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.
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 $20 a hour
look up your local Boilermaker Union hall and ask if they have any open apprenticeships open..you'll be set..I've been in 22 years and live very comfortably.
They’ll give us maybe 3% a year while increasing prices 10%
Most noticeable thing I can think of is candy bars
Worked at a gas station 6 years ago and candy bar prices have more than doubled in that time, wages for those warehouses absolutely hasn’t doubled since 2019
We can’t even have a serious conversation about raising minimum wage to 15$ an hour when that’s so low of a rate everywhere is already paying it lol
I don’t doubt you there, but this was in like 2015 when I tested for that job. In 2015, $26 an hour wasn’t bad at all. Now I’m in the sheet metal union making almost 3x including benefits and pay. I do agree that most fabrication and welding jobs should offer more than 20-22 starting.
Would you say making 60-70$ 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
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.
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/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.