Out here in Wyoming, there is a huge energy boom going on right now. Gas pipeline is being laid all over the place, going from here to there and everywhere (wish I had a map...not sure exactly where its going to / coming from). People aren't sure how long the boom will last for. It seems many of the towns go through booms out here. But as I think about it...Im not entirely sure why. They had a boom back in the 70s and it died....now its going through a boom again. Well what happened to the first boom?
Im guessing it could be a number of factors...new technologies...gas prices, gas demand...etc. Ive heard numbers ranging from the boom busting anytime soon to lasting up to 20 years.
There are a ton of jobs out in the oil fields...working in the fields or the oil rigs themselves...or working as a trucker (one of my ideas)...driving anything pretty much. I think the power companies are even doing lots of projects with windfarms and the like.
One of the jobs I hear lots about is welding. I heard a number the other day that just floored me. One guy I was talking to worked at a local oil company and he said the welders make 62 bucks an hour. 32 for them, plus 30 for the truck, each hour. Plus all their supplies are paid for. There are guys that go and buy full size pickup trucks without the bed..and put a welder, gas and acetaline (sp?) torches, stands, even a generator and gas tank just to name a few...all in the back of the truck, aka welding trucks / rigs. Sure, that stuff can cost a bit, but at 60 an hour, that can be paid off fairly quick too. Plus these guys work TONS of hours each week. So Im sure they get overtime pay and such.
However, you have to be extremely good at it. The companies hiring welders out here give tests and they also examine and x-ray every weld performed. I heard of welding x-rays before, but that was on a oil rig out in the middle of the ocean somewhere.
I guess its one of those things I wish I picked up on in high school. Many high schools offer classes in welding and such. I don't know if that's something Id want to do for a living, because its a transient lifestyle...they are always moving. Of course, most welders in the country don't have that problem...but then again, I don't think they get paid as much either.
I went to a temp company today and filled out some paperwork for a job I heard about from a huge oil productions company. The pay is pretty good, but she said she regularly sees time cards with 100+ hours a week on them. Uff-da. So Id work 40 hours at a certain rate...then Id get overtime for the rest...although I didn't ask what their overtime was. Sounds interesting for sure...will have to wait and see.
Also got a lead on another possible job opening, but more on that later...