Hello welders of Reddit, I’m a young guy (23M) living in North Carolina and I have a certification in welding technology and two plus years of experience in a full on start to finish fabrication role (as well as whatever odd jobs needed done around the shop). I enjoyed the work and even still enjoy working with my hands in my free time, but I left the welding world about a year ago.

The reason I left is because I was exhausted, pulling 55/60hr weeks every week was expected from everyone. Sure Saturdays and Sundays were ‘optional’ but the implications was certainly that they weren’t. I know that the money is great and that many of them don’t mind long weeks as they get the paycheck that goes with it, but I really value balance over that.

I have no other marketable skills and have been struggling to make ends meet for the last year, and I am thinking I might have to rejoin the welding workforce. What recommendations do you guys have for a career in welding that doesn’t make you work mandatory overtime?