Would you recommend a trade job? And which?

Nope went and started a new career in powerline working in becoming a lineman

 

That’s awesome man. I always look up to people like you, it’s been so difficult for me to change careers despite me knowing I hate it. I think what scares me is doing something else, realizing I hate it too, and I’m back to square one. It’s like I’m afraid of wasting time even though I’m wasting time by doing nothing I’m all messed up lol.

 

I was loooking at apprenticeships since my work doesn’t offer any. Start out pay is extremely low through the local union. The union I’m in pays so much for each employee to go to school. So I’m taking electrical classes to be an industrial electrician in the plant. I have 14 years experience working with electrical, however it was in a different capacity in a different field. I could t take a pay cut down to 13/hr so I’m taking classes at an adult training program at one of the local Boces schools. Everything is covered financially by my union, so no out of pocket expenses for me. When we sign a job in our plant you have to remain on it for 2 years. I have ~10 months before I can sign off my job. To get an electrician job, all I need to do is pass two test. There is the actual test and then a practical. As long as no one with higher seniority signs and passes the test the job is mine. Our electricians full pay rate is 35.50. That sure beats starting off at 13.05 taking an apprenticeship. Here is the pay rate through the local IBEW:

 

Here’s my local wage chart. Just look up the union closest to you (bigger city is bigger pay)

Wage charts are public so there should just be a PDF with all the info

 

Damn those rates are pretty solid. Gotta love NY. Some of the highest taxes and low wages.

 

Which ever path you choose, make sure it has a long term future. A lot of companies have and do move their operations to Mexico, the one's that don't, loose. My company has bought four large companies and split them up and move all the operations to Mexico, laying off thousands. One as recently as six month ago. All these pay rates being thrown about are speculative, Any company that wants to stay competitive in todays global economy base their pay scale on the minimum wage of Mexico. I see this every day.

 

I’m actually really surprised by that, I thought most of New York was higher. But I guess it’s probably like here where I’m at, go one county either way and the wage drops quite a bit.

Plumbers in Seattle are making stupid money right now. 1st period apprentice starts at $26 am hour

 

I don’t know what I’m doing wrong but I can’t seem to find these charts. Seems like my IBEW is 11.. I think i found one chart but that was from 2014?

I always figured trades would stick around, I can’t see jobs like these leaving but I guess you never know.

I feel like Plumbers always seem to have made more than electricians, is it because there’s higher demand?

 

Trained as a auto mechanic, learned I didn’t like to work on other people’s cars! Went into industrial maintenance, it’s a different job everyday, electrical, plumbing, carpentry, machining, etc. After 20 years I moved to hospital maintenance. Better pay, way better benefits and easier on the body.
Trades are looking at a labor shortage pay is going up with demand.
Pick your poison. If you get sick of it reinvent yourself again!


P.S. I do hear that the ER sucks. I put a little extra in when they call!

 

I'm also 27 and in this same predicament but on the other coast. Currently in customer service I've spent time in culinary, masonry, roofing, general contracting, carpentry, even been to college for engineering. The math was a killer though. Now I'm looking into software and learning code because I wouldn't be able to learn on my own anyways. It's funny when it was a nice day I was really upset to be under fluorescents and when outside I just wanted to be in the ac. A wise willy once said to find ways to make money that don't require your time. Businesses, stocks, even apps. I know takes money to make money but a hobby turned business does not have to be a job and if it is hire someone to make it their job while you get a paycheck for simply starting the damn thing. I like to make custom furniture and have a good idea for a piece that I imagine everyone having in their homes someday but not really sure how to promote or produce on a large scale. One thing for sure good people = good work environment and they usually want paid for it however

 

Life is to short to work at a job you hate...

 

We got rid of the apprenticeships here. Everyone makes the same wage, starting at 32.94 as a machinist which is increasing 2.5% every year till the end of this contract in 2024.

 

Metal fabrication. Seriously.

I have a harder time finding a skilled metal fabricator than Ray Charles finding a red skittle in 20 acre grassy field.

 

Give Randy a Job!
Also you need any machinists?

 

I can’t afford him. And no lol

 

Wouldn’t it be harder to find a green skittle in a grassy field?

 

He said it was hard, not impossible!

 

Working in the refineries as a contractor it was always job #1 to find a real restroom to go to in case i get caught needing to go on Co time. Sometimes this meant getting a hard hat or shirt with the right Co. name on it.

 

Plumbers seem to get the most $$$ from everybody coming and going. I don't see it being replaced with anything different for the next century. Learn the trade, buddy up with some remodel people and start flipping houses.