underwater welding

[dice65l]

does any body know how much a underwater welder makes?

[RICK]

That's a pretty wide open question. My brother-in-law is a commercial diver and underwater weldor. He's currently working off-shore on the oil rigs in the gulf. He makes a good living but he'd be the first to tell you that's it's very hard and dangerous work.

I worked with him once as the topside safety officer on a commercial penetration dive. On that job he had to work himself into what amounted to be an underwater "jungle gym". We had to work very carefully to ensure his air supply line didn't get cut or tangled on any of the debris below the surface.

He was down for about an hour and completed that job which required burning and welding. He was paid $2500 for his time and i was paid $800 for mine.

This type of dive required hours of planning. The actual work was planned but most of the planning involved the safety of the operation. Things can go very bad very fast underwater.

You need to consider this things if you're wanting to work sub-surface.

Take care and Happy New Year!!

[G3farms]

i don't know anything about underwater welding but it does not make sense to me to jump in the water holding a stinger and somebody firing up the welder:blob2: :blob2:

just kidding, could not help it

G3

[rusty ripple]

Wet welding is something that is just not done very often. there are two companies that i know of in the gulf that do alot of underwater welding, global industries and phoenix. last time i heard the divers that specialize in wet welding made .75 cents more an hour. this meant that there was actually less incentive for them to be sent out on a job because they were slightly more expensive, but if you're in good with a supervisor that sort of thing is often ignored. money is made according to depth, different companies use different pay scales but it increases exponentially the deeper you go. really deep work, yes you can make 2000 in a single dive, but you won't be able to dive that depth day more than a couple of days a week. after dive school expect to work for two-three years as a tender before you break out as a diver. divers rarely have a schedule, so if you're a family man who can't bear to be away from home, then diving is probably not for you. if you want more info, check out www.offshorediver.com

[Migster]

You make more $$ but that wont matter if you arent around to use it. Its very dangerous work I heard.

[hrdhatdivr]

if your going to be a certified welder then persue that route.
want to be a commercial diver then go that route .
as a diver you will not be welding all the time.
if your a non union diver / welder then you pretty much will be assured to get taken over the coals. one rate no matter what
i myself am a diver /certified welder / timberman/ concrete worker /pile driver an pretty much versed in my field and each of my things that i do keep me earning a living.in and out of the water .
i get dive pay / guaranteed 8 hrs. and 2. 00 more over that rate for welding
if you want to weld all the time then go the route as a steamfitter ,in the gulf be a welder you'll do better

[mooseye]

I have had divers on a few jobs that I ran and they made the same pay as I did as Forman on dry land. And they only got that pay if they were in the water. Out of the water I would not have taken my job for what they made. Some of the older guys said they did not feel good unless they were in the water. There is no way I would choose that career. In fact, knowing what I know now, there is no way I would pursue a career in welding at all. Just my 2 cents worth, adjusted for inflation.