Welding Work?

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Hopefully this is the right section....I'm looking to move from Washington State to somewhere with sunshine. Mainly looking at AZ (Phoenix and Tucson areas) or NC (Mooresville is my #1 choice), but am open to anywhere that is not the PNW. Low cost of living and a good amount of custom fabrication work (race cars, hot rods, trucks, bikes) would be ideal. SoCal has also been a thought, because I know there is an abundance of fab work down there.If anybody has some suggestions on where to look, I'm all ears. I need to get away from the gray skies and hoping to get into the custom fab scene at the same time.Thanks to anyone who helps. "I fully know my place in life, and it's behind a welding helmet...." - Jesse JamesIG: @weldakota
Reply:I live in the very south of AZ and had a shop in Tucson for several years.  I'll tell you a little about AZ.   For welders you can expect really low wages.  from 10-18 an hour for shop work. The summers in Phoenix and most of the year is hotter than hell.  Welding when it's 114 absolutely sucks.   Shops are typically open so no AC.  Yes the cost of living in many parts of the state are less but so are the wages.  If you have some good certs for Aluminum and Titanium you could get in with some of the defense contractors which we did.  There are some high end machine shops that need good welders.   Ornamental works and security bars are big if you are into that type of work but they pay the least.  There are several mines in the state and of course construction.  If I were to look for full time work in AZ I would look at Flagstaff because it has two major interstates, is growing and serves a lot of areas like trucking, agriculture, and I am sure some custom work. The snow there really isn't that bad.
Reply:Originally Posted by WeldakotaI'm looking to move from Washington State to somewhere with sunshine. I need to get away from the gray skies
Reply:If you want to live in Mooresville, look into nascar. I know a few teams have shops in the charlotte area... Charlottes cost of living can be high, Id try and stay out of meclenburg county, it is considerably less- Christian M.C3 Welding & Fabrication - CNC Plasma Cutting-Mobile Welding-Custom welding and fabwww.c3welding.com
Reply:Originally Posted by aapossienI live in the very south of AZ and had a shop in Tucson for several years.  I'll tell you a little about AZ.   For welders you can expect really low wages.  from 10-18 an hour for shop work. The summers in Phoenix and most of the year is hotter than hell.  Welding when it's 114 absolutely sucks.   Shops are typically open so no AC.  Yes the cost of living in many parts of the state are less but so are the wages.  If you have some good certs for Aluminum and Titanium you could get in with some of the defense contractors which we did.  There are some high end machine shops that need good welders.   Ornamental works and security bars are big if you are into that type of work but they pay the least.  There are several mines in the state and of course construction.  If I were to look for full time work in AZ I would look at Flagstaff because it has two major interstates, is growing and serves a lot of areas like trucking, agriculture, and I am sure some custom work. The snow there really isn't that bad.
Reply:I own a weld fab business in Concord NC..You are correct about the race car business shops but they have so over exploited that fact with local schools and BS trade schools that there is a 1000 person deep line waiting on any job that comes available in a race shop. ...Just real world FYI....  Also, the best you can hope for concerning shop pay, welding in the local shops around here is 18 to 20 per hour max. Starting at 15.Miller TrailBlazer 251Miller HF-250-1Miller MaxStar 150 STLHyperTherm PowerMax 380 plasmaLincoln PowerMig 180Millermatic 252Miller Diversion 180
Reply:Oh yeah... The cost of living is stupid high.Miller TrailBlazer 251Miller HF-250-1Miller MaxStar 150 STLHyperTherm PowerMax 380 plasmaLincoln PowerMig 180Millermatic 252Miller Diversion 180
Reply:Originally Posted by waginI own a weld fab business in Concord NC..You are correct about the race car business shops but they have so over exploited that fact with local schools and BS trade schools that there is a 1000 person deep line waiting on any job that comes available in a race shop. ...Just real world FYI....  Also, the best you can hope for concerning shop pay, welding in the local shops around here is 18 to 20 per hour max. Starting at 15.
Reply:You can be just south of charlotte over the state line, and cost of living will drop... SC has lower taxes... so there is that option as well- Christian M.C3 Welding & Fabrication - CNC Plasma Cutting-Mobile Welding-Custom welding and fabwww.c3welding.com
Reply:Originally Posted by camjeep3You can be just south of charlotte over the state line, and cost of living will drop... SC has lower taxes... so there is that option as well
Reply:yes I payed NC taxes when I worked there and lived in SC. but, property taxes are cheaper gas etc etc.- Christian M.C3 Welding & Fabrication - CNC Plasma Cutting-Mobile Welding-Custom welding and fabwww.c3welding.com