New Mexico Jobs?

[tubalcain]

My wife and I aree looking to head back to the South West in 3 months or so. Does any one know of towns or cities with welding jobs? I would be grateful for any suggestions. I have tried job web-sites and such. We are looking in New Mexico mostly, hoping for a medium sized town with a large towns selection of jobs!! HA! I am hopeful. Thank you.
Good welding.

[steve45]

Not sure what you mean by 'medium' sized town, as New Mexico has two 'large' towns (Albuquerque & Santa Fe), several 'medium' sized towns (Hobbs, Carlsbad, Roswell, & Taos), and the rest are pretty small.

There is a lot of oilfield activity in the southeastern part of the state, i.e. Hobbs & Carlsbad.

You might contact: http://www.snelling.com/odessa They've been advertising for welders on the radio. This is a Texas location, but only 60 miles from Hobbs.

You might also try: http://www.energipersonnel.com/ I drove by their office in Midland, Texas today and saw a sign seeking welders. Again, very close to New Mexico.

No income tax in Texas!

[Oldtimer]

Las Cruces is right up there with the big boys now. If you are looking for oil field welding, Hobbs and Lovington and some at Carlsbad and Roswell. Last employment report had Lea Count at 2.3% jobless and the whole state at 3.3%. Odessa and Midland, Texas are pretty hot too. Big building boom in Hobbs right now because it's hard to find a place to live. Drilling has dropped off because of the additional costs the OCC is looking to add to drilling a well so things may go down hill. Some of the companies have moved their drilling to Texas and Oklahoma already.

[Oldtimer]

Steve is right about no income tax in Texas but you need to check into property taxes in both states. Texas is a lot rougher than NM. Also car registration is higher and sales tax is higher in Texas. Some counties charge property tax on your furniture and your automible too.

[tubalcain]

Thank you Steve and Oldtimer, that is very good to know. I surely appreciate the information. They are really advertising for weldors on the radio? My wife is from El Paso, and there is a lot of work there, but it is a rat-race in bigger towns like that. Is anything happening in Santa Fe? I try inter-net searches for places and come up with a big goose egg most times. I will check those sites, Steve. Thank you.
Good Welding.

[Oldtimer]

There is nothing happening in Santa Fe connected with the oil field. They don't want no stinkin' oil wells up there. All they want is the tax dollars from it. Yes ,they are advertizing on the radio and a majority of the businesses have help wanted signs out. Wal-Mart in Hobbs had to drop being open 24 hours a day months ago because they can't find enough employees to keep the store open around the clock. They usually have 7 or 8 registers open out of 31 and the lines are 7 and 8 deep at each register. Need a contractor to work on your house? Forget it. They are all working in the big construction boom. If they will even talk to you they say maybe in a year or two. I've lived here since 1956 and have never seen anything like it.

[TealGunner]

The market in Albuquerque is booming right now. Building going up all over town, lots of sparks from welding throughout the city. Big names in construction here are BigJ, Jaynes, Twin Mountain, and quite a few others. I'm not sure exactly what you are looking for, but I live south of ABQ and work in town, it's about a 35 minute drive, but much cheaper than living in the city. Los Lunas, Belen, Rio Rancho are all bedroom communities that are growing into real cities of their own right.

Oil field stuff is either down in the southeast corner near Hobbs, Lovington, Carlsbad, Artesia, etc. Don't forget to look near Farmington in the northwest corner, lots of oil and gas up there as well.

There are also a couple of HUGE wind farms being built and expanded right now in the eastern plains near ft. sumner and vaughn--my dad lives near one.

Check the web, visit chamber of commerce sites, and good luck.

[steve45]

Sorry, forgot about Farmington & Las Cruces, they're pretty good sized towns.

Regarding taxes, we pay about 1% of appraised value on our home (depends on the county you live in). When you move here, or buy a vehicle, it's 6% of book value to register it. After that, it's about $50-60 per year. Sales tax depends on the county, as well. Ours is 8.25%.

Yes, last week Snelling was advertising on the radio for welders, $40/hour. You will be tested for your welding ability, as well as drug screen.

[tubalcain]

Hey you guys, thank you very much. I am not able to get on the computer as often as I would like, I apologize for being slow to respond.
I will probably be looking for shop welding jobs, lower pay scale but good experience. Las Cruces is a neat town, that Coas bookstore is too cool.

It kind of looks like Albuquerque is the best bet for a wide range of welding jobs. As well as other jobs. How is the terrain around Abq? I hear the views are beautiful.

I thank you all for the info.

Good welding.

[Oldtimer]

Tubalcain, It depends on your idea of beauty. The Sandias are right on the east side of town and are so, so for mountains. There are some mountains to the south but nothing spectuacular. The whole area is dry and dusty. I don't remember the annual rainfall but it isn't much. But you aren't too far from some really pretty country. The Pecos Wilderness is just over to the northeast and it is beautiful. I try to spend two or three weeks right below the iron gate every year. Up above that is the Enchanted Circle an it is really something to see and spend time in.

The local paper had an article this morning about obtaining workers for Lea County. That's the Lovington and Hobbs area. Unemployment was 1.8% in January. I have never heard of that low a rate anywhere,ever. Probably all it would take to get a job is be able to walk in the door and pass a drug test.

[steve45]

I was under the impression that you had lived in New Mexico (or the southwest) before.

Albuquerque is in a valley between a fairly tall mountain and a smaller one. The air flow circulates around the valley, which causes hot air ballons to fly for extended areas without going very far. This is why the area is known for the annual Balloon Fiesta. Pretty neat. The circulation pattern also makes the pollution tend to stay around for days, too. It's pretty smoggy for a southwestern city.

The city is also landlocked between the mountains and the indian reservations. It really can't grow very much. Humidity is very low, resulting in daily temperature fluctuations of 40° - 50°. Not many trees!

Sandia Peak is a neat tourist attraction. You can ride the tram to the top (it's a little over 10,000 feet high, but the base elevation is about 5300'. It still provides a magnificent view and there's a restaurant/bar on top. They offer skiing in the winter. Old Town is a tourist area of the city, with lots of Indian stuff. There is also the National Atomic Museum, which tells of the development of atomic weapons at nearby Los Alamos.

Albuquerque is serviced by Southwest Airlines, and I'm sure others. I'd suggest you fly down for a visit before making your decision.

Farmington is a good spot if you like snow skiing. No skiing there, but you're very close to Telluride, Purgatory, and Wolf Creek, in Colorado.

I've lived and worked in southeastern NM. It's not very pretty, but the sunsets are incredible! Again, very dry. 100° is about average in the summer, but with 10% humidity, you really don't notice it.

Carlsbad is a scenic little town in with a river running through it. There is also a small recreational lake, if you enjoy water sports.

[tubalcain]

Steve, thank you. I have lived in the South West before, but never in New Mexico. I truly do have mixed feelings, and I wonder if NM is the right decision. I have to take so many things into consideration, job market for welders, crime statistics, ad infinitum... I am married, so things are not simple any more, though my life is dramatically improved. I just keep taking it one day at a time. Thank you for the info.

Good Welding.

[steve45]

Well, what are you looking for?

[pulser]

The cost of housing anywhere near Santa Fe is outrageous. Anything less than about $450K is probably a dumpy adobe shed on the outskirts or in a crummy part of town. If you go above $650K you may find something decent, only requiring "minor" rebuilding, but your neighbor may be in a single wide with a couple of pit bulls. Get up to about $850K and you have a chance at a solid house without too many trailers or junk cars nearby.

This somewhat an exageration of course, but you may not want your wife to get any romantic ideas about living in Santa Fe.

Other possibilities for jobs in New Mexico include Sandia National Laboratory in Albuquerque and Los Alamos National Lab in Los Alamos. I think hiring is shut down right now at both labs, but it never hurts to look into it. They both employ many people involved in a wide range of welding areas, generally there are facilities related welders and there are lab production/research welding technicians. You don't need a college degree to be hired and work as a technician.

[tubalcain]

Well, what are you looking for?

More welding jobs than weldors, reasonable rent, stability. I worry too much, I have gotten great information from you fellows. Las Cruces has a boodle of jobs, and it is a nice place, I am leaning in that direction. I miss my younger years, when the future was a promissory note, a foggy and unseen thing. Ah well, all is well and every day above ground is a good day. Thanks again.
Good welding.

[Raindem]

More welding jobs than weldors, reasonable rent, stability. I worry too much, I have gotten great information from you fellows. Las Cruces has a boodle of jobs, and it is a nice place, I am leaning in that direction. I miss my younger years, when the future was a promissory note, a foggy and unseen thing. Ah well, all is well and every day above ground is a good day. Thanks again.
Good welding.
Can't tell ya about the welding jobs but you are correct, Las Cruces is a very nice place. Reasonable cost of living, excellent climate.

[obewan]

You should run a Google search to find the New Mexico state unemployment office jobs database/website. The state usually does a pretty good job with welding jobs - at least in FL that is where the most jobs are posted. I think HR people are pretty cheap overall, and they tend to go where there is free advertising. Sometimes the wages are low, but at least you can compare dozens of jobs for wage ranges. Another good site is America's Job Bank. It is nationwide, but will search by state. It is run by the federal unemployment insurance people. It used to be www.ajb.dni.us

[Oldtimer]

Santa Fe is a nice place to visit. Everone I've ever encountered there was friendly and pleasant. Living there is very expensive and has been for a long time now. Progressive Farmer magazine lister as one of the 10 best places to live in the US two years ago, guess they didn't check the cost of living.

Albuquerque refers to the southeastern part of the state as the "third world" but they are the crime capital of the state by a wide margin.

Cruces is a nice place. Wouldn't be a bad place to live. Mild winters, lots of sunshine and the place is growing like crazy. Should be lots of jobs.

[pulser]

Great micro brewery in Las Cruces, High Desert Brewing.
Had an excellent pitcher of IPA and finished off with a pint of peach wheat for desert. An excellent reason to move there! :drinkup:

[tubalcain]

This is all great stuff! The American Job Bank, eh? That sounds promising! I really appreciate you all taking the time to give me information. A micro brewery, too. Hmmmmmm. If I can't find work, at least I can stay drunk on local brew!!
Good welding.

[Jolly Roger]

Anywhere in NM is better than New Orleans. Even El Paso was better than here. The only thing about oilfield work is there is only work as long as oil prices are high. I plan on heading back out there iin a few months or as soon as I can finish everything I have committed myself for here.

[IH 392]

There is good work in Farmington right now. I have had a few calls at the shop here in Grand Junction, Co out of Farmington looking for code welders ( mainly S-S) to help in Farmtown. Elkhorn Construction is hiring there..Don't forget about Three Rivers Brewery in Farmington, they have an increadible selection of brew, and have won numerous awards.