Sounds like you are parenting right in this aspect.
I did some copper welding a while back at a hydroelectric facility in Canada. also did some pipe and pipe support welding......Made enough money to buy the ranch.
If your son ends up liking welding, he could make twice as much getting into welding exotic metals.
He is taking welding at vocational school and has teally liked it. He will be certified in mig, tig and something else. He would like to work as a military contractor in welding.