The wife and I have decided we are tired of Eastern life and think it's time for a change of scenery. Out of all the states we've visited, we like Wyoming the best with Idaho coming in a close second. My question is, how would a feller living 1700+ miles away go about finding a decent job out there?

I'm 35 years old and have spent the last 11 1/2 years as a steel worker, where the last 6 years of that has been at the helm of a 20-ton radio-controlled twin-hoist overhead crane. Before that, I worked as a welder/fabricator for 8 years. I also grew up on a small farm and am familiar with heavy equipment along with basic hydraulics/pneumatics and have been known to spin a wrench or two. Been thinking of getting my CDL, which shouldn't be a problem as I have never had a mark on my license.

I suppose our goal would to be to be able to get us a decent spread of land (50 acres or so) that we can use the way we like. Property around us is running 7-10 grand an acre for just farm land and as much as $100,000 an acre for something some big company thinks they want. And that's just a fraction of what land around the big city's can be "worth". There's just no way I can afford that.

So anyone out that way have any ideas to get this started? It's a huge change we're considering and we want to get it right the first time.

Thanks to everyone for any help they can give us.

 

Whitmore and a few others will be able to give you info on this. I was down that way last summer. It was pretty dry and a lot hotter than Im used to tho. Good luck.

 

Thanks. I hope to hear from some of those guys.

 

Economy is booming in the energy business in Wyoming, and if you are a welder you shouldn't have too much trouble finding a job here:

The Gillette News-Record: Employment

Happy hunting!

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I will warn you that nobody likes the weather very much here in Wyoming!

 

There's a reason there aren't many people and land is cheap (not to me though) out here. It would be in your best interest to spend some more time out here first, particularly January/February and July/August. Then if you like it, you should have no problem finding a job in the oilfield welding stuff up, unless the price of oil stays where it's at then it won't be so easy I think. I wouldn't count on doing much crane work as far as building things goes, but you never know.

 

Sounds like to me the sweet spot for your background would be around the Gillette area with all the coal mining

Also I was readin the paper today and they cant come close to finding enough workers around the Wamsutter/Rawlins area with all the oil and gas activities.......................A friend of mine is trying to talk me into getting some equipment and building drilling locations..........he says currently the oil and gas companies are cutting back on wells cuz they cant get the dirt work done....................I will say that the money is good down there but Wamsutter Wyoming is a terrible place to live, they have next to no provisions and peeps are living in campers and that would be no fun at -40F

 

Here is another thought to consider. Is/Was your current job union? Wyoming is a right to work state and I don't think you'll find very many places that operate with a union. and if they do the union holds next to no power.

However, if your a decent welder jobs in the oil and gas fields will be pretty easy. IT's one of the higher paying jobs but it's also one of the more dangerous. Remember, you going to be welding on pipes full of flammable gas. With your hydraulic experience I'm sure you could find a job at one of the mines in Northern Wyoming. BUt keep your eyes open. There may be more opportunities available.

Like Matt said the weather in most of Wyoming is something else. You may be used to cold and snow but the wind is considered a breeze if it's only blowing 20mph. and It's usually blowing one way or another. It does get pretty cold but the air is very dry. Which brings its own challenges but the same temp won't FEEL as cold as it does in a more humid climate.

 

Thanks for the input everyone. It's been a long time since I've struck an arc to earn a living, but it's kinda like riding a bike. You never really forget, you just get a little rusty. Nothing a little practice won't take care of, then I'd have to find out what it takes to get certified for pipe and pressure vessel welding in Wyoming or wherever we end up going.

I was eyeballing the mines around the Gillette/Buffalo area. We like it around there and it seemed like a good place to start. Also heard the oil industry down around Rock Springs could hold some promise. Also thought about getting my CDL and as many endorsements as I can (HazMat, doubles, etc.). I've talked to several fellers in person out there that are pulling down $1500.00 a week sitting on their butt and shifting gears. They said I may have to be pulled over the top of a mountain behind a D9 Cat, but that's no big deal. I've been hooked to a chain before! LOL

We've been there several times during the summer. Yea, it can get warm, but really no warmer than it is here and you don't have all the stinking humidity. Seems like if a feller can just get out of the direct sun, it ain't that bad at all. As far as the cold is concerned, it's never really bothered me that much. It hovers in the teens a lot of the winter here and can drop below zero for the highs several times a year and way below zero for the lows. Factor in our higher humidity and it can start to suck after a while. So long as I can keep my feet and hands warm, I'm in good shape.

Yea. We are union where I'm at but it's pretty weak. We are by far the lowest-paid union workers anywhere in the area. I think the Journeyman electricians are the only ones topping 20 bucks an hour. I'm a ways down the ladder from there.