Where's The Money?

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I'm completely new to welding and have signed up for classes starting in january at the community college.  I currently work as a auto painter and I'm growing tired of insurance companies and shops always looking for was of cutting the hours that they pay.  I enjoy working with my hands and like being very exact, very precise.  I would like to know which areas of the welding profession make the most money.  I heard that if you go to south texas where they have the oil fields you can make a year's worth of money in about 6 months, but I also heard that they weld on pipes with oil and gas going through them, that sounds dangerous.  Is it in fabrication, mobile, auto, racing, construction, art, underwater, residential, commercial, repair, aerospace, manufacturing where?  I am 22 and want to be completely self employed by the time I'm 25 as I have other businesses that I'm pursuing at this time.  I live in Dallas, TX and  wouldn't mind moving after I finish my schooling.  Any advice would be greatly appreciated, Thank You
Reply:Originally Posted by theoriginator I heard that if you go to south texas where they have the oil fields you can make a year's worth of money in about 6 months, but I also heard that they weld on pipes with oil and gas going through them, that sounds dangerous.
Reply:welding pipe is gonna make more money than fabrication or manufacturing in my opinion
Reply:Ironworkers, underwater welders, pipe welders... all make alot, and work their *** off. dangerous work. The school I'm in now basicly pushes you in the direction of becoming an Ironworker. Totally not why I got into welding... My friend does nothing but fabricate and weld high end titanium, stainless, and aluminum race parts in a nice cumfy shop and makes the same if not more money. Thats where I want to be...I like to party!
Reply:The grass is ALWAYS greener..... but one thing I can tell you- If you are going into a line of work as hard as welding, "Looking for the money" you are going into the wrong business. The guy who makes big bucks in welding?? He's the guy who hires 20 welders. Not the 20 welders he hires. And if you think insurance people are a PITA now with painting, try dealing with the insurance guys in a fire prone state like Texas or California. They look at you as the next 1,000 home burner, regardless of how and where you weld.And then, after so much work...... you have it in your hand, and you look over to your side...... and the runner has run off. Leaving you holding the prize, wondering when the runner will return.
Reply:If you ever do find out where the money is, let me know, I could use some!MM350P/Python/Q300MM175/Q300DialarcHFHTP MIG200PowCon300SMHypertherm380ThermalArc185Purox oaF350CrewCab4x4LoadNGo utilitybedBobcat250XMT304/Optima/SpoolmaticSuitcase12RC/Q300Suitcase8RC/Q400Passport/Q300Smith op
Reply:I know it is true in certain applications to weld pipeline with product running through it, if it is already wetted.  It's actually safer because there is no air space to create vapors and it carries the heat away so there can be no combustion.If you are ambitious and mobile, I think you can make some good money in welding, but like Rojo said, not what you may be dreaming it will be.Hobart 140 Handler w/ gasHyperTherm Powermax 380 Plasmaoxy/acetylene
Reply:It doesn't matter whether you're painting cars, welding pipelines, building bridges or preforming surgery there is going to be pressure to do more in less time. The higher the pay, the greater the pressure to get the job done quickly and done right the first time.
Reply:Originally Posted by tresiIt doesn't matter whether you're painting cars, welding pipelines, building bridges or preforming surgery there is going to be pressure to do more in less time. The higher the pay, the greater the pressure to get the job done quickly and done right the first time.
Reply:Originally Posted by lewrayVery well wrote
Reply:There is money to be made in the oilfield.  You don't have to go to South Texas, there is plenty of work in your backyard, around Grandbury.  Lots of work in West Texas, too!  If you don't want to work on pipelines, there is a LOT of fabrication work, too.  I haven't heard of many welders getting hurt.  Most accidents involve explosions that are not related to welding, being crushed by heavy equipment, and falls.America Needs AMERICA'S Oil!!!"Global warming is the greatest scam in history ...There is no run away climate change. The impact of humans on climate is not catastrophic. Our planet is not in peril."--John Coleman, Founder of The Weather Channel
Reply:On the Gulf Coast, 6GR (.045 Gas shielded FCAW) is the best paying.  JohnSMAW,GMAW,FCAW,GTAW,SAW,PAC/PAW/OFCand Shielding Gases.  There all here. :
Reply:ive been earning good money painting cars for 15 years,and im with you man that buisinees has gone to hell in an handbasket,i believe it will come around because there will be no one left to do the work.i too love to weld and wish i could find a job doing what i love but when you have family and fixin to put kids in college its just not feesable.i think you will have to start out making less money and work your way because i hear painters in dallas make 100k at some shops  good luck man i hope you make it
Reply:I would like to be self employed or work for a company with good people.  Painting cars is easy if you prep right and can "get into it" it's not bad at all, unless estimators don't give time for blend or the bodymen scratch everything putting it together.  You just have to have the paint code, mix the paint right and let it go.  The hardest part is buff, but I already mastered that.  The thing I've learned so far is that people in the higher up positions want to make you think it's hard and that it takes "years of experience" so they have less competition because they see that if they give you enough room they will get eaten by the hungry workers, and they're too fat and lazy. It hasn't even been a year since I picked up a paint gun and painted the outside panels of a car and I'm already a full blown painter with a helper I hired and trained, most people have to prep and do the grunt work for years before they get their shot.  There's always somebody better but some people got it and some don't.  I'm confident that I can learn how to weld and do some precision welding/ fabrication work at my own pace and choose my own projects, just like doing sidejobs on cars (I guess).  Just do good work and people will find you.  What type of fabrication/ precision work brings the most money?
Reply:Originally Posted by theoriginatorI would like to be self employed or work for a company with good people.   What type of fabrication/ precision work brings the most money?
Reply:Good point Rojadiablo it takes years to learn the trade I have been welding for 26 years and I learn new stuff all the time and to me that is what I like. I will not ever do production again that sucked but fab welding and repair welding albeit hard work is a lot of fun. At the end of the day you can look and say I made that. I saw a few things said about uderwater welding. It just so happend my best friend has been retired for a year but going back in late summer for a 90 day run. I asked him what the pay was like and he is going to supervise on this trip and his rate is $750 a day plus the dive (250' = $250) plus overtime. He said when he was doing sat dives was 500 plus depth he has done very well. You start out as a tender and work your a$$ off and in one to two years you should be broke out and diving. Beeing a tender would suck but this is dangerous work and they want to know what they got. Curently the pay on one boat is $15 an hour and all the hours you want to work. Not a bad pay for somebody starting out. Once you are diving you should see 100K a year. My buddy made $175 his last year and worked about 9 months. You can only work doing sat dives and gas dives for about 20 years and your done. After that you can supervise or like my buddy did he opend a dive shop. He bored that is why he is doing a run. Good luck Steel Thunder Welding LLC. St. Thomas VI USAMM350PBOBCAT 3MAXSTAR 150 STH375 EXTREME PLASMA6.5 HP COMPRESORDEWALT 18, 24, AND 36 VOLTO/A TORCH SETAND SO MUCH MORE I DONT REMEMBERALL IN MY 2005 2500HD EXTENDED CAB L/B
Reply:I wasn't trying to be cocky with my statement, just confident and looking for advice which I appreciate.  With that said who does aerospace welding or knows about what it takes to get into it?  How does the metalwork/ welding industry work?  Anything like the auto body industry with insurance companies and accounts with dealerships?
Reply:Originally Posted by theoriginatorI wasn't trying to be cocky with my statement, just confident and looking for advice which I appreciate.  With that said who does aerospace welding or knows about what it takes to get into it?  How does the metalwork/ welding industry work?  Anything like the auto body industry with insurance companies and accounts with dealerships?
Reply:Originally Posted by Rojodiablopipefitters unions have really good apprenticeship programs.
Reply:Is there money in welding in upscale environments/ industries, like in making certain equipment or very precise fabrication work?  I'm hungry and would like to know if welding is worth it or should I look into construction/ real estate.  What's the best type of welding for self employment?
Reply:Originally Posted by theoriginatorIs there money in welding in upscale environments/ industries, like in making certain equipment or very precise fabrication work?  I'm hungry and would like to know if welding is worth it or should I look into construction/ real estate.  What's the best type of welding for self employment?
Reply:Damn Roj - I don't think I wanna be a weldOR anymore after reading your reply. John -  fabricator extraordinaire, car nut!-  bleeding Miller blue! http://www.weldfabzone.com
Reply:welder/weldorLook it up, they both are acceptable unless you're around the aircraft folks...they still have a hang-up about it.I once didn't get an interview with the company president because I "didn't even know how to spell" the occupation I was appling for. All my backround, my tests, my references, everything was good. The last hoop I had to jump through to get the job and it was not given over the difference between an E or a O. Would have been a sweet job, tigging turbine blades, and they haven't left the country or slowed down.All because I spelled it "or" rather than "er". Yes, he was/is a complete a$$hole, but you only had to deal with him a couple times a year after you got in the door.This really has nothing to do with the topic, just a FYI on the spelling. The OP is asking for the wrong reasons...he will never be any good at it even if he takes it up. He's interested in it for the wrong reason.Anything worth doing is worth doing RIGHT
Reply:Originally Posted by steve45There is money to be made in the oilfield.  You don't have to go to South Texas, there is plenty of work in your backyard, around Grandbury.  Lots of work in West Texas, too!  If you don't want to work on pipelines, there is a LOT of fabrication work, too.  I haven't heard of many welders getting hurt.  Most accidents involve explosions that are not related to welding, being crushed by heavy equipment, and falls.
Reply:Originally Posted by olddadwelder/weldorLook it up, they both are acceptable unless you're around the aircraft folks...they still have a hang-up about it.I once didn't get an interview with the company president because I "didn't even know how to spell" the occupation I was appling for. All my backround, my tests, my references, everything was good. The last hoop I had to jump through to get the job and it was not given over the difference between an E or a O. Would have been a sweet job, tigging turbine blades, and they haven't left the country or slowed down.All because I spelled it "or" rather than "er". Yes, he was/is a complete a$$hole, but you only had to deal with him a couple times a year after you got in the door.This really has nothing to do with the topic, just a FYI on the spelling. The OP is asking for the wrong reasons...he will never be any good at it even if he takes it up. He's interested in it for the wrong reason.Originally Posted by MicroZoneDamn Roj - I don't think I wanna be a weldOR anymore after reading your reply.
Reply:Sometimes you gotta' !  John -  fabricator extraordinaire, car nut!-  bleeding Miller blue! http://www.weldfabzone.com
Reply:I'm not worried about it, I was just trying to get some advice in a professional manner.  Allow me to break it down since I'm such a smart a$$ and I think I'm the $hit.  The fact is that there are people in the world that have the ability to pick things up and learn concepts better and faster than others, not saying that I'm one of them at all, if I was I wouldn't be typing this right now.  All the stupid kids and young punks will be running things one day and there's nothing to be done about that.  No doubt, for every Michael Jordan and Lebron James there are millions like Len Bias (before my time, but I do my homework).  So like I told all the teachers who told me I'd never make it, all the ones who were the $hit in high school but still live with their parents with no job and or car, I'm gonna get mine.  So maybe I'll see you at the river, I might let you ride on my Spectre Catamaran, it'll be longer than 42' though.
Reply:Originally Posted by theoriginatorI'm not worried about it, I was just trying to get some advice in a professional manner.  Allow me to break it down since I'm such a smart a$$ and I think I'm the $hit.  The fact is that there are people in the world that have the ability to pick things up and learn concepts better and faster than others, not saying that I'm one of them at all, if I was I wouldn't be typing this right now.  All the stupid kids and young punks will be running things one day and there's nothing to be done about that.  No doubt, for every Michael Jordan and Lebron James there are millions like Len Bias (before my time, but I do my homework).  So like I told all the teachers who told me I'd never make it, all the ones who were the $hit in high school but still live with their parents with no job and or car, I'm gonna get mine.  So maybe I'll see you at the river, I might let you ride on my Spectre Catamaran, it'll be longer than 42' though.
Reply:You don't need to relocate.  There are plenty of welding jobs around Dallas.
Reply:I can't say where the money is, but locally we have a guy that did normal work for years and welded his scrap into "things" they were cool, but I could not believe what people will pay for "art"  So now he does that full time...One job that got him a lot of $$$ was welding a gasoline tanker truck that had cracked.  It was moved to a remote location and he fixed it.  The Fire department has a video of him doing it... Wow, lots of flame! Me!
Reply:I'm new here and dont weld for a living,but i'm around and talk to alot of pipeliners.they do make good money if you dont mind traveling Local798 Tulsa OK
Reply:Welding gas tankers sounds dangerous, I hope he got broke off properly.
Reply:I am new here, but being a welder in both fab shops and aerospace industries, I'm going to throw my $.02 in. 1. You are going to have to pay your dues in the shop. I don't give a damn if your best welder on earth,if you can't read a complicated blueprint and fabricate weldments you are not going to make much money. Welding is just a small part of this business. Fabricating isn't just welding a bunch of parts together, it includes layout, distortion control, material fitup, etc. These are things learned with time, you are not going to become a A1 fabricator walking out of weld school. My advice is to find a mentor and learn everything you can, and the only stupid question is the one you didn't ask.2. If you want to make money in any business you are going to have to look in the mirror. Nobody is ever going to pay you what you are worth, the wheels of capitalism don't work that way. After all, the first rule in business is pay yourself more and everybody else less. Both of my parents are small business owners, and the lesson they taught me i will never forget. YOU WILL NOT MAKE MONEY WORKING FOR SOMEONE ELSE. Sure you can make $100,000 welding in the oil fields, but how much is the business owner making? More than that I'm sure. There is nothing wrong with working for somebody, just don't expect that yacht anytime soon.3. Stay the hell out of aerospace, for a while at least. Stay in fab shops for 5 years min. Why? Aerospace is high quality production, and thats all it is, production work. If you want to be the guy in aerospace business welding up the prototypes, doing the one-off precise work, they aren't going to turn to the robot welder that hasn't fabed a day in his life. They are going to turn to the guy who can read the complicated blueprint, knows how to control shrinkage and distortion,etc. You asked where the money is in welding? Go look in the mirror.
Reply:All I can say is I own my equipment.  I am self employed.  I weld here and there.  I have one Cert and my own business.  Big bucks?  Never.  Good money, yes, satisfaction that I do it on my own, Yes.  I make more than some guy doing production.  Sometimes I do small contract jobs.  Piecework.  Get what I can per piece and work my azz off to make a good $ at that job.  I am truly satisfied at being self employed.  I am truly satisfied with what I make. Some days I can make $500 to $1,000 a day......Some days. Others I don't make sh*t.  Its the way the business works.I would never weld pipe line, because to me its an "endless job".  I don't want that.  I have fun doing what I do and make a living at it too.  What more could a guy ask for?This didn't happen over night.  As people get to know me and as word of mouth travels, I get more good work and more good jobs.    I always do the best I can.  People know this and are willing to hire me because of the service  I can give compared to others.I will never make the Big $, but I sure love what I do.DavidLast edited by David R; 02-05-2008 at 05:42 PM.Real world weldin.  When I grow up I want to be a tig weldor.
Reply:well put david r wish i loved what i did its just so hard to start something new and still pay the bills
Reply:Rojo is absolutely correct in what he is telling you. You are not going to go to any welding school and come out ready to make the big bucks. It takes years to learn this stuff. There are no schools where you can learn the aerospace and nuke class stuff. Those are the classes you get into because someone noticed your stuff and sent you there. I was doing pro class welding before I was old enough to get a drivers license. I guess you could say I picked it up fast. Still as Rojo said, the guy making big bucks off of welding is the guy with a bunch of welders working for him. World of difference between learning to paint cars and learning to weld. I know because I have done both. Come to me straight out of school with all the certs and you still get stuck on a grinder helping someone who is a known quantity until you have proven yourself. It's easy to pass cert tests, it's when you can still do it to code standing on your head soaking wet with no room to work that counts.The difference between art and craft is the quality of the workmanship. I am an artist.
Reply:I work 20 mins.- 6 hrs. a day for $400-$550 a day plus benefits, 5-6 days a week,every week.  All I do is look at things and write about what I see.  Not big bucks but my job is so easy it ain't funny.  But... If somebody asks a question, I better git them the right answer.Last edited by Lefty Lucy; 07-16-2010 at 08:16 PM.RockFileAdjustable WrenchIf it don't fit,Bigger Rock
Reply:I think welding is a great job. Everyone is working hard. I would like you to do so. Give yourself a chance, stick with one thing, you will succeed. Money is not a problem.welding electrodes welding wires
Reply:im thinking art would be the most $.