If a welder is making less than $150k they are slackers.
This was probably meant as a dig to fishinwrench, but if not you could not be more wrong. There are thousands of mechanics accross the country making over 100k a year in just the automotive business. One of the biggest issues I see in this country is attitudes like this looking down on people who chose to learn trades(welding, mechanic, linemen, machinist, etc). the IBEW has a huge shortage of people due to this. Now is a great time to be in the labor market.