Just curious about those of you who are employed as welders. What kind of work are you doing and what are you paid to do it? I know I'm underpaid, but would love to see this info so that I could try to move into a more rewarding position financially.I work at a large (250 employees) manufacturer in Southern CA, who produces equipment for high tech manufacturers in other industries. I work as a production TIG welder making work benches, equipment stands, and structural frames for laboratory hoods. All are made in either stainless or cold rolled steel structural tubing or angles. I make $10/ hr with no benefits (one week paid vacation per year, after one year of full employment). I don't have to pull material, cut it, or machine it. I weld all day long making various projects according to provided blueprints.
Reply:Getting 42hr right now running SMAW on pipe. Xray 60 hrs. a week.Job before this one 38hr running GTAW - SMAW pipe. XrayBefore that 17 an hr....First job as an Iron Worker.No Benefits, No time off.Do a little fitting, and lining up of materials but, in reality it's all welding.I'm new but, the money is in Pipe from what I've seen.Your also in an area where there are too many people welding to command better money.In production welding your a dime a dozen, and the pay is likely entry level.In reality though we're all in production welding.You should pick up and try your hand at a shipyard. They all pay around 21hr.And will allow you a foot in the door to a higher paying industryAnd I know a lot of people are weird about posting what they make....Worried about someone trying to steal their spot I'm not, it's fair game no matter whether I'm running on a good gig or not.And I think it's good for people to know what's out there.Last edited by jsm11; 12-16-2010 at 08:56 PM.1981 Lincoln SA 200Miller Trailblazer 302gMiller 211 Mig Welder w/ AutosetI'm learning to stick metal together
Reply:Get into pipe. 44 on the check, 65 with bennies. 2 pensions and a supplemental (401k)If you have skills, I can set you up with a guy in Cali.UA Local 598
Reply:WalMart employees make more than $10/hr and they get bennies too!I make just over $17 for sittin on a forklift all night...not great, but I have always wanted to do a little welding on the side.Miller Syncrowave 200MillerMatic 180 AutoSetHobart Airforce 500iVictor O/A (80cf)
Reply:i make about a six pack per jeep thing that i weld. Have a Jeep Cherokee? Click Here!
Reply:23 an hr but nice med dental life health and 401k bens
Reply:By insterno;I make $10/ hr with no benefits (one week paid vacation per year, after one year of full employment).
Reply:Originally Posted by jsm11Getting 42hr right now running SMAW on pipe. Xray 60 hrs. a week.Job before this one 38hr running GTAW - SMAW pipe. XrayBefore that 17 an hr....First job as an Iron Worker.No Benefits, No time off.Do a little fitting, and lining up of materials but, in reality it's all welding.
Reply:The lowest paid person on the list so far lives in the most expensive area. A typical house in OC costs about four or five times what it would cost in Huntsville.With all the manufacturing that has left California combined with the border flood that we have creates an employment market with fewer positions and more competition for them.OP are you a young man that is just starting out or have or have you been at it for a while. Good to see that you are trying to gather some information to held improve your future. I believe that structural guys can make money in this region. Maybe some schooling while it's slow then going that route when thinks pick back up.Cheers,Ken
Reply:I'm amazed to see such a difference in pay scale. What about how long you guys can stay on the job? Is it a few months? Years?My industry 3 years at one place is considered forever.Regards,RobGreat Basin WeldingInstagramBlue weldersRed weldersMy luscious Table DIY TIG Torch cooler
Reply:Originally Posted by FegenbushI am hooking up the trailer now and moving to Huntsville. I'll stop by the LWS and pick up a couple hundred pounds of 6010 and 7018 on the way. That's some serious money, if you don't have a problem passing x-ray.
Reply:Just got out of school, I was a small biz owner (food manufacturing), and have some retail, and inside sales experience. There just appear to be too many people like me with a good education, and sales/manufacturing experience. So, after being laid off I got a grant to go back and learn welding, knowing there was a shortage of welders. I'm experienced and mature, but fairly new to the field of welding.I'm a pretty decent TIG welder now, and at the rate I've been improving I'll be a damn good one in six months to a year. Checking out possible next steps.It's rough in So-Cal right now. Unemployment is really high, there are a lot of good welders capable of demanding top dollar for their skills who can't get work.
Reply:x2 on the socal bit. SO lucky i found a way to work from home... i'll never get another real job if i can help it. Have a Jeep Cherokee? Click Here!
Reply:Originally Posted by Skwerlyx2 on the socal bit. SO lucky i found a way to work from home... i'll never get another real job if i can help it.
Reply:12 an hour in the bay area starting with 1 year of school experience and no certs."...My pappy was a pistol I'm a son of a gun...""...God is great, beer is good, and people are crazy..."
Reply:Making 70 an hour stickin repairs on them damn drillin rigs. No time off, no bennies...
Reply:I make 23.50 per hour with full benifits mig welding everything from big base frames to small weldments working for an automotive machienery builder.Syncro 250 DX Power Mig 255Smith Torches
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23.00 driving, welding, fabing, we have gotten busy in the last couple of months we were set at 40 hours I have been getting 48 to 56 here lately.Vantage 300 kubota ,miller 304 xmt ,lincoln ln 25 pro , ranger 305 G, plenty of other tools of the trade to make the sparks fly.
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20.00 fabricating, welding, two week paid vacation,401k. Get to repair the owners farm equipment they tear up in the crawfish and duck ponds. Been there 10 years this past November. Awesome owners.
Reply:Almost embarrassed to say, I am working as an inspector in Africa... US$1250 per day -20% local tax. Mind you, I work a 12 hour day, seven days a week for 28 days then I have 28 days off so I guess you can cut that in half. All-expenses-paid, airfare etc. also bear in mind we have a military gunships standing by 24/ 7
Reply:14.50/hr 20 years old right out of tech school welding stainless steel cheese vats. 2 weeks vacation full bennies matching 401k. Great place to work but my dream is opening my own shop but just saving up for now.
Reply:We start at 11.70 with NO experence up to 21.00 dont need any cert. full benne 401k start out with 1 week vac and gos up all mig welding 6 days a week.
Reply:Originally Posted by zbounceAlmost embarrassed to say, I am working as an inspector in Africa... US$1250 per day -20% local tax. Mind you, I work a 12 hour day, seven days a week for 28 days then I have 28 days off so I guess you can cut that in half. All-expenses-paid, airfare etc. also bear in mind we have a military gunships standing by 24/ 7
Reply:Originally Posted by Skwerlyi make about a six pack per jeep thing that i weld.
Reply:Originally Posted by zbounceAlmost embarrassed to say, I am working as an inspector in Africa... US$1250 per day -20% local tax. Mind you, I work a 12 hour day, seven days a week for 28 days then I have 28 days off so I guess you can cut that in half. All-expenses-paid, airfare etc. also bear in mind we have a military gunships standing by 24/ 7$19.35hr plus benefits just like everyone else in the shop . They have changed our contract 3 times in the last 2 years. Working military contracts you never know whats going to happen but "they" tell us that there is at least 10 years worth of work for us. Around here there is nothing unless you are lucky and get into one of the power plants or go work on a river barge. Don't get me wrong I am not complaining. It takes me about 20 min to get to work. I rarely have to work outside. Get along great with my co-workers (my site boss is my former 1st Sergeant) I don't work weekends or holidays. And I pretty much decide for myself what I work on throughout the day.The only thing that bugs me is my job title isn't "welder". I am a "ground support equipment repairer" just like everyone else. That means that I get the same pay for doing a skilled trade as the 20y/o non-skilled guy putting on hoses and clamps or changing tires (at another facility) does.But I have done ALOT worst for ALOT less. I have told my boss before that if they ever decide to fire or lay me off to call the county sheriff first. Cause I am going out the door kicking and screaming.
Reply:first job started at 11$ got up to 12.90$ but I welded the same part day in day out,and I hated it..2nd job (started this week) is more like reading blueprints , fabricating , alot of ghetto rigging ,a couple minutes of welding and something new every day..It is fun and very laid back, figure I can work here for a few years so i can get kinda decent at welding and fabrication, then figure out a new job where I can work easily in airconditioning,and keep the metalworking as a hobby so I dont get burned out on it
Reply:Nigeria offshore, MPN Bonny field. i fly from Lagos direct to Atlanta non stop on the 30th.
Reply:Originally Posted by zbounceNigeria offshore, MPN Bonny field. i fly from Lagos direct to Atlanta non stop on the 30th.
Reply:I was reading job listings for welders recently in the greater Toronto area, and could hardly believe what they offer as a starting wage to welders here in Canada. Highest I could find was high teens, but most jobs starting at around $15 an hour... I am no pro welder, I take X-rays for a living in a hospital, I'd have to say from what I have seen it would take longer to train a welder than my profession. There are just so many facets to the job, metal types, etc. To me its really an art form in the truest sense. Has to be one of the most underpaid professions going.
Reply:you never said what they were paying..........
Reply:Originally Posted by zbounceyou never said what they were paying..........
Reply:With the company I work for, it depends on where you are located Geographically...Journeyman Rate for the branch I work out of in Northern Alberta is $33/hour.Journeyman Rate in Red Deer (to the South) is $29/hour.I have NO idea what the company pays in British Columbia, or Saskatchewan.3 Weeks Paid Vacation.Benefits out the Wah-ZooCompany Matching Retirement & Investments coming back online soon.Later,Jason
Reply:Originally Posted by zbounceNigeria offshore, MPN Bonny field. i fly from Lagos direct to Atlanta non stop on the 30th.
Reply:The best paying welding job around hear was $15 an hour for certified aircraft work with some bennies. That job was probably $6 to $10 under what it should have been. Kind of sucks, I need to get back into welding work, I sure do miss the money the real money.
Reply:not enough lol anyone need a good alu mig welder (joking) i suck lol pays ok for where i work around 30 hr small shop only 2 of us in the shop no ben but the owner gave me a key to the shop and basically told me go nuts lol so i get 50 plus running my own little side biz out of his shop tooLast edited by abec; 12-21-2010 at 02:04 AM.
Reply:Originally Posted by WHughesIf you have skills, I can set you up with a guy in Cali.
Reply:I am making $18.54 an hour with full benefits and 401k. Two weeks vacation on the day you get hired if its before june. One week after june. I weld bobcat attachments and geith back- hoe buckets. I am an hour north of charlotte nc.
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amn good pipe welders up here are making 36-42hr. Full benefits. A good pipe welder like me is at 25hr...but I also build boilers, and setup burners.I would imagine Pipeliners are pulling top dollar... nationwideMIG and TIG are GROSSLY underpaid around here, almost to the point of not working as a welder...Lincoln Power MIG 210 MP ( boat anchor )Lincoln Weld-Pac 100 HDHobart IronMan 230Cutmaster 42Jackson NexGenSumner Ultra ClampsDWM120
Reply:Originally Posted by Wayne_hThat is not enough money to live in Lagos pal.....Wayne
Reply:Originally Posted by zbounceI have worked every continent in the world pal.i would nver live in Lagos. I am offshore, i have never spent any time in lagos except 1 night at the sheratonl and it was NICE pal!, off shore its all the same pal, what are you making pal? have you ever been to lagos pal?or for that matter out of the usa?I make what I make and more than happy with my palty 100$ per hr 7days per week 12 hrs per day. my apologies, but u just rubbed me the wrong way....... PAL
Reply:i was making $15/hr no benefits no vacation to weld whatever was put in front of me until last week when i was laid off. it had finally slowed down here. i had 6 mos. amateaur experiance welding before i was hired 6 mos. ago. i sure learned a lotDynasty 200DXPassport plus w/ spoolmate 100victor 315c oxy/(act and prop)Miller digital elitemilwaukee power tools
Reply:I'm a welder/fitter in a Chicago area refinery. I make about $34/hr + good benefits and lots of OT. Contactors are at roughly $42 hr but have less benefits.
Reply:I mostly weld on my buddies trucks, light fabrication and from time to time I weld, fabricate and rig for film production.Excluding film production I usually never take a dime unless I am driving a long way out.Lunch, a handshake or 12 pack do the trick.Probably why I am Down&out Last edited by Down&out; 12-25-2010 at 06:02 PM.Shop rigs -Miller Syncrowave 250 DXMiller 252Home rigs -Esab Caddy c200iHitachi E71 GeneratorMetabo chop saw, grinders, etc Two catsUnhealthy addictions to surfing and demolition derby
Reply:I'm making $21 hr, personally I think it's crap for the type of work I do and the amount of experience I have. Actually I think a lot of welders out there are making a lot less then what they actually should be making. Most of the high paid welders are pressure or underwater welders, or have there own rigs or work for the oil industry. Doing fabrication is great for entry level work but I'm getting sick of it.
Reply:Updates?Please keep the replies coming.1981 Lincoln SA 200Miller Trailblazer 302gMiller 211 Mig Welder w/ AutosetI'm learning to stick metal together
Reply:In 2005 and 2006 made over 150K. The last two years i paid to go to work. Being self employed isn't what its cracked up to be and its not for everyone.Vantage 500's LN-25's, VI-400's, cobramatics, Miller migs, synch 350 LX, Powcon inverters, XMT's, 250 Ton Acurrpress 12' brake, 1/4" 10' Atlantic shear,Koikie plasma table W/ esab plasmas. marvel & hyd-mech saws, pirrana & metal muncher punches.
Reply:Good morning, from canada but i figured that i throw my 2 cents in literallyha ha $24 an hour ,4 weeks paid vacation, matching pension full benifets working 5 on 4 off 12 hour shifts!Hang in there i was working a dirty dead end job for half of what i get now and no hours towards my millwright apprenticship! I think we have all been ther before a time or two
Reply:Originally Posted by Skwerlyi make about a six pack per jeep thing that i weld.
Reply:My last job was $14.35 in south georgia. It was a welder/carman, got laidoff.Mauricio "shogun" Rua greatest light heavyweight ever
