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402

I spent so much time learning how to be a good software developer and then trying to build a career. But you know I really think getting into software development was a huge mistake in my life. now I can't even get a job doing it unless I start bullshiting people which I could do very easily but I hate the work anyways. I hate Star Wars. I hate playing with Legos. I hate learning how to do the same thing for the fifth time using a supposedly better JavaScript framework that takes as much time to learn and set up as it saves you but non-coding fuckwits believe knowing the currently trending JavaScript framework makes you an elite coder compared to somebody who knows 1,000 other things including other JavaScript frameworks just not your particular favorite.

Anyways, I've done a little construction and I actually like that. But I think I might like welding more. I've been hesitant to reskill myself for the past I don't know year and a half to two years but welding actually does seem like something I would like to do.

Any advice on getting started? Any idea how much I can expect to actually get paid? Any idea what the job security for a rookie welder might be during a period of hyperinflation? Any other advice?

I spent so much time learning how to be a good software developer and then trying to build a career. But you know I really think getting into software development was a huge mistake in my life. now I can't even get a job doing it unless I start bullshiting people which I could do very easily but I hate the work anyways. I hate Star Wars. I hate playing with Legos. I hate learning how to do the same thing for the fifth time using a supposedly better JavaScript framework that takes as much time to learn and set up as it saves you but non-coding fuckwits believe knowing the currently trending JavaScript framework makes you an elite coder compared to somebody who knows 1,000 other things including other JavaScript frameworks just not your particular favorite. Anyways, I've done a little construction and I actually like that. But I think I might like welding more. I've been hesitant to reskill myself for the past I don't know year and a half to two years but welding actually does seem like something I would like to do. Any advice on getting started? Any idea how much I can expect to actually get paid? Any idea what the job security for a rookie welder might be during a period of hyperinflation? Any other advice?

(post is archived)

[–] • 6 pts (edited )

Get your certs. Perfect your craft. Treat it as a professional art form. Keep perfecting your craft. Never stop learning metallurgy and materials science. Learn to identify and implement the subtle differences between $10/hour, $40/hour, $60/hour, and $100/hour craftsmanship. Keep a photographic record or journal of bad, good, better, and best welding examples from everywhere you go. Make it a habit to take a camera everywhere you go and keep pictures of as many welds as you can find, everywhere you go. Catagorize your pictures and try to reproduce the excellent ones you find whenever possible. Strive to mimic the $100/hour craftsmanship.

[–] • 2 pts

Go with this. A lot of wisdom there.

[–] • 0 pt (edited )

Yeah sure .. the most often repeated complaint from welders I have heard is that ever since they entered the trade there has been nothing but unremitting toil, they resent the fact they have to labor and strain every day while others in the community without their level of expertise get by just the same .. it is not only welders, numerous ppl abandon high paying trades and engineering positions for whatever reason, the whole concept of "get a trade you can get a job anywhere" falls down in the face of some of the stuff they expect you to do .. maybe if the money is right has been my stock answer.

[–] [deleted] • 4 pts

Welding can be lucrative, especially underwater welding if you want to do the offshore thing. I'd start by taking a welding class at your local community college and see if you enjoy it and can see yourself doing it day in and day out, hours on end.

[–] [deleted] • 0 pt

Delta P is the most exciting part of underwater welding https://youtu.be/AEtbFm_CjE0

[–] • 2 pts

If you work offshore and save like a jew you can retire a millionaire in a decade.

[–] • 2 pts

A buddy of mine was a welder on commercial ships for fifteen years. He worked his ass off and banked so much money he retired from it at 35 and opened a bar. He also owns four or five car washes in his area.

Hot, dirty work that pays well once you establish yourself.

[–] [deleted] • 2 pts

Ha! I was a welder until I got fired three times in two years. I ended up going back to school for web design! Kind of the opposite of what you're doing. Welding is a shit job and welders are a dime a dozen. You get metal slag trying to burn your balls off and fumes of God knows what coming off of pipes and suffocating you. It's a shit show as a profession.

I hate web design too, don't get me wrong. It's just for hands on work, I'd rather not do welding.

[–] • 1 pt (edited )

I can understand yr frustration working with JavaScripts all day ..

In general welders are the highest paid workers in industry, Code 10 welders certified to weld all kinds of alloys such as dragline booms in coal mining make a fortune, while off shore pipe welders who weld the drill hole bore casings were on about 3 thou a day twenty five yrs ago - those days anyway since the testing process was so costly you could not apply for a job as a drill ship welder, you had to be "invited" to take a test.

On those hi power jobs all the welds are XRayed and if there is a single "cut out," when the bad weld has to be ground away and the piece rewelded you have lost yr job .. some welders do get "fumed" and suffer a lifetime of respiratory illness, however the ones get problems can't help themselves and crouch over the weld allowing the smoke to go under their helmet .. you have to make sure that doesn't happen, some welders use protective breathing apparatus when working in confined spaces in particular.

[–] • 1 pt

Welding is shit work. Hot tedious back breaking finger breaking work. Offshore pays REALLY well but you gotta be out on a barge with a bunch of retards for months on end.

You can make good money though.

Every job sucks. Every job is work. Take a class and learn to weld because you want to. Then try making it a side gig. Then try doing it full time if you think you can handle it after you get good.

[–] • 1 pt

low man get laid off first
hard dirty work
not many industrial jobs in usa anymore
learn spanish

[–] • 0 pt

You will be competing with billions of beaners, and after age 45-50 be almost useless.

[–] • 0 pt

Production welding is hard, dirty work inside a factory all day long. So try to avoid that route if you can. You certainly can get good with your skills as you repeat them 100s of times but not a fun job to do for life. Also --- learn all about the technical side of it if you can. Learn exactly how your machine works, how to read all sorts of structural drawings that show you the welds and you will be much more useful to many more people.

[–] • 0 pt

The money for welders is in field jobs that require you to be away for extended, sometimes unknown amounts of time.

Shop jobs are shit pay.

Also, say goodbye to your sight after years of welding.

Also, look at the warnings that are on welding wire. It can basically kill you 100 different ways.

I worked in a structural steel shop, then a piping shop for about 10 years. I welded a bit, but I stuck with fitting, then moved over to welding inspector.

Anyone I've known that has welded for over 15 years has vision problems.

Also EXTREMELY loud environment. If you don't wear hearing protection, say goodbye to your hearing after a short time

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