Hello! I am probably going to be out of work shortly and am thinking about looking into learning a specific trade, two sets in particular, either Welding or Electrician. I am currently located in Houston and have looked around at some schools online.

What are your thoughts on starting out in either of these trades?

Can you recommend any schools?

Any and all suggestions/comments are welcomed. TIA

If you're handy at welding and electrical work, AND you are an exceptional mechanic who understands the details of repairing and assembling industrial equipment, you just described a millwright.

Welding pays well, you don't have to join a union, and you'll always have a job.

But your career is based on your hands. What if you got in a car wreck and had some nerve damage where your hand was no longer steady or you couldn't sit in one position too long?

I just don't know many old welders that look good haha. But you can transition from welder to QC/inspections with your college education and really make good money.


Electrician is a good route also. In my area they are all union. Sulphur Electric Co is this big one in Lake Charles.

If in Houston look into the electrician training at San Jac central in Pasadena.

My family owns an electrical contractor in Pasadena if you need a job. We are not Union and I hear we pay better than Union.

Journeymen make $32+ an hour and can work as many hours as they want. Top supervisors make make $45+ an hour and again can work lots of overtime.

Might also consider instrument tech school and I believe that San Jac offers that as well. Techs make more than electricians and don't do manual labor. We pay certified techs $45 an hour.

Also, with a degree already, you might want to look into safety for industrial construction projects

Look into non destructive testing (X-ray and ultrasound). Used in O&G, aviation and construction. Starting out you will make atleast 40k, although with experience you can gain your ASNT level 3, API, CWI and make 100k.

For welding classes you could try ABC School (Associated Builders & Contractors)

That's also where you can take your NCCER to get certified.

My son is a young welder. He loves it. Got his job during the peak of the shale play. It is probably harder to get work now with the shale play down and oil prices low (more welders looking for work).

Plumbing and electrical are hot markets these days. Try hiring an electrician to come out to the house to do some minor work right now.

Check out either San Jac or Lee College for instrumentation. They each have great programs and you'll have no problem finding a job upon completion. I have two brothers who are instrument techs and both of them worked for small electrical contractors as helpers and took night classes at Lee for instrumentation. They each had full-time offers with large petrochemical companies upon graduation. Instrumentation/automation is a great field that is constantly expanding. You can work anywhere in the world and make great money.

TSTC is the best overall trade school in Texas. Cheaper than proprietary schools and they specialize in technical programs unlike the junior colleges. Plus they get paid by the state based upon their graduates getting jobs so they have an incentive to teach you something useful. There is one in Richmond that teaches welding machining and a/c. They are opening a larger campus in Rosenberg in the fall with more programs. Bang for your buck I think that is the route I would take. And I second TGs comments about instrumentation. Those TSTC graduates earn the most. That program will be available in Rosenberg in the fall.

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Look into non destructive testing (X-ray and ultrasound). Used in O&G, aviation and construction. Starting out you will make atleast 40k, although with experience you can gain your ASNT level 3, API, CWI and make 100k.

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This.

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Look into non destructive testing (X-ray and ultrasound). Used in O&G, aviation and construction. Starting out you will make atleast 40k, although with experience you can gain your ASNT level 3, API, CWI and make 100k.

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What type of training/certifications/education does this type of work take?

I don't think you need certifications or anything to do NDT.

But to be an inspector there's a pretty hard test to get your CWI or 510 (thinks its a 510) and you'll need lots of experience. But those guys get over $50/hr with lots of OT and per diem

One of the best businesses (at the time) I had ever seen was the 3rd party inspection outfit we used on a daily basis at Baker Oil Tools.

Low overhead and charged us by the ends inspected. Can't really recall, but want to say it was ~40/end on our 2-7/8 tools. At damn near 100-150 ends/day he was making a killing from our PSL alone.

Instrumentation or process operation are 2 degrees to look at. Lee college or San Jacinto would be good

For electrical you can go union or non-union. Houston has training centers for both. Based on what I've seen, I would go to either a JATC (Union) or IEC (non-union) training center over an ABC one.

I would start non-union. You can get journeyman wages faster.

At a union you're required to be an apprentice for a few years.

If your goal is to go into business for yourself, look at learning the pool business as well. No formal education or barriers to entry

Just want to compliment you on having the courage to take a step like this. I feel like more and more people are opening their eyes to the trades and how lucrative they can be.

TheVaria

Just curious what your current job is if you don't mind

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TheVaria

Just curious what your current job is if you don't mind

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Don't mind at all. I work in Oil and Gas as Supply Chain Specialist

Also, thanks everyone for your replies. I am loving looking around and learning more and more about all of this. Working with my hands has always been an interest for me and I am excited to get started!

Again, thanks for all of your comments and suggestions, keep them coming!!!!

Are there any websites (forums) or videos y'all recommend watching?

Glad I found this thread.

While I am gainfully employed with a great company, I find that I am more interested in learning a trade and applying it.

Any recommendations on schools in the San Antonio area?
How old is too old (I am 33) to start out as an electrician/plumber/welder/HVAC?

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Glad I found this thread.

While I am gainfully employed with a great company, I find that I am more interested in learning a trade and applying it.

Any recommendations on schools in the San Antonio area?
How old is too old (I am 33) to start out as an electrician/plumber/welder/HVAC?

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I'd be interested in the same thing. Also in San Antonio

Might as well join together and start an electrical contracting company here.

Ran across this thread doing a search for NDT careers. Is there anybody out there that actually works as an NDT technician or engineer? Or can you put me in touch with someone who does? If so, I would really appreciate a PM or I can provide contact information. The information I seek would be for an older Mechanical Engineer whose been out of engineering for a while that is wanting to do NDT inspections for a career change. Or please post it here of course.

Also very curious what the OP wound up doing now that some time has passed after this thread

Curious on others input to this question - If you were 18 yo and not cut out for 4 year college degree what trade/technical/2 year degree would you try for? Residing in Houston area.
TIA

Right here. What's your email?

NM

Thanks for the reply!

Z100 said:

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Curious on others input to this question - If you were 18 yo and not cut out for 4 year college degree what trade/technical/2 year degree would you try for? Residing in Houston area.
TIA

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Welding or AC and Heating/Plumbing.

After enough experience in either of those and a little help to gain some business acumen, you can have your own shop and make a very comfortable living.

TheVarian said:

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Also, thanks everyone for your replies. I am loving looking around and learning more and more about all of this. Working with my hands has always been an interest for me and I am excited to get started!

Again, thanks for all of your comments and suggestions, keep them coming!!!!

Are there any websites (forums) or videos y'all recommend watching?

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Just did a little digging in regards to looking for a trade and came across this thread.
Did you ever make the jump?
Would you recommend?

I didn't unfortunately, I was working a lot back then and getting ready to get married so most of my desires to start working with my hands took a backseat.

About the only thing I do now is piddle in my garden/lawn and do some leatherwork. Getting more and more into leather stuff but still learning.

If I could I'd go back but since we've moved I may look back into this. Thanks for jogging this back up, always wanted to do more with welding and CNC stuff.

Good luck, I wish you the best!