Salary?

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Hey guys, how are you?  I have a few question that I would like to ask but first I would like to explain my situation.  I just graduated out of a large nation-wide tech school for automotive and fabrication.  I got a job as an atuo service tech in Va. Beach and right now it isn't looking to hot.  Every potential employer I had understimated me and so does my employer now.  Not only do they not give me any sort of chance, but all of the techs say that the auto industry is slowing down rapidly in the next year.I have probably about 1 month of actual non-stop welding experience and 3 months of overall fabrication experience.  That might not seem like much of anything to some people but I was taught to weld by an I-CAR coordinator at a time in my life that I had never touched any type of fabrication equipment.  Therefore, I wasn't given the chance to develop any bad habits.  I can MIG, TIG  Mild Steel, Stainless, Aluminum, stick weld, oxy-acetylene.  I have never had the opportunity to atleast try cast iron and I was only taught by listening to the process so I am not nearly at that level yet.  I can of course plasma cut, use all the basic fabrication tools, lathes, mills, all of the saws.  My instructor told me that it was obvious that metal working came very natural to me for me to be welding at this level with so little experience.  Here is a write-up of a project I built: http://www.weldingweb.com/vbb/showthread.php?t=7544So my questions are?What sort of jobs are available to someone that can weld besides mom and pop shops?  I know of oil fields and under water welding but I would like to know exatly how do I get going into something like that.What is the average starting salary for someone with little experience but decent amount of skill for jobs like these?What is the average salary for a very experienced welder that has been with the company(15-20 years) in these sort of jobs?If anyone has any information, I would highly appreciate it.  Also if anyone is from the Virginia, NC area with information like this, that would be even more helpful since that is where I would like to be established at.Keep in mind I do know that I have not been out of school very long and my employer now will eventually give me respect and I am not jumping ship yet but I am tired of waiting for that chance.  And also I don't like the insecurities of a job like I have right now because the auto industry is slowing down all over the country and what if it takes a very long time to get back up where it was.  An elderly welder told me a while back that if you can really weld, you will always have a job.Like I said, I would really appreciate any information and input.  Btw I'm sorry if I came off cocky or arrogant.  I'm just really confident in things that I know I can do and I find that things workout better that way.Last edited by Screemin3o2; 11-20-2006 at 07:22 PM.
Reply:Each person makes their own choices and then has to live with them.  How long have you been  working as a service tech?  I would give it at least six months before making a judgment.  Keep in mind also that when things get slow employers look for people who can multitask.  There is no use keeping around a mechanic if you have another guy who is a mechanic who can weld.  This goes for millwrights who can weld, machinists who can weld, mechanics who can weld and yes I have even seen a carpenter who was kept around because he would weld.    Do not expect to walk into the big paying jobs immediately.  I worked for one Mom and Pop outfit as a fabricator/welder.  I went to an interview and the guy looking over my resume commented about me working in that shop for a whole year.  He asked me just how I put up with Peggy the bosses wife.  He was more impressed with the fact that I would put up with her that long.  That single point I think got me the job.  As a last note.  I have never met a welder worth his salt who worked for the same company for 15 years.  If he was any good he moved on or was stolen by a competitor.  Your idea of being hooked up to the same plow for the rest of your life is short sighted.  When I was young it was expected that the average person would have three careers in his lifetime.  Last time I heard the number was seven.Last edited by lotechman; 11-21-2006 at 12:01 AM.
Reply:Okay, Those are things that I needed to know.  I never really even thought of welding until I actually touched one and even then I thought I would just do it on the side.  I have been working as a tech for 2 months now and they still are only allowing me to change oil and rotate tires and that just does not make me very happy.  But like I said, I am not jumping ship now or anything of that sort.  I am just getting my research in now so when 6 months to a year comes by and things have not changed very much, I already have the information.  And I don't expect to go into anywhere making big money at the start.  All I want is to be able to prove myself.  Money is not important to me at the start as long as I have enough to get by.  I would rather make 12 dollars an hour working my *** off as a fabricator/welder than work at 20 dollars an hour and change oil all day.  I have nothing against that work.  I just need good challenges and I need to stay busy.  That's just how I have always been.
Reply:It don't hurt to start out at a mom and pops kinda shop, that's where I learned a lot of the stuff I know that got me the better job.  From there I busted my a$$ and showed them what I could do and I was rewarded  with every exceptional raise.DewayneDixieland WeldingMM350PLincoln 100Some torchesOther misc. tools
Reply:Screemin:  Now is the time to consider a "hobby".  Work is not going to competely fufill your interests.  I had a high school chum in the sixties who was interested in electronics, short wave listening, and computer kit building as a side line.  He became a mechanic in a dealership.  All of a sudden electronics was everywhere in cars and he was the man!
Reply:Well automotive work in general was a hobby to me.  I love all basic drivetrain work and I have done R&R on quite a few transmissions for my age.  That's one of the reason why I'm getting so tired of changing oil and rotating tires because I have much further capabilities.  And there isn't any welding at my dealership.  Anything that needs to be welded gets sent to a shop down the street.  I have already offered to weld something they were going to send down the street and my supervisor said he didn't want me to do any welding at his shop.  The more I do tires and oil and as slow as it is in my eyes right now, automotive work is slowly becoming boring work instead of a career I enjoy.  An automotive career can easily satisfy my needs for the time being, they just aren't allowing it and that is one of the reasons I am in my situation.  Secondly, I am starting to see many insecurities in this line of work.
Reply:Originally Posted by lotechman  As a last note.  I have never met a welder worth his salt who worked for the same company for 15 years.  If he was any good he moved on or was stolen by a competitor.
Reply:You are working in a shop that changes oil and rotates tires.  Consider two things working in an enthusiasts garage.  Where people that bring their cars in are really interested in them.  The work is much more interesting and you will learn more.  Another option is working on race cars most of the frames for nascar are made in NC around Asheville.  banjo matthews is the only name I can remember right now but he's dead.  But I think there are others in the area.  The money is not great. Do the things you like and then figure out how to make money at it.  If you are good with electrical and welding you might consider maintenance man in a factory.  At the factory where I work the pay is 50k  for a maint man and no one is killing themselves.  I think you should find another job and then bail, do not bail before finding another job.  Jobs are easier to get when you already have one.Thermal Arc 185 TigHTP 200 MigCraftsman O/A1942 Bridgeport Mill12 Ton Hyd PressConsew Walking Foot
Reply:I've noticed that a lot of younger people these days seem to think that because they go through a little training, they should be able to just jump right into a job they love that pays a lot of money.  My job doesn't involve welding at all.  I'm an aircraft mechanic and I work on large airframe jets.  If we need something welded, we have to remove it and send it to a welder due to fuel vapors and stuff.  It's rediculous, but that's the rule.  Anyways, I supervise a whole shift of people.  I've worked very hard to get where I am now and I did a LOT of really crappy jobs at first when I was a lot more capable.  But I stuck with it and eventually moved up to where I am now.  If you want to move up, here's what you need to do at ANY job.  Show up on time EVERY day, do things that you know you're supposed to do without having to be told, don't complain, don't talk back, don't take excessive breaks, don't act cocky and take some pride in what you do.  It takes a while.  As a supervisor, I deal with people every night.  I can't stand slackers or *** kissers or people who think they deserve special treatment.  I have to see first hand what your abilities are before I will let you move up.  And that takes time!Matt in OKCLincoln 175HD
Reply:like little fuz said theres nothing wrong with sticken around at a ma and pa shop...no you probably wont get benifits or a christmas bonus but you will probably learn alot more at a smaller shop then if your working at a big welding shop where they specilize in one thing and build it over and over, the smaller shops probably get more custom stuff if their good...
Reply:Originally Posted by Screemin3o2 I just graduated