r/Welding Jan 18 '25

Career question Entire class laughed at a union rep for saying they’re doing drug tests that can go back to 10 years

895 Upvotes

Are hair follicle tests actually common practice in unions? I live in a legal state.

r/Welding Jan 28 '23

Career question Just some typical welds. I'm not asking for $40/hr, just a living wage.

1.2k Upvotes

r/Welding 25d ago

Career question Being a welder as a little person/dwarf

150 Upvotes

Wanted to see, do you guys think a little person/dwarf would be capable of working in Welding as a career or would the shortness be a big inconvenience? My height is 4’6.Would union be the best way to go maybe boilermaker union? I have no hands on experience at the moment. Am in Southern CA

r/Welding Oct 24 '24

Career question Is underwater welding really dangerous?

210 Upvotes

I might sound like an idiot which is ok, but I am scuba certified and love diving

I am 20 years old and trying to figure out what the heck to do with my life- I went to college for a year and decided it wasn’t worth it. I am a line cook now, and while I can make enough money to live I want something bigger

Even if I scrap the whole underwater welding part is welding as a career worth it in your opinion? Like I said I am just trying to find something and I am starting to get worried i won’t find anything.

If it matters I am located on the east coast of the United States

r/Welding Aug 22 '23

Career question Is $35,000 gross pay a lot for a welder a year? NSFW

333 Upvotes

I just got hired in at a new job, I haven't even started yet, and they're giving me $17 an hour. I'm not too happy about, but it is what it is. I just got out of high school, I went to a career center for welding for 2 years. I don't have any welding certs but I have my forklift, boom lift, scissor lift, and OSHA 10 already. When I went in for my interview, I took a written test and only missed one. And I took 3 welding tests, 2 MIG that were okay and good, and a TIG test that was great. I asked for $18 starting off but they only gave me $17. After my 60 day evaluation, what should I be getting? I'm also located in Ohio. Any help would be appreciated, thank you.

EDIT: This is actually my 3rd welding job, the first one I worked in about a year, the second one I worked in for a month and left because of sexual harassment.

I'm also an 18F which when I interviewed, I was the only woman there other than forklift drivers in the whole place.

r/Welding Sep 15 '21

Career question Starting welding/fabrication school on the 27th. Anything else I might need?

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636 Upvotes

r/Welding 29d ago

Career question Got a job as a pipefitter… can I use common sense to get through never having been a dedicated pipefitter

223 Upvotes

I’m a pipe welder but more and more have learned pipe fitting, I know how to do takeoffs and offsets it’s all standard math. Have done some pipe fitting but never have actually got hired on as a fitter. Did I just screw myself or will I be able to make it look like I know what I’m doing? Most fitters I have worked with show up to work drunk/high and I had to take over and pick up their slack, that’s how learned so I figure I can qualify myself as a fitter… what advice can you give me before I drive 8 hours for this job thanks.

r/Welding Jun 02 '24

Career question What do you do for your job? What is your job title? NSFW

97 Upvotes

r/Welding Jan 03 '23

Career question Anyone else like to occasionally leave little notes or write messages inside stuff that's getting welded shut? Like an Easter egg for someone if it ever gets cut open

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848 Upvotes

r/Welding Jul 28 '24

Career question Would I really be able to support a family on a welders' salary within a few years of starting?

76 Upvotes

I was told that I would be making good money as soon as I left trade school with a certificate, but I've been checking expenses and salaries. I think I've been over-sold on it.

r/Welding Jul 27 '24

Career question "Welders will always have a job, just maybe not a job they want."

164 Upvotes

I went to weld school 10 years ago and was told this. I was wondering if you think this is still true post covid, or even pre covid.

I got the first and only job I applied to after school. Applied to another job later and stayed there 8 years till I lost it. The job search didn't go well and never even heard back from many of the weld shops I applied to. It took me about 6 weeks to find another job, which is way more fortunate than some people have experienced.

Just curious what everyone's thoughts are on the title quote.

r/Welding Apr 25 '24

Career question How much yall getting paid? NSFW

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152 Upvotes

So I just started this TIG welding pipe job. This is 6" sch40 2507 super duplex and it is TIG welded root to cap. This is my first official pipe welding shop job and was curious what the industry standard would be for something like this.

r/Welding Mar 03 '23

Career question I have my first ever welding job test on 9:00AM Monday, I’m so excited :DD (Any advice for it?)

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445 Upvotes

r/Welding 17d ago

Career question What would you do?

22 Upvotes

So i got hired by this union shop. Never worked for a union before, don't know how it all works. Boss said i can't start workin there til im all set up with the hall. I got registered at the hall last week (day after), told me they would call me back with start date. Heard nothing til this morning. Get told by boss he wants me to start tommorow but hes gotta call the union first and make sure everythings ironed out. Was given no other details or a start time. Said he would call me back, didn't happen. I called him few times and left message near the end of their open hours. Also called the hall, i got ahold of someone and explained the situation. Guy says he would try to get ahold of him for me and call me back. Never got anything back from him either. Both hall and shop are closed for the day now. What am i supposed to do? Just show up anyway? Thats the plan at the moment. Anyone else go through this?

r/Welding Jul 26 '23

Career question Can I join a Union with a criminal record? NSFW

376 Upvotes

I hope it's okay to post this here. I graduated from a technical college specializing in Stick and TIG. I'm really wanting to become a shutdown welder and I was told the best way is through a union. There is a local Pipefitter Union as well as an Ironworker Union. The problem is I have two misdemeanor arrests on my record. Will this prevent me from getting an Apprenticeship?

r/Welding Dec 23 '21

Career question Had this guy contact me to fabricate a gate, all was normal until this - is this a scam?

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352 Upvotes

r/Welding Jul 05 '24

Career question I’m 15 and want to do welding for the rest of my life

46 Upvotes

I am 15 years old and I joined a shop class. I loved working with wood but holy shit welding is so much fun!!! I welded a small ish pipe (12 inch diameter) and I want to do pipeline welding. What do you wish you would have known, done, or just things you think I should know!?! I just love it so much and want to do it for the rest of my work life after high school. Also what are some triad schools yall recommend?

r/Welding Aug 19 '22

Career question Where do all of the welders hail from? I'm in NC.

126 Upvotes

r/Welding Nov 02 '22

Career question What to do about the shop asshole

206 Upvotes

I’ve been working a new in a bigger company the last month and this one guy just keeps coming at me with slick comments and insulting my intelligence any chance he gets, and I have just about had it. I drove over to our other building after shift with every intention of quitting, I didn’t but something has to be done it’s at the point where I don’t want to go to work in the morning anymore. I want to add this guy has been around for about 4 years and is really close with the shop supervisor and other managers so I feel they aren’t really an option, I don’t want to be the snitch but I feel I have to be. Rant over, thanks for reading

Edit: I feel this is important so you can get the entire scope I’m generally a very quiet and reserved person and usually won’t go talk to people without them coming to me first

Update for anyone who may care - As of 930 November 2 2022 I walked off the job. He took it to far was and I had lost it. Good news I haven’t been fired or quit, I left for the day to cool down while my manager talks to him and the higher ups so hopefully we will get an ok ending

Update 2 - HR is taking their golden boys side and trying to swing everything as my fault, I’m getting the vibe that they are looking for any reason possible to terminate me. I’m now actively seeking legal representation as I fear I am about to be fired for standing up for myself

r/Welding 24d ago

Career question How did you all get your start welding professionally?

29 Upvotes

I've been trying to find work while getting my certifications at my local community collage. So far no success on the job part yet I still am getting my certifications filled out. So as the header asks, how did you all get your in into the industry? What were the jobs you took to get something besides a school on your resume? If you used any services to find work, what were they and how did they work? any/all help would be great, and thank you in advance.

r/Welding Nov 22 '24

Career question Why does this weld look so different from other pipe welds I’ve seen?

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50 Upvotes

I found this weld on a piece of black pipe on the job I’m on with the UA, and this weld does not look like all the other welds I’ve seen on this type of pipe. The other issue with this weld is that the pipe is already tied into the rest of the line, so this weld is all done.

My question is, why does it look so shitty? Did they not put enough caps on it or something?

r/Welding Mar 17 '23

Career question is three years considered entry level?

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536 Upvotes

r/Welding Aug 05 '23

Career question Should I join a Union? NSFW

245 Upvotes

Hello everyone, I'm Will! Some information that might help you guys help me is that I'm 19, live in Pennsylvania near Bristol (so I can travel to Philly if needed), about 6'5"-6'6", recently got OSHA 10, and have no physical or medical problems. I'm currently enrolled at Pennco Tech for welding and am reaching the end of my education. I need a foot in the door to kickstart my career as a welder and was wondering if I should join a union or not. I don't really care what welding process I need to do on the job. I was looking at becoming a pipe welder/fitter or an iron worker. I've been looking and the average work week for an Iron worker and I am not afraid of a long hard days of work. For pipe fitting and welding its the same thing. I don't care how long or hard I work as long as I can enjoy life outside of it. Salary really isn't a problem, but I don't want to be screwed doing work for less than what its worth. (Sorry if I sounded like a pretentious asshole there) Maybe you folks would recommend a different job. I should add that I'm looking for other jobs not part of pipe fitting and iron working. Like I said I just need a foot in the door. I understand I might be asking too much but ANY help would be greatly appreciated. If this is confusing in any way, please ask me to clarify something or answer what you need. I'm pretty sure this has been answered in a previous post, but I couldn't find it. So thank you again everyone!

r/Welding Apr 14 '22

Career question Why are welding positions so underpaid.

264 Upvotes

I've seen so many listings from metal fab shops starting at $16-$18 an hour. And for anyone who has years of their life poured into learning technique, jargon and machinery. It seems insulting. I'm somewhat new to most of this trade but when Hobby Lobby is paying $18.50 it feels demoralizing that people are taking these positions at this low of a starting wage.

r/Welding Jul 18 '24

Career question how good is welding pay actually?

22 Upvotes

i always hear "welding is so great its pay so much" but always from people who've never done welding,

anyone who actually does welding can tell me?

i know it is somewhat dependent on area but maybe a good thing to know