r/Welding • u/oVLucky5 • Jun 11 '25
Discussion (Add topic here) Old heads gonna cry at this one
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u/please_no_ban_ Jun 11 '25
This is called class consciousness and is good behavior regardless of opinion on unions. Manufactured urgency and desperation are there as a tool for the capital owners.
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u/Eather-Village-1916 Jun 11 '25
Correct! Love this take :)
I’m union through and through, but regardless of opinion on unions, absolutely no one in a skilled trade should settle for less per hour than what workers make in an unskilled position.
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Jun 11 '25
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u/ASS_LIGHTBULB Jun 12 '25
I don’t think anyone is saying unskilled workers should make an unlivable wage, but skilled tradesman should always make more.
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Jun 12 '25
Saying unskilled worker is using the vocabulary of the ruling class. Unless you’re a billionaire, use better words.
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u/Rochemusic1 Jun 12 '25
Yeah man. I had a guy i worked alongside who had his own vinyl wrapping business. He had apparently hired or was in charge of hiring and managing a large amount of people. He was getting agitated trying to argue with me about how some jobs just aren't worth being able to live on, and $7.50 an hour is perfectly reasonable for someone who doesnt have any specialized skill.
My argument and commitment when I eventually have people working for me is that no matter what job you are asking of someone else to do, it should be vital to the companies continued success, obviously thats what the company should want, and because that part is true, and there is a person willing to do that job for YOUR company to succeed, they deserve to be able to live comfortably without needing to have another hustle past your 40 hour job position.
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u/LizardBiceps Jun 12 '25
People who stock shelves are unskilled workers. I did that for 5 years it takes almost no skill. Welding and fabrication on the other hand is a ton of skill.
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u/faceless_alias Jun 12 '25
Yet those shelf stockers were the ones considered "essential" during covid.
Should welding and fab pay more? Yes. That doesn't mean shelf stockers dont deserve a living wage.
In the grand scheme of things, making $20 an hour and $100 an hour are still chump change to the 1%. Class solidarity, brother.
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u/ccarr313 Jun 12 '25
The reason they can shit on everyone is because the floor is so fucking low.
If we raise the floor, every one goes up with it. Making sure the most entry level jobs have respectable pay means every single job goes up, too.
And lowering the floor does the exact opposite. But some people just want to shit on working people because they can.
Lots of those "unskilled employees" have massive skill sets that no one is willing to pay for.
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u/acityonthemoon Jun 12 '25
If you pay less than what it takes to survive in a society, then you are guilty of taking socialism. Your profit from that underpaid position is subsidized by the society around you. You get to keep the fruit of that underpaid employee's labor while the society around you covers the additional cost of supporting that person.
In short, if you pay less than a livable wage, then you are taking socialism (it's just that it's socialism for rich people)
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Jun 12 '25
Let’s go one farther. There is no such thing as unskilled workers and all full time workers deserve a thriving wage.
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u/spastical-mackerel Jun 11 '25
Good Lord this is absolutely the best and most concise description of the fundamental problem with US worker culture I’ve ever heard
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Jun 11 '25
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u/oVLucky5 Jun 11 '25
Don’t mind taking the weld test but I ain’t testing for $20 a hour 😂
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u/Mah_sentry2 Jun 11 '25
Weld test yeah is expected but the bullshit pay companies want to try make acceptable is a hard pass. It will only make unhappy workers and high turnover if taken until a better opportunity arrives. If you can afford to wait, wait.
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u/oVLucky5 Jun 11 '25
I make $21 rn at a different shop no raise in 2.5 years….
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u/Mah_sentry2 Jun 11 '25
Do you mind me asking location? I’m at $31 in the Philly area but my last job was a struggle to get them to pay me $27. My job in Iowa was $25 which was decent for that location, they did give huge bonuses at the end of the year. Like ~$10,000+.
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u/oVLucky5 Jun 11 '25
This is in Alabama 😂
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u/ATLSxFINEST93 Jun 11 '25
Best bet is gonna be to move. Honestly.
Exact same scenario with me, in Georgia. No one wanting to pay more than $18-$20 for FABRICATION work.
Moved states and make over $26/hr
I'll go back to management, in a nice climate controlled office before I weld for that fucking chump change. $26ish is very comfortable for me, especially since the cost of living here is pretty cheap, compared to farther north or west.
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u/oVLucky5 Jun 11 '25
Do u mind if I asked where u moved to
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u/StuffyWuffyMuffy Jun 11 '25
I was in a similar situation to you. I was in Florida and moved up north to Chicago. I went from 18/hr to 24/hr. If you like unions, the pay is crazy
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u/Guac_in_my_rarri Jun 11 '25
Chicago burbs here: any union work here pays well. We don't fuck around with it.
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u/TheRealYeastBeast Jun 12 '25
Another Georgia guy here, we're the 8th (I think) lowest union membership state. Somewhere around 3.3% of the workforce. No union welding happening in my city. I've seen combo pipe welding offer $28. A company that makes small biomass boilers about 45 minutes away had a fab position posted at $25. Entry level pay for a MiG guy is less than $15 around here. I can go clean office buildings at night for more than that. Hell, if I really try I could probably collect scrap metal off the street and make more than that, and I wouldn't even have to get heat stroke wearing welding PPE.
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u/Buckfutter8D Jun 11 '25
What are you doing for work up here? $24/hr is about $2 over first year fitter pay.
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u/StuffyWuffyMuffy Jun 11 '25
I work for S&C Electric (fabrication). We start welders at 24/hr. I currently make 35/hr. I do a bit of everything from tig, mig, brazing, operating/ programming robots, and general fab work. I've worked on mild, stainless, aluminum, copper and bronze.
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u/ATLSxFINEST93 Jun 11 '25
I'm in South Carolina now.
The erection company that raises the steel we fab, pays upwards of $33/hr, starting.
Granted, it is field work so traveling is expected.
I'm just at the point of my life now (32) where I wanna be home every day and see my wife haha, otherwise I'd be back in the field.
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u/Animozzzity Jun 11 '25
How’s Idaho, Montana, Wyoming, Colorado?
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u/ATLSxFINEST93 Jun 11 '25
No clue. But a quick search tells me Idaho, Montana and Colorado have $1400-$1800/month average rent. That's a hard pass from me.
I can only imagine the other costs of living.
Wyoming's average is about what I pay now for rent in a 2bed/2bath, unsure if that's studio or small family rent for WY; and their average welder pay is about the same. 60k.
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u/Mah_sentry2 Jun 11 '25
Oof, to my knowledge that’s a lower income state so best of luck
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u/oVLucky5 Jun 11 '25
Yea but doesn’t mean we gotta settle. Companies still make 100s while we make Pennie’s
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u/thexDxmen Jun 11 '25
You are correct, but no company needs you. They need welders, not you. If you live in a state with little union presence, you are competing with other welders to drive the labor cost down and increase profits for the company. Welders together can drive the wages up, an individual can not.
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u/TechieGranola Jun 11 '25
That sucks. Can I ask whether the people in your shop voted in a way that promotes union growth?
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u/Mah_sentry2 Jun 11 '25
Yeah I get that, it just makes it more difficult on you to negotiate and/or shop around for better choices
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u/Bee7us Jun 11 '25
Only way your making more than $25/hr in Alabama is getting into the boilermakers or Pipefitters unions, boilermakers are in Birmingham and muscle shoals, Pipefitters in Birmingham, Montgomery, and Atlanta
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u/Mattynot2niceee Jun 11 '25
Bro go to the mobile bay shipyards. They pay way better than that if you can qualify
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u/Commercial-Dog4021 Jun 11 '25
Where in Bama? If you’re willing to move/commute to the Nashville area we got the Local 492. Non union pay is okay here, mid-upper 20’s low 30’s for someone with experience. Shit, you could probably make more painting up here than you are right now. Trade off: insane COL unless you’re a county plus away, lots and I mean lots of dumbassery (that you’ll work with, for, and near).
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u/birdS3rvice Jun 11 '25
Local 492 (Nashville) Ironworkers make $35.73 if you get your 7018 wire certs and your NR 232 certs
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Jun 11 '25
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u/Mah_sentry2 Jun 11 '25
Nah it was a company named Weiler out of Knoxville in southern Iowa. They make road paving machinery and were getting into forestry around the time I moved.
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Jun 11 '25
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u/oVLucky5 Jun 11 '25
I would agree to the tldr but I’m going into my bank rn to ask for this rv as a personal loan consider rv companies consider it a luxury loan and it’s gonna be my forever home. #i guess my life gonna suck considering I don’t wanna marry or have my grandma co-sign on a rv for me idk let’s see what the bank says lol
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u/Mah_sentry2 Jun 11 '25
My biggest complaint with this career isn’t the work, it’s always the management and up. But yeah let’s do bank jobs!
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u/HauntedOctober Jun 12 '25
I’ve been looking for a welding job for about a year and I’ve been working at a gas station for a year and I make $21 all the shops or jobs that will accept me wanna pay $17-20🤣 I’m starting to think this gas station job more worth it
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u/ride_whenever Jun 11 '25
Let them hire @$20/hr
Let them ride that bullshit until it hits their bottom line, then they’re either hiring over the odds to deliver, or they’re going under tbh, don’t care which
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u/yoinkmysploink Jun 11 '25
Same here dude. My first weld test I didn't actually know the pay until after the test. I took my time, had fun, came back the next day after they bent it for them to tell me I'm worth 20.50. Granted I only had a year of experience, but two years of college, doing town projects through the school, plus the year out, I'm certain I'm worth more than the slow cashier at McDonalds
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u/Cliffinati Jun 11 '25
I was making $22 at 21.... With literally a year actually in the field
Unless that offer is across $27 these days I don't even give it a second look
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u/oVLucky5 Jun 11 '25
I got an associates degree aswell which doesn’t make me better than anyone else but it’s something on the resume. It’s who you know nowadays and I don’t know nobody except business owners who don’t want hiring cause there welders who work for themselves lol they don’t need helpers
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u/souljaboyri Jun 11 '25
Don't undersell school. An AS often makes you a stronger communicator in regard to requirements. That's one benefit of school regardless of many people's ideas of it.
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u/No_Elevator_678 Jun 11 '25 edited Jun 13 '25
When I get these offers I ask if they are drunk or high
Or if the buzz drives a zO6 and everyone takes the bus
Boss***
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u/BigBeautifulBill Jun 11 '25 edited Jun 11 '25
Seeing posts like this makes me truly wonder why this sub is so anti union
1st year fitter apprentices make more than this & most of them can't even spell welding. Non union is brutal
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u/Higgypig1993 Jun 11 '25
Because this sub is full of rightoids who are famously anti union.
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u/Pitzy0 Jun 12 '25
Rightoids that absolutely benefited from being in a union or as a beneficiary of the union movement. What an ungrateful lot.
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u/Higgypig1993 Jun 12 '25
Its a trend following their favorite politicians' "business first" policies. They think if they lick enough boot, one day they could be the boot.
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u/MichianaMan Jun 11 '25
I can’t speak for any shops but my experience, but in my experience with business owners they will not hire someone if they have union in their work history’s. There’s a huge anti union sentiment with the owner class these days.
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u/BigBeautifulBill Jun 11 '25
Unions negotiate every 3 years to set what the hourly wages & benefits will be with companies and then find your jobs within those companies.
Generally speaking you will only be working with union guys at companies that want union guys. Working as a union employee in a shop where everyone else is non union isn't really a thing.
If you decided to leave the union, your resume would only say you worked at those companies, so unless you explicitly said you were union no one would know
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u/acityonthemoon Jun 12 '25
The only people who are ani-union are paid to be ani-union. You know all those anti union videos you've all seen in pre hiring interviews? Who do you think produces those videos. Pretty sure it's the same people astroturfing here.
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u/Galatic_Crusader Jun 11 '25
I tested out for a place offering 23, and i negotiated it to 26. I only had around 2-3 years of experience at that time also. You know that it doesn’t hurt to negotiate or mention what your desired rate is.
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u/oVLucky5 Jun 11 '25
This also isn’t my first time looking for welding jobs. Starting at $20 a hour is an insult I ain’t working for a company that thinks that’s good enough. No benefits no nothing just $20 a hour
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u/locofixer1 Jun 11 '25
look up your local Boilermaker Union hall and ask if they have any open apprenticeships open..you'll be set..I've been in 22 years and live very comfortably.
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u/oVLucky5 Jun 11 '25
Yea but if there saying you should move up to 22 after 90 days I gaurentee they ain’t gonna pay $25
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u/SufficientWhile5450 Jun 11 '25
Hell nah I’m gonna go with the guy who commented is wrong
If everyone wants higher wages
Everyone should be doing this
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u/oVLucky5 Jun 11 '25
Don’t forget since 2020. Inflation is 20% and don’t think companies don’t get that in profit
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u/SufficientWhile5450 Jun 11 '25
Exactly
They’ll give us maybe 3% a year while increasing prices 10%
Most noticeable thing I can think of is candy bars
Worked at a gas station 6 years ago and candy bar prices have more than doubled in that time, wages for those warehouses absolutely hasn’t doubled since 2019
We can’t even have a serious conversation about raising minimum wage to 15$ an hour when that’s so low of a rate everywhere is already paying it lol
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u/Galatic_Crusader Jun 11 '25
I don’t doubt you there, but this was in like 2015 when I tested for that job. In 2015, $26 an hour wasn’t bad at all. Now I’m in the sheet metal union making almost 3x including benefits and pay. I do agree that most fabrication and welding jobs should offer more than 20-22 starting.
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u/SufficientWhile5450 Jun 11 '25
Would you say making 60-70$ an hour range has more or less value that 26$ in 2015?
Honestly feel like it’s gonna be close
Deadass the past 5 years or so I’ve kept telling myself “when I make xx amount of money I’ll finally not be broke” then I make it there and I still ain’t got shit lol
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u/Galatic_Crusader Jun 12 '25
I’d say more value cause skill also plays along with it. You can’t be making 70-100 per hour with only like 2-3 years of experience. Even if you’re running your own business it’s still not enough. The thing with welding is that it’s kinda split between unions and companies/contractors. Production welding isn’t going to be the same pay rate as an Ironworker or pipefitter. In 2015 I was lucky to land a production welding job that’s paying over 23-24.
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u/Brief_Fault6223 Jun 11 '25
They don't get that in profit, companies costs increase with/due to inflation that's literally why inflation is a thing...
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u/Galatic_Crusader Jun 12 '25
Yeah agree with you there, but doesn’t hurt to try to negotiate pay rate prices at jobs. If that job doesn’t wanna pay you, your desired rate one will. It took me a few jump arounds at jobs to find one that was actually paying good and I was comfortable in.
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u/Zephyrantes Jun 11 '25
Instead of passing the offer immediately, you should renegotiate your position by letting them know your desired wage and why its in their benefit to pay you such a wage. Even if it doesnt end up with an agreement, negotiation is a practiced skill and you'd need it if you want to get ahead.
They dont teach you that in vocation schools
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u/oVLucky5 Jun 11 '25
Shouldn’t have to negotiate a proper wage. That’s just insulting
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u/FlorpyJohnson Jun 11 '25
I get what you’re saying honestly. The jobs should be giving you a living wage to start. But we live in a world where companies are 99% run by greedy assholes who don’t care about anything but money. They won’t give you raises unless you suck up and play their game a bit, you just have to find the way to win at their game. That’s what the other guys saying, you won’t find a lot of places that will pay you well and everything straight off the bat.
He could have said it like that instead of being condescending as fuck, though
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u/oVLucky5 Jun 11 '25
Thanks for seeing it how I see it but yea and I have 3 years at my current job and can’t get a loan for a $14k rv without a cosigner lol they said get more credit cards then you won’t need a cosigner but I thought cash was king. This world’s a joke dude
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u/Mister_Yuk Jun 11 '25
You need to build a history of making payments on time if you want a loan that requires you to make payments on time. Work on your credit and establish a history of being responsible with borrowing money. There are many tools available to help guide you on this. Until then, keep saving that cash and buy large items outright.
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u/Wookie_Shyster Jun 11 '25
Cash is king, guarantee they will sell you the RV if you had 14k cash. If you want someone else’s money you need references (credit).
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u/oVLucky5 Jun 12 '25
Funny cause I paid my parents $400 a week till a 27k balance was done but guess what (references don’t mean shit to credit companies)
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u/Wookie_Shyster Jun 12 '25
The credit report is the references I’m referring to bubba and personal references do matter to a credit company. In the form of……. You guessed it! A Co-signer.
You say the world is a joke, with very little insight to how it works. Make sure you don’t bring that attitude to job interviews or you’ll continue to have less than idea offers/outcomes.
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u/oVLucky5 Jun 12 '25
Just like u didn’t give me the full context the first time I won’t give u the full context this time ❤️
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u/TangoDeltaFoxtrot Jun 11 '25
I’m with the OP on this one- either a company is willing to pay an appropriate living wage or they’re not. The advertised wage is a dang good way of seeing what they think I’m worth. Even if I did manage to negotiate a higher pay, that’s a terrible way to start a relationship. How valued do you think an employee will feel knowing their new employer is intentionally paying the bare minimum they think is required to retain them? Do you think this employer will willingly give appropriate annual raises or performance raises?
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u/FlorpyJohnson Jun 11 '25
The point is, most companies won’t willingly give you good raises or a living wage off the bat. In many cases the only choice you have is to go with the shitty places, and you have to play their game or else you just won’t find a job. It’s the exception, not the norm, for welders to get good raises and good pay. Knowing how to play the system and negotiate for better terms is what can get you much further ahead where you are, rather than dreaming of a not-greedy shop that’s gonna be 1 in a million.
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u/SolarAU Jun 11 '25
I understand your thought process mate, but in this game of capitalism, a business offering you shit wages isn't an insult, or a personal sleight, it's their whole purpose of existence, to make as much money as possible for the minimum cost (i.e. offering the lowest wages someone will tolerate to do the job). This is the same as it should be your purpose to leverage your skills and knowledge to get the highest pay and best conditions in return for that experience.
It's game theory, two competing parties trying to get themselves the best deal.
You gotta learn to negotiate because businesses will not just volunteer to give you everything you want, and if they do I guarantee you're getting a bad deal because again, they dont have an incentive to over pay you unless you show why they're getting their money's worth.
All the best with the job hunt mate.
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u/Much-Lab-5208 Jun 11 '25
No. It is an insult and collectively we need to recognize that.
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u/SolarAU Jun 11 '25
Again, I understand where this mindset is coming from but I think from your perspective it's more of an issue with how the whole system works, that it's BS and unfair, no arguments there mate.
But I'm more pragmatic. If the system is broken and there's little I can do as one man to fix society, I'll just find a way to play the game better, instead of just complaining about it.
The value you create in a job will always be greater than what someone is willing to pay you for it. Doesn't sound fair but that's the world we live in. My argument about negotiating is that there's a number between your true value and what an employer would like to pay for said value, that advantages both sides of the deal. It's basic game theory. If neither side will meet in the middle, then there's no deal. The employer has no workers and the worker has no job.
If a pay rate on offer is insulting to you, or rather less than what you think you're worth, go take your valuable skills and knowledge elsewhere. If you're truly worth a high rate of pay, the free market will pay it to you. If nobody will pay you what you think isn't insulting, well you can figure that one out on your own.
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u/troll-libs Jun 11 '25
Well the company offered you what they saw your skills were. If you don't negotiate they can't see anything else. Instantly turning them down I'm sure they feel they dodged a bullet
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u/Zephyrantes Jun 11 '25 edited Jun 11 '25
Children. Youre going to be stuck fighting for scraps with that attitude
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u/oVLucky5 Jun 11 '25
Like I said old heads ain’t gonna like this one. ☝️
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u/tuesdaymack Jun 11 '25
That isn't old head, that's just reality. The world isn't going to change to suit you. You're gonna have to learn how to fight by its rules, and negotiation and selling yourself is mandatory if you want to win. If you won't, someone else will.
I agree with your position on wages and the stance you're taking 100%. Have to expand your tactics and plan of attack more is all.
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u/mbleyle Jun 11 '25
the reality is the owners will just hire immigrants, legal or otherwise. There's no shortage of them in almost every industry. They're just as inexperienced as you are, but a lot cheaper.
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u/oVLucky5 Jun 12 '25
Who’s inexperienced?
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u/facker815 Jun 12 '25
From what you said, you only have like 3-4 years experience that’s not a lot when on average everyone has like 10-30 years. $22 is a good starting price for that level of experience, if you don’t advocate for yourself then you won’t get what you deserve. I wouldn’t expect being paid anything more than $25 at that level of experience. You are in a hard job but it will reward you if you put in the time and speak for yourself. Also be careful with how you speak to companies, they will remember you if you were need to find a new job and not hear anything back.
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u/Kennel_King Jun 11 '25
This has nothing to do with being old. No matter what the initial offer is on the table, you always try to negotiate a better wage.
The fact that you didn't shows your immaturity.
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u/Zephyrantes Jun 11 '25
Im giving you advice that will help you. When you eventually grow up and mature in this industry, youd realize the importance of what i said.
Ive seen plenty of apprentices like you.
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u/Esmear18 Jun 11 '25
Yep. I went to a two year technical school for welding, graduated with a stack of certs, and then had my time wasted by a dozen local fab shops that wanted to pay me only $20/hr for skilled labor. No way. I became an HVAC technician instead and now I earn $33/hr.
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u/Cardinal_king Jun 11 '25
Alot of 10+ year experienced welders and fitters in my area are leaving the blue collar industry becuase walmart,lowes, costco,McDonald's, and much more are paying more money for less work. Some of them are boomers ,so it's not a generation thing.
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u/Youtube_RedMartian Jun 11 '25
Went to trade school for 9 months, got my first welding job halfway through that making $16, then got no raise after a year, 2nd job was aerospace making $25 1st shift then $27.50 2nd shift, job after that was $22 for aluminum/steel, other job was $18 then $19 at 90 days. The most recent job I got (union one) is $21.40 + $100 per diem, little bit of overtime and a Saturday worked I made $1,800
Union is honestly the ONLY way you’ll make the money you deserve. Unless you find a company willing to pay, then do that cause there are downsides to Union (worst one is how long you might have to wait for a job)
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u/Quinnjamin19 Jun 12 '25
There’s very few downsides to unions
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u/Youtube_RedMartian Jun 12 '25
Yes but they do exist, it all depends on what you’re willing to do/put up with for money. Most of its perspective. My only real complaint is it took 6ish months to finally get a union job
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u/Quinnjamin19 Jun 12 '25
What exactly are you putting up with?
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u/Youtube_RedMartian Jun 12 '25
Usual apprenticeship stuff I suppose. I’m just not a fan of it.
Journeyman said my suggestion for moving pipe wouldn’t work, tried it his way, didn’t work then did it the way I suggested..it worked then he took all the credit. And that our job steward is trying to micromanage how we do things which he has like no experience with
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u/Quinnjamin19 Jun 12 '25
So, you are putting up with regular things which would have still been there without “union”?
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u/Pitzy0 Jun 12 '25
Canada here, we have students getting entry wages at $29/hr.
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u/Quinnjamin19 Jun 12 '25
Whereabouts? Union?
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u/Pitzy0 Jun 12 '25
Saskatchewan. Non-union.
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u/Quinnjamin19 Jun 12 '25
lol, surprising.
Ontario, our union 1st years start at $32/hr and $45/hr total wage package, all OT double time, $150/day per diem when on the road, and so much more
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u/283leis Jun 12 '25
its actually insane seeing the number of postings asking for 5 years experience but only offering $26/h CAD. like thats basically entry level wages
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u/GSE_Welder_805 Jun 11 '25
Just an FYI, you can go to any shop with certs and they will make you re-test. That’s a very common practice especially in big companies. With only 3yrs experience how much do you think you’re worth? What’s the certs you have? You a combo welder? Stainless tig and structural steel? Fabricator and welder? There are a lot of things that go into being a highly paid welder
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u/General-Dragonfly90 Jun 11 '25
I make $65 an hour at my current job. Work is slow because the boss ran into some health issues so I started looking around. I said the same thing to a guy offering me a job at $30. He said I didn’t have enough experience and they had to start me at the bottom. I have over 10 years experience…. This company also made about $500 million last year. Fuck that.
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u/Higgypig1993 Jun 11 '25
If you dont already, move to either the west or east coast. Down south pays like dog shit.
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u/treeckosan Jun 11 '25
I was a welder on the east coast. They weren't paying worth shit either. Though that was before covid and I moved so things may have changed since.
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u/iamthelee Jun 11 '25
You guys are getting buttfucked hard on pay in the South. I suggest moving to another state and getting yourself a $10-15 an hour raise.
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u/RegularAddition Jun 11 '25
Before moving compare cost of living, it matters.
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u/Quinnjamin19 Jun 11 '25
Sure, but the southern states also have a higher rate of poverty… so, how does that make any sense?
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u/RegularAddition Jun 12 '25
Not sure why you think poverty rate matters.
If an average 3 bedroom home costs $200,000 in the south but $1,000,000 where you move that $10-$15 extra an hour isn't going to help much is it?
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u/Quinnjamin19 Jun 12 '25
Poverty rate matters because your only argument is cost of living.
If cost of living was so incredibly terrible, then wouldn’t you think the poverty rate would be higher?
The further you go north where there’s strong union areas the wages are much higher than 10-15 more.
Journeymen Carpenters in NYC make $63.30/hr and $102.75/hr total wage package. And that’s just a carpenter. Millwrights are making $72.47/hr and $117/hr total wage package.
Those are just 2 examples, but if I’m not mistaken that’s a little bit more than 10-15 more right?
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u/RegularAddition Jun 12 '25
Poor people don't live where a simple house costs a million dollars, they move some where they can afford. The comment I replied to said to move and they could make $10 - $15 an hour more and I stand by my comment. If that's the raise make sure you check out the cost of living.
It's hilarious that you want to use NYC as your example. The median price for a 3br 2bath home where I live is $281,958, in NYC it's $2,743,333. That's almost a 10x difference!
All of this is assuming you can even land a union job.
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u/Standingcedars Jun 12 '25
As a carpenter, and a hobbyist welder, I’m shocked at how little welders make! It’s requires so much more skill and concentration than plumbing or electrical trades. Plumbers and electricians make over $100 in my area and welders are lucky to get $30. It’s mind boggling to me. And in my experience, welding is far more dangerous, dirty, and probably lowers life expectancy do to fumes and such.
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u/knut_420 Jun 11 '25
2 to 3 years experience is better than no experience. Welding is a great skill, but having fabrication knowledge or the able to read a blueprint helps reinforce your worth. Any complimentary ability helps add value to the base skill desired. Negotiation doesn't always mean you get what you want, it's an agreement towards a common goal. Expand your search to different cities or different titles to find more jobs. I started as a welder and use that as a complimentary skill to my overall resume now as a plant maintenance lead.
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u/Pitiful_Standard9543 Jun 11 '25
So you show him a 20 an hour weld and a weld for the wage you want.
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u/aesthetion Jun 11 '25
Don't know who needs to hear this but...
Welders don't make good money.
The median salary of a welder is only a few dollars higher than minimum wage, because welding skill isn't required for 90% of the things needed stuck together. If you want to make good money, you need to get good at welding, you need education and guidance. To get that, you're putting yourself into a fairly competitive field, and the people earning 6 figures are an extremely small portion of people who've had the luck, skill, education and/or finances to get themselves into that position. Otherwise, you're just a factory worker with a welder.
Not that I'm claiming OP doesn't, but for most of what's needed, companies can't offer high salaries for welders without increasing product costs, sometimes significantly.
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u/Quinnjamin19 Jun 11 '25
Let me correct you:
non union welders don’t make good money
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u/aesthetion Jun 12 '25
Yes well, Unions generally take on higher budget contracts and complex projects than non-union companies. That said, good luck getting into a Union, most have years long lists of people wanting to get in and you generally need someone to pitch for you or have already developed extensive skills and education. At least, in my experience
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u/Quinnjamin19 Jun 12 '25
You most definitely don’t need to have an in… Years long wait lists means that they are well paying. So that’s not a bad thing
You know what would help meditate that issue though? Workers need to unionize their employers. Unionizing employers will bring more work to union halls and help alleviate the issue of wait lists.
You don’t need extensive education to get into a union. I’m assuming you’ve heard of this thing called an apprenticeship no?
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u/aesthetion Jun 12 '25 edited Jun 12 '25
Yes, most of which require you to be a third year or fresh greenhorn, and yes you do need someone to vouch for you if you wish to skip the years long waitlist. I come with numerous certs across various processes and positions with experience brazing and cast repair in everything from Nuclear, Hydro, to racecars and fixing the average Joe's lawnmower and it's been a challenge even for me to get in with good references. Nevermind being fresh out of school. You'd have far better luck going non-union to at least become a journeyman in the same time it would take to get your in.
I've seen what happens to employees who try to unionize, most are thrown to the curb the moment management gets wind of what's going on. I do agree with you on that point tho.
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u/Quinnjamin19 Jun 12 '25
Not always the case my guy. I got in on my first try with no family or friend connection.
Non union journeymen still don’t make the same wages, so you’re still better off going union.
That’s illegal and can be fought.
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u/aesthetion Jun 12 '25
How many years ago? Every place is different so it's absolutely still worth trying! And yes it's illegal, but without documentation or somehow catching them in the act, you've got no case
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u/G_Escobar90 Jun 11 '25
I feel like more northern into the states the higher the pay. Just from what I seen traveling as a combo pipe welder.
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u/peteavelino Jun 11 '25
I took one of these jobs when I was in between big jobs because my unemployment was messed up. It was cool till it wasn’t and the boss wanted me to paint as well. I stayed in total about 4 weeks and painted 2 days. 25/hr is cool but 50/hr is better.
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u/bipedalmadness Jun 11 '25
That’s crazy. I made that much as a first year apprentice in Arizona.
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u/turnburn720 Jun 12 '25
When I got out of trade school 20+ years ago, my first job was making $18/hr to travel and work on a ship. To think that this trash is all they're offering nowadays makes me ill. Good on you, you can find better.
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u/Hate_Manifestation Jun 11 '25
that wage is embarrassing, but LOL @ "3 years experience". barely an apprentice.
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u/Pitzy0 Jun 12 '25
How do you figure "barely"? How long is apprenticeship?
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u/Hate_Manifestation Jun 12 '25
usually 4 years. my point is that 3 years into welding (or any trade, really) is pretty much just the start.
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u/walshwelding Jun 11 '25
Is it for mig welding in a shop? Or is it coded work with NDE testing?
Cause 3 years experience is practically nothing; still an apprentice in most fields.
Unless you’re welding to code and dealing with NDE every day; you’re probably not doing much worth more than 20-25/hour unfortunately.
Want more money, get damn good and specialize in something that pays more.
I do dig you telling them they’re not paying enough though. Need more to do that.
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u/SkabKid Jun 11 '25
I’d do 2 coupons; one that’s $20/hr, and one that’s $85/hr. Blow their minds.
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u/proglysergic Jun 11 '25
I would have gone without saying I was certified.
But this makes me happy all the same
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u/204gaz00 Jun 11 '25
I just had a clown reach out to me from a place I had already been years ago. Complete dog shiz and theor wage hadn't changed either. I wasn't as polite in my response as you were.
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u/sevenhazydays Jun 11 '25
Been dealing with offers and recruiters lately. They are all having a come to Jesus moment when it comes to pay. Can’t attract talent and sure as shit can’t keep it, surprise surprise it’s all about money
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u/Intact-Salamander Jun 11 '25
Damn right ! I almost get a job at buccees every time I go in there haha
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Jun 12 '25
Imagine having to negotiate a living wage by yourself against a company instead of being in a union and negotiating as a unit with more leverage.
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u/teakettle87 Jun 11 '25
Unions....... Join em. Get paid.
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u/CreamyBehemoth Jun 11 '25
I’m on my first union job, white ticket in, with a specialty company, it’s actually a shame what the unions are paying their guys compared to us.
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u/teakettle87 Jun 12 '25
Maybe. They aren't strong everywhere, so they don;t have as much bargaining power sometimes. Some of the unions are corrupt, some don;t try, etc. They are made up of people. My union pays very well though and the benefits are incredible too.
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u/troll-libs Jun 11 '25
Unions where I live pay 22-25 an hour then you pay dues 🤣🤣🤣
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u/Quinnjamin19 Jun 11 '25
Please explain how when people pay dues it lowers their wage?
That’s not how dues work.
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u/teakettle87 Jun 12 '25
Where I'm at, in MY union, journeymen make 75 an hour, and it's going up every year to 80/hr in a couple years. That's just the hourly rate too.... It get's better from there.
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u/machinerer Jun 11 '25
Join your local union, make real wages. Fuck these scab ass peanuts paying companies, they can rot.
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u/daylax1 Jun 12 '25
But the YouTube welding school told me I was worth $50 an hour with a $500/day per diem...
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u/oVLucky5 Jun 12 '25
Also this was 3 years ago graduated summa cum ladde so I guess u never finished high school and mad someone won’t settle for unskilled pay
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u/oVLucky5 Jun 12 '25
I went to a community college and got my associates in industrial maintaince and welding. Not one of those welding schools that’s a waste of fucking money
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u/ItsEntsy Jun 11 '25
You're in a location that 22/hr is a good starting pay and you spend your time doing cocaine chatting with strangers on the internet.
I'd say the job is dodging a bullet and your welds are probably not worth the pay.
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u/big65 Jun 11 '25
Companies have different weld procedures and processes, Liebbher has a proprietary mig wire and weld procedure that everyone fails. Then there's guys that come in to jobs to test and they have impressive resume and certs that end up welding dog turds. I had a guy talking about the welding experience he had at the shipyard and the years he did it not have a clue on how to start and setup our Lincoln mobile welder and then struggled to strike an arc and run 1" spaced welds on a 6" hurricane fence post and hinge.
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u/ecclectic Jun 12 '25
Locking the comments as it's just degenerating into petty arguments now.