure, there are lots of people who may not be affected by them or may not see an effect for a long time or who may not think there is a connection between the noxious gases they are exposed to, but that may not be you. If you're going to invest the time, money and energy into a career, I would recommend choosing the one which will take less toll on your body so that you can do it for longer.

Yeah the pains, oo boy. lifting heavy objects, walking ten flights of stairs, with your tools 100# on the average. you are building America though. It definitely isn't for everyone. have had shop jobs, but something about being out in the open fresh air, several stories up welding, connecting, rigging, bolting up, being in odd places that your mind says" your not supposed to be here", and your heart, determination and all your training, says "Yeah go for it." just a thrill when nobody else can do it and other crafts are watching. not to be boisterous, but what a feeling.God bless all the brother ironworkers out there. keep safe.