Thread: Anyone do welding as a career?

Welding is a process used within a trade or function. I don't know any welders... But I know iron workers, fitters, electricians, etc., who weld as a part of their job. Different job exposes you to different types of welding. Can certainly make some money doing it, but like I said, don't know anybody who is just a welder.

Good luck though...

only draw back i see is everyone i know who welds is going blind slowly. they all wear thick glasses.

one guy i knew owned his own shop, they did some fab/repair work, then the money was building I beams and stuff for buildings.

My father in law has been a welder for nearly 30 years at a local shop that primarily does natural gas items. I see 1st had that welding like that is not a smart career choice. He is in his 50's and welds or grinds for 10-12 hours a day 6-7 days a week. I am 34 and work in a factory and make more yearly than he does even with the overtime. His benefits are what keeps him there. The company pays 100% of everything. No co-pay no deductible. If you want to make a **** ton of money quick, weld for pipeline or natural gas anything on the road. They make a fortune, but they "work" for their keep. It really comes down to what you want to do with your life (cliche I know). For me, I made the decision to go back to school for engineering because that is what i like, is it tough? yes, do i get to see my family (wife and 3 small kids) when i want? no, but I know the end goal will be worth it. I guess what i am saying is take your time and don't rush into anything. If you are young and have no kids, then you have time to sit back and figure out what it is you want to do. Don't take it from me though, I'm just a keyboard warrior with a little life experience.

Welding can be a good career jut like anything else. If you weld in a factory then you;ll make slightly more than the guy putting what you weld onto pallets....but just like electrical stuff has to be done by a licensed electrician, there are welding jobs on anything where the public is concerned that have to be done by a certified welder. Boilers, bridges, pipelines, etc. There is also money to be made hanging out your own shingle...equipment repair, fabrication work, there's no end of things that folks need welded, individuals and businesses.

If you want to chat with the pro welders, go to Welding Web and ask this question on the forum, you;ll get some straight talk there.

I have been working in one welding shop as long as you have been alive. I did NOT go to school for welding, (Auto Mechanics instead) but I've been a certified welder for 16? years. I do not do it all day every day now. I have done a few multi-year stretches though. Nowadays I do maybe 10 weeks a year. Demand for some types of welding fluctuates with the economy. I was fortunate enough to maintain continued employment. I've seen layoffs and guys quitting because of not enough hours. Shipfitting is big around here, there's even a 2 yr high school program with guaranteed employment upon graduation with a major government defense contractor (General Dynamics / Electric Boat, think Trident and Seawolf submarines). Even still, I've seen major layoffs there as well. A wise man once told me "There are NO guarantees in life". Government cutbacks mean no new subs (think debt ceiling), recessions mean fewer new big box stores or other commercial construction projects (think structural steel, pipe welding). It's a hot, dirty, smoky, fume filled job. I have floaters in my vision, tinnitus, and night sweats around my neck. Pay is better than retail or fast food, benefits depend on you employer, and longevity is anyone's guess. If you're on here, you like to work with your hands, so welding can be satisfying. That's my $o.oo2.

Have you ever heard the saying; "There are no old welders"?

Pretty much everyone I knew that went to school for welding is doing something else now.

Right place, right time, it can be very rewarding... I worked with a fella once that was certified underwater aluminum welder... Made a killing... Power houses and even some oil rigs work. But those are few and far in between. And power house work, well you only get to screw up once. Otherwise you're out! Everything is inspected, X-ray scanned, etc. Tedious... And yeah, the light destroys your eyes and the smoke is radioactive, lol... O.o

I took the mechanical engineering path and have been working for 8 years out of school. It is something I like and enjoy and I don't feel like I am beating myself up to do it plus no overtime required or paid.

However any skilled trade is an excellent choice to start out. If you listen to Mike Row from dirty jobs, our country is lacking people willing to do skilled trade jobs and they can lead to anything and you can make good money doing it.

My suggestion is take a career test quiz. I am sure you can find them online and see what your list of results comes up with. Thats what I did in high school and have never regretted doing what I do.

I'm surrounded by welders in my life. As already mentioned, the full-timers are now part-timers, and the part-timers are having fun with it. For a short term career, I'd say go for it, but it takes time and a LOT of patience to be good enough to be wanted by employers. I've met a lot of people over the years that claim to be "really good" at welding. After I see some of their work, I find that they are ok.

I'm 34, married with 3 small children. Work 6-7 days a week and in school full time (engineering). Don't think at 25 you will know what you want to do. Just keep plugging along and keep your head up. You are young, you have plenty of time.

Its not always about the money either. It doesn't matter how much you make you will always want/need more. You just have to adjust your lifestyle accordingly. I have lived on 10k a year and I have lived on 100k a year. Find a career that makes you happy and you won't feel like it is work at all. I can't say I am happy everyday at work but most I am. Its kinda funny how no matter what the career and income level, old people have more money to spend but less energy desires while young people have tons of energy desires and no money to spend.

I think its all about enjoying things while you can in the time you got. Life is short, figure it out what makes you happy before its over which could be tomorrow.

To sum it up no job out there will get you the money you want.
My brother used to be a welder full time before the economy crashed I think he was lucky to see $13hr. He works for a company that builds those road tearing up machines and is currently at $20hr. They flew him out to india for 10 days last month for work has a 401k health vacation etc.

My pops has been in the pool business for 35years or more and although the overtime can be alot in the summer he takes home $2500 weekly.

Out here you can get paid $15hr starting to work for a company cutting grass. Moneys out there you either love it with poor pay or hate it with excellent pay.