My daughter as a friend who, after one semester, figured out that college wasn’t for her.
So she went to a tech school and became a welder. More work for her out in those gas fields than you can shake a stick at.
Not to mention as a minority female welder, she somehow finds herself in high demand.
I learned welding at age 46 to stay in the Army Reserve. My welders kept busier than the truck mechanics.
MIG welding is fairly simple, stick welding takes more practice, TIG is fun once you get the hang of it, but pressure joint welding to me is an art, some just have the knack for it. My uncle built home heating propane tanks & made good money.
Pipeline welders have to be extremely good at pressure joints. That’s where the high pay is, IMO