The (Good) Economics of America’s Energy Boom
Mary Schaper
Posted January 8, 2015
The $140,000-a-Year Welding Job
Wall Street Journal: Justin Friend ’s parents have doctoral degrees and have worked as university lecturers and researchers. So Mr. Friend might have been expected to head for a university after graduating from high school in Bryan, Texas, five years ago.
Instead, he attended Texas State Technical College in Waco, and received a two-year degree in welding. In 2013, his first full year as a welder, his income was about $130,000, more than triple the average annual wages for welders in the U.S. In 2014, Mr. Friend’s income rose to about $140,000.
That has allowed the 24-year-old to buy a $53,000 Ford F-250 pickup truck, invest in mutual funds and dabble in his hobbies, such as making jet engines, including one he attached to a golf cart.
“Not everybody needs a four-year college degree,” said Kathryn Vaughan, his mother, a retired biology lecturer who spent part of her career at Texas A&M University.
Read more: http://on.wsj.com/1xJP2jX
More industry news:
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The American Oil Trade Deficit Has Never Been lower: http://buswk.co/1wZVyhr
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U.S. Natural Gas Production in December Hits New Record: http://bit.ly/1xViWDK
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Refinery Exports Reach New Monthly High: http://bit.ly/1KpVkdW
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Keystone XL Approval Bill Clears Major Hurdle in Senate Despite Obama’s Veto Threat: http://bit.ly/14vi0sn
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Blog: In Veto Threat, President Claims 6 Years Isn’t Enough Time to Study Keystone Pipeline: http://uscham.com/1xJSYRL
About The Author
Mary Schaper is a Digital Communications Manager for the American Petroleum Institute. She previously worked on Capitol Hill for the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee as Digital Director and for Senator Lisa Murkowski. Before coming to D.C., she spearheaded digital strategy for Murkowski's successful Senate write-in campaign in 2010. Schaper enjoys traveling and taking in the local culture alongside her husband, their son and loyal springer spaniel.