A million miles an hour

My brain has been going a million miles an hour this last week. I finally made it to spring break! I've only had to go to work every day this week, and I've had a few extra hours in the AM to sleep, relax and catch up on TV/Movies. It's been nice. I also helped a couple of guys from school get jobs at the same place I work at. That, however, hasn't been so nice. Not in the way you might think, they are doing great working, and are very thankful I helped them out, and I'm glad I was able to. I'm just upset in some way, because they BOTH make more money than I do. Granted, one is on 3rd shift, so he gets a larger shift differential than I do, but his base pay is $0.50 higher than mine, and the other guy, on the same shift, makes $1.00 more than I do per hour.
Now, I know that on average, women doing the same job as a man make 30% less, my concern here however is, I've been told repeatedly that I am a better welder, and get more work done than my counterparts on the same line. How is it fair then, that I make so much less? I understand that when I was hired, I had no experience, and 7 months later, when they hired me on, I was a better welder than the rest of them. I didn't get a raise. I know they don't have to give me one, and I should be happy that I at least have a job, but man...it really chaps my hide to KNOW that everyone (or at least I think everyone) there makes more than I do.
I get a lot of the work that is considered "hot", or "Rush" because I get it done quickly and accurately. That is something to be proud of, and I am. I am just tired of being looked at like a freak, because I am a woman. There's one guy, who works in a different area, who eats lunch with my line, and a few weeks ago made a comment about how, being a woman, I could write my own ticket in this industry, even to the detriment of more experienced men. I could have slapped him. He thinks that just because I'm a woman, I'll have an easier time getting a job as a welder than a man. That is just total malarkey. I have no experience, and I'm a WOMAN! Most places are going to laugh at me when they get my resume, because I was a florist for 6 years.
I'm just frustrated, and angry, and my hands are tied right now. One more year, and I'll have my degree, and maybe some AWS certifications. Then, maybe I can get a better paying job.