Would you recommend a trade job? And which?

I would recommend it! I studied Construction Science in College and started out in the field. A lot of those guys work hard, and I have respect for a lot of them. They get paid very well too, but you have to start from the bottom of course and earn your stripes. You'll have projects that are absolute nightmares that'll make you want to quit (a crap ton of over time, night hours, horrible management, etc.), and you'll have projects that go like a breeze.

I'm an Estimator now and I work in the office for a General Contractor, but you could always go that route too. A lot of other estimators, PMs, and supers I meet from the subcontractor world all started out as apprentices and worked their way up.

edit: added in a few words.

 

That’s the kicker, there are 2 fields in this, you gotta go for the maintenance and certification side, plenty of jobs and work, just not broadcast like they do with the ever rotating building....bad side is it can take 10 years to reach an acceptable position....

 

I have been a union Ironworker for 15 years, before that I was a disgruntled union carpenter(not a fan of carpenters union). My advice would be don’t waste money on tech school apply for apprenticeships. I would say Electricians would be one of the better ones. It’s less affected by downturns in the economy then other building trades, plus if you can get into a Electric utility you are set for life. There are plus and minus to any job, it’s all about what you can put up with and what you put into it.

 

Carpenters “union”
Not sure if they’re the same other places but I’m Seattle they’re not necessarily the most union bunch

 

Bud any job will eventually get to u and make u miserable

unless u become youtube infulencer

 

It’s a union because they collectively fuck themselves and everyone in proximity to them.

 

Being in a trade for 20+ years, i would quite enjoy a job in the medical field, or any job where i dont have to run around all day. I have my own company and do eavestroughs and exteriors, so a lot of climbing ladders and back and forth. While i do get paid fairly well with alot of financial and time freedom, its not all its cracked up to be. If anything, you will be working more hours in order to make your business successful. Mine is seasonal, so swings in mood comes with the weather. Also, my trade does not require a certificate, but plumbers and electricians require long years and hours of study/practical....are you ready for 5+ years of minimum wage while you go back to school. At the end of the day, there are many benefits, but also the physical aspect is really wearing down on my body and not sure i can/want to do this for another decade

 

[QUOTE="cruxx, post: 20353834, member: 216831.are you ready for 5+ years of minimum wage while you go back to school. [/QUOTE]
This would be why you join an apprenticeship. Most start at 75-80% of journeyman scale. The local foots the bill for your training you just commit to the time.

 

Stay away from Trucking.Hard on your body.A Lot of sitting and doing nothing.The only people that make money in the trucking business are truck mechanics and the guys that sell/lease them.

 

Heavy equipment operator. That always looks fun but then you see the fat ass behind the wheel and realize they sit all the time. Still looks fun and pays well.

 

I'm at a high level of commercial construction management, been doing it forever but if I had to do it all over again I would be an electrician or a plumber. There is no end of work for them, there is service work as well as installations, you can easily start your own business and they make great money. And getting an apprenticeship should be easy right now, there is a massive shortage of trade workers right now.

 

Pay scales vary, city by city, union vs non-union. You’re never going to be a millionaire working in the trades(unless you’re a lineman). When I joined the Ironworkers in 2004 I started at $24 ish an hour as an apprentice. I think jiw scale is like $45 an hour plus benefits. I joined Ibew 77 as part of my job at City Light so I’m a little outa the loop. I can say for sure that in “right to work” states the pay difference between union and non union is very little(everyone is getting screwed).

 

Go down to your local trade school and take a tour. Explore the different courses, most you can be out and working in a year. I'd say welding but that's just what I do, you may or may not like it. We can all recommend stuff but you have to decide.

 

Commercial electrician if you are willing to put in the work. In most parts of the US, you can do a lot with that level of training. My interest in computers and my electrical background got me into Lutron lighting control and building automation systems. That got me into networking and building data centers for a company that sends me all over the world. It all started with an electrical license.

 

I would recommend an apprenticeship vs going to trade school and then apprenticeship.

 

After 20 years in the IT industry I burned out and moved to Utah. I stumbled into a water plant operator job and have to say I enjoy it. I didn't go to a trade school, just on the job training and then I took the state certification test.

There are plenty of water or wastewater jobs in CA and some companies will hire you on with no experience in a trainee position. With a medical background I assume you did well in math and science so you would pick it up quickly.

 

Like others have said; if you choose to get into a trade, get into an apprenticeship or join the union.

I work with guys who are 3-4 years into their careers and making better money than I was as a journeyman/supervisor at my previous shop. I was never offered an apprenticeship as I always worked at smaller shops.

I like my job, but there are days when I hate it. I've concluded that working with good people is about the most important thing. It makes even the worst days tolerable.

 

This^^^^^ it makes shitty days a lot less shitty.

 

I worked for my journeyman as a glass machine operator. It was the biggest glass plant in the USA with thirty four machines. I was next on the layoff list when they shut down half of them. I went to a machinist job and finished my career there. They are a great company and you get all the overtime you want with great benefits.