The pay may look appealing, but I have many friends who are retired welders who live in perpetual pain from flash burned retinas. The job is like a professional athlete. Good pay while you can do it, followed by a miserable disability retirement.
The main problem for welders is that they may develop problems with the back and various joints due to having to work in uncomfortable postures. Most will also get burned and the burns are very slow to heal. But, for those with the talent, they can do very well and if they are capable of a college degree they are capable of eventually owning their own business and hiring young welders who still have a functional back.