Industires or improvement 2

[GRoberts]

Which of the following industries would you persue in the welding/materials field and why?

1. Power Generation (fossil)
2. Nuclear
3. Oil & Gas
4. Aerospace
5. Consulting
6. Other

Also, which do you think would add more value to an Welding engineer looking to move to one of the above industries?

1. AWS Certified Welding Engineer
2. PE in Metallurgy or materials engineering
3. MS in Metallurgy or materials engineering

 

[stanweld]

Employment with an Owner/Operator or Engineer/Contractor in the Power, Nuclear or Oil and Gas Industry, at the moment, should prove most profitable for you as opposed to aerospace or manufacturing. My hazy crystal ball indicates that those industries should be healthy for at least the next 5 to 10 years and they are actively hiring. I've been involved in all of your listed industries at one time or another and each industry has its plus and minus issues.

A P.E is a definite plus but is not essential. I know of no major company that is requiring AWS CWE as a prerequisite for hire.

Right now if you are a CWI in the Gulf States area, you should be able to make $45 to $55 per hour with time and a half overtime plus per diem. Salaried Welding Engineers can make up to $150,000 depending on experience and Employer. Oversea emploment salaries can be much greater.

 

[GRoberts]

Thanks Stanweld,
The main reason I put Aerospace on the list is that I live in the Northwest. If I want to get ahead, it almost seems like moving is a pre-requisite unless it is in Aerospace. My most relavent experience to most of these industries is in the primary metals industry, so I don't have any direct experience in them directly, except for making lots of components for them.

 

[tygerdawg]

Turbine component (aerospace OR steam OR gas) repair industry is huge. Much dollar value to components, lots of costs involved, payback economics is there, many opportunties for improving engineering methods for welding, metallurgy, & machinery to do same.

TygerDawg
Blue Technik LLC
Virtuoso Robotics Engineering

http://www.bluetechnik.com

 

[stanweld]

GRoberts,
If residing in your present location is your primary motivatiion, expect to be searching for a career in something other than what you are currently doing in the future. Plan on it! Companies can be bought, sold, downsized, canabalized or disbanded when you least expect it.

My advice is not to tie yourself to location unless immediate family (wife/children) issues and your overall happiness dictate. I've resided and worked in four countries and three States in the USA. All have provided unique and lasting experiences for me and my family.

 

[GRoberts]

Stanweld,
I seem to be realizing that more and more. Staying put only limits the scope of oppertunities avialable.

Tygerdawg,
The more I think about it, your suggestion is an interesting one because it can involve several of the afore mentioned industries at the same time.

 

[metengr]

GRoberts;
I would pursue 1 and 2 as being excellent opportunities, in general. Why? Because the Power generation sector is loosing aged employees and those companies that have reduced the work force through attrition are now trying to hire. Also, a third category to add is wind and solar. I have worked in the Power Generation business for 25+ years and opportunities prevail. Benefits are decent, and pay is well above average. For the last 2 years our company has been growing in the renewables - wind, gas and solar. I have more work than I can handle as a metallurgist.

Both the PE and MS are a plus.

Good Luck