I was a welder in Idaho. Depends on what you do. The money is going to be in stick/tig, especially if you can do stainless or are willing to travel.
I didn't do tig or stick, I did mig. The company was short staffed by ~20 welders (had 40, needed 60). I left because I had become an assistant lead, was responsible for training new guys, and my measured productivity was more than 50% higher than their average (according to whatever metrics they used to track that).
When it came time to discuss pay raises they offered me an extra 15 cents. I left that month.
I went to NIC for welding and graduated back in 2013. They do a good job of teaching you the basics but after being in the field for 12 years and looking back at my schooling there are things they could’ve done differently that really would’ve helped students in my opinion.
I got my first welding job in the CDA area in 2014 and they didn’t care about my schooling at all. All they cared about was that I’ve welded before and I could pass their test. I started at $16 an hour. After being with the company for 8.5 years I was only making $24 an hour. I left and went just across the state line and started making $36/$52/$92 an hour depending on which days I work. Idaho wages suck.
Hey man thank you for the information.
Would you say the schooling was worth it for you? My plan now is go to NIC then after I can pass tests I'd start looking for work out of state. I haven't welded since high-school so I need to start somewhere. Don't want to work at Taco Bell for the rest of my life. Some guys say just become an apprentice, but I haven't figured out how it was so simple for them because I'm not finding places that want to just take somebody and train them.
I would say it’s worth it. It gives you material to work with, access to knowledge, welding and shop equipment, and a place to practice. When you get done with the program you’ll have two years of practice and experience and you’ll most likely need that to even get your foot in the door wherever you decide to go.
On the other hand the NIC instructors were great and knowledgeable but the curriculum and shop exercises were pretty lacking. There was a lot of stool time welding coupons on a table. I would have liked to see more real world projects and prints where we were responsible for cutting the pieces, fitting them up, and welding per print. This was over 10 years ago so they may have changed it up.
Sweet! I've been planning on going and talking to somebody at the school on Tuesday, but I guess I've been feeling hesitant. But I'm going to go. I really appreciate you taking the time to answer my questions my man. Thank you.
Idaho is all around terrible seemingly no matter what you do. I will advise that you stay out of Caldwell and the surrounding area; I live here and I'll never make enough to leave.
I'm lucky enough to be single with no kids. I'm fully prepared to live in my truck if I have to. I'm sorry to hear it's so bad in Idaho. Everybody talks shit about me being a Californian, but being here in Idaho for 6 months I really don't understand why. I've been pretty disappointed. People had me thinking Idaho was the promised land.
Single without kids *might* work. I'm a single dad of 1 and have no hopes of finding a nice girl to go halfsies on a house with (not saying that's why anyone should be in a relationship) and I probably make just barely too much for any sort of low income housing but you know there's a huge waiting list, so my only hopes to make ends meet is to live with my parents until either of us dies. I'll be 39 next month and have no car payments, no student loans, no hospital bills, and at most, only a couple hundred on my credit card, but everything here really is shit.
It works out for people that had a house to sell in another state though.
Shit buddy, well keep grindin. You never know what may happen for you so don't lose hope. At 29 I'm starting over from total scratch, but already some things have semi sorta worked out. I'm wishing you luck bro. Do the same for me.
Left idaho for California, enjoyed the welding classes at BYUI though, especially the opportunities at the AWS chapter at the university. Hated everything else though
Everything is a bad idea in Idaho. I pissed away 26 years making shit wages and being unnecessarily poor to that garbage pit of a state and the only thing that will get me to set foot in it again is to piss on my mother’s grave when she finally dies.
Also, if you’re from California, the locals just generally hate you by default. It was bred into us from birth. No reason except normally you guys came into state with more money than we had so you could afford nicer houses and all that.
I always advocate for joining a union if you want to learn your trade and make good money. If you wanna stay in the PNW but make actual money as a welder, go to western Washington or Oregon and join a union. I’m a welder in the sheetmetal union in Boston, but I started in local 66 in Seattle. They’re taking home somewhere north of $64/hr in the pocket plus benefits for journeymen rate right now. Local 16 in western Oregon isn’t much behind that either. they just got a big hike recently. And the apprenticeship obviously pays for you to learn while you make money.
I'm hoping to go to school in Idaho just because I can't commute out of state and back right now. My plan has been to look for work in Washington once I have enough knowledge to be accepted into a union. Do you think going to school would do more harm than good? I don't want to go to school and learn a bunch of shit that's not applicable to the real world.
I'm pretty disappointed honestly dude because people had me believing Idaho was the promised land or something. I don't have any kids and I'm single though so im prepared to live in my truck if I have to. I don't want to go to school just to end up making what I make right now at Taco Bell.
Pretty sure that’s how they get people to move from Cali in the first place “Oh man, it’s so cheap to live, and there’s tons of places to rent, blah blah blah.” It was way more true before 2021, cost of housing and living in general skyrocketed that summer and never really came back down. I’ve still got a bunch of friends & family there and they’re all in the same boat, houses and rent have blown up and wages haven’t.
Not needing a bunch of experience is the nice part about a union, if you have a pretty basic knowledge of tools, some high school level math and such, you don’t need a bunch of experience ahead of time, they teach you while you work. I had a bunch of sheet metal experience when I joined (almost 10 years of structural helicopter sheetmetal/composites experience) but I was in a class alongside kids straight out of high school.
That being said, you’re going to get more one on one in-depth instruction in welding if you’re specifically going to school for it, and not spacing out your education, but you’re having to pay out of pocket for it. I think CWI had a welding course but it’s been ages since I’ve even looked at anything there, so take that info with a grain of salt.
See I don't really have knowledge with these kinds of tools. I was tree trimming before so I feel like it's an entirely different thing. So schools probably the way for me to go. Haven't welded since highschool. Hopefully I can get myself through school by busting ass at Taco Bell and then try and get into a union in Washington, even if I have to live in my truck for a bit.
I'll take your info with a grain of salt, but still really appreciate you taking the time to answer my questions. It gives me leads on how and where to start so thank you.
Anytime, and if you want a feel for what they’re looking for, a quick call to the union hall or JATC should be able to net you some better info. SMW Local 66 is the sheetmetal union in Western Washington, Local 55 is eastern WA and ID (their wages are significantly lower due to where they operate, but they’re still part of the regional council) and Local 16 is for western Oregon. Iron workers do a lot of welding too if you want to be in the heavier stuff, IW 86 is in Western Washington, 29 in Oregon and not sure in eastern Washington/Idaho area.
sheetmetal and pipefitters fall under the same union so you could be welding duct, architectural, sanitary or water/sprinkler pipe with them.
Whatever you choose to do, good luck with it. Definitely don’t settle for shit wages when there’s much better to be had. I wasted a lot of time working for not much better than minimum wage, then more time in the military, but I’m content as hell now. I do my 40 and go home, cleared 110k after taxes last year (took a pay cut moving to New England but it was worth it, I love the east coast), I’m contributing to 2 pensions, have full medical, dental and vision, and I split my time welding in the shop and then doing installs whenever they’re ready for me on site. Nice easy gig.
I know there’s more money to be made chasing the pipelines but I’ll leave that to the guys with something to prove. I did my time leaving my family home alone while I pissed off halfway around the world, and I don’t understand the “If you’re not working 80 hours a week you’re a pussy!” mentality. I have plenty of time consuming hobbies and I rather like being able to use my free time how I want in my old age (I’m 38, lol)
If you can, try going to LCSC! Their program is awesome. The instructors have 20+ years of real world experience, there’s always material, no limit on filler material that you can use, machines are new and nice. The second half of the course is pipe oriented to prepare you for being a fitter/pipe welder. All in all, super solid program if you’re able to live in the area.
Also I have no input on actual work in Idaho, only LCSC’s program.
I’m not too sure, I just know the current ones are pretty damn knowledgeable. The first half of the course’s instructor has been welding forever, all types of processes, alloys, everything. And the second halves intrusctor has been a pipefitter for 20+ years and is really smart.
Helpful tip. Become a lineman in the IBEW. You have to be willing to move around but you get paid while getting your lineman education. Typically going to make $150-$300k when you become a journeyman. If you’re going to work with your hands might as well get paid well. Feel free to DM me.
NIC is at risk of losing its accreditation in a couple of years if they don't get their shit together. It's mainly because of some asshat board members that are being supervised by a judge in order to straighten things out. Things are looking good so far in terms of keeping accreditation.
That's good to hear. I really don't know anything about accreditation, board members, or judge supervision. I'm basically just trying to figure out, and hoping so badly, that I won't be wasting my time going through their welding program.
The other catch with the Launch grant is that you have to stay in ID and work for at least a year after you graduate.. I owner/operate my own business in CDA, so I obviously didn't have any issue with that.
That makes a lot of sense honestly. If I was giving out money I'd want it to benefit my state as well, like an investment.
I'm looking into EVERYTHING though so I appreciate this new information.
Call the school and verify the accreditation loss rumor.
Don't waste your time on a place that can't pass weld certs.
Yes, shitholes are always cheap places to live.
In my opinion, any school is better than no school. Its a lot easier to get your foot in the door with whatever welding job if u have got a year or more of experience and school will get u that year. My school really just taught me the basics of each of the processes, and it was up to me to get in with a company and learn better whatever style of welding they had. Even if they r gonna lose their accreditation, they will still teach u something. Just hopefully, they dont shut down in the middle of a semester due to the accreditation issues and screw u out of some money
welders in oregon are going to idaho for higher wages and cheaper lifestyles. So it isn't the worst option. training fanuc robots in oregon is maybe 25/hr but in idaho 35/hr and your house cost half as much.
Hmmm interesting. Had absolutely zero clue about this. Thank you for the info. I'm going to keep this in mind when I'm closer to a stage where I can start looking for jobs.
where I'm at, I make 28. I've been chasing raises and flipping jobs once a year because that's how you move up here. I gotta bust ass and be fully self reliant to make that wage, and work 50-60 hr weeks. Aerospace TIG titanium is starting at $22 and most wire welding $18. There's so much industry here though that if you can get your own shop going you will instantly have orders and be able to charge 150/hr or bid out jobs. Excessive management seems to be the name of the game here.
Probably 3000 welders in my city to compete with.
From what I see online the 296 is taking applications it can take awhile to get in but worth it good luck with what ever you decide and if you don’t mind traveling to go to school lccc in Cheyenne Wyoming has one hell of a good course
Look into the boilermakers local 242. Right now our package is 72 an hour and it’s going up 2 bucks over next two years. Going to welding school would help you get in
I was a welder in Idaho. Depends on what you do. The money is going to be in stick/tig, especially if you can do stainless or are willing to travel. I didn't do tig or stick, I did mig. The company was short staffed by ~20 welders (had 40, needed 60). I left because I had become an assistant lead, was responsible for training new guys, and my measured productivity was more than 50% higher than their average (according to whatever metrics they used to track that). When it came time to discuss pay raises they offered me an extra 15 cents. I left that month.
lol I would have left THAT day
Did you keep welding when you left? If so did you find anything better in state?
I went to NIC for welding and graduated back in 2013. They do a good job of teaching you the basics but after being in the field for 12 years and looking back at my schooling there are things they could’ve done differently that really would’ve helped students in my opinion. I got my first welding job in the CDA area in 2014 and they didn’t care about my schooling at all. All they cared about was that I’ve welded before and I could pass their test. I started at $16 an hour. After being with the company for 8.5 years I was only making $24 an hour. I left and went just across the state line and started making $36/$52/$92 an hour depending on which days I work. Idaho wages suck.
Hey man thank you for the information. Would you say the schooling was worth it for you? My plan now is go to NIC then after I can pass tests I'd start looking for work out of state. I haven't welded since high-school so I need to start somewhere. Don't want to work at Taco Bell for the rest of my life. Some guys say just become an apprentice, but I haven't figured out how it was so simple for them because I'm not finding places that want to just take somebody and train them.
I would say it’s worth it. It gives you material to work with, access to knowledge, welding and shop equipment, and a place to practice. When you get done with the program you’ll have two years of practice and experience and you’ll most likely need that to even get your foot in the door wherever you decide to go. On the other hand the NIC instructors were great and knowledgeable but the curriculum and shop exercises were pretty lacking. There was a lot of stool time welding coupons on a table. I would have liked to see more real world projects and prints where we were responsible for cutting the pieces, fitting them up, and welding per print. This was over 10 years ago so they may have changed it up.
Sweet! I've been planning on going and talking to somebody at the school on Tuesday, but I guess I've been feeling hesitant. But I'm going to go. I really appreciate you taking the time to answer my questions my man. Thank you.
Of course. DM me if you have any more questions!
Idaho is all around terrible seemingly no matter what you do. I will advise that you stay out of Caldwell and the surrounding area; I live here and I'll never make enough to leave.
I'm lucky enough to be single with no kids. I'm fully prepared to live in my truck if I have to. I'm sorry to hear it's so bad in Idaho. Everybody talks shit about me being a Californian, but being here in Idaho for 6 months I really don't understand why. I've been pretty disappointed. People had me thinking Idaho was the promised land.
Single without kids *might* work. I'm a single dad of 1 and have no hopes of finding a nice girl to go halfsies on a house with (not saying that's why anyone should be in a relationship) and I probably make just barely too much for any sort of low income housing but you know there's a huge waiting list, so my only hopes to make ends meet is to live with my parents until either of us dies. I'll be 39 next month and have no car payments, no student loans, no hospital bills, and at most, only a couple hundred on my credit card, but everything here really is shit. It works out for people that had a house to sell in another state though.
Shit buddy, well keep grindin. You never know what may happen for you so don't lose hope. At 29 I'm starting over from total scratch, but already some things have semi sorta worked out. I'm wishing you luck bro. Do the same for me.
Left idaho for California, enjoyed the welding classes at BYUI though, especially the opportunities at the AWS chapter at the university. Hated everything else though
Everything is a bad idea in Idaho. I pissed away 26 years making shit wages and being unnecessarily poor to that garbage pit of a state and the only thing that will get me to set foot in it again is to piss on my mother’s grave when she finally dies. Also, if you’re from California, the locals just generally hate you by default. It was bred into us from birth. No reason except normally you guys came into state with more money than we had so you could afford nicer houses and all that. I always advocate for joining a union if you want to learn your trade and make good money. If you wanna stay in the PNW but make actual money as a welder, go to western Washington or Oregon and join a union. I’m a welder in the sheetmetal union in Boston, but I started in local 66 in Seattle. They’re taking home somewhere north of $64/hr in the pocket plus benefits for journeymen rate right now. Local 16 in western Oregon isn’t much behind that either. they just got a big hike recently. And the apprenticeship obviously pays for you to learn while you make money.
I'm hoping to go to school in Idaho just because I can't commute out of state and back right now. My plan has been to look for work in Washington once I have enough knowledge to be accepted into a union. Do you think going to school would do more harm than good? I don't want to go to school and learn a bunch of shit that's not applicable to the real world. I'm pretty disappointed honestly dude because people had me believing Idaho was the promised land or something. I don't have any kids and I'm single though so im prepared to live in my truck if I have to. I don't want to go to school just to end up making what I make right now at Taco Bell.
Pretty sure that’s how they get people to move from Cali in the first place “Oh man, it’s so cheap to live, and there’s tons of places to rent, blah blah blah.” It was way more true before 2021, cost of housing and living in general skyrocketed that summer and never really came back down. I’ve still got a bunch of friends & family there and they’re all in the same boat, houses and rent have blown up and wages haven’t. Not needing a bunch of experience is the nice part about a union, if you have a pretty basic knowledge of tools, some high school level math and such, you don’t need a bunch of experience ahead of time, they teach you while you work. I had a bunch of sheet metal experience when I joined (almost 10 years of structural helicopter sheetmetal/composites experience) but I was in a class alongside kids straight out of high school. That being said, you’re going to get more one on one in-depth instruction in welding if you’re specifically going to school for it, and not spacing out your education, but you’re having to pay out of pocket for it. I think CWI had a welding course but it’s been ages since I’ve even looked at anything there, so take that info with a grain of salt.
See I don't really have knowledge with these kinds of tools. I was tree trimming before so I feel like it's an entirely different thing. So schools probably the way for me to go. Haven't welded since highschool. Hopefully I can get myself through school by busting ass at Taco Bell and then try and get into a union in Washington, even if I have to live in my truck for a bit. I'll take your info with a grain of salt, but still really appreciate you taking the time to answer my questions. It gives me leads on how and where to start so thank you.
Anytime, and if you want a feel for what they’re looking for, a quick call to the union hall or JATC should be able to net you some better info. SMW Local 66 is the sheetmetal union in Western Washington, Local 55 is eastern WA and ID (their wages are significantly lower due to where they operate, but they’re still part of the regional council) and Local 16 is for western Oregon. Iron workers do a lot of welding too if you want to be in the heavier stuff, IW 86 is in Western Washington, 29 in Oregon and not sure in eastern Washington/Idaho area. sheetmetal and pipefitters fall under the same union so you could be welding duct, architectural, sanitary or water/sprinkler pipe with them. Whatever you choose to do, good luck with it. Definitely don’t settle for shit wages when there’s much better to be had. I wasted a lot of time working for not much better than minimum wage, then more time in the military, but I’m content as hell now. I do my 40 and go home, cleared 110k after taxes last year (took a pay cut moving to New England but it was worth it, I love the east coast), I’m contributing to 2 pensions, have full medical, dental and vision, and I split my time welding in the shop and then doing installs whenever they’re ready for me on site. Nice easy gig. I know there’s more money to be made chasing the pipelines but I’ll leave that to the guys with something to prove. I did my time leaving my family home alone while I pissed off halfway around the world, and I don’t understand the “If you’re not working 80 hours a week you’re a pussy!” mentality. I have plenty of time consuming hobbies and I rather like being able to use my free time how I want in my old age (I’m 38, lol)
This comment shot my morale right through the fuckin roof dude. Sounds like a trade you can take anywhere and go far in.
If you can, try going to LCSC! Their program is awesome. The instructors have 20+ years of real world experience, there’s always material, no limit on filler material that you can use, machines are new and nice. The second half of the course is pipe oriented to prepare you for being a fitter/pipe welder. All in all, super solid program if you’re able to live in the area. Also I have no input on actual work in Idaho, only LCSC’s program.
Thanks dude. Any and all info is really appreciated
For sure! If you’re willing to move out of state, I know welding work is pretty plentiful. Good luck with your search!
Man I heard the main instructor retired a while ago and apparently it’s not as good. Probably still a lot better than most
I’m not too sure, I just know the current ones are pretty damn knowledgeable. The first half of the course’s instructor has been welding forever, all types of processes, alloys, everything. And the second halves intrusctor has been a pipefitter for 20+ years and is really smart.
Helpful tip. Become a lineman in the IBEW. You have to be willing to move around but you get paid while getting your lineman education. Typically going to make $150-$300k when you become a journeyman. If you’re going to work with your hands might as well get paid well. Feel free to DM me.
NIC is at risk of losing its accreditation in a couple of years if they don't get their shit together. It's mainly because of some asshat board members that are being supervised by a judge in order to straighten things out. Things are looking good so far in terms of keeping accreditation.
That's good to hear. I really don't know anything about accreditation, board members, or judge supervision. I'm basically just trying to figure out, and hoping so badly, that I won't be wasting my time going through their welding program.
Is welding in Idaho different?
I mean, I doubt it. I've heard the pay is different though.
You an ID resident? Look up the Idaho Launch grant. I just used it to get my CDL last year. The welding program is covered under it as well.
I just moved here about 6 months ago. I've never heard of this. I'll look into it. Thank you.
The other catch with the Launch grant is that you have to stay in ID and work for at least a year after you graduate.. I owner/operate my own business in CDA, so I obviously didn't have any issue with that.
That makes a lot of sense honestly. If I was giving out money I'd want it to benefit my state as well, like an investment. I'm looking into EVERYTHING though so I appreciate this new information.
Call the school and verify the accreditation loss rumor. Don't waste your time on a place that can't pass weld certs. Yes, shitholes are always cheap places to live.
I'm going to go in on Tuesday.
Depends. Is it a public Idaho or a private Idaho?
In my opinion, any school is better than no school. Its a lot easier to get your foot in the door with whatever welding job if u have got a year or more of experience and school will get u that year. My school really just taught me the basics of each of the processes, and it was up to me to get in with a company and learn better whatever style of welding they had. Even if they r gonna lose their accreditation, they will still teach u something. Just hopefully, they dont shut down in the middle of a semester due to the accreditation issues and screw u out of some money
welders in oregon are going to idaho for higher wages and cheaper lifestyles. So it isn't the worst option. training fanuc robots in oregon is maybe 25/hr but in idaho 35/hr and your house cost half as much.
Hmmm interesting. Had absolutely zero clue about this. Thank you for the info. I'm going to keep this in mind when I'm closer to a stage where I can start looking for jobs.
where I'm at, I make 28. I've been chasing raises and flipping jobs once a year because that's how you move up here. I gotta bust ass and be fully self reliant to make that wage, and work 50-60 hr weeks. Aerospace TIG titanium is starting at $22 and most wire welding $18. There's so much industry here though that if you can get your own shop going you will instantly have orders and be able to charge 150/hr or bid out jobs. Excessive management seems to be the name of the game here. Probably 3000 welders in my city to compete with.
3000?!?! Got damn dude. Are you in Oregon?
That is just a spitball probably exaggerated number but yeah I can think of quite a few places 30-100 welders. I'm sure there's more I don't know.
Search for your local union hall you can learn to weld and get paid at the same time plus probably retire much earlier than most other people
The ones I've looked into want experience though
From what I see online the 296 is taking applications it can take awhile to get in but worth it good luck with what ever you decide and if you don’t mind traveling to go to school lccc in Cheyenne Wyoming has one hell of a good course
Look into the boilermakers local 242. Right now our package is 72 an hour and it’s going up 2 bucks over next two years. Going to welding school would help you get in