Where are the decent welding jobs?

I went to Lincoln Electric Welding School 2 years ago and took the SMAW, GMAW, and FCAW courses then I worked the last 2 years at strip mines in West Virginia working welding maintenance on mining equipment making $16.00/hour.

I got laid off and now the only jobs I can find welding in the area are making $8.00-$12.00/hour. Shouldn’t someone that works in a the welding field make a bit more than someone running a cash register, or pushing shopping carts? It’s a bit depressing when you can go to wal-mart or home depot and make as much money as these people offer.

Where did the big shortage on welders go everyone was talking about? Are these depressed wages only in West Virginia/ Appalachia or is this going on everywhere?

If you are willing to travel ANYWHERE what kind of job opportunities are to be had?

Yup, that's the trend in america today; cheap labor low quality workers. Sorry to say welders are at the bottom of the fish bowl for the most part.

welder are not at the bottom sorry to say. I dont know where u get your info from but i make 25 an hour doing metal core. I just graduated from a 2 year welding program.

WVaWelder said: I went to Lincoln Electric Welding School 2 years ago and took the SMAW, GMAW, and FCAW courses then I worked the last 2 years at strip mines in West Virginia working welding maintenance on mining equipment making $16.00/hour.

I got laid off and now the only jobs I can find welding in the area are making $8.00-$12.00/hour. Shouldn’t someone that works in a the welding field make a bit more than someone running a cash register , or pushing shopping carts? It’s a bit depressing when you can go to wal-mart or home depot and make as much money as these people offer.

Where did the big shortage on welders go everyone was talking about? Are these depressed wages only in West Virginia/ Appalachia or is this going on everywhere?

If you are willing to travel ANYWHERE what kind of job opportunities are to be had?

It depends where u live i'm guessing. I moved to texass and just finished 2 years of welding school and I can't find a job above $9.00hr out here. So I'm moving back to Cali where most companies start at $18.00-25.00hr and pay up to $30.00hr and higher based on experience & type of welding. You might have to consider moving for better pay/benefits.

yeathatsme in Duluth, Minnesota said: welder are not at the bottom sorry to say. I dont know where u get your info from but i make 25 an hour doing metal core. I just graduated from a 2 year welding program.

Really, my husband is a Weld Specialist, TIG, ELECTRON BEAM, etc. Mostly Aerospace and Defense. He needs a new job. Last one was well over 50,000 per year.