Any career welders?

[Shockeruti]

Been looking at changing my careers lately. I know its not exactly 6 figure income, but its still good money. And i have a bunch of buddies who are in the field back in missouri.

Ive never even touched a welder before. But ive always been interested in learning. Im looking at classes at Tcc in arlington/fortworth. They offer two programs, an AAS in welding technology. Or a program where you receive a certificate of completion after completing just the core welding classes. Im strongly leaning towards the certificate program as it would get me in and out the fastest.

Any career welders got any insight? tips for getting into the field?

[dcs13]

Lot's of good info here:

http://weldingweb.com/

A lot of the work done around here is done by non-certified guys..You're gonna have to get certs to work in the oil business though. check out the above site. Lots of threads about guys wanting to get in the business.

It's not hard to pick up, doing it right takes some training and PRACTICE.

[Sean88gt]

Takes time, if you have anything on the ball a little direction will go a long way. I owned a manufacturing company for nearly 10 years and taught myself by watching employees.

[naynay]

UA Local 100, you can make 6 figures.

[SSsierra90]

I'm a welder by trade but I'm in the sheet metal business and have worked my way up to a management job and no longer weld. I've got buddies in pipeline and they make damn good money. One is union and travels all over the place and the others work and own their own companies in the dfw metroplex. One of my buddies also a board member (tj) just started with no experience as a helper and makes good money.

[KCHAR]

Been looking at changing my careers lately. I know its not exactly 6 figure income, but its still good money. And i have a bunch of buddies who are in the field back in missouri.

Ive never even touched a welder before. But ive always been interested in learning. Im looking at classes at Tcc in arlington/fortworth. They offer two programs, an AAS in welding technology. Or a program where you receive a certificate of completion after completing just the core welding classes. Im strongly leaning towards the certificate program as it would get me in and out the fastest.

Any career welders got any insight? tips for getting into the field?

Make your goal to become a welding inspector, not a welder

[8mpg]

My parents have a friend that is a career welder who makes over 100k. Their son is also a welder (underwater) and is 26 now.. He is planning on retiring at 40

[Shockeruti]

I had no clue it payed that good down here. All my buddies back in MO are factory/fab workers and the best I've heard there is 19/hr. thanks for the replies guys

[KCHAR]

I had no clue it payed that good down here. All my buddies back in MO are factory/fab workers and the best I've heard there is 19/hr. thanks for the replies guys

My neighbor is an inspector and he gets $65/hour

[naynay]

you need to learn to weld to learn to inspect..

Dallas pay scale for a UA building trades welder is $28, our pay scale in KCMO is $36/hr..

[CJ]

phaux on the board is a professional welder.

[Coupe81]

If I had to do it over again it would be in the oilfield or tig doing stainless and aluminum. Cousin of mine sub-contracts for a welding company in the oilfield, he charges $52 an hour with his rig. Uncle of mine works in the pipe yard for a oil rig/company, he charges $75 an hour. Hours are atleast 50+ a week so there is some good money in it. I think the only certification they have is the 5G Pipe Welding Certification.

If you want to learn stick/arc welding, buy you a cheap buzz box from home depot or even craigslist: http://www.homedepot.com/h_d1/N-25ec...1#.UN8VzW99KSo
Later, if you will be welding lots of pipe buy yourself a Lincoln SA-200-250 gas or diesel. Many companies only accept this machine (that's another story).

Create an account on weldingweb.com, Lots of great info on there. And we can't forget weldingtipsandtricks.com, Jody videos are great even if you are not a welder. If you go the tig route buy a dynasty 200 SD or DX, it does A/C and D/C plus it's semi portable. You can also buy a used Miller Syncrowave pretty cheap but it's pretty big and uses more electricity than the dynasty. I love my dynasty, it's the purchase I ever did.

[mystic96]

Friend of mine took the welding classes at TCC south campus. He was able to secure a job welding before he finished the class

[Shockeruti]

Friend of mine took the welding classes at TCC south campus. He was able to secure a job welding before he finished the class

Do you know what route he went? AAS or just the core welding classes?

[Shockeruti]

If I had to do it over again it would be in the oilfield or tig doing stainless and aluminum. Cousin of mine sub-contracts for a welding company in the oilfield, he charges $52 an hour with his rig. Uncle of mine works in the pipe yard for a oil rig/company, he charges $75 an hour. Hours are atleast 50+ a week so there is some good money in it. I think the only certification they have is the 5G Pipe Welding Certification.

If you want to learn stick/arc welding, buy you a cheap buzz box from home depot or even craigslist: http://www.homedepot.com/h_d1/N-25ec...1#.UN8VzW99KSo
Later, if you will be welding lots of pipe buy yourself a Lincoln SA-200-250 gas or diesel. Many companies only accept this machine (that's another story).

Create an account on weldingweb.com, Lots of great info on there. And we can't forget weldingtipsandtricks.com, Jody videos are great even if you are not a welder. If you go the tig route buy a dynasty 200 SD or DX, it does A/C and D/C plus it's semi portable. You can also buy a used Miller Syncrowave pretty cheap but it's pretty big and uses more electricity than the dynasty. I love my dynasty, it's the purchase I ever did.

Thanks for the info. That's some solid pay. I've been watching jodys videos non stop for a week.