Welding for a career? Advice?

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Hey guys! First off I am a 16 year old high school student that loves to weld. I did a Dodge Dana 60 SAS and Cummins swap on my Chevy (welded front leaf spring hangers) with a mig welder and I have been welding for a little while now and I enjoy it a lot. This summer I plan on buying a TIG and learning that process. But anyways back to my question.Ok, well since I am a junior in high school I guess it's time to think about what I want to do career wise with my life. Now since I enjoy welding so much, I want to do it as a career and keep cars as a hobby. Of course my parents don't like this idea as I wouldn't get a college degree, I guess I would go to some sort of welding school? Or I was thinking about mechanical engineering which doesn't sound as appealing to me. I just don't know if I can handle that haha.So for all you welders out there who do it as a career, do you like it? Do you regret it? Do you wish you did something else for a living? How stable are welding jobs without college degrees?My parents really don't like the fact that I wouldn't be getting a college degree. It scares them to death they say. Is there a college degree I could get? (I feel like it would be a waste of my money since I have to pay for my education after high school). I was planning on maybe welding on the pipeline (if possible lol I don't know much) then going on from there.Any input is really helpful! Thanks guys!
Reply:As much as I would encourage you to get a degree, I would also say that working as a skilled tradesman can also be very rewarding and lucrative . The social skills and maturity gained by attending college can be a huge advantage when and if you should still decide to pursue a career in the trades after college. Decisions regarding careers at your age are not always as sound as they might be after 4 yrs of college. I have never once used the degree I earned in it's applied field, but I wouldn't have achieved the results that I did in my chosen career without the maturity I gained by attending college. Give college a try.... it can only help you no matter what career you eventually choose to pursue.
Reply:Originally Posted by tekstarAs much as I would encourage you to get a degree, I would also say that working as a skilled tradesman can also be very rewarding and lucrative . The social skills and maturity gained by attending college can be a huge advantage when and if you should still decide to pursue a career in the trades after college. Decisions regarding careers at your age are not always as sound as they might be after 4 yrs of college. I have never once used the degree I earned in it's applied field, but I wouldn't have achieved the results that I did in my chosen career without the maturity I gained by attending college. Give college a try.... it can only help you no matter what career you eventually choose to pursue.
Reply:Originally Posted by tekstarAs much as I would encourage you to get a degree, I would also say that working as a skilled tradesman can also be very rewarding and lucrative . The social skills and maturity gained by attending college can be a huge advantage when and if you should still decide to pursue a career in the trades after college. Decisions regarding careers at your age are not always as sound as they might be after 4 yrs of college. I have never once used the degree I earned in it's applied field, but I wouldn't have achieved the results that I did in my chosen career without the maturity I gained by attending college. Give college a try.... it can only help you no matter what career you eventually choose to pursue.
Reply:First thing you need to do, is stay away from girls!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!Get a job in a fab shop, knowing how to weld is one thing, knowing how to build things is another.Don’t pay any attention to meI’m just a hobbyist!CarlDynasty 300V350-Pro w/pulseSG Spool gun1937 IdealArc-300PowerArc 200ST3 SA-200sVantage 400
Reply:Originally Posted by CEPFirst thing you need to do, is stay away from girls!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!Get a job in a fab shop, knowing how to weld is one thing, knowing how to build things is another.
Reply:Originally Posted by CEPFirst thing you need to do, is stay away from girls!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!Get a job in a fab shop, knowing how to weld is one thing, knowing how to build things is another.
Reply:Do both. Work your way through college by sweeping floors at a welding shop. You can bet in no time you will have a hood on and they will start you with some light, easy work. Prove yourself and keep moving up all the while knocking out classes at school. By the time you get that piece of paper in your hand you will have a few years of worthwhile experience to put on a resume.Miller Dynasty 200DXMiller 252 Miller 250xMiller Syncrowave 250Miller AEAD200 LegendMiller 375 Xtreme plasmaLincoln WeldPak 100Victor O/A
Reply:Originally Posted by CEPFirst thing you need to do, is stay away from girls!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!Get a job in a fab shop, knowing how to weld is one thing, knowing how to build things is another.
Reply:Originally Posted by tekstarAw c'mon CEP...... were you able to do that ?
Reply:New guys opinion:I was in the exact same boat as you.I started my welding apprenticeship straight out of high school. After three years of apprenticing and trade school I earned my journeyman ticket. I worked as a welder/fitter for a few years, and realized that although I love working with metal, it's a tough way to make a living. I decided to go back to school and do a Mechanical Engineering degree. I'll be done at the end of April. I've already got a job lined up, which, at first, will be a pay cut from my welding wage, but as a welder, I had pretty well topped out on the pay scale. With an engineering degree, I will go a lot further. I say do both. I don't regret it for a second. Get a trade (welding) and use it to gain experience, and to pay for school. That way you've got education, as well as 'hands on' experience to back it up. Plus, there's way more pretty girls at university than at trades school.
Reply:If you are not all that excited about being a mechanical engineer, How about studying metallurgy and become a metallurgist.  Just a thought.Some kind of Big Blue constant current welding machineAnother smaller yet, Blue machine (it's got wire in it)