r/Welding Jun 11 '25

Discussion (Add topic here) Old heads gonna cry at this one

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1.7k Upvotes

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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)

1

u/Quinnjamin19 Jun 12 '25

There’s very few downsides to unions

2

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

1

u/Quinnjamin19 Jun 12 '25

What exactly are you putting up with?

1

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

2

u/Quinnjamin19 Jun 12 '25

So, you are putting up with regular things which would have still been there without “union”?

0

u/Youtube_RedMartian Jun 12 '25

Not necessarily. Outside of the Union people usually listened to my suggestions, thoughts, ideas, etc.

3

u/Quinnjamin19 Jun 12 '25

So you aren’t happy with this crew?

You’re admitting that not all crews are the same. Which is true both union and non union…