I have met David Weldon personally. He is the past President of the American Welding Society. He learned to weld but went on to become a welding engineer. My friends and I earn an average of $70,000 / year working in Dallas Texas through our UA Local 100 union and our signatory mechanical contractors.
+Blue Max True, but I can vouch for the potential to make well over 100,000.00/year as a welder once your skill, experience, ability to network and travel advance. I know many people under 30 years of age that make 6 figures as a welder.
I'm a Welding Engineering student and personally know multiple people, welders, Welding Engineers, CWIs, who make that much from California to Idaho to Iowa. I know two people who became millionaires, welding for Chevron and Shell (as shift employees with 30+ years at one refinery). I know people who own their own businesses who make 100k. The industry is huge and there are many avenues by which a welder can advance a career or increase his own value as a skilled tradesman. Where do you live? California is one place and could be considered an out layer but I'm in Idaho right now and this state is on the bottom side of the wage scale, yes there are many jobs that pay little but there is always a better opportunity for those who look. Since I know people who make close to 100k here in Idaho, I assume it can be done anywhere.
sadly, your average welder don't make 6 figures. 40,000 a year is not enough to feed a family now in times. It's not even considered a standalone trade. I know, I am a Combination Welder of 22 Years and counting.
+Ur Pullenmychain I agree that 40,000 is not enough to feed a family of 4, but thats were the logic ends. I have been welding for almost 30 years now and can show tax returns for at least the last 20 showing I made over $100,000 and I am a "standalone" welder. $40,000 is a median wage which doesn't factor overtime, per diem, etc. A welder that is not making $40,000 is a welder that doesn't want to or have the ambition to make more than $40,000. Hell, I'm semi- retired now and only teach welding 30 hours a week and make almost $70,000 in a rural community in the south.
i have been a welder for 13 years and went to vocational school to get there but i don't make any were near 100,000 dollars a year i don't even make 40,000. the only way you make that kind of money is if you work on government jobs. the problem is no one wants to work hard anymore. they all want to sit behind a desk and play on a computer. welding and fabrication is hard work and not everyone can do it. i also think they don't try hard enough to get people in the trade. i am a female in this trade and in my 13 years i have only ran across 7 other females in my area. i think they need to give better access to the training and work harder on getting females in the trade. i am also a AWS member and that is not cheep either. to get a CWI will cost you close to 5000. and so you don't welders trying to get them cause they cant afford it. i barly make enough to support my family.
+Cory Letts Since you're an AWS member, it's only $850 for the CWI examination, not $5000. Even if you took the seminar with examination, it's only $2080. Your wage also depends on where you live, if you're willing to travel, what you're welding on, and what processes you're certified for.
john, i know what you mean it is only 2080 but after travel expenses and pre seminar expenses i winded up paying 5000 by the time i was done. they only have it in the northwest 3 to 4 times a year. and yes i know it depends on were you live but a lot of people cant just get up and move there whole family. Oregon dose not pay welders that well unless you are in a union or work for the government. I have 5 certs and that has not got me much more money. don't get me wrong i love what i do and would not trade it for anything i just think if people are going to say your going to make X amount of money they need to be a little more realistic. not everyone can travel for there jobs. special when your a single parent.
Not many of the current generation wants to work hard, get their hands dirty, or have a career where they don't have a guaranteed job with big company and benifits with no risk of loosing it. Unfortunatly, its a pipe dream, even with a $100K college degree. In fact, over 40% of today's graduates end up in the service industry, living with their parents, and facing 40 years of student loan payments. My son apprenticed in the flooring industry 25 years ago, & today has his own exotic hardwood flooring business making well over 6 figures. His most serious problem is hiring people who are willing to work hard doing quality work,, take and follow directions, and show up on time every day. He is willing to pay $100 a day. I believe that hard times are ahead for all of us, and expect that many of today's young adults will need to learn som hard lessons to survive.
I'd rather be well paid tradesmen then broke philosopher.
Amen. Love your content.
Michael Shawn I apprettiate that. Thank you.
I have met David Weldon personally. He is the past President of the American Welding Society. He learned to weld but went on to become a welding engineer. My friends and I earn an average of $70,000 / year working in Dallas Texas through our UA Local 100 union and our signatory mechanical contractors.
This guy is an engineering manager, not a welder.
+Blue Max True, but I can vouch for the potential to make well over 100,000.00/year as a welder once your skill, experience, ability to network and travel advance. I know many people under 30 years of age that make 6 figures as a welder.
+Blue Max - He's the president of the American Welding Society. He knows what he's talking about.
Bo Scott I've been in metal fabrication for 40 years. Rare to make six digits welding. Take years of experience but one can make a living.
I'm a Welding Engineering student and personally know multiple people, welders, Welding Engineers, CWIs, who make that much from California to Idaho to Iowa. I know two people who became millionaires, welding for Chevron and Shell (as shift employees with 30+ years at one refinery). I know people who own their own businesses who make 100k. The industry is huge and there are many avenues by which a welder can advance a career or increase his own value as a skilled tradesman. Where do you live? California is one place and could be considered an out layer but I'm in Idaho right now and this state is on the bottom side of the wage scale, yes there are many jobs that pay little but there is always a better opportunity for those who look. Since I know people who make close to 100k here in Idaho, I assume it can be done anywhere.
+Blue Max please see my comment above. Very easy to make 6 figures if you work hard.
sadly, your average welder don't make 6 figures. 40,000 a year is not enough to feed a family now in times. It's not even considered a standalone trade. I know, I am a Combination Welder of 22 Years and counting.
+Ur Pullenmychain I agree that 40,000 is not enough to feed a family of
4, but thats were the logic ends. I have been welding for almost 30
years now and can show tax returns for at least the last 20 showing I
made over $100,000 and I am a "standalone" welder. $40,000 is a median
wage which doesn't factor overtime, per diem, etc. A welder that is not
making $40,000 is a welder that doesn't want to or have the ambition to
make more than $40,000. Hell, I'm semi- retired now and only teach
welding 30 hours a week and make almost $70,000 in a rural community in
the south.
i have been a welder for 13 years and went to vocational school to get there but i don't make any were near 100,000 dollars a year i don't even make 40,000. the only way you make that kind of money is if you work on government jobs. the problem is no one wants to work hard anymore. they all want to sit behind a desk and play on a computer. welding and fabrication is hard work and not everyone can do it. i also think they don't try hard enough to get people in the trade. i am a female in this trade and in my 13 years i have only ran across 7 other females in my area. i think they need to give better access to the training and work harder on getting females in the trade. i am also a AWS member and that is not cheep either. to get a CWI will cost you close to 5000. and so you don't welders trying to get them cause they cant afford it. i barly make enough to support my family.
+Cory Letts Since you're an AWS member, it's only $850 for the CWI examination, not $5000. Even if you took the seminar with examination, it's only $2080. Your wage also depends on where you live, if you're willing to travel, what you're welding on, and what processes you're certified for.
john, i know what you mean it is only 2080 but after travel expenses and pre seminar expenses i winded up paying 5000 by the time i was done. they only have it in the northwest 3 to 4 times a year. and yes i know it depends on were you live but a lot of people cant just get up and move there whole family. Oregon dose not pay welders that well unless you are in a union or work for the government. I have 5 certs and that has not got me much more money. don't get me wrong i love what i do and would not trade it for anything i just think if people are going to say your going to make X amount of money they need to be a little more realistic. not everyone can travel for there jobs. special when your a single parent.
Not many of the current generation wants to work hard, get
their hands dirty, or have a career where they don't have a guaranteed
job with big company and benifits with no risk of loosing it.
Unfortunatly, its a pipe dream, even with a $100K college degree. In
fact, over 40% of today's graduates end up in the service industry,
living with their parents, and facing 40 years of student loan payments.
My
son apprenticed in the flooring industry 25 years ago, & today has
his own exotic hardwood flooring business making well over 6 figures.
His most serious problem is hiring people who are willing to work hard
doing quality work,, take and follow directions, and show up on time
every day. He is willing to pay $100 a day.
I believe that
hard times are ahead for all of us, and expect that many of today's
young adults will need to learn som hard lessons to survive.