re: How much does a welder make?

I run sometimes 40 plus welders--

Structural guys here in Texas top out around $25
Carbon pipe welders around $27
Combo and stainless TIG welders around $28-30

Guys who run their own rigs--we pay the arm $40 and this gets overtime, we pay $15 an hour on the rig and this is 1099, we pay all materials and fuel and most of the guys running rigs get per Diem.

Most structure welders make in the area of about $30/hr. Most pipe welders make about $45/hr. Both of those are based on working in plants.

Then, when you start talking about areas of a little more specialty, you go up from there. Airplane welders can make good money bc their welds have to be so precise. I've heard of underwater welders making up to $400/hr bc it's a very risky job and hazardous to your health.

Also, many welders who are contract workers and travel for their work make per diem on top of their hourly wages. The most I've ever seen per diem for a welder was when I took a job in Florida on summer break. I was still in school doing drafting/design for a company out of here in Baton Rouge. We were working on a sugar cane factory in Florida and the per diem for myself and for the welders was $130 per day. If you made it to work all 6 days, they paid a 7th of per diem.

I have a friend who was a pipe welder on the C.F. Industries expansion a year or 2 ago and his pay was $40/hr and $75/day per diem.

A lot of variables in that field. If you just work in a shop, your wages will be lower, but no travel and more steady work as you'll be on through a company and usually not a contract worker. Some plants keep permanent welders and I've heard of them making between $40-$50/hr plus benefits through the company they worked for.

Bls median pay is 39k.

I have a buddy that welds only on nuke power and he runs a robot. He's sent me videos and he sits behind a screen, has a joystick for each hand, and runs the machine that way.

I don't know what he makes but it ain't bad at all. Right now he is in the Dominican Republic working and rode out Irma down there.

I don't mind spending 65-70 hours a week doing stuff related to my job. I am a salaried Commercial Sales Manager for a major market construction vendor/supplier. Only thing that I would say is a negative is being brain weary at the end of the day from the constant communication with customers, my sales reps, operations, accounts receivable, and quality control over 12-14 hours a day.

A fair amount of that those hours is spent being able to incorporate personal interests into my job like sporting events, concerts, sporting clays, golf tourneys, etc.. Always doing stuff like that at least once a week. It is necessary with what I do for a living and I can't complain that 15 or more hours a week "working" is doing stuff for free that I would want to do anyway. There are not a ton of jobs where you can earn a $150k salary and do stuff to entertain clients that interests you on the companies dime.

I wouldn't want to work that many hours doing a skilled labor job though. But I would if it came to that and I admire and respect those I know who do that to provide a quality life for their families.i feel lucky that I don't have to.

Too damn much is the answer. That's assuming you're talking about rig truck welders.

If you aren't scared to work on your own car or install a car radio, I would suggest going into instrumentation as a trade. It's a fantastic trade and typically is the highest paid of all of the crafts. There are a number of schools in the area that teach it. If your really good, your career path is pretty open.

Go the P-tech route. I've been doing this for 38 years. You can have my job in the next year. Lots of Baby Boomers retiring. Major opportunities all up and down the river.

I have no regrets. Wouldn't trade it for the world.