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What to choose for Welding Career/what are the different Welding options

I'm trying to go into welding for my career and I'm not quite sure exactly which kind I should try, and I would just like to know what my options are from someone else's perspective about the pay, the hard work ,and how often and enjoyable each one could be and not from off the internet

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Alex’s Answer

Hey Justin I went to Bellingham technical college in 2008. My first job wasn't glorious, I worked for Alcoa intalco in repair crew as a contractor, paid well but long hours. After that I spent 8 years at UIC working with stainless, welding and fabrication. I've learned how to properly use Tig torch and fell in love with it!
I ended up managing the shop but still weld on regular basis.
I have a creative side, always wanted to put that in use somehow and one day I decided to follow my dreams. I landed a job at sign company and omg I had fun!
It's an incredible feeling to see your completed projects out there! I've built signs for Microsoft, Boeing, city of Seattle restaurants, casinos. Sadly the company went out of business. Currently I work for Saltworks inc, mostly r&d, building prototypes for processing salt, went back Tig welding stainless, I'm a fabrication lead here, work directly with engineering department. All the jobs I've had, paid well. If you ever decide to go this route it could be fun and rewarding, the world is your oyster, go get em!
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Nicholas’s Answer

Justin, I am a welding engineer with Stellantis (formerly Chrysler) in Detroit, Michigan. I started working during my college career as a welder in Michigan. We worked on defense, construction, mining, automotive, and locomotive contracts. I primarily worked with FCAW, GMAW, GTAW, and robotic SAW welding. My days were 6 - 4 on 10 hour shifts five days a week. On weekends there was possibility for me to be called in or forced to work if the workload was too much that week. My pay started at $15.00 per hour. The following year I went back as a welding engineering intern, and my pay increased to $17.00 per hour at the same time per week. Instead of welding every day, I was more on the research and development/qualification side of welding. Essentially proving that what is going to be welded can be welded. The following year I was a welding engineering intern at General Dynamics NASSCO where I worked on US Navy vessels. Once I graduated, I am still welding frequently but I am more diverse with what processes I am exposed to. My advice to you, if you are going to pursue a career in welding look into local welding companies first. If the opportunity is there, you can get an entry level welding position and learn the trade. If you are interested in pursuing the career further, there is a whole other side of welding to see.

Nicholas recommends the following next steps:

If you are interested in welding engineering or welding technology, look here: https://www.ferris.edu/CET/design-mfg/welding/homepage.htm
I suggest that you join the American Welding Society. If you decide to attend college for welding, you will be able to apply for scholarships to help you.
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