welding jobs here in the tx gulf coast region

Date 03-22-2007 05:24 Edited 03-22-2007 05:27

Hello bphinson, what you are describing is indeed disheartening, especially in light of the drive that you are exhibiting to be successful. It is unfortunate that the facility that you are attending is in such a situation. It is certainly not your fault or responsibility exclusively that the situation that you describe exist. Not knowing the exact situation or more of the specific details of the school or the program that you are attending I certainly can't and won't comment on what is happening there.
   Many schools throughout the United States face lagging support for vocational/professional technical courses and programs. I'm sure that you are aware that funding programs such as welding requires a fairly extensive amount of money, not only in the way of equipment and facilities, but also in supplies and non-renewable resources. Vo-tech colleges typically are in a little better shape than community colleges that have both academic and vocational courses and programs. Here is some of the reasoning: a vo-tech receives a pot of money that it must disperse among the various vo/tech programs that they offer, all of their programs are money intensive when looking at the ratio of dollars to students, so they will typically look at the program's health and demand as they decide where to expend funds. This type of funding model gives incentive to try to operate the most efficient and productive program possible and usually rewards the programs for being the best they can be. At the same time, the economy and job outlooks can drive some of this consideration.
   Community colleges that have both academic and vocational/professional technical courses and programs on their campuses face a somewhat different scenario. The facility that I teach at is an example of some of the thinking that can cause a vocational program such as welding, a great amount of grief. A college such as mine also receives a pot of money to operate from. In this case though there are a number of programs which require a classroom, an instructor and a few pieces of audio/visual equipment, and possibly a few computers to operate. These might typically be described as academic classes. Our funding model describes these students according to the number of credits that they take and classifies them as FTE's(full-time equivalent). These FTE's pay tuition and the state matches funding based on the number of FTE's to pay for instruction of these folks(in this case usually around 25 students are taught by one instructor). Similarly students in a welding class also represent FTE's and the state also matches funding based on these at the same rate as the academic class. The welding class however requires: one instructor for around every 18 students(so if this class had 25 welding students they would probably have to have 2 instructors), it also requires a fairly sizeable welding shop with a bunch of very expensive equipment which also requires maintenance and renewal of equipment more often than one would hope, it also requires supplies(welding rod, metal, gases, wire, etc.). So when you make the comparison of educating 25 academic students vs. 25 welding students which one do you think is more attractive and cost-efficient to the bean counters that are responsible for the running of the college?
   Public opinion and support has to get behind vocational education. Industry has to step up and offer support in the way of various types of aid for vocational programs: monetary and donations, waiting jobs with good pay, benefits, and conditions, partnerships with schools, are just some of the ways that industry can help out. Parents need to be educated as well, the trades can be very fullfilling and rewarding to many individuals and are not just for those who supposedly couldn't make it at a four-year institution.
   As to your immediate situation, you may want to sit down with your instructor(s) and see about cultivating some donations from some of the local shops or industries in your area. Many are willing to give metal and possibly even rod, wire, and other supplies, especially if they are made aware that they can use these donations for tax write-offs. If possible try to recruit some of these shop owners, management personnel, and others to come to your classes or school to speak with the students about the opportunities that are available in your area. Hearing from these perspective employers may motivate some of your classmates to show a renewed interest in their welding. Hearing this information from an employer and not necessarily just the instructor is invaluable in many instances. I would like to include more, but you're probably almost asleep now and I've run out of time for now. Good luck and keep us posted, also listen and look for more responses from the others. Regards, Allan Evald, welding instructor, SW Washington state

By Cgregory (**)

Date 03-22-2007 13:26

Ah, the fun of college budgeting. Community colleges are always run on a very tight budget; we are having some fun with the local community college here where the biology department is experiencing severe budget cuts. So I hear you.

My own personal advice is to go beyond the welding department and speak directly to higher college administrators about how their budget problems are leading to the extinction of the welding program. In my experience, many of these higher ups don't know what's going on until it's brought to their attention -- they just see, hmm, fewer students = declining program, and often don't try to figure out _why_ they have fewer students in the first place. Your campus should have two deans that you can speak to: the Dean of Academic Development and the Dean of Workforce Development. Talk to both. See if you can get your fellow students to join you. Bring documentation, if you can, of specific times when supplies have run short. (Take pictures if need be.)

By aevald

Date 03-22-2007 17:35 Edited 03-22-2007 17:38

Hello bphinson, it's me again, Cgregory also had a number of good suggestions for you in regards to moving up the ladder with your concerns for the program and trying to include other students to support this endeavor. If you approach it from this direction you will want to gather some information and possibly try to include some of the area employers if possible. You should try to include information that will show the need for welders in the area, wages that graduates can expect to start at and work up to, a list of businesses and employers that will be hiring the graduates of the program, and even employers who might be using the college to train their current employees for upgrades. Not only should you include businesses that hire welders, you should include those who have employees whose primary job may be something else, but who use welding to support their craft.
   It is likely that the welding program has an advisory committee, these folks need to be active to aid in the support of the program. Most colleges have trustees who monitor the business of the college to varying degrees. These individuals will see reports from advisory committees giving a run-down on the various programs. Active participation by these advisory committees will help to bring attention to the plight of the welding program and possibly bring about positive changes. Try to stress involvement by the welding programs advisory committee. If the program doesn't have an advisory committee or the one that it has isn't as effective as it should be, consider working to change that. The things that I have included in this paragraph are somewhat internal to the workings of the college, however, if you can figure out a way to influence this part, or if your instructor(s) are willing to accept help, this is certainly a way that can help.
   You mentioned your concern for having to compete for jobs with individuals coming up from the south. I believe there are a lot of dynamics involved with that issue. There may not be fairness or equity from your point of view in this regard. Something you may consider though is that those individuals likely left a country that offers little in the way of changing an individuals personal lot in life. They see and experience success by migrating to the U.S. and likely also experience a great amount of personal gratification and pride through their work achievements. I work with immigrants from many different countries in my own area. I have had students from all over the world, a very common characteristic of these individuals is their drive to be successful. They are also very appreciative for the opportunity to train for a better way of life. When you work with these people you come to realize how much the United States really has to offer it's people and how much we typically take this for granted. Employers in your area on the other hand are very likely to try to capitalize on this due to the monetary savings that they see as a result of these individual's desires. That is something that probably won't change any time soon and you will probably have to live with it for now.
   If you really have a passion to see change at your school, continue to try to include as many people as possible in your quest, numbers really do translate to a better chance for success. Good luck and regards, Allan

By yorkiepap (***)

Date 03-22-2007 18:09

Hey bphinson,
Just want to give you some support and say that your choice of a welding career WILL blossom. Don't give up on that goal and always maintain a positive attitude. Allan Evald and the forum's Christine have given you a tremendous amount of information, and it's gospel for sure. Allan's words regarding the operation of a colleges' fiscal outlay is quite correct, and Christine's suggestion to make a formal issue to the dean of the institution is a first step. Take it. You have many options still available to you....take some time and evaluate them. Maybe consider a Vo-Tech school, or another college, or, even if necessary, check with a couple local high-schools to see if you can at least get some more advanced training.

For the last 4-5 weeks, I have been extremely interested and have queried the manufacturing environment regarding the issue of the very evident shortage of welders that is going to be happening in the next 3 years. It is a major industry concern presently and, hopefully, they will be the leaders to place emphasis to our educational systems to heavily promote the trades and especially the welding arena. They estimate the need for a minimum of 250,000-300,000 welders in the next 10 years as the baby-boomers like myself are going to retire. On a personal note, I already have retired but still work 4 hrs/day because I love to weld and the rewards are very satisfying.

Maybe give yourself a pat on the back for the desire to fulfill your goal to become a welder and not give up. Don't allow a few hurdles to discourage you....there will always be those hurdles on the fast-track of a career. You keep that intense fire inside stoked and you will accomplish whatever you need. The other students in your class that give up only display their true nature as far a setting a goal for a superb career. Keep us informed on your progress...don't hesitate to ask anything of those here who will provide sound advice and guidance. You can also take a little time each evening and go thru some past posts here regarding this issue....lots of good information....Good Luck....Denny

By aevald

Date 03-22-2007 18:13

Nicely put, Denny. Regard, Allan

By yorkiepap (***)

Date 03-22-2007 18:25

Thanks Allan,
I can only add that I wish I had just 1 like this youngster to work with and train to take over my job when I finally make the big move. Not too many in this area with that lust and desire to learn welding...I keep looking though.....Denny

By bphinson (*)

Date 03-23-2007 02:24

Wanted to thank aeveld, Cgregory, and yorkiepap for the insight and depth of their commentary regarding the plight and slow demise of houston community college welding dept. I am much more informed now and am starting to see the "big picture". Here's a good conversation piece. Can a guy trully be a bifold professional-meaning can he be a blue-collar and white collar professional concurrently. And can one excel at both with the same 100% effort, charisma, and stamina? Reason I'm asking is because I'm currently employed in the medical field as an operating room tech.The pay is ok so to speak but I know my heart is trully in the pursuance of welding. It is a very calculated risk for me in terms of jumping into the welding industry, meaning the timing is critical. I have good benefits, retirement savings plan going, etc. Its funny that people I know give me the most dumbfounded look when I tell them that I'd rather be welding. They ask me what the hell are you thinking and if I'm on drugs. If they only knew the passion I have for the trade. Also, welding is one of the most challenging endeavors I've ever undertaken, and this constantly evolving challenge and pursuit of perfection is what drives me day in and day out. Thanks guys!

By aevald

Date 03-23-2007 17:01

Hello once again bphinson, there is no reason why you can't wear two hats so to speak. You certainly have to come to make the decision on which of these hats you decide to wear fulltime. You may want to check into part-time work which you might be able to pursue while you are still maintaining your regular job. Under the right circumstances, a number of employers may have a small amount of over-flow type work. They may want to have an extra hand around to complete these items and avoid needing to hire another fulltime person to take care of. Make some inquireies and research your options, you might very well come up with something that will leave you in a better position to go into the welding on a fulltime basis if you decide to go that route. Good luck and keep us posted. Regards, Allan

By bphinson (*)

Date 03-24-2007 15:43

Thanks for your advice Mr.Allen. Let me ask you the following. At what rate of progression should a welding student such as myself be making in the welding curriculum course program. I'm about to finish the first year of my particular program (pipe welding certificate/specialization). The pipe certificate is a two-year course of instruction. I'm currently using the stick process and placing heavy emphasis on my vertical and overhead groove/fillet welds. I will finish out the semester on stick. I want to make steady progression but yet produce high-quality, sound, professional welds. Is there any way I can NDT some of my welds to give me a good gauge or indicator of progression. Due to a very limited budget, we as students really can't test per say our samples. I suppose the only field expedient method of know of is placing the sample or test coupon in a big vice clamp and then banging on it with a 5lb. mallet or so to see if it breaks. Thanks guys. -Brad-

By Lawrence (*****)

Date 03-24-2007 18:15 Edited 03-24-2007 19:28

I'm not a pipe specialist but will pitch in anyhow.

Your open roots are the best barometer of progress with SMAW. If you can master open roots (E6010) with perfect back side fusion and (no reenforcement exceeding 1/16) in all positions with plate or 6G with pipe you are ready to think about looking for a job.

The ability to keep sound unbroken fusion in all positions with the variety of rod angles, whips, pauses, and restarts is the toughest thing to master. The person who wants to be a pipe welder must be able to do this with consistancy. Visual inspection of these roots is the best NDT there is.

Also, on your open root plates. When you have finished the cap pass. First; if your using E7018, measure the entire finished cap and be sure there is no area of reenforcement exceeding 1/8 above parent material. Next; Take the time to grind flush about a 6 inch section of cap, being very careful NOT to remove any parent material. Can you do it? Is there undercut at the toes? Measure the thickness of the entire length of your ground area with calipers and see if you ground off more than 1/64th of parent material at the toes or in the weld area in order remove defects and to get the flush contour.

Often my students will finally get just *one* open root coupon completed and think they ought to move on to something else. I try to disabuse them of this notion by reminding them that the kind of excellence they just produced is only commonplace out in the job market and anything less than the thing they have done only once is pretty much grounds for being sent packing.

Don't worry about the other students in your class.... The best way you can motivate them is to +quietly+ outperform them. Same thing with the immigrants, the cream will always rise to the top, and when it does you will find that some of the best craftsmen you work with will be immigrants.

All of the little exercises I mentioned tie in to Visual Inspection Criteria listed in AWS D1.1 Structural Steel code.
Ask your instructor to go over Visual inspection Acceptance Criteria (Table 6.1) with you.

Understanding Visual inspection criteria is SO IMPORTANT I just can't emphasize it enough. Once you understand the criteria you can begin to read and judge your own work and start to understand why surface flaws and discontinuities occur. Having this understanding will add a whole new deminsion to "reading the puddle".

Being able to look at a weld flaw and know why it's flawed saves uncounted hours of grinding or failed tests. Travel speed, rod angle, amps, mill scale, whatever, when you master reacting to these things while the arc is struck and not sometime later, this kind of welder is what folks are desperate for.

By aevald

Date 03-25-2007 03:13

Hello Brad, Lawrence gave you an excellent response to your latest question. Even if you don't have all of the greatest testing machines, you can still check the performance of your welds with a little bit of ingenuity. Something as simple as sawing the plate to reveal the cross section of the weld will give you a look at how well you tied into the walls of the groove. After sawing if you see any pockets or black spots these are usually indicators of lack of fusion or possibly trapped slag. Also, another simple way is to cut through the weld crossways with an oxy-fuel torch and observe how cleanly the cuts come out. If you have "explosions" and "pops" occuring as you make these cuts they are generally indicators that you may have found some trapped slag(this occurs due to the oxygen not being able to "cut" through the slag, this misdirects the cutting stream and causes the pops or blow-back). Regards, Allan

By yorkiepap (***)

Date 03-25-2007 04:30

Hey Brad,
Just wanted to touch base again and not get off the subject too far. Allan and Lawrence have given you pure gospel regarding your quest for knowledge and the integrity to be a true professional. I "listen" intently to a person's words, whether written or spoken, as it reveals a person's true nature. Those of us who try to provide insight and opinion, respond in specific manners. If we feel, and can "see" the nature of the person who queries us for knowledge, our response indicates our interest with the individual and it is quite evident in the length of the response. Your words show integrity and honor...a dying trait. You will succeed if you really want it....it basically comes down to-- "How bad do you want it?" You keep asking....we'll do our best to keep answering. As far as 2 hats...wear them both. The time will come when you know which will be worn the most...Denny

By aevald

Date 03-25-2007 04:50

Denny, as usual, nice response and wisdom. Regards, Allan

By bphinson (*)

Date 03-26-2007 17:19

Mr. Lawrence, Allan, Denny:
Wanted to thank you all sincerely for the great responses. I have discovered that in a class of "lost sheep" that I have found a shepherd(s), and that would be the professionals on this forum. One could place no monetary value on this wisdom and advice. Have a great monday fellas!

By shooterfpga (*)

Date 03-27-2007 03:00

heh, we just experianced program budget cutting as well, and as such they integrated 3 other classes into one, right before our new student semester. this made it where there were now 75 people instead of the average 40 that with time as usual dwindles. your program sounds much like ours, open exit. ie: they can leave whenever they choose or when they get the cert they need. i however am choosing to stay enrolled as long as i can because down at the union hall, they are backed up 6 months from getting their certs back from AWS. also, one of the guys tried to get a welding job within his current company, but was informed that they would not pay him certified pay because they have illegal, uncertified welders who would do it for cheaper. yeah this sucks, but there any many jobs out there that will only hire certified, american citizens, im working one right now as a matter of fact. also, didnt you just join the ironworkers? they should have work at the hall, have you not been indentured yet? they should have given you a list of employers that will sponsor you. once you get indentured you can go down to the hall and sign your name on the list for work. also, your local might not be as organized as others, if i remember correctly texas hasnt had unions until recently and its spread pretty thin. dont give up! any job that comes in apply, one of the job leads will pan out.

By bphinson (*)

Date 03-29-2007 03:06

Hey shooter-glad to hear that your doing well and off to a good start. The ironworker thing didn't work out for me. I couldn't accept the fact that I would not be welding for at least the first two years. They basically told me that ironworking should be my number one priority and that the welding aspect only would comprise about ten-percent and not to even think about welding because I was first and foremost an ironworker and not a welder. I also took into account the fact that down here in the tx gulf coast region that the vast majority of the new construction/industrial welding jobs are spearheaded by major non-union contractors. Basically, the first guy who walks into the door and passes the craft test and has a little experience (or a lot) is hired. My plan is to approach getting my foot into the door in industry very systematically. I will finish out the semester in the welding program and take the structural test (unlimited thickness and unlimited positions) at my local aws accredited testing facility. Then this summer during the school break I will get into the decorative/ornamental/structural repair side of the trade (i.e. fences, furniture, bbq pits, farm equipment repair,etc.) where I can get some actual real-world experience. Then who knows, maybe I'll get into a little rig work. My vision is to have a fully funtional welding shop back in the ol' little country town in which I grew up which would offer a multitude of services but it would not offer straight production welding per say. I will stay in healthcare (which I do now) for a primary income and have the shop on the side as supplemental income. I will finish out the pipe specialization program, get certified in that, and hit the ground runnin'. THE SKY IS THE LIMIT!. Stay in touch-Brad

By chris2698 (****)

Date 04-02-2007 22:55

Dude you had replied to another post of mine and I had to reply to this post.
EVERYTHING YOU SAY is like exactly the same at my school it's seems to be almost every semester I'm worried are they going to shut the welding program down because of lack of students. I have now 2 more semesters left and if they were to kick me out I know I could get a job and progress really well but still want to finish my 2 semesters and get better with TIG which I am on right now. Our school at the time has had problems getting rods in like my teacher had to go to the prison and take a can of there welding rods because we had none. We finally got a large some of money for rods and other things. I don't understand what is happening here. I mean hell it's great in a way I guess for me because there are more jobs open for me with know one wanting to learn to weld. I'm here in Louisiana I know we got hit by Katrina and all but seems like this stuff has been going on before Katrina ever hit. We have a new Dean at our school I forget his name but it is because of him that we are finally getting this money to have newer things but there are other schools around who have still better stuff then us from what I have heard from other students. It's going to end up being a student will have to pay 8 gran a semester at some private school to learn to weld because seems like all these programs are on the verge of shutting down. I don't know if You can write to the state and complain or what?

Chris

By missmandy Date 05-24-2007 04:25

i know this discussion has been over for a while, but my trade school is facing such problems as well. I am taking a 9 month combination welding course in Dallas tx. There is always a shortage of something, the classes are way way too short, retention is awful, classes are overfilled, and noone will stay all night. i have a 4.0 gpa, come every day for my night class on top of going to work for 4 weeks straight at a time with no days off. I hear the admin always trying to find solutions to improve retention, they are aware of what makes the students unhappy, like material shortages, ventilation problems, lighting issues, poor instruction, the list goes on, i have issues with these things the same as everyone else, but i still weld all night and learn and keep good grades. i just got invited in a student forum, i suppose for their corporate office to get the perspective of a student with good attendance, grades, and that can weld. it seems like every has made me their whipping boy, or girl really for all complaints. i can only tell them i really cant have too much sympathy because i do it and with the circumstances involved in the operations of the school i still have managed to learn to weld. we barely even have people trying to certify on anything. i jsut dont personally think you can make someone do anything they dont want to do. we are all adults in this school, but it feels like high school. ARGH!

By Tommyjoking (****)

Date 05-24-2007 12:31

MAN I hate making one qoute from Lawerence cause everything he has got to say here is RIGHT. But I will do it anyway.

"The ability to keep sound unbroken fusion in all positions with the variety of rod angles, whips, pauses, and restarts is the toughest thing to master. The person who wants to be a pipe welder must be able to do this with consistancy. Visual inspection of these roots is the best NDT there is."

If your root is solid your more than halfway there! Especially in situations where you cannot do a side in one rod.

Guys I am not a school welder...I learned on the job start to finish......but....

Keep trucking and get all the cards you can get from your school....cards (certs) will not just give you a leg up on your compitition but they will prove you can do the work academically. That card proves that you know how to make that joint pass....not how many times you passed it but that your capable....that means a lot more than somone who can "weld" and give me a shot. I have seen schooled welders that I give a rats droppings for...I have seen some that make me sweat that I am not good enough anymore too. The real difference is attitude....If you are serious you will make things happen for your self and leave your compadrais in the DIRT. If you CARE there is nothing wrong with that thats an attribute that will take you FAR in the welding game. By the same measure worrying about everything that is wrong and NOT focusing on what you CAN do won't help too much. Keep it up cause good welders are a dying breed...therefore their worth keeps increasing.....If you love it you will be successfull at it... no matter how adverse you start out.

I wish you the best

By bozaktwo1 (***)

Date 05-27-2007 15:54

missmandy, it really doesn't change in the workforce, either. Lots of people just have the wrong attitude. I have seen this all my life, even 40 year old men playing games they learned in high school! Ah, chalk one up for humanity, eh? I personally think those were all the people who were beat up a lot in high school, now they feel like they have to make up for it somehow.

Anyway, on to the subject matter of the thread:

I have been following this one with some interest, and haven't contributed as of yet because I really didn't feel I could say anything worthwhile, not in the light of aevald's and Lawrence's dissertations. Time for me to speak up now, I suppose. It's not just welding schools having this type of difficulty; it's all trade schools. There are several factors in play here, the most prevalent being the hard push to get everyone into higher education in this country; the promises of better pay with less hard work are very appealing to kids, and since this push to college is pushed on them at an early and very impressionable age, often before they even begin their freshman year at high school, we now have an entire generation of children who are being raised to believe that if they don't go to college, they're never going to amount to anything. High schools that have good technical and trade programs are few and far in between, and even there many of those are "alternative" schools, for kids who are having certain academic and social shortfalls in our public schools. Funding for pre-college programs is huge, while the trade programs are left to struggle on grants and bequests, usually from local businesses. Post secondary trade schools are being beat up every day by mainstream education organizations and by accreditation; many, such as ITT have "national" accreditation, which basically leaves you without any transferability for credits earned, should you want to continue your education at a conventional university. So you go to ITT, pay $6k for a degree in something, then find out none of it is transferable and you have to effectively start over at a "real" school (that's terminology that was used in a seminar I attended). Because trade schools forego the promise of a better life with less work, they are a harder sell to our I-want-it-all-now youth. Go to any large company, however, and talk to any manager who's been there less than say 10 years, and see how much $$ he's making. From experience, I can tell you that the vast majority never realized their expectations of earnings. Don't be too surprised to see a shift over the next 20 years or so toward less emphasis on college education in the public school system. The trend will eventually level out and probably recede a little, due to over production in the degree market; marketable education is becoming more expensive, while companies want more bang for the buck. You think a CME with a BS is going to be able to pay off his student loans in less than 10 years at $35k/year? Hell no! So the guy who just graduated with that pretty degree is going to spend his first 10 years after college living on the edge, unless he's one of the few who get a really good job right from the start. By the time he's breaking even, his career is half over. Most states, probably all of them, have continuing certification requirements for licensing, and that means continuing education, an expense that many companies are no longer willing or able to pick up. The cycle of greed in the higher education system is eventually going to kill it, and higher education will once again be left only for those who can truly afford it. So in the end, there will be a large shortfall of skilled labor across the board. However, if too many schools enroll too many students, there can be difficulties in the opposite direction. Look back at the 90s, when the tech industry hit its stride as the internet bloomed. Suddenly, every university, not only trade schools, was offering tech programs; computer sciences, repair, programming, etc. Look for something similar, albeit on a smaller scale, with welding and trades in general to happen in the next 5-10 years. Supply and demand.

Now, my advice to missmandy and anyone else trying to carve their piece of the American Dream from trades is to learn it well, gain experience, and never give up for the promise of more pay and less work. If you can't afford school, join the military; every service has specialties that teach a variety of trades, and they pay you to do it. This country and our way of life wasn't built on laziness and the desire to sit at a desk rather than get dirty hands and sore muscles. Lastly, congratulations on your 4.0 GPA, that is impressive, especially in light of all the difficulties your program seems to have suffered. Good luck!

By missmandy Date 05-29-2007 21:43

i agree with the fact that not enough schools put any emphasis on the abilitly to make a good honest living with trades. im 25 and i am just now figuring that out. i like the feeling of going home knowing i created something. i always felt bad about not going to college and dropping out of high school. but welding has made me feel like i might be able to do well. i havent looked for a welding job yet, im waiting till im done with school. i just hope the welding field will give someone a chance that comes from little background in welding. its hard to get decent pay with no exp. but i am surely counting down the days till im done with school.
thanks bozaktwo1, for your response.
i appreciate your opinion.

By bozaktwo1 (***)

Date 05-30-2007 01:16 Edited 05-30-2007 01:25

Come down to SATX, the pay is a little on the low side but there's a ton of jobs and the talent pool is shallow...be a good place to cut your teeth and make a bigger splash in a little pond. I see guys come into the shop who know next to nothing then in 6 months they're gone, because not only did we train them and help them with certs, we also send them to AWS seminars, hold extra training after hours, etc. There are a lot of places here that will start a guy out at $13-15/hr and down here many consider that good pay. The plain truth is, without a bit of experience, you're not really going to start out very high. Starting welders here, level 1 guys...nothing but flat, maybe a few months of experience, they start out at like 8-10. I'm not trying to put you off, but look around and be a little picky. You might see what looks like a great job with good pay and then you find out you have to cut, fit, clean, tack, weld, clean, and on top of that hump your leads everywhere! An extra buck isn't worth it, unless you're doing field or pipeline work, but those guys get paid pretty well, and they have the experience that puts them in high demand. So yes, someone will give you a chance, but it's not about what they can give you...some places will just try to use you up, until there's nothing left. What part of the country are you in? That has a lot to do with what kind of work will be available. And again, good luck!

EDIT: Never mind, just re-read your original post!

By missmandy Date 05-30-2007 05:33

im currrently in dallas/ft. worth. i think i might go to houston and give it a chance. I hear the pay is much better there. does anyone know much about employment in houston as compared to dallas. I hear that dallas has a worse pay rate, but i dont really know what to think about it. i got called on a tig job today repair welding blades from a power plant for 12-14 per hour, is that bad? i hear those blades can be huge. my teacher said i owe it to myself to go to houston for work or avondale shipyards, any opinion on that? thanks
mandy

By bozaktwo1 (***)

Date 05-30-2007 10:36

A shipyard job would probably expose you to the most diversity as far as type and complexity of jobs go, however it isn't always easy to get in the door. 12-14/hr here would be great starting pay for a shop welder job, but I don't know about the cost of living in your area.

By dbigkahunna (****)

Date 05-31-2007 03:24

Hit the shops and contractors working the Barnett Shale Play from Bridgeport to Grandbury. You make a contractor an offer to make a hand, can fog a mirror and pass a pee test, you can break out in the oil patch. Start driving around Ft Worth looking for drilling rigs and pipeline gangs working. Drive up and ask for a job. Tell them you are welder and are wanting to break out. You will probably start as a rig welder helper. 13-15 and keep your hood handy. Watch and learn. Find a machine and rig up a truck. I tested a 20 year old Tuesday. OLD Miller Big 40 in the back end of a older 1 ton. His torches still had the Cash America tags on them. You want to break out, there is only one thing standing in your way. YOU.
If you can hire out as a helper @ 13 -15 and learn, swipe pipe at every chance and practice, practice, practice. Welding is like a 12 on 12 branch test, a little technique and a LOT of endurance. Then start testing. Eventually you will break out.
If your "teacher" recommends shipyards, do tanks. #1 you are not in Houston and right now plate welders who can pass a LH 2,3 and 4 G test working single hand are making $19-26 with 75 to 90 sub. Check out Tanco in Logmont Colorado, Matrix Tanks, Baker Tank or HMT Tank Services. Tulsa Welding School cranks out a bunch of these welders. Better be able to run a 6 pound hammer and if that wont make it fit a 8 pound one
Good Luck
BABRT's

By bphinson (*)

Date 06-14-2007 21:20 Edited 06-15-2007 01:33

hey missmandy great to hear some of your responses. I live here in the tx gulf coast region (houston) and maybe I can offer a little insight on industry from an OBSERVATION point of view. I just finished up welding school from the local community college myself so I can feel your pain. This is what I have observed. Welding jobs are a free for all here in houston. First come, first serve, fill out an app, take the craft test, start tomorrow. Most companies don't give a hoot that an individual went to welding school, it does not mean that you can weld. Certified, not certified, does not really matter...looks good on paper though. Non-union contractors dominate the area. What they say usually goes and they will work you all day like a dog. I have noticed a tremendous influx of welders from mexico. I'm not hatin' or anything because I am hispanic myself. They like all of us are just trying to achieve a better life for themselves and their family. I commend them because they will work all day everyday for cheap and not say a word. You have many types of settings or environments around here. The shop jobs are pretty much paying what you have been quoted in some of the other responses...provided that you are highly skilled w/experience. You have the petrochemical/plant maintenance jobs. It is quite difficult to land one of those jobs because its kind of like the good ol' boy system like who you know. i.e. if your dad or uncle works there then maybe you have a foot in the door. It is also "rig" country due to vast amount of petrochemical plants. Those guys do real good and make top dollar and have several years of experience and make their reputation by the the great quality of their work. You have shutdown/turnaround jobs working like 7x12's for 30 days or so. Welding all day and be ready to work your you know what off! You also have the shipyards to consider. I myself chose to be a weekend welder/hobbyist welder just to make a little money on the side doing structural repair on farm equipment. I'm pursuing a nursing degree for a primary income. Let me know if this helps. Go for it...just remember the "dynamics" of the industry. Best of luck!