Alright, so it's about time I choose what I want to do after school, and gunsmithing has popped into my head. So any info, like salary, required schooling, how employable I would be, etc., would be great. I'd like a job I'd enjoy, and this seems like the best bet.

I am a gunsmith, full time.  I have worked various jobs over the past 10 years or so, while doing gunsmithing for the local shops at my shop here at the house.  I decided to take the plunge and finally do something I enjoy for my career.  I took about a 30% pay cut, but I'm home every night (used to travel) and get to see my kids.  I work at a class 3 dealer, so getting to work on and shoot machineguns is pretty cool.

I learned by working on my own, then buying every bit of gunsmithing related readindg material I could, then serving as an apprentice to a gunsmith.

The work can be very hard such as bluing, and VERY frustrating when a #@!* gun just won't work right, but I still enjoy it.

The pay is low. I won't even make $30,000 this year.

Good Luck!

Balming

you know what the difference between a pizza and a gunsmith is??






a pizza can feed a family of 4


just giving you a hard time, I hope that you find a job that you enjoy.

Balming said it...you like your job but the pay usually SUCKS.

There are gunsmiths out there that make a decent living, but they are the exception...and that is usually because they are EXCEPTIONALLY GOOD at a particular area/specialty.  If you could get a job as an armorer for the military or a law enforcement organization, then you would at least have a steady paycheck and benefits.

Funny thing is, gunsmiths are kind of like mechanics.  But mechanics typically make more money!

My suggestion...learn in your spare time for your own enjoyment.

If you can afford to go to school, The Colorado School of Trades has a good gunsmithing school:

[url]http://www.schooloftrades.com/gunsmithing/index.cfm[/url]