If you have made a decision to go to welding school have you researched what type of welder you want to be? If you do not know someone that is a welder by trade or been around the welding industry very much this should be one of the many things to think about.
In most cases when you come out of welding school your typically going to get a job in a shop or work on a construction site. Below I will discuss pros and cons of being a shop or field welder.
Shop Welding
Pros:
* Shop welders usually get the benefit of having a roof over your head year around. Most usually you will have access to a heat source for warmth in the winter and some shops have air conditioning for the summer months.
* Typically most shops have benefits with 401k, insurance, dental etc…
* Longer lasting employment
* Fairly safe environment
* Not extremely physically demanding
Cons:
* Pay can be less than stellar
* Manufacturing environment can be repetitious and non-fulfilling
* Working on concrete all day every day can take a toll on your knees and feet after years
Field Welding
Pros:
* Possibility of making up to $100,000 or more a year
* Less welding time and more down time
* Per deim pay can add up to considerable amount of money in a year
* Job completion bonus sometimes
* Good paying jobs are easier to find if your willing to travel
* Can work for yourself by adding your own welding rig (truck and machine) to increase pay
Cons:
* Sometimes you have to work in a more dangerous environment
* Some work takes place outdoors and depending on season can be a challenge
* At times work can be physically demanding
* Time off from work can be nice after working months of overtime
Opinion: I have spent many years shop welding and field welding. Once you become proficient in welding processes like tig, stick, mig and fluxcore you can do both. I have always leaned towards field welding. Every time i have stayed in a shop for a long period of time I find the monotony of doing the same thing every day at the same place drains my life force. The money plays a big part also. I always go broke in a shop. I never really build up a cushion financially. The field provides more challenges but i always feel a sense of accomplishment when a job is over and usually have a nice bank account to show for it.
Conclusion: For someone who just gets out of welding school the best bet would be to spend some time in a shop to develop the new skills you have just learned. Try to get hired on a shop that does tig and stick pipe welding. This will sharpen your skills for the field if you decide to venture there. Mig and fluxcore welding will never get your pocket fat.
1 Response
Yes Admin I have done both and a Rig Welder {i.e.field welder} can make some big bucks.I will be glad when someone puts together a video or book with pictures showing how to take a 12 on 12 inch carbon steel pipe test.A 12 on 12 branch test is a must along with a 12″ 6G downhill.Both are tough test.
The 12 on 12 branch book should be layed out as.
#1.Whats a 12 on 12 branch test?
#2.Explained.
#3.Laying out the 12 ” inch Riser.
pictures.
#4.Cutting out your header`s saddle.
pictures
#5.Grinding your Riser.
Starting picture/mid way picture/finished product picture.
#6.Fitting your Riser to your header.
picture.
#7.Cutting the hole in your header for your Riser.
Picture.
#8.Grinding your header`s hole for your riser.
picture.
#9.Fitting your Riser to your header and where to tack.
#10.Welding out your Riser to header 12 on 12 branch.
Picture of every tack and pass made.
#.11 Laying out and cutting your test straps from the throats and sides.
#.12 Showing how the test straps are prepared and tested.
What a ton of money this would make.
Take care.
Bubba M.
Posted on April 28th, 2009 at 3:54 pm
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