I am a welding instructor for 16-24 year olds and it has totally changed now. I get to teach kids to weld, and with our program, we get them jobs after training (and follow them 18 months post-graduation) and most make more money then I do as an instructor. We have one student that is on track to be starting out at $90,000 if all works out. That is a pretty good salary for a 19 year old.
I think (biased as my opinion is) we have one of the best welding courses in the country for those that qualify, only because a student can take 2 years to learn the trade, have no limit on consumables they do not have to pay for, have other hurtles eliminated for them like obtaining their high school diplomas and drivers licenses if they do not have that, but also get PAID to attend. Then issues like housing at their employment is also arranged for them. It is a pretty sweet deal really.