Graduate Connections – Meet Lincoln Burton

Lincoln, 19, was born and raised in Austin, Texas, before moving to east Texas for his freshman year of high school. Lincoln completed the seven-month Professional Welding training program at our Tulsa Welding School – Dallas Metro campus in March 2026.

Thanks for your time, Lincoln. Did you graduate high school in 2025?

Yes, I graduated high school in May 2025 and started welding school that August. Trade school became my plan toward the end of my junior year. At first, I thought about going to college to play baseball, but I got realistic. I don’t really enjoy school, and baseball wasn’t likely to make me any money. I realized it wasn’t the best path for me. I figured that a seven-month program that could lead directly to a good career made a lot more sense to me than spending four years getting a degree for a job I’d probably hate. I’ve never wanted to sit in an office; I wanted to work with my hands.

When you decided on trade school, were you always thinking welding or did you consider other trades?

It was always welding. I started welding in high school. At first, it was just another class, where frankly I could waste some time and work with my hands instead of sitting in a classroom. But then during my senior year, I really fell in love with it. I started building projects for the school, doing ranch work, repairing fences and things like that. I never had much interest in plumbing, electrical or HVAC work. Welding just made sense to me. At its core, you’re joining two pieces of metal together, and I was pretty good at it.

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Looking back at your seven months at Tulsa Welding School, what did you enjoy most?

Definitely learning from the instructors. It’s one of those programs where you only get out what you put into it. If you just show up and coast, you’re not going to learn much. But if you work hard and ask questions, the instructors are willing to teach you a lot. They’re really good at breaking things down so they’re easy to understand, no matter what level of experience you’re starting from. I learned a lot from them. Some students had welding experience, others had never touched a welder. The instructors have all worked in the industry for years, so they understand every detail and know how to teach people from the ground up.

Did the program come pretty naturally to you, or were there times when you struggled?

Most of it came pretty easily because I already had some experience. The biggest challenge was TIG welding. Before school I’d never even picked up a TIG torch, so that took me a couple of weeks to figure out – that was longer than the other processes took. 

What got you through those days when you did struggle?

What got me through it was dedication and motivation. I looked at my time there as an investment. You struggle for a little while, then suddenly it clicks, and now you have a skill that can earn you a great living. The instructors made a huge difference too. They never made anyone feel stupid for not knowing something. They wanted everyone to succeed and would explain things in different ways until it made sense. The instructors definitely want to see you become good at something they are passionate about.

You’ve been out of school for several months now. Where are you working?

I’m still at ConeCraft in Fort Worth. I actually got the job while I was still in welding school. I’ve been there about five months. ConeCraft makes products and solutions for the biopharmaceutical market – it’s a lot of stainless-steel equipment.

How did that job opportunity come about?

One of my instructors recommended me. ConeCraft was hiring for a second shift and needed around 40 welders. The instructor knew someone there, recommended me, and I interviewed through a staffing company. I took the weld test and got the job. It wasn’t directly through the school, but it definitely happened because of my instructors.

I spoke to a grad who’s about to start at Conecraft after leaving SpaceX. Did you look into SpaceX?

I did. SpaceX always come to Tulsa Welding School in Dallas looking for welders, so the opportunity is there. They start welders off pretty low at like $21/hour, but if you’re a good welder with a strong work ethic, you can move up pretty quickly and make like $35/hour within a year or so. I just wasn’t interested in relocating to Brownsville.

Are you happy with where you’re at financially now?

Yeah, I am pretty happy with where I’m at. It’s definitely not my end goal, but I make more than most 19-year-olds, so I’m happy with where I’m starting.

I understand you work the second shift. How do you like working nights?

I’ll be honest with you; I hate every second of it! I work from 3:30pm to 3:00am. I would much rather wake up at four o’clock in the morning and work till five o’clock. But they do pay extra for working nights. 

Is there an opportunity to switch shift?  Or are you just going to suck it up for the extra money?

Well, I did talk to my supervisors about switching and they told me that they had no openings because they’re constantly hiring. But I will say that I think I’m learning a lot more on the night shift because there’s less of us than I would in day shift. I’m also getting a lot more opportunities to weld on stuff that I don’t think I would get to weld on at day shift. So, I’m kind of just sucking it up for now.

Makes sense. What’s the long-term goal?

I’d like to get into pipeline welding eventually. I’m willing to travel if the opportunity is right. The type of work isn’t as important to me as building a good career and making a solid living.

What do you enjoy most about being a welder?

There are a couple of things. First, I’m proud to tell people I’m a welder because it’s a trade that takes real skill. You can’t just hand someone a stinger and expect them to produce quality welds. It’s something you have to learn and take pride in. Not everyone can do it. The other thing I enjoy is that once I pull my hood down, I can just focus on my work. I don’t have to deal with a lot of distractions or other people’s drama. I’m not really a ‘people person’ to be honest; I like working independently, dropping my hood and just concentrating on doing my job well.

Did you make any lasting friendships at school?

I’ve realized I prefer keeping my circle pretty small, but yeah, I made two good friends. One was my roommate. We were both near the top of the class, so we pushed each other every day and definitely made each other better welders. We still talk all the time. He’s from Indiana, and now in a union in the Midwest working as a millwright. The other friend is someone I mostly hang out with outside of welding. We’d rather go golfing than talk about work! He is welding for Caterpillar in Denton, Texas.

What advice would you give to someone who’s about to start at Tulsa Welding School?

Stick with it. There will be challenges and lots of adversity because nothing worthwhile ever comes easy. Success is not going to be handed to you. If you really want it, stay motivated and keep pushing through. The seven months of hard work, pain, sweat, and frustration will all be worth it in the end when you start getting those paychecks.

If you’re a TWS graduate and would like to share your success and be an inspiration to others, please email [email protected] to be considered for a Graduate Connection interview. Please include details such as your graduation date (month/year), program, and campus name (Tulsa/Jacksonville/Houston/Dallas/Atlanta/Phoenix).