I'm not a welder, nor am I looking to get into welding. I was thinking today... that welders in AZ are probably in high demand, and probably get paid very well. I figured that since welders have to wear those leather coveralls, and work in the Arizona heat, that no one would be willing to do the job unless it was well compensated. My dad was a welder, before retirement... hence my curiosity.

FFS, it seems the going rate is like $12-$13/hour!

Why would anyone be willing to do that? My dad worked as a welder for his entire career... was able to provide for me, mom, and my two sisters *AND STILL* save up for a comfortable retirement. Heck, he even suffered a significant financial blow in the stock market during the dot-com bubble burst, that he was still able to recover from. He has a very comfortable retirement now... . And now I look... and even a welding job in AZ pays disturbingly close to minimum wage. Even the jobs that demand EXPERIENCED welders... aren't that much more. My dad worked his ass off, but he was able to earn a living wage. $12-$13 is a fucking joke for the kind of environment a welder in AZ has to tolerate.

Is it just me... or are wages in AZ, at the blue collar level... *VERY* low compared to the rest of the US? I suspect this has to do with our proximity to the border. I simply can't imagine *ANY* skilled AMERICAN welders (or even LEGAL IMMIGRANT welders) being willing to work for $12/hour in this kind of heat, at a job like that... when they can probably just go and get a job working in Security or even work at a Supermarket and make the same wage, and be in the air conditioning. Fuck, even Costco, I hear, pays $14/hr plus GOOD benefits. Why purposely make less money, for harder work, and worse conditions???

I am willing to supsect these workplaces hiring Welders at $12-$13/hour are probably 90% illegal.
That or they are felons on work-release programs? I can't imagine anyone without a criminal record couldn't get an easier and/or better paying job.

It is very depressing to see how many jobs that I used to think of as "good working class jobs"... are now paying barely any different from supermarket jobs.
I know Trump is doing his best to correct the problems that Politicians of both parties have stoked for years as far as immigration is concerned... but damn, I had no idea that the situation was this bad.

I don't want people coming in here and telling me what an entitled prick I am, because I'm concerned about stagnant wages. This isn't even a job I can qualify for, nor have any interest in entering. FFS, If I wanted to become a welder.. I'd be taking a paycut *AND* be working my ass off.  I'm talking out of concern for the health of our nation's working class as a whole.

It depends..

Not certified
Certified
What type of welding processes are you proficient in
Special Materials experience
Experience

For example im seeing certified pipe welder jobs with only 3 years experience for 55k+ on indeed.

Huh.

Still, I feel even entry level should be making *AT LEAST* $15/hour... given that there are comfier jobs, that pay anywhere from Minimum to $14/hr.

I currently work armed Security, and I'm vastly underpaid for my job (@$12/hr...)... and I say that because companies I've interviewed with and other people in the industry locally have said the same.. I'm just looking to increase my hourly rate by at least $2. Been applying at a bunch of other companies, and I'm getting a lot of replies from companies that start at the wage I'm looking for. Granted, working armed security requires you have a clean record and be able to own/carry gun.... but that isn't really .... a high bar to set.

The only reason I was putting up with being underpaid by so much, was merely because I felt the company made up for my low hourly rate,... with built in OT. But recently, they've cut my hours... so now it makes more sense to switch ships.

That being said, I will say that the job you referred to is a good wage. My dad had plenty of experience, was a Teamsters Union welder...
I know on ARFCom people love to hate on Unions, but I think they serve a valid purpose. I really think the RNC needs to rebrand itself and cozy up with unions. The DNC has long ago abandoned the "blue collar/blue dog democrat" demographic.... in favor of weird SJW, Intersectional blue haired feminists, actual socialists (as in actual, "seize the means of production!" types), illegal immigrant communities, welfare exploiters, and criminal groups.

Most trades pay jack shit unless you own the business, work a million hours of overtime, or get in a good union. Also a large majority of trade guys have no benefits as they are or work for other self employed guys. In the US the average welder makes under 39k per Google and that number is largely due to the union guys salaries boosting that number, lots of welders likely make under 30k.

The salaries of plumbers, sparky's, and HVAC guys are just like welders, unless you own the business, work a million hours of overtime, or get in a good union then it's doubtful you will do well.

I know a handful of certified welders and they all make at least double the wage you posted.

Pretty sure our guys at SRP that are welders are getting paid a lot more than that.

SRP pays well.. I know in the IT area when I worked there I was making 10-20% more than equivalent in most other places.

At ASU now and they pay less, but workload is less, and my wife worked there until recently so it just made more sense at the time.  Anyways to move up at SRP someone has to die or retire, or you have to quit, work somewhere else, then come back later LOL.

I don’t know any welders making less than $20/hr

Maybe with no certs.

Lots of people out there think they're gods gift to melting metal but in reality they suck.

I got a couple buddies in welding. I know one makes around 90-100k a year. Not sure about the others. Tough job that takes talent.

Where are you getting those numbers?  Being a "welder" means lots of things like being an "accountant".  It's unfortunately one of those descriptions/job types where nearly anyone can do it.  However it has massive separators for how you get paid.

I know guys making $100k per year being on large commercial structures like booming in south chandler.

I know guys at a 4x4 fab me a metal bar or fix my gate making $10-$15 an hour.

Legitimate professional welders (where you weld matters by law and may be inspected for multi million dollar contracts) make bank.

Out of curiosity, what makes you think youre vastly underpaid for your job? Give me a breakdown of what you do on your 8/10/12 hour day and how that justifies more in your eyes.

Cost of living in Arizona is cheap compared to surrounding states, hence rate of pay is lower.

As far as your statement on making AT LEAST $15 an hour, how would you justify that?

Stop thinking security, or even armed security, is anything more than a temp service with licensing requirements.

I myself worked in armed security for years, making what you are making until I convinced the client to go proprietary, then I started making decent money running the security in house for the former client.  

But seriously, while you may be a cut above the rest, 99% of licensed security deals are just in fact cheap labor to lower insurance rates.

Now I run all physical security for a world wide legal organization, still making not great money (we are non-profit) but it builds my resume with experience and allows my company to pay for all the required and wanted training I want.  (We are armed)

The going rate for Armed Guards in the valley is $14/hour. THAT is all I am saying I should be paid. Not saying my current employer *SHOULD* pay that. Just saying that if they don't... well they will soon loose me to other companies that have offered me that much. The only reason I haven't accepted other employment yet, is merely because I have applied at a bunch of companies, and am weighing the different offers before I make my final decision. Good chance I will be giving my two weeks notice anytime soon.

I am not saying I am worth $14/hour... I am saying other employers are telling me that $12/hr is too low for Armed Security and that the market rate is $14/hr. I think the job is very easy, for the pay. But they tell me the job is worth that much. Is it your position that I should tell them "No... these jobs are too easy. I won't accept anything more than $12/hour!"

I wasn't saying I deserve even $15/hr.... I was saying that is the bare minimum I see Welders should be paid. Possibly more. I say that as someone who has never welded... but I can only imagine how many orders of magnitude harder that kind of work is... in the Arizona heat. I am simply saying that if I can get job offers at $14/hour just to carry a gun... and walk an occasional patrol route... Welding should pay way more than that.

I think I know what organization you are talking about. I tried to apply there, but I think they were only hiring Part Time at the time... which sucks because it would be nice to work for an organization that does good work.

I applied at a local Behavioral Health facility as a BHT... but haven't heard back yet. I hear this particular facility pays like $16.50/hr which is great. It is also only about a mile from my house.

As for long term, I'm taking online courses on CBTNuggets for my CCNA.

For many decades most trades in border States have been kept low due to illegal labor,. In the last decade or so this has also effected interior States..

We pay our entry level factory workers $15/hr, with 2nd and 3rd shifts getting a shift differential of around a buck or so.

That's doing indoor work, not terribly hard, and the only real requirements are: a pulse, a HS diploma, being willing to pee in a cup.

Are there any openings?

I just found out my company is starting to cut my hours. I'm going to call them on Tuesday and find out if they are going to be getting me a more stable, and reliable schedule. I might apply for my company's own Armed mobile patrol position, but even that doesn't pay that great... so I am looking for better opportunities.

Totally willing to pee in a cup. I'll piss clean... albeit with a very high concentration of residual caffeine. My blood is probably 30% Caffeine by volume.

Because a lot of mom and pop shops either can't, or won't pay people decent wages.  Then they wonder why they have such high turn over and crappy employees.  I went through the same thing when i was working as a machinist.

I imagine it has a lot to do with places like Boeing and Honeywell screwing over all the little shops all the time with their pay 90 bullshit.

Heck, back in the late 70s and early 80s I was making $26 an hour welding as a Journeyman Ironworker.

That was in New Mexico and Texas, of course I did other jobs as assigned, from connecting to rebar.

Phoenix isn't really that cheap a cost of living, maybe compared to coastal California, but that is about it.

Trying to flip a house, its practically impossible to find anyone to work for less than $25 an hour, and that includes the maids.

If someone can nail two boards together, that is about $40 an hour from what I have seen.  Everyone is 30-60% more expensive than when I flipped a house 18 months ago.

But here is the truth, if I go through a retail outlet and hire someone, what ever I pay, the worker will get paid half that at most.

What's pay 90?

The larger company will have some smaller companies make the parts, then once they receive the invoice, they'll purposely wait 90 days to pay it. Keeping hold of their money longer and earning interest on it.

That's my guess anyway.

Yup.  They do it because they can, and a single contract can literally shut down a small shop because they have all their cash and credit tied up in a single project.

Doubled

I work with a shit ton of welders, pipe fitters, sheet metal, electricians.  Both union and non-union guys and they all make way more than $15/hr starting.  A good trained Mig/Tig welders pull in >$30/hr.  With most of the welding done on site by orbital computer trolled good hand welders get paid extra.

Yes, your run of the mill stick welders make shit.  But if the guy puts in even a half way decent work day I know plenty of trade foreman that will hire them and train them.  Making a living wage in the current job market here is all about the persons drive.  I have whole crews of guys that van pool from the west valley or Tucson to work on site.  And we cant keep a lot of them.  They keep getting hired away to other jobs.

Sorry but unless your in school and can only work shitty hours.  Finding a job the pays well enough is not hard.  Don't believe me, go read http://mikerowe.com/ or got to http://profoundlydisconnected.com/

I worked for 2 years total in the Arizona skilled labor field (HVAC, Plumbing, Pipefitting) for 3 different private companies. After my experience - Most guys didn't do better than about $25 an hour. I had a brother in law who started with a union as an elevator mechanic with not previous experience making $20 an hour to start. I think the best way to make a living doing trade work is to:

A: Leave Arizona

B: Work union

C: Both A and B and you'll do a lot better than anyone who stays here.

I have no explanation for it. I know guys who worked in Utah for $30 - $35 an hour doing the same stuff - non-union.

Being a blue collar worker and having only worked in CO and AZ I feel AZ sucks for said type of work. Both were right to work states but CO seemed to care more about quality and integrity. here it's more about who you know as in the crony game. I have worked with plenty of hacks and butchers but since there in with upper level management you can guarantee that they'll live high on the hog mopping up the gravy all day every day. where as the others get to fight over the scraps.

I've been to 3 different places over the years and same thing. Not to mention they seem to cater to the inept. You literally get punished for being intelligent and capable. got tired of it and took a pay cut and went to the .gov side of things. Got tired of riding the roller coaster.

My experience is the automotive field working on high end car lines at the dealership level if anyone cares. lol

I second this. Perhaps in a different way than maybe the author intended but I was always way to nice and way to quiet about standing up for myself. I would get stuck going out to help every other plumber late at night all the time when they were on call simply because I never put up a fight about working. I would stay out until 2AM when starting work at 6AM the previous day (working all the was from 6AM to 2AM the next day) whether I wanted or not, because I worked hard. Kept my mouth shut. And did clean work.

https://jobs.raytheon.com/job/tucson/welder/4679/8598852