Questions from a student about Welding Jobs

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Hello, My name is William, and I am a student currently enrolled in welding classes at my local community college, and i have a keen interest in welding and metalwork. I am also enrolled in a career development class in which i have a project where i get information interviews from workers in the field. I was wondering if i could ask you some questions about the job as a welder and some of your expierence. I'd really appreciate the help, it will be use to me because of my the details of my project. Here are the questions: 1. What are some credential requirements needed usually at a welding shop/company?2. What is the day-to-day nature of the work?3. Where were you employed when you worked as a welder?4. What is some potential for advancement?5. What were your earnings as a welder?6. What are some related fields of work?7. Rewards of the Job?8. Were there any problems you had when working as a Welder?9. What were some skills you developed from working as a Welder?10. Did you ever have any uncertainties of the job?11. Were there any short or long term disappointments?14. Did you ever have any surprises from the job?15. Did you have a specific Job?17. What were some of the Major responsibilities of the job?18. Were the needed resources available to you at the job?19. What are some training opportunities you know of for general metalwork? Thank you very much for the help, once again i appreciate it.  WilliamLast edited by williamw805; 11-19-2008 at 02:50 PM.
Reply:Here are the questions: 1. What are some credential requirements needed usually at a welding shop/company?Ability to weld with the appropriate processes. Often tested by the employer prior to employment.2. What is the day-to-day nature of the work?I don't weld everyday... I do everything from engineering design work to stick and TIG welding on pressure vessels, to making specialty equipment, machine repair, to sweeping the shop. Most of the guys in the shops where I work do a variety of tasks, but both shops specialize in non-production.3. Where were you employed when you worked as a welder?4. What is some potential for advancement?Education makes the sky the limit5. What were your earnings as a welder?Tough to say... I get paid the same to weld as to sweep and to do engineering work. Since the engineering work and specialty welding were how I ended up in both places, and I carry specialized training and credentials, and I don't work either full time, I get paid a better rate than many.6. What are some related fields of work?Things I have done in the last half year or so: Engineering design, inspection and testing, safety, supervision, teaching, general machine maintainance and repair, electrical work (electronics and electrician), machining, specialized fabrication.7. Rewards of the Job?Seeing a job finished and knowing I am one of the people that made it happen. Money. 8. Were there any problems you had when working as a Welder?Dehydration. Long hours on emergency jobs (36+ hour shifts when things go real bad). Minor injury.9. What were some skills you developed from working as a Welder?General fabrication. Machining (improved a lot)10. Did you ever have any uncertainties of the job?11. Were there any short or long term disappointments?14. Did you ever have any surprises from the job?Yes15. Did you have a specific Job?Generally, no17. What were some of the Major responsibilities of the job?18. Were the needed resources available to you at the job?Sometimes, sometimes you get creative.19. What are some training opportunities you know of for general metalwork?Union apprentices; job shops;
Reply:A question for you William that will get you more accurate answers: Where are you located?I will answer your questions to the best of my ability.1. What are some credential requirements needed usually at a welding shop/company?Certifications are nice, but they will want to see you weld and they will test you, to make sure you can. It depends on where you go, apprenticeships/unions have different requirements than companies.2. What is the day-to-day nature of the work?That really depends on what you are doing and where you are doing it. Some guys are inside an air conditioned building in Milwaukee TIG welding gas turbine parts, another guy might be in Alberta, Canada lying on his back in the snow/mud under a pipeline, 100 miles from anywhere.It can be whatever you want it to be.3. Where were you employed when you worked as a welder?I am employed still, at a welding shop 4. What is some potential for advancement?You can advance within the company you work for, but the safe bet is to continue your education, The more you know about the field in which you work the better.5. What were your earnings as a welder?It varies depending on where you are, what you do, and what you know.6. What are some related fields of work?Anything having to do with engineering, machine repair, etc.Again it really depends on what you do.7. Rewards of the Job?I get to see things a lot of people don't get to, nothing super exotic but it beats sitting at a desk.8. Were there any problems you had when working as a Welder?Yes9. What were some skills you developed from working as a Welder?Dealing with problems10. Did you ever have any uncertainties of the job?No, I have always been certain that it can be a tough job, with good money.11. Were there any short or long term disappointments?Not for me.14. Did you ever have any surprises from the job?Every once in a while15. Did you have a specific Job?Getting whatever needs to be done, done.17. What were some of the Major responsibilities of the job?Making sure things are done correctly.18. Were the needed resources available to you at the job?Most of the time 19. What are some training opportunities you know of for general metalwork?Unions, local Tech colleges, Apprenticeships. Or just good old fashioned getting out there and working.Yup
Reply:All of my answers apply to the main line pipeline construction field.1)    Ability to pass the welding test and ability to pass the drug test, that gets you on the job and at that point you have to make code quality welds in a fast paced environment. Knowledge of safe work practices in what can be a very dangerous environment. Downhill pipe welds, LoHi fitting welds, hot taps, sleeves, repair work, hot tie ins, work in excavations.2)    It varies quite a bit depending on your slot. Bead hands will make stringer beads at a very fast pace, hot pass hands will make hot pass welds at a very fast pace, firing line hands will fill/cap at a medium to very fast pace, tie in hands, road bore hands and lowering in hands will some days work at a very fast pace and other days sit and watch them dig/drill, fabrication hands will work at a pretty steady pace overall witrh some days a lot busier than others, testing welders will have a slow pace.  3)    A typical pipeline welder will work from one end of the country to the other.4)    The premium slots are considered an advancement, work as a welder foreman, a fabrication foreman, running a crew (lowering in, road bores, tie ins), top of the food chain would be a spread man, welders rarely serve this function tho.   5)    Working the typical low end 6/10's a welder on a union pipeline job will gross right at $4490 plus $960 in benefits. Working the typical top end (some jobs will work 7 days per week but not normally) of 6/13's the welder makes $6193 plus $960 in benefits (pension and health care).6)    When pipeline work is slow (and it is the most cyclical of all construction work) pipeline welders normally work union building trades jobs in powerhouse, manufacturing plants, ect. This work pays less, but still a good wage plus benefits, no rig pay tho.7)    Pipeline work appeals to a certain type of individual, the work (for those people) is fun, the lifestyle is enjoyable, the pay is very good and conditions are good as well. Health insurance benefits for your family is a major plus. A decent pension at the end of your career is too.8)    This world can have a lot of problems, drive 1000 miles on your last dollar to bust a test because the inspector doesn't like the Harley-Davidson sticker on your truck 'cause his oldest daughter run off will a lowlife on a motorsickle and hasn't been home in 12 years and only calls on Thanksgiving every 3rd year. Travel is a plus for most families in the field but can be a minus if your spouse isn't on board.Work is very cyclical. Inspection is generally very harsh. Work can be in 110degree plus or 20 degree below zero. 9)    A working pipeline welder will of course know how to weld big bore pipe with fitup from great to despicable. He'll have a decent knowledge of pipe fabrication, he'll understand the rigging of pipe and related materials, he will develope the habit of showing up on time every day or be run down the road,  keeping a one ton truck in solid reliable working condition, maintaining the welding machine and assorted tools, the ability to adapt and work with a wide variety of personalities from varying backgrounds.10)    This job is probably the "king" of uncertain occupations. You always have to test and you always have to please a visual inspector who being human, may hate you, or really like you, and treat you accordingly. It can be humorous at times, but not at other times. This is one of the last jobsites in the country where people still regularly resort to fist fights to settle their differences. This can be a good thing or a bad thing depending on your outlook. It does tend to moderate the more radical inspectors. Weather of course is a uncertainty anytime you work outdoors, permits are an uncertainty, the availability of lodging (either motels or rv parks) can be uncertain, on and on it goes.11)    Every job on this planet has it's dissapointments, pipeline welding has it's share. Most are short term tho.12 thru 13 ?14)    There is usually at least one suprise per day. I consider this a good thing. If we haven't heard a good rumour today, then let's start one ; )15)    Anything that falls under the welders classification.16) ? you should really learn to count better.17)    THE responsibility is to make the welds in a timely manner, and have few if any repairs. After that you have to show up on time every day, keep your truck/welding machine ready to work every day, keep your truck stocked with the needed supplies/consumables at all times. 18)   Any resource needed will be provided, this is in effect an outdoor production line. And the question of the day is "how many miles did you lay today"? The money is made in high production, anything needed usually shows up when needed. Slow pipeliners are ex-pipeliners.19)    General metalwork is outside my realm, we are fairly specialized but the pipeline welding world has ongoing classes at the national welding school in downhill pipe, uphill pipe, tig, automatic, pipe bending, ect. Any member in good standing can take advantage of these training opportunities.You're welcome,JTMcC.
Reply:You should keep in mind that it is a very broad, and very big welding world out there. Using the term "welder" doesn't really narrow it down much.Just like if you said "driver", there are professional drivers that are in a Formula 1 car, over the road big rigs, local dump trucks, limo's, taxi's, shuttle buss', NHRA Top Fuel Dragsters, 350 ton capacity haul trucks in open pit mines, freight trains, valet parking attendants, aircraft tow tugs, U.S. Army duece and a halfs, school buss', golf carts, M1A1 Abrams Main Battle Tank, Bradley Fighting Vehicle. On and on we could go but you get the idea, the "welder" world is at least that broad, maybe more. Regards,JTMcC.
Reply:I am a welding engineer who has worked as a welder and sometimes still welds. 1. What are some credential requirements needed usually at a welding shop/company?welders:  industry certs  engineers:  4yr BS Degree.2. What is the day-to-day nature of the work?Precision welding of arerospace superalloys.  Some manual.  Some automated.3. Where were you employed when you worked as a welder?Heavy equipment manuf in TX. Earth movers and offshore drilling rig parts.4. What is some potential for advancement?CWI. Welding Supervisor.  Welding Engineer.  Independent contractor (RIG welder)5. What were your earnings as a welder?$8.50 in 1979, which would be about $19 today.6. What are some related fields of work?Inspection.  Metallurgical Test Lab Tech.  Welding Technican. Welding Engineer.  Lean Man.  Welding Supervisor. Welding Equipment & Materials Sales.  Equipment Repair.7. Rewards of the Job?Interesting work.  Get to work with your hands.  Sometimes good pay & sucurity.8. Were there any problems you had when working as a Welder?Burns. Setting hair on fire.  Dangerous work environment (falling iron & acytelene fires)9. What were some skills you developed from working as a Welder?Eye hand coordination.  Blueprint reading.  Measurements.  Layout.  Inspection & QA.10. Did you ever have any uncertainties of the job?Had layoffs.  5 times.11. Were there any short or long term disappointments?Lost two jobs I loved through layoffs.  Took 5 years to get back in the saddle.14. Did you ever have any surprises from the job?Some expensive welds failed due to control faults, power surges, or power shut offs during the welds.15. Did you have a specific Job?Many specific jobs, but in each wore many hats.17. What were some of the Major responsibilities of the job?Welding Procdure Qualification, Met-lab work.  Welder & Inspector training.18. Were the needed resources available to you at the job?Textbooks, Codes & Specs, Internet, Welding Magazines, Lab Equipment.19. What are some training opportunities you know of for general metalwork?Community colleges are good resources.  Then Hobart or Tulsa Welding Schools. Thank you very much for the help, once again i appreciate it.