Could I make a decent living?

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Just about to sign up at a welding college to get a first year apprentice.  My question is does a journeyman welder make good money?  What about apprentices.  I live in western canada
Reply:yes you can make a good living as a welder but it dependes on were you live and who you work for.   if you want to stay around the house or travel.working single hand for a construction company were i live in the industrial plants you can make 15.00 to 23.00 dollars an hr.if you have a truck with your own tools and machine you can make 24.00 to 60.00 an hr.but the competition is hard were i live welders are a dime a dozen and it is a tight nit group so good luck and give it your 110% and you will make it Attached Images
Reply:Go for it.....  It's a good trade.  If you have the tickets. You can get a job almost anywhere.  In Westren Canada, I know some Jorneymen Welders making Over $30.00/ hour.      If you get a pressure ticket, pipline welders, with thier own units can make $10,000 a month.  Long hours...... but really good money.  Lincoln 225 AC/DC, Hobart 140 Mig. Oxy/propane Victor torch.(2) Makita 5" angle grinders  one with zip disk, 14" chop saw.  and just about every other tool you can think of. Whoever has the most toys when he die's ..... Wins!
Reply:Welding is a good choice.  If you end up going on to another occupation they always need mechanics who can weld, millwrights who can weld and yes even carpenters who can weld.Expect at least fifty percent of journeyman rate when you start with a wage increase every six months.  Many apprentices make better than fifty percent to start especially in these times.  A key point is to regularly upgrade and increase your skill set.I have seen one guy come out of vocational school and pick up a job at 14 per hour ten hours a day six days a week.  The overtime put him over 40,000 a year and he wasn't twenty years old.  He picked up the job from some upgrader at school who was going to an interview but decided not to go.  This young guy showed up in his place and was hired on the spot.
Reply:barnicalWill pass some exsperience that I have had .. long tiime ago when going to welding school the school got notices from all over the country, wanting welders. the teacher would pick out the better welders and show them the list and who to contact, he put many a good boys in the work force. Also  from past exsperience  I would suggest you specalize in Stailess and Alum. these draw the highest  wages in the field., Back when the Nuk plants was building all over you could write your own ticket nearly, and that was  all Goverenment  wages... laughed all the way to the bank..one good deed is worth a thousand good intentions
Reply:Iv'e been welding for almost 50 yrs. I am a retired pipefitter welder. Like others have said it's a good profession. I still weld and still love it. learn to weld tig on pipe open butt and you will be in demand, Or start your own weld shop......Glenn