Would CWI license be a good way to go?

admin

Right now I'm trying to figure out what it is I'm going to do with my trade. I've got 11 years welding experience jumping around in different environments. Ultimately, I want to make the most money possible to fund opening my own side business someday of doing ornamental gates/staircases/gazebos and things of that nature. Might have a bite on a non union pipe welding gig right now. I might also have an opportunity to have the shop I'm at now send me to CWI training after the end of the fourth quarter. That's only a possibility though and I'm barely able to survive on the maximum 40 hours that I'm getting at this shop. Only been here for a year so I'm not married to it. In the end I don't believe I'm going to stay here at this shop none the less. There isn't any work here and I'm not welding as is. Do CWIs make much more money than welders and would it be pretty much a complete career reboot? Would I be starting at the bottom level 1? Or should I just go ahead and get my own rig, stand on the side of the road with a sandwich board that reads "HAVE WELDER-WILL TRAVEL"?