I know this is kinda sensitive but I didn't see anything about it in the rules.
I live in USA, Texas. Today at work I started wondering if this is what I wanted to do for my career.
Pretty much a co-worker asked me if I was going to become a machinist or go to school for something because machinist don't make that much money. I don't really remember what I said but it was very unclear as we got interrupted or something. I was thinking that I might have to go to school to learn some stuff for machining, but what I keep thinking about is if machinist don't make good money?
I know another coworker has a pretty nice truck and has a pretty fast car too as well has guns... I don't know what his wife does but it makes me think he's doing well? I as a general laborer think I get paid pretty well for what I do but I worry about my knees and how much I will have to rebuy tools. (Someone is using calipers from the 80's and they're still in good shape then I'm using some from 2000's that have worn nibs and someone just got some new calipers) Like buying calipers every year.
As I do think I get paid nicely, I don't think its near enough for me to live alone. If I did I'm pretty sure it would be pretty rough... So how much do machinist make? My shop has many cnc machines but does keep manual machines around. Anything like "I used to make XX when I started" or maybe a wage you have succeeded would be helpful to me.
Basically wondering if I want to graduate from general laborer to machinist or to something else. I need to start working on it soon.
Thanks,
Awaqa909
I started out as a welder in VoTec at 16 years old
I welded ship yards at 17 years old and until I reached 19 years old . Welding
My Daddy was a aircraft Mechanic , I was welding in a big fabrication shop inside some big tanks it was killing me . I could tell .
I would come home my lungs was slap full of black smoke from breathing all that welding smoke.
One day at lunch I was talking to a old man
That looked to me at the time to be 70 years old -
He was not but 50 years old . He told me if I could
Go back to VoTec and learn the Machinist trade
That I should do it .
I had no idea what a Machinist was I asked him to show me . We went to the machine shop and he kinda pointed out some of the things that I would be doing .
I went home and talked to my Daddy about it
And my Daddy got very exited and started right away encouraging me. To do it .
Daddy always told me that a
Rolling Stone Gathers No Moss
So I quit that welding job went home and signed up
For VoTec and took the Machine Shop Training
Coarse. The rest is History .
I am retired now at 62 years old and never regretted one minute of my Decision .
I have made a good living .
I did not get Rich but I planted my roots
Tight and gathered lots of moss