I am 24 with a wife and 2 kids with no welding experience.

If I were you I’d contact all your local labor unions. See what you might like and pursue an apprenticeship with that union. Depending on your intelligence and skill set, you could find a carrier w/full medical, dental and vision plus a pension. Welding pays well and there are union shops that weld. From my experience and area electricians have some of the best benefits, but if your not sharp ya probably won’t last. Every town and state has different pay, benefits and jobs listed on that unions card. Here in chicago a carpenter makes close to $100 an hour w/benefits and it has a huge list of different skill/jobs under its card. Cincinnati on the other hand pays about a third and they only cover aluminum studs and drywall. So it really can be different depending on where you live. Here’s a video on welding at Chicago’s school:

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=L0FM-geFDSk

/r/Welding Thread