How Much Money Pipeline Welders ACTUALLY Make Per Hour & In A Year (My Experience)

How much does a pipeline welder make in a week, month, and year? While this question has always been difficult to fully answer, I will tell my experience in hopes it helps anyone interested in becoming a pipeline welder.

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[HSKFabrications]

Better to have another skill than just pipeline welding. I weld and work on heavy equipment and make north of 100k and get to go home every day.

[rjthomasindyusa]

My buddy was in his early twenties and came out to Colorado about 10 years ago. He worked his ass off for a few years and he was grossing over 200k a year. Sure... you have payments... but at the end of the day you own the except for the consumables. Food and lodging are going to cost you wether or not you are working. He learned to weld in the city.... he bought an old lathe to bevel pipe. I think its an inspirational story.... hard work and sacfrifice pays off.

[Old_Sailor]

35 years in gas & oil. Retired now.

Pipeliners (not just the welders) can make a lot of money. They also work 12-16 hour days in all weather conditions, sometimes 7 days a week. Living out of a trailer or with several guys renting a place. Rents go sky-high as soon as the locals figure it out.

It's hard work. Snowflakes need not apply.

A lot of the guys bought new rigs there was so much money being thrown around. This was when the Marcellus and Utica plays were in full swing. Also Rockies Express was being built.

What else are you going to spend your money on? You're always working away from home. As bad as being a sailor...

[holyhammerironworks]

Thank you for sharing this information! Many keep a big secret! Some welding schools lure students in by the promise of making $100, 000 a year. I refer to that as 1 percenter’s. If you’re making $60, 000 a year working a 40 hour a week job you’re probably doing as well as a pipe line welder.

[VantageWelding]

Awesome vid. No clickbait stuff here. Pure knowledge. Chasing the money with my rig and camper were some of the best years in my career. But once my boy was born, that mentality quickly changed. Driving only 3 days after he was born back to Lubbock to finish a job was the toughest. I knew I needed to make a change.

[waynedale]

Be aware that pipeline work is real work. It is not easy on the back. It is not easy when getting stuck in mud. It is not easy when the summers are hot. It is not easy during the cold winter if work is even available. Many times the older welders have trouble with their vision. However, I admire those who are willing to do real work. This video about how much money is available for the welding craft is very informative.

[larryegilman]

Incredibly valuable information for young people aspiring to be pipeline welders. None of my years in education ever provided life saving financial information that you are providing

[codydayton]

I run a ranger out of a 1500 . I've made good money on side jobs. It's helped me invest in more tools . Hopefully a bigger rig soon. But I'm grateful to have a welder and a truck.

[franka]

I am not a welder and don't intend to be one. I don't even work a trade. But the way you broke down the financial information, touching on lifestyle/personality, words of caution, no superlatives - I find it very interesting and I think this is how YouTube should be lol

[utL]

My neighbor hit the road for 8 years straight. He stayed out months at a time. Kept the same 2007 dodge dually. From the last conversation we had he paid off his house, truck, camper. Now he chose to work local minus the big ticket payment (house)

[metalman]

You absolutely right sir that's why I make $35 per hour plus full benefits with a union and don't work myself to death .I have a side mobile business for side hustle most people don't tell the truth about the industry 👍

[fylondpettyloaf]

I'm glad this video is out here with all the welding videos and channels flaunting the large paychecks. I'm a structural welder/millwright (depends on job availability), been making 35 an hour on average with my welding. I encourage every young man with a backbone to get into it, but you have to be smart about it. I've known too many young guys to blow all their cash on bar tabs and girls because they don't realize how expensive it can be.

[samuelscragg]

Good info. You nailed with the fact “of how you manage your money” that’s where a lot of folks fail. Another major topic is taxes. Living over the road can have tax advantages however one MUST keep good records and receipts. Always have receipts for any tax write off you take.

[okhotrodder]

Why is it I always say, "I'm in the wrong business." Glad you are doing well. Mechanics seem to be at the bottom of the totem poll despite having intensive knowledge, and tons of money in tools/equipment, along with insurance and all the other overhead cost.

[frankjohnson]

When I worked for AT&T Long-distance what I loved about it was the fact that i worked all over a great deal of the US and that I was working on Outside Plant. So if I were a welder I think I too would prefer pipeline for the travel and being outside, NOT caged up in 4 walls!

[davehaggerty]

I had a tenant that was a high line worker. He erected and serviced electric transmission towers. He made good money.
His wife was a pipeline welder. She was between jobs and stayed home with their four kids.
They stayed a year and a half. Said it was some of the best times of their marriage.
He once told me it doesn’t matter how much you make if you’re transient you never accumulate anything.
I’ve seen that with my kids too. They are truck drivers.
Over the road they earn twice as much and keep half as much for jobs where they’re home every night.

[RinkyRoo]

I know I wil garner the hatred of the internet.
but I was told by one of the guys who taught me to weld have a exit strategy ie degree etc, he was a aerospace guy and he said you may want to do something else later on .
That was in 2001 and he was right

[brianbender]

Wow, that was good. Very honest and accurate. He didn’t try to make it sound like everybody is rolling in money being a pipeliner. Better to be honest about the business side to really help the new folks getting into the trade. Plenty of excellent information without striking an arc. Nice job, Austin.

[kennethdutton]

And again, the other option from pipelining or having your own local business is pipewelding out of a Fitter or combination local (plumber/fitter). Usually the rate of pay is the same as a fitter or plumber call. Many gas companies (PG & E) employ pioewelders as well

[kornfedkustoms]

Non union pipe welder/fitter plus small fab at $44.30 per hour plus yearly bonus, work at a plant 4-10hr days and full benefits i know i should feel like i have it made but i really want to be on my own. My hang up is health insurance for my family. 100k-110k per year workin 4 days per week is alright but im miserable when my alarm goes off. $ aint everything i suppose. Thinkin hard about a rig truck for local stuff lots of AG around here GREAT VIDEO!