I was enlisted in the Navy for six years as a submarine mechanic/welder/operator. Got a job at a power plant 11 years ago starting at $20/hr as a mechanic/operator. (Non-vets started at $18/hr)
I have zero college under my belt, but after two years as a mechanic, I was approached by management to see if I was interested in transferring to the Instrumentation & Controls dept. (Outsiders require a degree to be considered for the job.) I knew virtually nothing about electricity, but I learned quickly and was at top pay after 3 years.
I now make $46/hr and have been working a consistent 55 hrs/wk for the last four years. With that overtime, I haven’t made less than $100k since 2003. All that with no degree, but only military experience and a willingness to work hard.
Don’t know much about the oil/gas industry, but the utility industry may be work looking into. We’re always short on qualified welders. Top pay for welders at my plant is only $1/hr less than an I&C technician. And one other thing, my plant even pays our mechanics to get their state and city welding licenses. Not too many pass it though...
Thanks!