2 Months as a UNION Pipefitter Apprentice: A New LOCATION

[@dennismaloney7241]

I was a UA 420 pipefitter/welder for 41 years. I worked all around the country building and/or repiping powerplants, water treatment plants, and HRSGs. I also worked on defense projects, earning top wages, per diem, and lodging. I thoroughly enjoyed my career and put my children through college while my wife stayed at home. You are on the right track, keep the faith, my young brother. One cautionary note, forget the fast women, fast cars, motorcycles, and boats--invest, invest, INVEST! I wasted hundreds of thousands of dollars on toys and money I should have invested in the last 48 years. I literally would have millions now if I had.

[@Pipingv1king]

41 years wow! Man I really appreciate the advice! Definitely going to invest for the future for my wife and kids! It's only the beginning for sure

[@dominicr2733]

how well is ur pension takin care of you

[@dennismaloney7241]

@dominicr2733 With investments (dividends) $130,000.00 a year.

[@CesarLopez-p5s]

So as a pipefitter I do welding to?

[@The-apprenticepipefitter]

Good job bro stick with it, I’m a 3rd year apprentice and it’s the best career choice I made, get your welding practice at the training center, I’ve been making a year ahead of scale for the last 2 years as a welder, money starting to roll in now💪🏽

[@Pipingv1king]

That's the plan brother💪welding is a skill I really want to get into as well. Hope the money continues to roll for you💸

[@xxbobbyxx4]

Thanks for the videos man! Very helpful to get a insight

[@Pipingv1king]

I really appreciate it🙏 more to come

[@xMister.Misterx]

This is a cool idea. I’m subscriber number 71. I’m looking forward to watching the next update!

[@Pipingv1king]

Hey thanks! Currently uploading my next update as we speak!

[@xMister.Misterx]

@@Pipingv1king I’m on it!

[@Justjackson7]

I’m still deciding if I want to do pipefitting side or the plumber side in my local ua union in Dallas I’m a combo welder/fabricator right now I went to a trade school and graduated for welding/pipefitter in 2021 but worried for that the pipefitting side won’t have work unlike the plumber side do

[@Pipingv1king]

I'll be honest with you, I wanted to pursue plumbing, that's all I really wanted to do, but when I first met with the union training director in the hall, he had already put me down as a pipefitter. I asked him "why" he told me that pipefitters are In demand right now, with that being said Im pursuing pipefitting, and around my 3rd or 4th year I'll get my fitters license and then the plan is to eventually pursue plumbing.

[@Justjackson7]

@@Pipingv1king exactly I don’t plan on welding for the rest of my life only reason I like the plumbing is driving to residential going to new build construction a new scenery everytime instead being stuck in a shop all day inhaling argon gas and aluminum. But IBEW electrician side is also on my table too so only time can tell.

[@CesarLopez-p5s]

Did you know how to read measuring tape going in

[@Pipingv1king]

Before I joined the union, I had no idea how to read a tape, still takes me a bit to get it right away, I know at one point it'll become second nature, something I did was memorize the fractions in an inch, before I joined the union

[@paulwall2891]

What are the hours typically like?

[@Pipingv1king]

40 hours a week. 8 hour shifts, MAYBE some overtime depending on the job

[@CacaLoth]

What state are you in? Im a year 1 pipefitter apprentice in tennessee and it sounds quite different from the stuff i have done

[@Pipingv1king]

I'm a first year Pipefitter apprentice from Massachusetts!

[@ZZ-wc4ql]

also what work were you doing before? and what made you want to change careers?

[@Pipingv1king]

I was working at Amazon since 2020, I wanted to change, because I just wanted to learn a valuable skill in the trades, That will allow me to make great money and support my family! This is the career I'm In for the long haul.

[@ZZ-wc4ql]

what local? and thank you for this! just what i been looking for

[@Pipingv1king]

I appreciate it! More videos to come🙏 im from local 104 in Mass

[@mdma3593]

Can you make a video on what the exam is like?

[@Pipingv1king]

Will definitely be making one!

[@charlessmallins7926]

Congratulations but you’re doing it the slow way of becoming a welder/pipefitter. I’d just go to a trade school learn all that in less than 8 months and come in as a professional welder/pipefitter. Not doing goofer work for others. Sure I take out a student loan but I’ll make that money back in no time. In GA going thru the Union takes you 4-5 years before you become a journeyman making $30-$35 an hour. I know kids going to a trade school for 7 months graduate and make $30 an hour. I’m just saying

[@Pipingv1king]

Thanks I appreciate it! It's an opportunity people wait years to get into the union. I knew I had to take it, and id recommended anyone to take it as well, of course there's other routes people take, which is great. But im kinda green coming into this, by my 3rd year I'll be around $35, and journeyman rate will be around $50, so I'm enjoying the progress and working myself to earn that rate

[@ChasingTheDream87]

This is just flat out wrong, guys will go to school and learn to be a welder, but scratch their head when it comes to fitting let alone passing 100% x-ray on pipe in 6g, a JM whose been through the program would walk circles around a guy who only went to trade school

[@xMister.Misterx]

@@charlessmallins7926 If you skip the union route do you get medical, dental, vision, and pension paid for by someone else??

[@bmathers21]

Journeyman wage at Local 290 in Oregon is $56/hour. Plus another $36/hour in benefits. Over $90/hour total package. And it goes up in April 2025

[@ChasingTheDream87]

@@bmathers21 exactly, in San Diego it's 53 on the check, a welder who passed 6g test scales to 59, in San Mateo they're over 70/he on check

[@lascellesstoddart3907]

Dope video man. If you dont mind be asking. How old are you? & What made u wanna join pipefitter

[@Pipingv1king]

I'm 25, I wanted to join the pipefitters union, because I wanted a career, and learn a Valuable skill, and ofcourse great benefits for my family and I.

[@danielross9189]

​@@Pipingv1kingI'm 25 as well and thinking of getting an actual career but will have to take a pay cut to join the pipefitter apprenticeship. Are there overtime hours available if you want them?

[@edreiii0451]

@@danielross9189depending on how big your company is, they’ll need people for shutdown jobs and occasional overtime and weekend jobs.

[@mauricewiley6164]

519 second years plumber

[@Pipingv1king]

That's awesome bro, keep at it💯

[@AskTheKid]

How old are you?

[@Pipingv1king]

I am 25

[@trevorhoffler-xu5bq]

Dude do you have an email or something...i got questions

[@Pipingv1king]

I got you man, ask and I will answer your question to the best of my knowledge. I don't mind doing it here, because other people might have the exact questions and they will see it here as well

[@FlxffySlayz]

Hey man whats the exam like.

[@trevorhoffler-xu5bq]

@@FlxffySlayz right...and since the education is ongoing, what happens if you don't pass something