Underwater welders - How much do they make?

**GMTK** · #1 03-18-2011, 12:39 PM

Heard a story drinking with a buddy last night and need to call his bs. How much do underwater welders (working on rigs in gulf) make per week?

**SeaTex** · #2 03-18-2011, 12:45 PM

Underwater welding jobs can start around $80,000; experienced underwater welders can pull down up to $200,000.00 a year, and day rates of $1000 are quite common.

**GMTK** · #3 03-18-2011, 12:54 PM

Thanks, that's what I thought. He now owes me a bottle of bourbon....(he told me underwater welders make $10,000 a week....)

**fangard** · #4 03-18-2011, 01:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GMTK

Thanks, that's what I thought. He now owes me a bottle of bourbon....(he told me underwater welders make $10,000 a week....)

If $1000 a day is common, that would be $7K a week. Add a couple of hundred dollars to their day rate and you could approach 10K a week. Don't think they would make that on a very consistent basis, but it seems possible.

**roundman** · #5 03-18-2011, 01:11 PM

and i dont think a underwater welders life span is that long,as in career wise

**fishinfool** · #6 03-18-2011, 01:15 PM

10,000 a week is very possible. Saturation divers (not welding) just construction can clear 1000 to 1600 a day. this all depends on depth, the deeper they are working the more they make. Most of the permanant underwater welding is done in what they call a habitat. basically build a room around the weld that needs to be done and pump the water out.

Roundman is right on too.

**rlw** · #7 03-18-2011, 01:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by roundman

and i dont think a underwater welders life span is that long,as in career wise

Not only career but life expectancy too, I was studying to go into UWW but got married instead, didn't make the money but at least I'm still kickin'.

**GMTK** · #8 03-18-2011, 01:59 PM

He tried to tell me that they make $520,000 a year.....

**fangard** · #9 03-18-2011, 02:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GMTK

He tried to tell me that they make $520,000 a year.....

No way. I am sure they take at least a couple of weeks of vacation.

Maybe 490-500K max. JK.

**trodery** · #10 03-18-2011, 02:51 PM

In that job you are trading dollars for days of your life!

Note to the OP.... I thought about getting into the job when I was your age... the schools even told me I was too old to start!