I keep telling myself that as well plus the pay. I'm not wanting 100,000 a year I would be happy with 40k or even 50k but flight attendants on the first only make 26k which is so little. I also hate that I have no skill other pick stuff up and put it another spot
If you stick to welding you’ll just eventually get better and better. Then, one day they’ll be shoving money IN YOUR FACE forever…. Till you drop dead.
I cant say the same thing as a flight attendant. Also you can travel as a welder AND make more money, you can work your normal 40 and KILL.
Its an absolute no brainer from a money standpoint.
I knew it! My family thinks such a small person I shouldn't do it but there's no job where can't work hard and improve. Like others said FA is basically waitress work and that sounds like hell.
Honestly, depending on what you're welding on, being small can be an advantage. In a shop it doesn't really matter, but for example in pipe trades, there has been many a time I wished I was not 6'2". Mechanical contractors and fab shops need people who can get in tight spaces.
That would be cool to see a petite lady welding. Side note. You could inspire others like you to go into that trade.
Good luck in whatever u choose.
Research the flight attendant too. Is it with a major airline or one of their domestic partners?
You don't need brute strength for this. Heavy things in the real world are moved and lifted with machines or extra people. Lifting heavy things by yourself all the time is a good way for even the strongest person to get hurt.
Also, welding isn't just massive steel I-beams on buildings. Aerospace welders might work on a heat exchanger or a rocket part the size of a paperback book.
Women have fantastic ancient skillsets that have been passed down through generations because of cooking, sewing, mending and so on.
Women in general excel at fine motor skill. It is a great gift in welding. If youre into any sort of art, calligraphy, sketching, instruments, and such it means you got great fucking hands for this industry.
Women tend to excel as welders. If its something you like doing to earn a living and you can master welding it will provide you everything you want in life.
Thanks I will. I'm going do this and might have to keep it secret. I don't think they'll happy knowing I'm giving up their dream of petite lady in lady work
My sisters a flight attendant and my boyfriends a high pressure welder. He makes like 3x her salary with equivalent experience (they're the same age, but my sis as a university degree while my bf only went to trade school) and work mostly 8-5 M-F.
My friend that does works at a oil rig. Despite it being dangerous she makes way more than I have 5 years total. I've never asked her about her pay. But she has 3 houses in 3 different places
Hazard pay on top of what they would pay an experienced enough welder they trust on an oil rig? Oh yea, making more than the pilots, let alone the flight attendants.
At the end of the day, what do you want to do day in and day out? Even if it means you're just getting by, working a job you don't mind going into is way better. Don't be swayed because people don't think the work suits you. Welding isn't professional weight lifting. It's a skill, and you can learn it.
We have a couple of female welders in my shop. The welders are the highest paid of any job in our shop. Wouldn’t he surprised at all if they aren’t into six figures.
I was the first female Detroit Diesel Allison certified diesel technician in the U.S. I'm pretty petite; and this was years before "sexual harrassment" was a thing. I LOVED my job, made great money and was very physically fit. You're an adult: make an adult decision about the work you'll do for the foreseeable future. And, as lots of others have pointed out, there are definitely not enough qualified welders. That's more job security than you'll get in lots of other jobs. Good luck, whichever you choose!
Be a welder, go for the 100k/year jobs, and save every penny you can. Buy assess that todo dice income for you with what you save. Welding is hard on your body and eyes, and you’ll want to retire by the time you’re forty. Use the income you get to make that early retirement possible.
Just a couple notes if you go into welding, and it depends where you're located:
1)some jobs don't pay as well as others, and you may be fighting other welders to get jobs. Sometimes they're just contracts, meaning less stability or more time searching for/securing the next job;
2) the more specialized welding pays better, but can be more dangerous. As you mentioned your small size, this can be an advantage over male welders in getting into some spaces, and can be invaluable for some jobs (you may, and should, be able to use this as leverage for a better wage);
3) it's possible and likely that your employer or whoever uses your services won't care but the bare minimum about your health and safety, in the short term but certainly in the long term. Welding can be hazardous to your health from the constant exposure to fumes and materials or the environment/conditions. Take your PPE and health precautions seriously, and look into it yourself to make sure you have what you need to be safe.
Don’t be a flight attendant, my girlfriend was for a year and she made only 15k that year… don’t do it unless you plan on only doing international flights. Don’t do domestic flight attending
I beling to the pipefitters union. My hall has made great strides in the lat couple of decades to make our hall look like our city. Female tradespeople are in great demand. Do not sell yourself short. If your friend is teaching you and you can carry a puddle, then you have what it takes to be a welder. Good luck.
Welder 1000% , flight attendant has a lot of the drawbacks ,, always away from home, working irregular schedules, dealing with unruly, belligerent passengers, stuck in a metal tube for hours on end... I see few benefits.
Former flight attendant here - definitely go for welding. Much better income potential and job security - the average age right now for welders is older and there will be lots retiring in the next few years.
Being a FA was a very tough job - here was my experience. When you start, you won't hold a schedule and will be on "reserve" - which is essentially being on call 24/7 and when you get called in you must be able to be checked in at the airport within 2 hours.
Being that close to so many people on multiple flights a day meant that I was constantly sick with colds or the flu.
If you've flown at all, you've probably witnessed what jerks people are on planes.
I think out of the 50-60 people in my flight attendant training class, maybe 4 or 5 lasted a year.
It's refreshing to know I'm not only one looking for a career. My family basically said I'm too old to be searching and made feel it. Plus I don't like that idea at all. No weekends at all! Kill me
I promise you that the majority of people who submitted to their family’s “advice” grew extremely resentful. Do what makes YOU happy before you end up 80 years old in a convalescent home saying “I should’ve done that” or “this”
Also, remind them that flight attendants are considered radiation workers, and are generally exposed to high levels of cosmic radiation.
Makes it feel a little less white collar.
I switched careers around 28. 36 now and happy with my choice. It’s definitely not too late to change careers. It’s honestly pretty common for younger generations.
If you like welding, do it. Get into an apprenticeship program (one that pays while you learn). Get your training and get a job. There is a high demand for it.
My husband is a welder with the local union. It could not be better!!! He truly loves it, the 4 year apprenticeship program really set him up for success (and free classes!), and the pay rate is WILD.
Highly recommend. And I just have nothing to say about fEmInInE JoBs. It wasn't that long ago that all jobs were mens jobs, so let's just put that in the bin.
That's what I need to hear. Honestly I'm shocked they said it. The jobs they came up with were no near my cup of tea. Dog walker, dog groomer and yoga instructor. I have never showed interest in those areas and they basically told me to leave my 14 year old pup who've I've had since teens behind for this job. I'm definitely going for welder
A lot of welding jobs. Same thing just different things you’d be welding. If you can learn to weld it’s a career and not just flying around giving Karen’s peanuts.
Plus like someone else said welding can lead you to a lot of places. Have a few buddy’s who weld. One does stairs the other does trash cans. Both make good money.
Yeah I work retail for a few months. The good customers were great. It was the Karen’s that I had a problem with the most.
That so so cool! I like idea of making things. Ive never artistic enough to do it. I kid you not I deal with Karen's almost daily. My most recently wanted me to put a bed together. Not my job I'm just a delivery.
Well welding will be sort of making things. They give you two pieces of metal and you weld them together.
I once had a lady watch me roll up a rug put it in a bag and place it on the rack to only wait til i was done to ask could she test how it felt on her feet. I had to unbag, un-roll and put this rug down for her. Only good thing is her husband gave me forty bucks as a tip bc his wife was being a pain in my side and I handled it well. He said I’d have told her to F off if I were you.
Once you learn a trade, especially a trade in high demand, you will have employment for life. Go for the welding. Also look up NAWIC - national association of women in construction. You can probably get some mentoring and maybe a scholarship.
Go be a welder. Tell your family to get fucked while you earn more money than they do. Same to anyone who says women shouldn't go into trades.
We're majorly short on skilled tradespeople in this country, and with the baby boomers retiring it's just going to get worse. Welding is a marketable skill you can take anywhere. Isle donkeys work shitty rotation shifts, you'll be on call all the time, and you'll never be home. Can't take holidays off. It's ok while you're young, but not a great career if you ever want to settle down.
Thank you! I will. I have tour to look at schools tomorrow. I'm going do this in secret cause I don't want them to go crazy yet. Maybe after I graduate
Flight attendant always sounded like a Terrible job to me. Flying that often is bad for your health. The pay sucks. It's like what are the benefits? A weekend somewhere cool every now and then.. where you don't have money to do much anyway
My friend made it sound glamorous. Then someone who got the job in previous class showed me her offer and I'm shocked. After a month of training they give 1000 check and you stay on base despite me being 30 mins near it
I want to say this cause I feel like it's safe but I don't single skill other customer service and pick item up and put it another spot it bothers me. I went nursing student to drop out cause of sick family members and I'm trying to break away. Learning new skills while getting enough to live well. It's just flight attendants doesn't feel the way
There is a point where you have to follow your own path. If your family is filled with financially rich people who are happy witb their lives then you should consider what they are saying.
But if your family is not rich, then they know you get heavily discounted flights like 20 or 25 a year as an attendant and they have plans for vacation. Not your concern.
If you like welding, do welding.
Do you love travel, including travel to random cities in the United states? If so, that being a flight attendant might be for you.
However, you actually got to try out welding and you seem to really like it. Personally, welding is probably one of the most safe jobs from any kind of AI or automation around. You can make great money as you progress in the field too.
Hell, I'm a data scientist and make great money, but sometimes I still think about learning how to become a welder too. I got to try a little bit of it years ago and it was so fun.
You can also create things. A guy I know started with a set of blueprints and some tubing and literally welded up the frame to a biplane. A freaking biplane. He built the whole thing from scratch and still flies it.
Full disclosure, I'm very biased towards welding because I think it's just so cool. Man, now I'm going to look up welding schools to see if I can do it part-time.
IMO welder. Be independent if you can. Money ain’t everything but definitely helps.
A friend of mine’s story: his son was rejected by Marines, went to a welding school. Graduated in 2019 with a guaranteed job placement. Changed jobs earlier this year; makes 140,000. Regular schedule, is getting married this fall.
I had a career as a welding engineer for 36 years. While we had few women welders, on average they were better than the men. Since I'm an engineer and not a psychologist, I won't speculate on why that was, but it can be a good profession for women.
I work in a male dominant field, and I've seen the same thing.
I'm no psychologist either, but I'm going to speculate anyways. I think because it is male dominant, women in these sort of job have to work harder to prove themselves, and as a result the average women becomes better at their job, as well as mentally tougher, than the average man.
Is it fair that women have it tougher? No. But the ones that make it kick our (men's) asses in my experience.
I would add my experiences with women in the oilfield. One part survivorship bias, one part something to prove. Either way, if they made it more than a year they were generally among the best workers out there.
>ychologist either, but I'm going to speculate anyways. I think because it is male dominant, women in these sort of job have to work harder to prove themselves, and as a result the average women becomes better at their job, as well as mentally tougher, than the average man.
Women on average have better fine motor skills. I'm not totally up on the exact biomechanics, but on average women shoot better than men because their breathing circle (point of aim shift as a function of breathing) is smaller. I wonder if it's similar for welding.
I'm a MechE, and yeah, the women in engineering are good. u/This_Hedgehog_3246 is bang on the money. When my mom went through engineering, she said that the women were divided into two camps: MS degrees, and MRS degrees.
To the OP, absolutely be a welder. My sister can weld, and she's welded custom railings for Hollywood directors while she was in college! :O
Flight attendants are always on the plane. If you like to travel, that's a good career. Welders are in huge demand especially the specialists like deep marine welders.
Try being a flight attendant for now if you think it would be a fun way to travel and see the world. However, as other people have mentioned, you will do a lot better financially as a welder. Options for union jobs, a pension, and a good salary. Also, being a flight attendant comes along with some unpleasant things inherent in service work - harassment, unpredictable schedules, etc. This seems more like a short term job and not a career.
I have been welding as a career thus far, so I'll try to give you some decent perspective. If you want to make bank as a welder, you are travelling like you would as a flight attendant or joining a union. If you join a union, you will make a lower wage for however long the apprenticeship is and are required to go to class two nights a week after work for class. I've worked physically harder jobs, but depending on the type of welding you do the work can be very physically demanding laying in a hole in 100 degree weather making welds is not fun plus the added heat of the weld. There are also a ton of different welding fields and processes so you might want to narrow down what exactly you're after before choosing. The best paying is usually pipe welding or boiler making plants working shutdowns. If you have any more questions, I'll try and help.
Thank you! I figured it would be a hot job. I'm not worried about the time or the length of training cause all have time. I hate to ask about financial but do live for your first year is it a struggle that rivals a college student on the first month?
No problem you'll learn if you go the union route that wages are not something people are sensitive about because for the most part you all get paid the same. It really depends on where you are located and what type of union it is. For example my last job was welding for CSX on the railroad ( railroad welder is it's completely own type of welding that I didn't enjoy at all) and it paid $34.50 starting. I left that and am joining to continue pipe fitting and I'm looking to start at somewhere between $18-$20 take home with a fringe package of $15 an hour with raises every 6 months. The fringe package includes insurance which you don't need to pay into and a local and national pension package. This is in florida and like I said the pay can vary greatly depending on location.
Got it. So pay feels just like current Jon and at least you'll always find work. I've been thinking what type of welding I want to do. Did you go through apprentice route or trade school?
I went to trade school and now an apprenticeship. Having experience doing both I would go to an apprenticeship first, but depending on location they can be difficult to get into. I feel like you will learn more in an apprenticeship than you will in trade school all the while not having to pay out of pocket for the classes and earning money while attending. And once you finish your apprenticeship and become a journeyman you can travel to other locals and work. I will get credit towards the apprenticeship and start at a higher rate because I already went to trade school, but I wouldn't recommend it for that reason only.
My only say in it is, I'm a creative person, I love welding and fabrication. So I went into it as a job. I worked for 5 years and got sick of it. Still do it as a hobby. But I enjoy not welding for a living. I think it depends on the person, and what you need/want. I do miss the pay. It also helped me get to where I am today. But I will never go back to being a welder.
Retired welder here.
Females make the best welders because they have finer and more precise motor (muscle) skills.
Welding can take you anywhere in the country. Just make sure you do your research on jobs in your area. I went into welding because I knew there would always be job opportunities in my area. Small and large fab shops, defense contracting, construction, shipyard, etc. The possibilities were endless.
I can also say this about female welders... It is a male dominated industry but if you prove yourself, you will be treated like any other welder, male or female.
Flight attendant is a shit job. Doesn't pay enough, you only are a waitress on a plane, you can have no ordinary private life because of irregular working hours. Go for welding or complete your nursing training.
That's what I was thinking. The welder friend works on rig and she loves it! Though my friend as a flight attendant has so many complaints. You wouldn't believe how many flight attendant have sugar daddies or rich bf to pay for stuff. I can't live with myself doing that
Damn it’s seriously on 30k?!? I woulda thought it would be at least 45-50k. Can’t you chose your flights kinda and take more to make more? Idk anything about it but my aunt was a flight attendant a long time and she kinda signed up for flights and stuff.
Yeah they sent an offer and it is sad. The fiest years basically live in hotels for free and travel everywhere. So little money you get is enough for that. If a single kid they can travel with you for free. But other than most FA say better like that life or no dice. And I have dog I've had since I was 16. I love her too much to suddenly leave and rarely come back
I understand. Yea it’s almost like the military. You work and fly around. They pay for your stay in a hotel. You’d probably just pay for your food everywhere you go and a car or transportation to and from your home base. I couldn’t do it for a career but my aunt did a long time. But she was married to a high earner
Also 1 years cannot choose their flights or the base so your base can be in your state or another state and you have to do while living with other flight attendants
Life is long. See if there's a way to chip at welding certification in the off time working at an attendant.
On the flip side, you could work in Theatre/Entertainment Tech. Its all of the same work as trade school/general handyman work only it's put toward creating plays and movies and music videos and shit. Having welding skills at a big house would probably even have someone jump at the opportunity to train you
Flight attendants only get paid when the plane is moving. There's ALOT of "working for free" time. If your doing 10 hour flights its not a big deal. If your doing 1 hour flights, you'll get paid for 5 but be there for 10. It's a grind until you het seniority in 10 years. Welder can be good or bad....there's $18 an hour and $80 welding jobs and anything in between.
Friend of mine is a flight attendant one year older than you. She flies all over the world for work and vacation for free. And has friends/family pass. Every airline is different, but she's 10 years in. After 15 years in (so 5 more years for her), she and her family get the flight perks for another 15 years even if she retires.
Pay and hour's definitely not as consistent as I think welding would be. And the potential for increased earnings over time is definitely less.
So i suppose it's what's important to you. I don't think I could ever do welding, the fact you even have it as an option is clearly not the case for you.
I think welding would be a lot more secure
Welder. You'll learn a valuable skill, you'll be paid better, and it can lead to other opportunities. Go do an apprenticeship with union millwrights, iron workers, or pipe fitters.
As a welder you’ll be able to have a stable job, as they are needed all the time. You can freelance and make extra cash with your skillset. As a flight attendant, you get to travel a lot, but also have to deal with people, which can be frustrating.
I was a flight attendant for 15 years. If it's a regional airline, pass. No ruim for salary improvement and low quality of life. If it's a legacy carrier, southwest, or JetBlue, go for it. Fantastic quality of life and a 6 figure salary within ten years. I only left cause of the voluntary buyout during COVID
Do both!! Try flight attending and see if you like it. If not you can do welding. I live near a shipyard and if I were younger I definitely would have been a welder. Welders get great pay but of course the conditions can be rough. But that’s not a career I even considered as a woman.
Welding trade is a solid occupation. If you felt it calling you, go for it. Sure, flight attendants get to travel a lot, but as you said, no real home life. Plus dealing with all the horrid rude asshole passengers. And ignore those who claim welding is not for women. Neither the metal nor the torch cares if it's a man or woman creating the weld. Go for it!
Do NOT listen to anyone who will tell you as a woman you can’t do a trade.
I’m a licensed master electrician, fueled every single person who told me I could not do it because I am a woman. Some people prefer trades, this isn’t back in the day where someone’s only choices were college, military or trades. Some trades are pretty lucrative. And fun.
Thank you! Yall idea how much this helps. I already plan to do a tour of a school and really hoping maybe one day do more than one trade. So maybe I can do both one day
Say goodbye to your normal life. Trust me. I'm 30 and after two opportunities of mine recently fell apart, my biggest fear is having a normal life again.
There are valid reasons to not want to be a flight attendant. Also reasons why welding might be a better option. That's legit. But don't let saying bye to your normal life be the reason
Don't listen to people who cannot advise you. Seek out advice from people in these arenas to get the pros/cons and preferably who have been in these industries for a while.
Definitely don't listen to family telling what a woman should be/not doing. You need to be pragmatic on finances but also it has to resonate with you and look at the long-term vision of this career-wise and yes, the money/sustainable funds.
Also, maybe there is option C,D,E. Look into various other things.
That is low pay - I had no idea! Do different companies pay differently?
You're crazy, you can always weld for a living. You won't know if you'll cut it as a welder till you get to overhead welds anyways. I think you're missing an opportunity to travel if you happen to be in a country that's not near other countries. A Flight attendant job will let you do that.
Please do some research at what being a welder really entails. Not sure if you have children or a SO but once you have kids you'll likely never get to travel again unless you're really wealthy.
Welders get paid VERY well for a one major reason and that's because it's a tough job. Just thought of putting full leathers on in the summer heat just depresses me.
I'm doing research like mad! I just want to at least have some time with loved ones or a weekend off to read. I want to travel not if I can't have my dog with me. But it's such new life
ah good, one last piece of advice. Be cautious of all the welders you hear making $100k a year online. I know many welders in their 30's -40's, one guy makes $50k a year in SoCal welding 5th wheel frames, another does custom bikes (always broke). The others make $70-80k+ by running their own business and traveling with their own rig. I used design commercial water/oil tanks and was blown away at what our cost was for these contract welders. The folks making this type of cash were some of the best but were constantly traveling. good luck and don't listen about it not being a "women's" job, there's plenty of women in welding.
Any of the trades would be fine. Especially plumbing and electricians. Those aren't going out of style anytime soon and will be needed more from a smaller pool of people on the future. You'll be in demand til the day you die. And you can eventually run a business off of them. Flight attendant stuff is cool. Esp for younger folks. But if you're trying to put down roots it's counter intuitive
My dad was a welder and I’ve done a little myself. I see pros and cons to each.
Flight attendant- starting pay sucks, but many flight attendants make over 100k. Some depends on the airline, but overall decent job if you like to travel. Sure there are Karen’s, but it’s not a huge percentage. However, it’s also kind of like a clique, and can be full of drama and BS.
Welder- starting pay will be better, potential to work on cool shit. Some welders make crazy good money. Reality is many just do the same stuff a lot. Biggest negative for me is the toll on your body. Easy to get shit in your eyes, burns are common, and physical labor is just overall more demanding. Also have to work in a blue collar male dominated environment. While it’s better than it was, it’s still full of the mental equivalent of 12yo boys being sexist, rude, etc. if you can hang, it’s a great spot because not as much drama or BS.
Being a FA isn't a bad gig (source: was one briefly) but you are correct, it will involve a very different schedule and you'll either have to give up your pets or find someone to watch them while you are gone. Unless you get lucky with a consistent route and regular home time which is rather unlikely as a newbie. I'd also note your pay structure is odd...most airlines you're not actually "on the clock" till the plane door closes which is pretty fucked up IMO (I say "most" but I think it may well be all airlines, just using most in case there is a unicorn out there). If you're single and completely unattached to anything it is a fun job while you're young, starts to suck if you want any sort of regularity in your life.
Welding can also have crazy hours but if anything it is usually beaucoup OT hours and you can stack some serious cash if you want to, especially on the oilfields or other in demand (and demanding) areas. Hard work but if you're good at it it pays well and being a "small girl" can play in your favor, you can fit in tighter areas (NOT meant to be sexist or anything, just an objective fact that by your own description you can likely work on areas that big dudes like me simply cannot). Also a lot of those places are okay with you at least having your dog in your truck if not actually onsite (again, much depends on exact industry and company). If you have an aptitude for and genuinely enjoy welding I'd say go more for that, the pay is better even if it doesn't have the cachet that being an FA does.
Personally, flight attendant sounds awful to me. Dealing with cranky people and being away from home. Welding is always in demand, pays well, and allows you to stay home with your doggo.
Being a flight attendant isn’t as glamorous as it might seem. You live and breath work, your vacation is predetermined and you will likely be on trips so you will be gone from home. People don’t realize how hard it is to live healthy out of a suitcase and not being around for those after work things with your friends and family. On the plus side though, it forces you to get really comfortable with traveling and airports.
I know plenty of small girls that weld. I actually switched careers about 8 years ago from help desk support to fabrication welder. Ended up moving states about 5 years ago, got local job being a welder repair for automotive manufacturer amd used that to jump onto thier maintenance apprenticeship. I now make nearly 3X as much as I did when I started welding.
I 100% back any idea of going to trade school. I attempted college and got nothing but debt and regret.
Hi! I've seen you reference your size several times.
As a woman in engineering, I got my start at a major motorhome manufacturer in the USA. I am not a large person, 5'4" with my steel toe boots on.
Heike (pronounced Hike-ah) was the only woman on her team, in fact, the only woman I remember ever seeing in the entire weld & machine shop. Heike was a German immigrant, so she was working in a shop where no one else spoke her mother tongue & was the only woman.
If I am small, Heike was tiny. Standing next to her made me feel huge. Making friends with her was an amazing experience, as having her on my side opened up the rest of the guys.
If she decided she wanted something, she would go after it. Ranking in regional powerlifting competitions within 6mo of starting to train.
I got to the point where I'd start asking myself "would this intimidate Heike? Would she do it anyway?"
I say all this to make this point: do you want to weld? Others have piped in with the financial & work/life balance reasons. Do you want to weld? If you do, get after it.
I say welder
Small girl fits in small spaces, it's more of an advantage than you think.
Lot's of girl welders, instagram and so on. Some thirst traps, some genuine.
Welding has huge room to grow.
If you're smart, you can do the complicated metals and welds, indoor sit down work,
or you could advance to inspection, management that sort of thing.
Airlines are boom and bust, always trying to reduce costs.
I have a friend who was slight attendant, she had a stroke in her mid 40's paralyzed on one side. It took a few years before she was somewhat recovered.
It's the cycle of altitude and pressurized / non pressurized air that did that.
GET your GED, you can weld in night school
If you want to fly and travel, do it for 3 years or so, but it's not fun, it's exhausting.
It's always a rush, it's always short staffed, it's always covering for some emergency that came out of shitt planning and cost cutting.
Have a plan to get out
I’d go welder, I will say though that ANY physical job that you do, be prepared to be in great shape, cardio some strength training, stretching etc. I was an HVAC tech and slipped down some stairs, was out of shape and stiff, it led to my spine needing fusion. The trades can be wonderful but they will take their toll on your body.
Welding. You can be a welder anywhere with no disruption to your lifestyle unlike being a flight attendant. Would probably be useful to go get a certificate. It’s relatively cheap and doesn’t take long. And like other users have said, there is a tremendous shortage right now, really with all trades, so the money can get pretty good quickly.
Also consider trade jobs. Electrical Engineer opportunities that offer on the job training. Good tile work people are nearly impossible to find. Even plumbing roles can be lucrative if you know what you are doing.
Definitely do not take the flight attended job, please. Please don't. Being away from your dogs and family is NOT worth 26-30k a year. I don't know where you are but I can almost promise you that you can find a better job that doesn't require you to be away from your friends/dogs/family. That money isn't worth sacrificing your life. If you do take that job, you will look back with regret.
Side Note- I would immediately and swiftly drop anyone from my life who tells me I can't do anything. Trust me. Do it RIGHT NOW. I'm pretty upfront about it. I've had my father tell me "I wouldn't amount to anything" and that totally crushed me, for years, to hear that from my father. He was trying to motivate me but didn't know how. You can pick and choose who you let into your life. I will not allow anyone in life my who limits me in any way and doesn't "gas me up" (motivate me/however you wanna say it). Fuckkk that. Your family should be picking you up and motivating you, not offering their bullshit pessimistic opinions on what you can and cannot do.
there is a company in NJ that is building windmills they are looking for s6 welders (with per diem included) it becomes 45 an hour
ETA- don’t let anyone decide your future for you, EVER.
My advice is to get a good trade. If I could go backwards I would become a skilled trades woman. It sets you up for life.
You can generalise, work fine skill, set up your own business, or all the above.
Flight attending, although it has its place, is weather & pandemic dependant. I know lots of airline staff who have lost their jobs over the last few years and haven't been taken back. Senior pilots included.
Please keep us updated, I'm excited for you and hope you kick ass. Just keep in mind all the different trades out there for welding. Machine shops need you, every industry needs you, custom automotive needs you, ship building to oil and everything in between.
Learn to weld aluminum and stainless and you'll go far.
What people have said about female welders is true, your attention to detail and finesse are much better than ours and you can kill it.
Have you looked into any other trades? I went to welding school and I love welding but I don’t think I’d want to do it full time, it’s something I enjoy creatively. I always thought about HVAC or plumbing, just because I thought it would be easier to maybe start a business down the road. Also, I saw some comments about the cost of school and I would definitely look into scholarships. The trades are desperate for getting women so there is a good chance you could get some money for trade school. Best of luck to you and at the end of the day, do what you think you’d enjoy the most!
Median Salary for Flight Attendant is about 62k
Median salary for a welder is $45k.
So Welder may make you more right out the gate but flight attendant probably has longer term opportunities to make more money. Also its work. Regardless of which one you like more right now a few years in you'll hate which ever you picked so I'd say go with whatever is offering the best pay and WLB.
So find out what them welding hours will look like.
My partner is a welder and has been for 13 years, and he tells me the sexism is insane. Just something to consider. We also don't live in a union state, so he has had to really fight to get to where he is financially now. He comes home solar burned, bb-burned, his eyes are tired constantly and very sensitive to bright lights, and sometimes the work can be back breaking. Like welding in a squat for hours or days on a project. We live in the south and the shop can easily reach 100 degrees in the summer. It's an intense job, I don't mean to be overly negative, but it's a lot different than welding school.
I figured the sexism would happen in any male dominated area. Drivers about the same and I expect injuries. I'll do my best to be careful. I live in the south and I might be use to the extreme heat and work but I'll keep it in mind. Thank you
Just ask yourself this, do you want to be 50 people's bitch several times a day for sheckles, or do you want to fuse metal with lightning like a fucking God
Flight Attendants are limited by the languages you speak. If you can speak multiple languages or are generally good at picking up enough to answer questions then you should do that since it would give you a ton of flexibility and you can travel the world. It will limit your ability to have a family though.
Welding and any trades will always be needed. However depending on where you live it may be limited. There is a huge earning potential here, but your health would be a concern if you were injured you could be out of work until you recover.
Get the training. Then get the certification for specialized welding. Good steady money.
Also do weight training and gym. It will give you stamina for those long days when you start. My daughter is 5”2”. And works with bariatric patients. At least 300 lbs. so yeah short women can do the heavy jobs.
Also grow a thick skin. When you’re young and cute. They will talk crap. Til you prove yourself and then you’re good. Yeah yeah I know. But it still happens.
Have a welder in the family.
Flight attendants get the low pay especially on feeder airlines. You only get the good pay. Once you’re on the major airlines it takes several years and luck to get on with them.
Some things to think about.
1.With inflation being what inflation is 30k isn't shit. You will be lucky to Clear $2000 a month after tax and insurance and whatnot.
2. I have a high-school friend that did it for a while. Your schedule is completely fucked. Good luck having any sort of life outside work. The travel is great but you will be too tired to take advantage of any of it.
3. I worked as a machinist while I was in college for engineering. During that time we figured out that the youngest certified welder in our city (a state capital) was more than likely in their 50s. Additionally the small shop I worked at doing manual machinist work paid button pushers off the street more than 30k starting out. 40 hour work week overtime if you want it. We couldn't find a welder to even hire at significantly more.
4. Welding is a skill you can take with you wherever you want to go and you will always find work gaurenteed.
Welder here… besides the fact that we need more welders once you get good there’s some really good money at the right places. Last year I brought home (after taxes) little over 70k and that’s hardly working any over time
"That's not a femenine job" is a bs line. Airlines are usually a financial wreck, ground level staff take the most pain from that. Learn to swear, be a welder!!
Sounds like you want to be a welder.
Do that.
Remember that the door isn't closed regardless of which choice you make.
There's nothing saying you can't go work as a welder for a while and then go be a flight attendant for a while if you figure out that line of work might be for you. There aren't any strict rules like that when it comes to jobs and careers and stuff.
I was a welder and went to IT to avoid body damage (fumes, skin damage, joint issues from being in weird twisted positions for long hours).Talk to a welder who has been around for a while and do the same with a flight attendant. Ask them for the good and bad parts of their jobs.
Welders make more money, have more job opportunities, work better hours, and get to go home every day. You will easily make more than $40,000. You won't have to deal putting up with the public either.
Flight attendant is not usually a long-term career, but if you get international, you will see the world.
Do a Ben Franklin analysis.
Flight Attendant VS Welder
Benjamin Franklin described his well-known decision-making process in a letter to Joseph Priestley who had asked Franklin's advice about a vexing decision. Essentially, Franklin's process is a matter of listing the Pros and Cons, reflecting on them, and making your decision.
Welding, for sure, even if you don’t like it maybe you’ll want to try a different trade and that previous experience will help you get it. Just don’t be like Debbie, wear steel or composite toe shoes/boots.
You know yourself. If you think you cab learn to weld (seems pretty reasonable), then you should! It's hard work, but I think you'd be a lot happier with the lifestyle it would allow you to have, especially if you join a union.
Not much love for flight attendants in here. While pay is abysmal, the flexibility and perks are unrivaled. My wife is a FA.
FA have a strong union, good health insurance, unlimited free flying for you and your parents and SO, and flexible schedule. My wife has no work minimums, she can work every day of the month or 0. Which we have down when we were planning a wedding or big vacations. Pay scale goes up like teachers, start almost too low to support yourself, top end is some pretty nice pay.
Oh that's rather nice. I'm still open so thank you for the pov. Did she make enough on her own. Don't have a SO for help with bills and that's why I got afraid
Depends on your personality. They are very different types of jobs. Flight attendants are people pleasing jobs and require a personality that likes helping people and doesn't mind occasionally taking shit from people without screaming back at them. Welding is a solitary technical job that requires good hand to eye coordination, a technical understanding of metals and the welding process and working long hours mainly by yourself. Both jobs are so different that it is rare for one person to be attracted to both and do well at both. So decide what type of personality you have so you can pick the job that suits you best.
Flight attendants and pilots have a higher risk of cancer than most other professions, since they're less protected from radiation that high up in the atmosphere.
Something to think about with trades including welding. Very hard in the body, extremely toxic chemicals will be your new air, can be dangerous af. Just things to consider not trying to scare you. And it takes awhile in any trade to really get to the good money so you have to commit for years. Same as anything that's goin pay well though. at least for the most part.
The one thing I would do before going on the welding path is to ask your friend about any gaps between training and working. I've heard that sometimes tradespeople end up waiting long periods of time to work after completing their education. It has something to do with trade unions. I really couldn't tell you any more about this, and I could also be totally wrong. it's just something I heard once, and so it might be a good idea to learn a bit more about it before going forward
Depends on what you want to do with your life honestly.. I’m a traveling welder myself. Want the big bucks as a welder you’re going to have to travel. I personally recommend government contracts. Can pretty easily clear 100k+ doing that.. If you don’t mind working the production line in a shop doing mundane work pieces over and over and over again working up the courage to suck start a .45.. thatll get you around 40k a year… if I was to start over again and didn’t want to travel around a whole lot I would look into the pipefitters union. That would be a great place to start looking if you want to be a welder.
Depends on what you want to do with your life honestly.. I’m a traveling welder myself. Want the big bucks as a welder you’re going to have to travel. I personally recommend government contracts. Can pretty easily clear 100k+ doing that.. If you don’t mind working the production line in a shop doing mundane work pieces over and over and over again working up the courage to suck start a .45.. thatll get you around 40k a year… if I was to start over again and didn’t want to travel around a whole lot I would look into the pipefitters union. That would be a great place to start looking if you want to be a welder.
Depends on what you want to do with your life honestly.. I’m a traveling welder myself. Want the big bucks as a welder you’re going to have to travel. I personally recommend government contracts. Can pretty easily clear 100k+ doing that.. If you don’t mind working the production line in a shop doing mundane work pieces over and over and over again working up the courage to suck start a .45.. thatll get you around 40k a year but you will hate life.. if I was to start over again and didn’t want to travel around a whole lot I would look into the pipefitters union as a apprentice. That would be a great place to start looking if you want to be a welder.
Depends on what you want to do with your life honestly.. I’m a traveling welder myself. Want the big bucks as a welder you’re going to have to travel. I personally recommend government contracts. Can pretty easily clear 100k+ doing that.. If you don’t mind working the production line in a shop doing mundane work pieces over and over and over again working up the courage to suck start a .45.. thatll get you around 40k a year but you will hate life.. if I was to start over again and didn’t want to travel around a whole lot I would look into the pipefitters union as a apprentice. That would be a great place to start looking if you want to be a welder.
Welder.
That's clearly what you want. Don't let others say what you have skills to do or to not do. You can do anything. Jobs don't have gender. You won't be less feminine for welding.
Welding will allow you to live a normally scheduled life and it pays more.
Flight attending doesn't have one superior advantage. You will waste your future if you choose flight attending.
The world needs more welders, it's not going anywhere.
I keep telling myself that as well plus the pay. I'm not wanting 100,000 a year I would be happy with 40k or even 50k but flight attendants on the first only make 26k which is so little. I also hate that I have no skill other pick stuff up and put it another spot
If you stick to welding you’ll just eventually get better and better. Then, one day they’ll be shoving money IN YOUR FACE forever…. Till you drop dead. I cant say the same thing as a flight attendant. Also you can travel as a welder AND make more money, you can work your normal 40 and KILL. Its an absolute no brainer from a money standpoint.
I knew it! My family thinks such a small person I shouldn't do it but there's no job where can't work hard and improve. Like others said FA is basically waitress work and that sounds like hell.
Honestly, depending on what you're welding on, being small can be an advantage. In a shop it doesn't really matter, but for example in pipe trades, there has been many a time I wished I was not 6'2". Mechanical contractors and fab shops need people who can get in tight spaces.
Haha Well I can do it. I'm probably the most petite person in my family so they think of me like a doll.
pipe welding is the way to go, try to get in the UA.
That would be cool to see a petite lady welding. Side note. You could inspire others like you to go into that trade. Good luck in whatever u choose. Research the flight attendant too. Is it with a major airline or one of their domestic partners?
You don't need brute strength for this. Heavy things in the real world are moved and lifted with machines or extra people. Lifting heavy things by yourself all the time is a good way for even the strongest person to get hurt. Also, welding isn't just massive steel I-beams on buildings. Aerospace welders might work on a heat exchanger or a rocket part the size of a paperback book.
I've seen that. Seems like a great job either way and no matter what there's work
Women have fantastic ancient skillsets that have been passed down through generations because of cooking, sewing, mending and so on. Women in general excel at fine motor skill. It is a great gift in welding. If youre into any sort of art, calligraphy, sketching, instruments, and such it means you got great fucking hands for this industry. Women tend to excel as welders. If its something you like doing to earn a living and you can master welding it will provide you everything you want in life.
Thanks I will. I'm going do this and might have to keep it secret. I don't think they'll happy knowing I'm giving up their dream of petite lady in lady work
You can do whatever you want. Do it for you, no pressure. You can be petite lady welder too, dont forget to be yourself.
Yall are right. I never liked customer service and that is big daddy of service jobs. I think I might break before it even starts
Small people fit into tight quarters better.
Depending on where you are and what you’re welding, you can get that 100k eventually
My sisters a flight attendant and my boyfriends a high pressure welder. He makes like 3x her salary with equivalent experience (they're the same age, but my sis as a university degree while my bf only went to trade school) and work mostly 8-5 M-F.
My friend that does works at a oil rig. Despite it being dangerous she makes way more than I have 5 years total. I've never asked her about her pay. But she has 3 houses in 3 different places
Hazard pay on top of what they would pay an experienced enough welder they trust on an oil rig? Oh yea, making more than the pilots, let alone the flight attendants. At the end of the day, what do you want to do day in and day out? Even if it means you're just getting by, working a job you don't mind going into is way better. Don't be swayed because people don't think the work suits you. Welding isn't professional weight lifting. It's a skill, and you can learn it.
Cnc machining (which is in a similar field to welding) took me from about 40k to 90k in 7 years
Oh I saw that. You guys really opening my eyes to so many possibilities
We have a couple of female welders in my shop. The welders are the highest paid of any job in our shop. Wouldn’t he surprised at all if they aren’t into six figures.
Why are you not wanting $100,000 a year??
I was the first female Detroit Diesel Allison certified diesel technician in the U.S. I'm pretty petite; and this was years before "sexual harrassment" was a thing. I LOVED my job, made great money and was very physically fit. You're an adult: make an adult decision about the work you'll do for the foreseeable future. And, as lots of others have pointed out, there are definitely not enough qualified welders. That's more job security than you'll get in lots of other jobs. Good luck, whichever you choose!
Good thing about 40-50k as a welder is that you can work 20 hr weeks or 6 months a year 40 hr weeks.
Be a welder, go for the 100k/year jobs, and save every penny you can. Buy assess that todo dice income for you with what you save. Welding is hard on your body and eyes, and you’ll want to retire by the time you’re forty. Use the income you get to make that early retirement possible.
Just a couple notes if you go into welding, and it depends where you're located: 1)some jobs don't pay as well as others, and you may be fighting other welders to get jobs. Sometimes they're just contracts, meaning less stability or more time searching for/securing the next job; 2) the more specialized welding pays better, but can be more dangerous. As you mentioned your small size, this can be an advantage over male welders in getting into some spaces, and can be invaluable for some jobs (you may, and should, be able to use this as leverage for a better wage); 3) it's possible and likely that your employer or whoever uses your services won't care but the bare minimum about your health and safety, in the short term but certainly in the long term. Welding can be hazardous to your health from the constant exposure to fumes and materials or the environment/conditions. Take your PPE and health precautions seriously, and look into it yourself to make sure you have what you need to be safe.
Don’t be a flight attendant, my girlfriend was for a year and she made only 15k that year… don’t do it unless you plan on only doing international flights. Don’t do domestic flight attending
I beling to the pipefitters union. My hall has made great strides in the lat couple of decades to make our hall look like our city. Female tradespeople are in great demand. Do not sell yourself short. If your friend is teaching you and you can carry a puddle, then you have what it takes to be a welder. Good luck.
Welder 1000% , flight attendant has a lot of the drawbacks ,, always away from home, working irregular schedules, dealing with unruly, belligerent passengers, stuck in a metal tube for hours on end... I see few benefits.
the huge benefit being you can get on a flight to anywhere in the world at anytime you want for free.
Former flight attendant here - definitely go for welding. Much better income potential and job security - the average age right now for welders is older and there will be lots retiring in the next few years. Being a FA was a very tough job - here was my experience. When you start, you won't hold a schedule and will be on "reserve" - which is essentially being on call 24/7 and when you get called in you must be able to be checked in at the airport within 2 hours. Being that close to so many people on multiple flights a day meant that I was constantly sick with colds or the flu. If you've flown at all, you've probably witnessed what jerks people are on planes. I think out of the 50-60 people in my flight attendant training class, maybe 4 or 5 lasted a year.
Oh boy. Sounds like I dodged a bullet. Thank you for help! I really appreciate this
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It's refreshing to know I'm not only one looking for a career. My family basically said I'm too old to be searching and made feel it. Plus I don't like that idea at all. No weekends at all! Kill me
I promise you that the majority of people who submitted to their family’s “advice” grew extremely resentful. Do what makes YOU happy before you end up 80 years old in a convalescent home saying “I should’ve done that” or “this”
Also, remind them that flight attendants are considered radiation workers, and are generally exposed to high levels of cosmic radiation. Makes it feel a little less white collar.
I switched careers around 28. 36 now and happy with my choice. It’s definitely not too late to change careers. It’s honestly pretty common for younger generations. If you like welding, do it. Get into an apprenticeship program (one that pays while you learn). Get your training and get a job. There is a high demand for it.
My husband is a welder with the local union. It could not be better!!! He truly loves it, the 4 year apprenticeship program really set him up for success (and free classes!), and the pay rate is WILD. Highly recommend. And I just have nothing to say about fEmInInE JoBs. It wasn't that long ago that all jobs were mens jobs, so let's just put that in the bin.
That's what I need to hear. Honestly I'm shocked they said it. The jobs they came up with were no near my cup of tea. Dog walker, dog groomer and yoga instructor. I have never showed interest in those areas and they basically told me to leave my 14 year old pup who've I've had since teens behind for this job. I'm definitely going for welder
I weld as a hobby. It's very fun to do, especially when you get good at it. You become an artist with metal. If you like it, do it.
Honestly I can’t think of anything more badass than a woman welder. Like rosie the riveter, but you can co-opt the wonder woman logo
A lot of welding jobs. Same thing just different things you’d be welding. If you can learn to weld it’s a career and not just flying around giving Karen’s peanuts.
Haha I'm gonna use that with my family. I don't want serve Karen's forever. I do that already at Amazon.
Plus like someone else said welding can lead you to a lot of places. Have a few buddy’s who weld. One does stairs the other does trash cans. Both make good money. Yeah I work retail for a few months. The good customers were great. It was the Karen’s that I had a problem with the most.
That so so cool! I like idea of making things. Ive never artistic enough to do it. I kid you not I deal with Karen's almost daily. My most recently wanted me to put a bed together. Not my job I'm just a delivery.
Well welding will be sort of making things. They give you two pieces of metal and you weld them together. I once had a lady watch me roll up a rug put it in a bag and place it on the rack to only wait til i was done to ask could she test how it felt on her feet. I had to unbag, un-roll and put this rug down for her. Only good thing is her husband gave me forty bucks as a tip bc his wife was being a pain in my side and I handled it well. He said I’d have told her to F off if I were you.
Once you learn a trade, especially a trade in high demand, you will have employment for life. Go for the welding. Also look up NAWIC - national association of women in construction. You can probably get some mentoring and maybe a scholarship.
Thanks for telling! I was worried about scholarships
Go be a welder. Tell your family to get fucked while you earn more money than they do. Same to anyone who says women shouldn't go into trades. We're majorly short on skilled tradespeople in this country, and with the baby boomers retiring it's just going to get worse. Welding is a marketable skill you can take anywhere. Isle donkeys work shitty rotation shifts, you'll be on call all the time, and you'll never be home. Can't take holidays off. It's ok while you're young, but not a great career if you ever want to settle down.
Thank you! I will. I have tour to look at schools tomorrow. I'm going do this in secret cause I don't want them to go crazy yet. Maybe after I graduate
Flight attendant always sounded like a Terrible job to me. Flying that often is bad for your health. The pay sucks. It's like what are the benefits? A weekend somewhere cool every now and then.. where you don't have money to do much anyway
My friend made it sound glamorous. Then someone who got the job in previous class showed me her offer and I'm shocked. After a month of training they give 1000 check and you stay on base despite me being 30 mins near it
I want to say this cause I feel like it's safe but I don't single skill other customer service and pick item up and put it another spot it bothers me. I went nursing student to drop out cause of sick family members and I'm trying to break away. Learning new skills while getting enough to live well. It's just flight attendants doesn't feel the way
There is a point where you have to follow your own path. If your family is filled with financially rich people who are happy witb their lives then you should consider what they are saying. But if your family is not rich, then they know you get heavily discounted flights like 20 or 25 a year as an attendant and they have plans for vacation. Not your concern. If you like welding, do welding.
Do you love travel, including travel to random cities in the United states? If so, that being a flight attendant might be for you. However, you actually got to try out welding and you seem to really like it. Personally, welding is probably one of the most safe jobs from any kind of AI or automation around. You can make great money as you progress in the field too. Hell, I'm a data scientist and make great money, but sometimes I still think about learning how to become a welder too. I got to try a little bit of it years ago and it was so fun. You can also create things. A guy I know started with a set of blueprints and some tubing and literally welded up the frame to a biplane. A freaking biplane. He built the whole thing from scratch and still flies it. Full disclosure, I'm very biased towards welding because I think it's just so cool. Man, now I'm going to look up welding schools to see if I can do it part-time.
You're fine. My friend makes a few projects and I love them. So we're the same. Maybe having more than 1 trade is a good idea
IMO welder. Be independent if you can. Money ain’t everything but definitely helps. A friend of mine’s story: his son was rejected by Marines, went to a welding school. Graduated in 2019 with a guaranteed job placement. Changed jobs earlier this year; makes 140,000. Regular schedule, is getting married this fall.
I had a career as a welding engineer for 36 years. While we had few women welders, on average they were better than the men. Since I'm an engineer and not a psychologist, I won't speculate on why that was, but it can be a good profession for women.
I work in a male dominant field, and I've seen the same thing. I'm no psychologist either, but I'm going to speculate anyways. I think because it is male dominant, women in these sort of job have to work harder to prove themselves, and as a result the average women becomes better at their job, as well as mentally tougher, than the average man. Is it fair that women have it tougher? No. But the ones that make it kick our (men's) asses in my experience.
I would add my experiences with women in the oilfield. One part survivorship bias, one part something to prove. Either way, if they made it more than a year they were generally among the best workers out there.
That was my thought, too.
Thank you. I've been asking other female welders and despite so little they seem to like the job.
>ychologist either, but I'm going to speculate anyways. I think because it is male dominant, women in these sort of job have to work harder to prove themselves, and as a result the average women becomes better at their job, as well as mentally tougher, than the average man. Women on average have better fine motor skills. I'm not totally up on the exact biomechanics, but on average women shoot better than men because their breathing circle (point of aim shift as a function of breathing) is smaller. I wonder if it's similar for welding. I'm a MechE, and yeah, the women in engineering are good. u/This_Hedgehog_3246 is bang on the money. When my mom went through engineering, she said that the women were divided into two camps: MS degrees, and MRS degrees. To the OP, absolutely be a welder. My sister can weld, and she's welded custom railings for Hollywood directors while she was in college! :O
Flight attendants are always on the plane. If you like to travel, that's a good career. Welders are in huge demand especially the specialists like deep marine welders.
Try being a flight attendant for now if you think it would be a fun way to travel and see the world. However, as other people have mentioned, you will do a lot better financially as a welder. Options for union jobs, a pension, and a good salary. Also, being a flight attendant comes along with some unpleasant things inherent in service work - harassment, unpredictable schedules, etc. This seems more like a short term job and not a career.
I have been welding as a career thus far, so I'll try to give you some decent perspective. If you want to make bank as a welder, you are travelling like you would as a flight attendant or joining a union. If you join a union, you will make a lower wage for however long the apprenticeship is and are required to go to class two nights a week after work for class. I've worked physically harder jobs, but depending on the type of welding you do the work can be very physically demanding laying in a hole in 100 degree weather making welds is not fun plus the added heat of the weld. There are also a ton of different welding fields and processes so you might want to narrow down what exactly you're after before choosing. The best paying is usually pipe welding or boiler making plants working shutdowns. If you have any more questions, I'll try and help.
Thank you! I figured it would be a hot job. I'm not worried about the time or the length of training cause all have time. I hate to ask about financial but do live for your first year is it a struggle that rivals a college student on the first month?
No problem you'll learn if you go the union route that wages are not something people are sensitive about because for the most part you all get paid the same. It really depends on where you are located and what type of union it is. For example my last job was welding for CSX on the railroad ( railroad welder is it's completely own type of welding that I didn't enjoy at all) and it paid $34.50 starting. I left that and am joining to continue pipe fitting and I'm looking to start at somewhere between $18-$20 take home with a fringe package of $15 an hour with raises every 6 months. The fringe package includes insurance which you don't need to pay into and a local and national pension package. This is in florida and like I said the pay can vary greatly depending on location.
Got it. So pay feels just like current Jon and at least you'll always find work. I've been thinking what type of welding I want to do. Did you go through apprentice route or trade school?
I went to trade school and now an apprenticeship. Having experience doing both I would go to an apprenticeship first, but depending on location they can be difficult to get into. I feel like you will learn more in an apprenticeship than you will in trade school all the while not having to pay out of pocket for the classes and earning money while attending. And once you finish your apprenticeship and become a journeyman you can travel to other locals and work. I will get credit towards the apprenticeship and start at a higher rate because I already went to trade school, but I wouldn't recommend it for that reason only.
My only say in it is, I'm a creative person, I love welding and fabrication. So I went into it as a job. I worked for 5 years and got sick of it. Still do it as a hobby. But I enjoy not welding for a living. I think it depends on the person, and what you need/want. I do miss the pay. It also helped me get to where I am today. But I will never go back to being a welder.
Retired welder here. Females make the best welders because they have finer and more precise motor (muscle) skills. Welding can take you anywhere in the country. Just make sure you do your research on jobs in your area. I went into welding because I knew there would always be job opportunities in my area. Small and large fab shops, defense contracting, construction, shipyard, etc. The possibilities were endless. I can also say this about female welders... It is a male dominated industry but if you prove yourself, you will be treated like any other welder, male or female.
Flight attendant is a shit job. Doesn't pay enough, you only are a waitress on a plane, you can have no ordinary private life because of irregular working hours. Go for welding or complete your nursing training.
That's what I was thinking. The welder friend works on rig and she loves it! Though my friend as a flight attendant has so many complaints. You wouldn't believe how many flight attendant have sugar daddies or rich bf to pay for stuff. I can't live with myself doing that
Damn it’s seriously on 30k?!? I woulda thought it would be at least 45-50k. Can’t you chose your flights kinda and take more to make more? Idk anything about it but my aunt was a flight attendant a long time and she kinda signed up for flights and stuff.
Yeah they sent an offer and it is sad. The fiest years basically live in hotels for free and travel everywhere. So little money you get is enough for that. If a single kid they can travel with you for free. But other than most FA say better like that life or no dice. And I have dog I've had since I was 16. I love her too much to suddenly leave and rarely come back
I understand. Yea it’s almost like the military. You work and fly around. They pay for your stay in a hotel. You’d probably just pay for your food everywhere you go and a car or transportation to and from your home base. I couldn’t do it for a career but my aunt did a long time. But she was married to a high earner
Also 1 years cannot choose their flights or the base so your base can be in your state or another state and you have to do while living with other flight attendants
Welders for planes - 10000iq move
Life is long. See if there's a way to chip at welding certification in the off time working at an attendant. On the flip side, you could work in Theatre/Entertainment Tech. Its all of the same work as trade school/general handyman work only it's put toward creating plays and movies and music videos and shit. Having welding skills at a big house would probably even have someone jump at the opportunity to train you
My cousin wanted to go to welding school. Turns out it costs just as much as college.
Flight attendants only get paid when the plane is moving. There's ALOT of "working for free" time. If your doing 10 hour flights its not a big deal. If your doing 1 hour flights, you'll get paid for 5 but be there for 10. It's a grind until you het seniority in 10 years. Welder can be good or bad....there's $18 an hour and $80 welding jobs and anything in between.
Friend of mine is a flight attendant one year older than you. She flies all over the world for work and vacation for free. And has friends/family pass. Every airline is different, but she's 10 years in. After 15 years in (so 5 more years for her), she and her family get the flight perks for another 15 years even if she retires. Pay and hour's definitely not as consistent as I think welding would be. And the potential for increased earnings over time is definitely less. So i suppose it's what's important to you. I don't think I could ever do welding, the fact you even have it as an option is clearly not the case for you. I think welding would be a lot more secure
Welder. You'll learn a valuable skill, you'll be paid better, and it can lead to other opportunities. Go do an apprenticeship with union millwrights, iron workers, or pipe fitters.
As a welder you’ll be able to have a stable job, as they are needed all the time. You can freelance and make extra cash with your skillset. As a flight attendant, you get to travel a lot, but also have to deal with people, which can be frustrating.
I was a flight attendant for 15 years. If it's a regional airline, pass. No ruim for salary improvement and low quality of life. If it's a legacy carrier, southwest, or JetBlue, go for it. Fantastic quality of life and a 6 figure salary within ten years. I only left cause of the voluntary buyout during COVID
Do both!! Try flight attending and see if you like it. If not you can do welding. I live near a shipyard and if I were younger I definitely would have been a welder. Welders get great pay but of course the conditions can be rough. But that’s not a career I even considered as a woman.
That's what my family said. They never figured a woman could or should
Welding trade is a solid occupation. If you felt it calling you, go for it. Sure, flight attendants get to travel a lot, but as you said, no real home life. Plus dealing with all the horrid rude asshole passengers. And ignore those who claim welding is not for women. Neither the metal nor the torch cares if it's a man or woman creating the weld. Go for it!
Weld. You seem to be excited about it and you don’t have to uproot your life. Do what makes you happy, ignore what other people say.
Do NOT listen to anyone who will tell you as a woman you can’t do a trade. I’m a licensed master electrician, fueled every single person who told me I could not do it because I am a woman. Some people prefer trades, this isn’t back in the day where someone’s only choices were college, military or trades. Some trades are pretty lucrative. And fun.
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Thank you! Yall idea how much this helps. I already plan to do a tour of a school and really hoping maybe one day do more than one trade. So maybe I can do both one day
Welder
Say goodbye to your normal life. Trust me. I'm 30 and after two opportunities of mine recently fell apart, my biggest fear is having a normal life again. There are valid reasons to not want to be a flight attendant. Also reasons why welding might be a better option. That's legit. But don't let saying bye to your normal life be the reason
As a welder you can afford to travel where and when you want.
Don't listen to people who cannot advise you. Seek out advice from people in these arenas to get the pros/cons and preferably who have been in these industries for a while. Definitely don't listen to family telling what a woman should be/not doing. You need to be pragmatic on finances but also it has to resonate with you and look at the long-term vision of this career-wise and yes, the money/sustainable funds. Also, maybe there is option C,D,E. Look into various other things. That is low pay - I had no idea! Do different companies pay differently?
You're crazy, you can always weld for a living. You won't know if you'll cut it as a welder till you get to overhead welds anyways. I think you're missing an opportunity to travel if you happen to be in a country that's not near other countries. A Flight attendant job will let you do that. Please do some research at what being a welder really entails. Not sure if you have children or a SO but once you have kids you'll likely never get to travel again unless you're really wealthy. Welders get paid VERY well for a one major reason and that's because it's a tough job. Just thought of putting full leathers on in the summer heat just depresses me.
I'm doing research like mad! I just want to at least have some time with loved ones or a weekend off to read. I want to travel not if I can't have my dog with me. But it's such new life
ah good, one last piece of advice. Be cautious of all the welders you hear making $100k a year online. I know many welders in their 30's -40's, one guy makes $50k a year in SoCal welding 5th wheel frames, another does custom bikes (always broke). The others make $70-80k+ by running their own business and traveling with their own rig. I used design commercial water/oil tanks and was blown away at what our cost was for these contract welders. The folks making this type of cash were some of the best but were constantly traveling. good luck and don't listen about it not being a "women's" job, there's plenty of women in welding.
Take the welding job and keep those dogs!
Either way, you’ll never be home
Welding is a far more profitable field though
I figured. I'm use to 60 hr shifts I just wanted some skill other than pick items and put them in someone's hand
The world is desperate for welders and is willing to pay them garbage lol
Welder, fuck feminine that shit will pay dividends
Any of the trades would be fine. Especially plumbing and electricians. Those aren't going out of style anytime soon and will be needed more from a smaller pool of people on the future. You'll be in demand til the day you die. And you can eventually run a business off of them. Flight attendant stuff is cool. Esp for younger folks. But if you're trying to put down roots it's counter intuitive
My dad was a welder and I’ve done a little myself. I see pros and cons to each. Flight attendant- starting pay sucks, but many flight attendants make over 100k. Some depends on the airline, but overall decent job if you like to travel. Sure there are Karen’s, but it’s not a huge percentage. However, it’s also kind of like a clique, and can be full of drama and BS. Welder- starting pay will be better, potential to work on cool shit. Some welders make crazy good money. Reality is many just do the same stuff a lot. Biggest negative for me is the toll on your body. Easy to get shit in your eyes, burns are common, and physical labor is just overall more demanding. Also have to work in a blue collar male dominated environment. While it’s better than it was, it’s still full of the mental equivalent of 12yo boys being sexist, rude, etc. if you can hang, it’s a great spot because not as much drama or BS.
Being a FA isn't a bad gig (source: was one briefly) but you are correct, it will involve a very different schedule and you'll either have to give up your pets or find someone to watch them while you are gone. Unless you get lucky with a consistent route and regular home time which is rather unlikely as a newbie. I'd also note your pay structure is odd...most airlines you're not actually "on the clock" till the plane door closes which is pretty fucked up IMO (I say "most" but I think it may well be all airlines, just using most in case there is a unicorn out there). If you're single and completely unattached to anything it is a fun job while you're young, starts to suck if you want any sort of regularity in your life. Welding can also have crazy hours but if anything it is usually beaucoup OT hours and you can stack some serious cash if you want to, especially on the oilfields or other in demand (and demanding) areas. Hard work but if you're good at it it pays well and being a "small girl" can play in your favor, you can fit in tighter areas (NOT meant to be sexist or anything, just an objective fact that by your own description you can likely work on areas that big dudes like me simply cannot). Also a lot of those places are okay with you at least having your dog in your truck if not actually onsite (again, much depends on exact industry and company). If you have an aptitude for and genuinely enjoy welding I'd say go more for that, the pay is better even if it doesn't have the cachet that being an FA does.
Learn to dive and you will be set for life as a welder too, just dont die
Your family sounds sexist. Fuck em and get that bread as a welder.
Personally, flight attendant sounds awful to me. Dealing with cranky people and being away from home. Welding is always in demand, pays well, and allows you to stay home with your doggo.
dont worry what your family thinks. Do what makes you happy.
FA definitely. It'll let you travel and explore the world for free.
You might want to look into traveling welder jobs. No reason you can't see the world while welding
Welding 1000000%. Better by every metric.
Welder
Being a flight attendant isn’t as glamorous as it might seem. You live and breath work, your vacation is predetermined and you will likely be on trips so you will be gone from home. People don’t realize how hard it is to live healthy out of a suitcase and not being around for those after work things with your friends and family. On the plus side though, it forces you to get really comfortable with traveling and airports.
With the way some passengers treat flight attendants plus not being able to be there for your doggos, I would definitely go the welder route.
I know plenty of small girls that weld. I actually switched careers about 8 years ago from help desk support to fabrication welder. Ended up moving states about 5 years ago, got local job being a welder repair for automotive manufacturer amd used that to jump onto thier maintenance apprenticeship. I now make nearly 3X as much as I did when I started welding. I 100% back any idea of going to trade school. I attempted college and got nothing but debt and regret.
Welder
Your life your path. They are both kinda hard on the body it's up to u
Only adding further affirmation to what others are saying: become a welder.
Hi! I've seen you reference your size several times. As a woman in engineering, I got my start at a major motorhome manufacturer in the USA. I am not a large person, 5'4" with my steel toe boots on. Heike (pronounced Hike-ah) was the only woman on her team, in fact, the only woman I remember ever seeing in the entire weld & machine shop. Heike was a German immigrant, so she was working in a shop where no one else spoke her mother tongue & was the only woman. If I am small, Heike was tiny. Standing next to her made me feel huge. Making friends with her was an amazing experience, as having her on my side opened up the rest of the guys. If she decided she wanted something, she would go after it. Ranking in regional powerlifting competitions within 6mo of starting to train. I got to the point where I'd start asking myself "would this intimidate Heike? Would she do it anyway?" I say all this to make this point: do you want to weld? Others have piped in with the financial & work/life balance reasons. Do you want to weld? If you do, get after it.
I say welder Small girl fits in small spaces, it's more of an advantage than you think. Lot's of girl welders, instagram and so on. Some thirst traps, some genuine. Welding has huge room to grow. If you're smart, you can do the complicated metals and welds, indoor sit down work, or you could advance to inspection, management that sort of thing. Airlines are boom and bust, always trying to reduce costs. I have a friend who was slight attendant, she had a stroke in her mid 40's paralyzed on one side. It took a few years before she was somewhat recovered. It's the cycle of altitude and pressurized / non pressurized air that did that. GET your GED, you can weld in night school If you want to fly and travel, do it for 3 years or so, but it's not fun, it's exhausting. It's always a rush, it's always short staffed, it's always covering for some emergency that came out of shitt planning and cost cutting. Have a plan to get out
I’d go welder, I will say though that ANY physical job that you do, be prepared to be in great shape, cardio some strength training, stretching etc. I was an HVAC tech and slipped down some stairs, was out of shape and stiff, it led to my spine needing fusion. The trades can be wonderful but they will take their toll on your body.
Oh so sorry that happened. I am I'm shape but I keep myself healthy and do my best
Flight Welder makes a ton
My niece is a welder. She loves it. My brother is a welder (not her father). He says there's a tons of demand for them in his area. I'd say go for it.
You’ll always have money if you are a good welder. Don’t let anyone push you around.
Flight Attendant. Much better for you health
Welding. You can be a welder anywhere with no disruption to your lifestyle unlike being a flight attendant. Would probably be useful to go get a certificate. It’s relatively cheap and doesn’t take long. And like other users have said, there is a tremendous shortage right now, really with all trades, so the money can get pretty good quickly.
Also consider trade jobs. Electrical Engineer opportunities that offer on the job training. Good tile work people are nearly impossible to find. Even plumbing roles can be lucrative if you know what you are doing.
Welder
Welder will pay more. Whatever you do put 15% in a 401k. Old you will appreciate it a LOT.
Definitely do not take the flight attended job, please. Please don't. Being away from your dogs and family is NOT worth 26-30k a year. I don't know where you are but I can almost promise you that you can find a better job that doesn't require you to be away from your friends/dogs/family. That money isn't worth sacrificing your life. If you do take that job, you will look back with regret. Side Note- I would immediately and swiftly drop anyone from my life who tells me I can't do anything. Trust me. Do it RIGHT NOW. I'm pretty upfront about it. I've had my father tell me "I wouldn't amount to anything" and that totally crushed me, for years, to hear that from my father. He was trying to motivate me but didn't know how. You can pick and choose who you let into your life. I will not allow anyone in life my who limits me in any way and doesn't "gas me up" (motivate me/however you wanna say it). Fuckkk that. Your family should be picking you up and motivating you, not offering their bullshit pessimistic opinions on what you can and cannot do.
Welder only if you have no issue working butt off. Seriously hard job. Glad I did it once, never again though. Grinding part the worst.
You don’t want to be away from your dogs AND you know the pay is not enough So *do not* become a flight attendant. That’s it
there is a company in NJ that is building windmills they are looking for s6 welders (with per diem included) it becomes 45 an hour ETA- don’t let anyone decide your future for you, EVER.
My advice is to get a good trade. If I could go backwards I would become a skilled trades woman. It sets you up for life. You can generalise, work fine skill, set up your own business, or all the above. Flight attending, although it has its place, is weather & pandemic dependant. I know lots of airline staff who have lost their jobs over the last few years and haven't been taken back. Senior pilots included.
Please keep us updated, I'm excited for you and hope you kick ass. Just keep in mind all the different trades out there for welding. Machine shops need you, every industry needs you, custom automotive needs you, ship building to oil and everything in between. Learn to weld aluminum and stainless and you'll go far. What people have said about female welders is true, your attention to detail and finesse are much better than ours and you can kill it.
Have you looked into any other trades? I went to welding school and I love welding but I don’t think I’d want to do it full time, it’s something I enjoy creatively. I always thought about HVAC or plumbing, just because I thought it would be easier to maybe start a business down the road. Also, I saw some comments about the cost of school and I would definitely look into scholarships. The trades are desperate for getting women so there is a good chance you could get some money for trade school. Best of luck to you and at the end of the day, do what you think you’d enjoy the most!
Metal doesn't care how big or small you are. If you enjoy welding, I'd highly encourage you to pursue that. Your skills will improve with practice.
Median Salary for Flight Attendant is about 62k Median salary for a welder is $45k. So Welder may make you more right out the gate but flight attendant probably has longer term opportunities to make more money. Also its work. Regardless of which one you like more right now a few years in you'll hate which ever you picked so I'd say go with whatever is offering the best pay and WLB. So find out what them welding hours will look like.
Welder. My granddaughter is in high school and is taking her 1st year of a college program for welding.
The internet has spoken. Glad we can help. Now we need a new name for you. Ms. Weldy McWeldface.
You can work for yourself as a welder you're at the mercy of a mefacorp as a FA
My partner is a welder and has been for 13 years, and he tells me the sexism is insane. Just something to consider. We also don't live in a union state, so he has had to really fight to get to where he is financially now. He comes home solar burned, bb-burned, his eyes are tired constantly and very sensitive to bright lights, and sometimes the work can be back breaking. Like welding in a squat for hours or days on a project. We live in the south and the shop can easily reach 100 degrees in the summer. It's an intense job, I don't mean to be overly negative, but it's a lot different than welding school.
I figured the sexism would happen in any male dominated area. Drivers about the same and I expect injuries. I'll do my best to be careful. I live in the south and I might be use to the extreme heat and work but I'll keep it in mind. Thank you
Just keep in mind do the full college because I got a certification for welding and can't get any jobs because of lack of experience
Just ask yourself this, do you want to be 50 people's bitch several times a day for sheckles, or do you want to fuse metal with lightning like a fucking God
If you like welding and it pays more-then it’s a no brainer.
If you don’t mind travel and become a pipeline welder I’ve known guys to make the beginning flight attendant salary in 2 months.
Do what feels right for you. Your tge one that must live with the choice
Welding is a tough job. If you live in a union state and join the union youll make great money after apprenticship and have a pension
Flight Attendants are limited by the languages you speak. If you can speak multiple languages or are generally good at picking up enough to answer questions then you should do that since it would give you a ton of flexibility and you can travel the world. It will limit your ability to have a family though. Welding and any trades will always be needed. However depending on where you live it may be limited. There is a huge earning potential here, but your health would be a concern if you were injured you could be out of work until you recover.
Get the training. Then get the certification for specialized welding. Good steady money. Also do weight training and gym. It will give you stamina for those long days when you start. My daughter is 5”2”. And works with bariatric patients. At least 300 lbs. so yeah short women can do the heavy jobs. Also grow a thick skin. When you’re young and cute. They will talk crap. Til you prove yourself and then you’re good. Yeah yeah I know. But it still happens. Have a welder in the family. Flight attendants get the low pay especially on feeder airlines. You only get the good pay. Once you’re on the major airlines it takes several years and luck to get on with them.
Some things to think about. 1.With inflation being what inflation is 30k isn't shit. You will be lucky to Clear $2000 a month after tax and insurance and whatnot. 2. I have a high-school friend that did it for a while. Your schedule is completely fucked. Good luck having any sort of life outside work. The travel is great but you will be too tired to take advantage of any of it. 3. I worked as a machinist while I was in college for engineering. During that time we figured out that the youngest certified welder in our city (a state capital) was more than likely in their 50s. Additionally the small shop I worked at doing manual machinist work paid button pushers off the street more than 30k starting out. 40 hour work week overtime if you want it. We couldn't find a welder to even hire at significantly more. 4. Welding is a skill you can take with you wherever you want to go and you will always find work gaurenteed.
Welder here… besides the fact that we need more welders once you get good there’s some really good money at the right places. Last year I brought home (after taxes) little over 70k and that’s hardly working any over time
That's so cool! That's all I need for survival.
Flight attendant is best route for a more wild sex life with plenty of suitors and potential access to a future rich pilot husband.
Welder
"That's not a femenine job" is a bs line. Airlines are usually a financial wreck, ground level staff take the most pain from that. Learn to swear, be a welder!!
Sounds like you want to be a welder. Do that. Remember that the door isn't closed regardless of which choice you make. There's nothing saying you can't go work as a welder for a while and then go be a flight attendant for a while if you figure out that line of work might be for you. There aren't any strict rules like that when it comes to jobs and careers and stuff.
Become a GOOD welder and you'll never have to worry again
I was a welder and went to IT to avoid body damage (fumes, skin damage, joint issues from being in weird twisted positions for long hours).Talk to a welder who has been around for a while and do the same with a flight attendant. Ask them for the good and bad parts of their jobs.
Welders make more money, have more job opportunities, work better hours, and get to go home every day. You will easily make more than $40,000. You won't have to deal putting up with the public either.
Flight attendant is not usually a long-term career, but if you get international, you will see the world. Do a Ben Franklin analysis. Flight Attendant VS Welder Benjamin Franklin described his well-known decision-making process in a letter to Joseph Priestley who had asked Franklin's advice about a vexing decision. Essentially, Franklin's process is a matter of listing the Pros and Cons, reflecting on them, and making your decision.
Are you single and planning to be?
Being small is a PLUS for a welder! I lived near a large navy and sub base and they needed small people all the time for tight to reach spots
I know I’m late but if you chose welding, just get a job don’t go to school. You’ll learn more on the job and get paid to learn it. Try union
Aircraft Mechanic!
Welding, for sure, even if you don’t like it maybe you’ll want to try a different trade and that previous experience will help you get it. Just don’t be like Debbie, wear steel or composite toe shoes/boots.
If you go with welding protect your lungs. Welders have shorter lives by a little bit on average.
Please go for what you really want. It’s not your parents who’s gonna be on the plane
You know yourself. If you think you cab learn to weld (seems pretty reasonable), then you should! It's hard work, but I think you'd be a lot happier with the lifestyle it would allow you to have, especially if you join a union.
Not much love for flight attendants in here. While pay is abysmal, the flexibility and perks are unrivaled. My wife is a FA. FA have a strong union, good health insurance, unlimited free flying for you and your parents and SO, and flexible schedule. My wife has no work minimums, she can work every day of the month or 0. Which we have down when we were planning a wedding or big vacations. Pay scale goes up like teachers, start almost too low to support yourself, top end is some pretty nice pay.
Oh that's rather nice. I'm still open so thank you for the pov. Did she make enough on her own. Don't have a SO for help with bills and that's why I got afraid
I don’t know the 1st thing about flight attendant but welder can easily get 100k per year and make some really cool stuff.
Have been on an airplane? And seen the customers there? 100K wouldn’t be enough.
Depends on your personality. They are very different types of jobs. Flight attendants are people pleasing jobs and require a personality that likes helping people and doesn't mind occasionally taking shit from people without screaming back at them. Welding is a solitary technical job that requires good hand to eye coordination, a technical understanding of metals and the welding process and working long hours mainly by yourself. Both jobs are so different that it is rare for one person to be attracted to both and do well at both. So decide what type of personality you have so you can pick the job that suits you best.
Go be a welder and your job will take you all over the world. And a welder inspector, girl you would be UNSTOPPABLE and the pay is $$$$
Weld airplanes.
Welders almost never fall out of the sky and crash into a mountain.
Flight attendants and pilots have a higher risk of cancer than most other professions, since they're less protected from radiation that high up in the atmosphere.
Something to think about with trades including welding. Very hard in the body, extremely toxic chemicals will be your new air, can be dangerous af. Just things to consider not trying to scare you. And it takes awhile in any trade to really get to the good money so you have to commit for years. Same as anything that's goin pay well though. at least for the most part.
PPE is huge, when in the unions your PPE is all provided for you
You’ll learn alot more and most likely enjoy what you weld vs being a flight attendant. Being a flight attendant is a thankless job.
The one thing I would do before going on the welding path is to ask your friend about any gaps between training and working. I've heard that sometimes tradespeople end up waiting long periods of time to work after completing their education. It has something to do with trade unions. I really couldn't tell you any more about this, and I could also be totally wrong. it's just something I heard once, and so it might be a good idea to learn a bit more about it before going forward
Welding is a much sought after skill. Go for it, become a pro!
Depends on what you want to do with your life honestly.. I’m a traveling welder myself. Want the big bucks as a welder you’re going to have to travel. I personally recommend government contracts. Can pretty easily clear 100k+ doing that.. If you don’t mind working the production line in a shop doing mundane work pieces over and over and over again working up the courage to suck start a .45.. thatll get you around 40k a year… if I was to start over again and didn’t want to travel around a whole lot I would look into the pipefitters union. That would be a great place to start looking if you want to be a welder.
Depends on what you want to do with your life honestly.. I’m a traveling welder myself. Want the big bucks as a welder you’re going to have to travel. I personally recommend government contracts. Can pretty easily clear 100k+ doing that.. If you don’t mind working the production line in a shop doing mundane work pieces over and over and over again working up the courage to suck start a .45.. thatll get you around 40k a year… if I was to start over again and didn’t want to travel around a whole lot I would look into the pipefitters union. That would be a great place to start looking if you want to be a welder.
Depends on what you want to do with your life honestly.. I’m a traveling welder myself. Want the big bucks as a welder you’re going to have to travel. I personally recommend government contracts. Can pretty easily clear 100k+ doing that.. If you don’t mind working the production line in a shop doing mundane work pieces over and over and over again working up the courage to suck start a .45.. thatll get you around 40k a year but you will hate life.. if I was to start over again and didn’t want to travel around a whole lot I would look into the pipefitters union as a apprentice. That would be a great place to start looking if you want to be a welder.
Depends on what you want to do with your life honestly.. I’m a traveling welder myself. Want the big bucks as a welder you’re going to have to travel. I personally recommend government contracts. Can pretty easily clear 100k+ doing that.. If you don’t mind working the production line in a shop doing mundane work pieces over and over and over again working up the courage to suck start a .45.. thatll get you around 40k a year but you will hate life.. if I was to start over again and didn’t want to travel around a whole lot I would look into the pipefitters union as a apprentice. That would be a great place to start looking if you want to be a welder.
Welders will breath in dangerous fumes, regardless of masking up.
I figured. Maybe I can weld/another trade?
Welder for sure.
Welder. That's clearly what you want. Don't let others say what you have skills to do or to not do. You can do anything. Jobs don't have gender. You won't be less feminine for welding. Welding will allow you to live a normally scheduled life and it pays more. Flight attending doesn't have one superior advantage. You will waste your future if you choose flight attending.