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US avg. salary welder: $37,000 US avg salary software developer: $99,500
by rubidium 10y ago
US avg. salary welder: $37,000
US avg salary software developer: $99,500
- LyndsySimon 10y agoA simple mean doesn't fully illustrate what's going on there. Most welders are self-taught, and while their skills are more than adequate for what they're doing they likely don't have the skills necessary to (for instance) weld stainless steel or aluminum. A welder who graduated from Tulsa Welding School with a year or so of training is likely going to start out somewhere around $50k. I have a friend who went there and specialized in underwater welding, and now he works for BP in the Gulf somewhere. His job consists of mostly inspecting the work of his juniors, and he makes about three times what I make as a software engineer.
- loco5niner 10y ago> specialized in underwater welding... > ...and he makes about three times what I make as a software engineer. Hazard pay is coming into play here. For me, that's not worth it.
- coev 10y agoI was scuba diving at age 12, it's not as hazardous as you'd think with proper training.
- loco5niner 10y agoYep, I'm open water certified so I understand the hazards. People still die doing it all the time.
- LyndsySimon 10y agoAs I understand it, there is no shortage of divers. There is a shortage of divers with the specialized knowledge and abilities he possesses. It's more dangerous than sitting at a desk, but realistically it's not as dangerous as it sounds.
- jtnegrotto 10y agoI think my knowledge of welders might be biased. I'm from southern Louisiana, and most welders that I know work offshore making somewhere in the neighborhood of $50-60k without too much experience. Cost of living's low here, so that's a really comfortable salary. On top of that, oil companies do have good opportunities for advancement.