How is degree vs trades even a debate? Srs..

[JRJester]

I thought misc was joking about this for the longest time but I guess a lot of you kids are serious..

How could you possibly consider doing a trade over a degree (obv not liberal arts bs, but a true in demand degree)??

I've worked in the trades myself (and come from a family of tradesman), and this is the reality of trades:

-filled with alcoholics, drug addicts, or generally low class people
-dirty, physically demanding, and often times dangerous work
- while it pays decent, most tradesman top out in the 80-100k range at their peak (inb4 "herp derp start your own business" 99.9% of tradesman aren't able to do this)
- ruined joints/ body by age 40-50.
- looked down in by the majority of society as uneducated and inferior


I cannot fathom why anyone (if they're able) would choose trades over engineering,medicine, etc.

Brb by age 30 making more than most tradesman will at their peak, without endangering yourself. Brb coming home every night refreshed and ready to lift, go out, live life etc. Not nursing a sore back/knees popping painkillers like no tmorrow

I'm so glad I went back to school. There's nothing more sad than seeing some of the trades guys I know trying to make a living doing physical work in their 50-60's. They're broken physically and mentally

[BillBillson]

I have a stem degree and I know plenty of tradies making over 250k a year with 6-8 months of course work and a few years of experience. Many of these tradesmen have little to no school debt although they do enjoy buying a brand new truck/sports care every few years.

Many of my university educated friends are under employed and /or underpaid. If I could go back and do it over id become an electrician in a heart beat.

[dayrone150]

I thought misc was joking about this for the longest time but I guess a lot of you kids are serious..

How could you possibly consider doing a trade over a degree (obv not liberal arts bs, but a true in demand degree)??

I've worked in the trades myself (and come from a family of tradesman), and this is the reality of trades:

-filled with alcoholics, drug addicts, or generally low class people
-dirty, physically demanding, and often times dangerous work
- while it pays decent, most tradesman top out in the 80-100k range at their peak (inb4 "herp derp start your own business" 99.9% of tradesman aren't able to do this)
- ruined joints body by age 40-50.
- looked down in by the majority of society as uneducated and inferior

I cannot fathom why anyone (if they're able) would choose trades over engineering,medicine, etc.

Brb by age 30 making more than most tradesman will at their peak, without endangering yourself. Brb coming home every night refreshed and ready to lift, go out, live life etc. Not nursing a sore back/knees popping painkillers like no tmorrow

I'm so glad I went back to school. There's nothing more sad than seeing some of the trades guys I know trying to make a living doing physical work in their 50-60's. They're broken physically and mentally

Because degree schools aren't right for some people. Some do better in trade school. Maybe they can't handle the studying, writing, and work.

[Mehhzyy]

I'm so glad I went back to school. There's nothing more sad than seeing some of the trades guys I know trying to make a living doing physical work in their 50-60's. They're broken physically and mentally

What are you studying OP?

I don't have anything against trades but I cringe when I tell people I'm in college and they respond "why not just do trades?"

[BrahPlease]

repost, post in the other topic on the first page.

[Deezenutz]

electrician here. i've done both white collar and blue collar, and prefer my job over sitting in a cubicle. but to each their own

there are definitely some scummy people in the non-skilled trades (painting, demo, etc.) but skilled tradesmen can make good money.




and why the fuk have there been so many threads on this lately lol

[hotsaucebrah]

90% of the bartenders, baristas, and retail workers have bachelors degree.

[CrookedDink]

It depends on the trade and it depends on the degree. You can't make sweeping generalizations about it.

[JRJester]

I have a stem degree and I know plenty of tradies making over 250k a year with 6-8 months of course work and a few years of experience. Many of these tradesmen have little to no school debt although they do enjoy buying a brand new truck/sports care every few years.

Many of my university educated friends are under employed and /or underpaid. If I could go back and do it over id become an electrician in a heart beat.

lol this is not even close to the norm. Not even close. Most tradesmen (90%) make in the 80-120k, with a few guys making the amounts you mentioned. Usually they are very specialized or run their own operation. This is also very dependent on area.

The money is liveable yes, but why would anyone settle for that when they could ACTUALLY be making 250k + a year doing something that doesn't put them in danger and is respected by society?

[johnnytoogood]

I've done both trades and professional work, they both have advantages and disadvantages. To say one is better than the other means you are misinformed/inexperienced to comment.

I'm lucky in that if get sick of one I can go do the other.

[JRJester]

Another thing to add to my OP, trades work can be cyclical as ****. BRB half my province unemployed because of slump in oil prices. Gotta move to follow the work etc. meanwhile I can do most of my work from HOME.

[Mehhzyy]

It depends on the trade and it depends on the degree. You can't make sweeping generalizations about it.

This is true.

I'd rather have a PHD in medicine than be a construction worker, but I'd also rather be an electrician than have a degree in liberal arts

[JRJester]

I've done both trades and professional work, they both have advantages and disadvantages. To say one is better than the other means you are misinformed/inexperienced to comment.

I'm lucky in that if get sick of one I can go do the other.

Please list some actual advantages of trades over degree (legit degree)

[JimmyJonny]

Because degree schools aren't right for some people. Some do better in trade school. Maybe they can't handle the studying, writing, and work.

^ This sums it up.

I'm 48 and still work my a$$ of out there. I just wasn't school material.... it is what it is.

My 15 year old son is learning my trade but he is extremely smart and will end up in college. If all else fails he can always make money doing what I teach him.

[BillBillson]

lol this is not even close to the norm. Not even close. Most tradesmen (90%) make in the 80-120k, with a few guys making the amounts you mentioned. Usually they are very specialized or run their own operation. This is also very dependent on area.

The money is liveable yes, but why would anyone settle for that when they could ACTUALLY be making 250k + a year doing something that doesn't put them in danger and is respected by society?

Please inform how you can make 250+ a year without having to put in 8 years of school and have several hundred K in debt.

inb4 ceo/10k a day

[JRJester]

^ This sums it up.

I'm 48 and still work my a$$ of out there. I just wasn't school material.... it is what it is.

My 15 year old son is learning my trade but he is extremely smart and will end up in college. If all else fails he can always make money doing what I teach him.

in my OP I said if given a choice. As in they could do well in both. If you suck at school and hate it I can understand not wanting to pursue a degree and then do a trade. But in general, I just don't think trades have any benefits at all over a decent employable degree in the long term

[Stafor]

Pipewelder - 300k a year with a year experience, retire by 30.. why is this a debate?

[squeak419]

lol this is not even close to the norm. Not even close. Most tradesmen (90%) make in the 80-120k, with a few guys making the amounts you mentioned. Usually they are very specialized or run their own operation. This is also very dependent on area.

The money is liveable yes, but why would anyone settle for that when they could ACTUALLY be making 250k + a year doing something that doesn't put them in danger and is respected by society?

Most tradesmen make $60-70k in Aus... Some make $80-100k with overtime. Others do very well making $150k in the mines (this just won't last though).

I've done both, I prefer the 'office life' personally. But each to their own... Had a mate who was a freak in school, legit think he could have run a country (semi-srs). He dropped out at the end of grade 10 to be a gardener... Catch up with him from time to time and he is the happiest guy getting around.

Life ain't all about money bro. No point earning $250k in sitting in an office all day when you could be outside doing something you enjoy for $60k.

[PastorGaines]

You know, I troll about this a lot but anybody that demeans somebody else because of what they do for a living is piece of chit (srs). Blows my mind that anybody could call tradespeople scum when half you kunts couldn't hammer in a nail if your lives depended on it.

[BrahPlease]

Pipewelder - 300k a year with a year experience, retire by 30.. why is this a debate?

fuacking lmao. did you pull that off one of those sites that tells you about jobs?

[JRJester]

Pipewelder - 300k a year with a year experience, retire by 30.. why is this a debate?

The amount of trades guys I've met (or even heard of) making that kind of money numbers in the single digits. I did know a welding inspector who made close to 300k/year though, but obviously this guy is 1 in a million.

[bbsitum]

People who seriously think trades > university education are just coping.

I worked with tradesman during school holidays from the age of 15-17 and I can confirm everything OP is saying. Most of them are low class scum, alcoholics, potheads, high school dropouts, with a lack of intelligence and inadequate people skills (especially true for construction trades like bricklaying, paving, roof-tiling etc, and demolition workers). They are basically the lowest level of society, aside from the chronically unemployed.

Bs. I work all times with classy people, and fit people. In hardcore pro world there is not drug addicts and such. Look at as like profesionall soccer players.

[SystemTrend]

I have a stem degree and I know plenty of tradies making over 250k a year with 6-8 months of course work and a few years of experience. Many of these tradesmen have little to no school debt although they do enjoy buying a brand new truck/sports care every few years.

Many of my university educated friends are under employed and /or underpaid. If I could go back and do it over id become an electrician in a heart beat.

Please go with your inflated salary claims. I doubt you know "plenty" of tradies making over 250k. Stop talking out of your ass.

[JRJester]

You know, I troll about this a lot but anybody that demeans somebody else because of what they do for a living is piece of chit (srs). Blows my mind that anybody could call tradespeople scum when half you kunts couldn't hammer in a nail if your lives depended on it.

I don't think theyre scum (lots of my family and friends are in the trades), I just don't get why anyone would choose to do a trade unless they had no other options. Advice from 99% of tradesmen when I was growing up "stay in school". lol srs. Too bad I didn't listen right away and instead wasted a few years doing trades work

[jakobi78]

Please inform how you can make 250+ a year without having to put in 8 years of school and have several hundred K in debt.

inb4 ceo/10k a day

self employed with the right connections....easily....

those guys driving the bulldozers easily make $100+ a hr

[SystemTrend]

Pipewelder - 300k a year with a year experience, retire by 30.. why is this a debate?

You're lying and a moron.

[litle_dan]

im a tradesman, been in it since 17. im 25. fully licensed plumber started working on my own two years ago. first year i started halfway through the year made $50k. (plus hourly wages from before i got my license. second year of being licensed made $100k working 9 months out of the year(family medical emergencies made me take alot of time off) this year based on the look of it im gonna make $200 - $240k. and i take days off when i feel and work a little harder during my other days on to compensate.

different mindsets work for different people. your degree is prestigious in its frame on the wall, but so is my certification papers. you have to work set hours where ever you are, i can work when ever i want and take days off on impulse. you have a cap on pay unless you get a promotion, i chose how much money i want to make. i can get a side job and make $5k profit IN CASH in a day is that even a fathomable option in your field? i get paid to stay fit and be active. the tradesmen you speak of whom are drug addicts/alcoholics/ low class people are the smaller percentile of the industry that you get highlighted by your teachers so they can gaurentee you go to uni and keep spending money on an education. brb making $390k in the 5 years it takes me to get my certification while youve paid how much for an education with some books that will be outdated by the time the next class schedule is made.

perspective is key, and it all stems from the ones who taught you to look in that direction.

im not bashing education, god knows i hate stupid people. but its best to fully educate yourself before you broadcast a very strong opinion not knowing a fraction of what your speaking on.

[BillBillson]

Bs. I work all times with classy people, and fit people. In hardcore pro world there is not drug addicts and such. Look at as like profesionall soccer players.

This, many of the larger set ups require regular drug testing and alcohol is prohibited. There are a lot of *******s in this thread with art degrees who are having problem coping with someone who did a year in college and is now making north of 200+ driving a brand new corvette while these *******s struggle to pay their student loans.

[Stafor]

fuacking lmao. did you pull that off one of those sites that tells you about jobs?

The amount of trades guys I've met (or even heard of) making that kind of money numbers in the single digits. I did know a welding inspector who made close to 300k/year though, but obviously this guy is 1 in a million.

You're lying and a moron.

I live in ND.. Boom is slow but there's still people working, $75 an hour, $150 a day per diem, $17 an hour rig pay, it adds up pretty quick. Don't hate on something you don't see firsthand everyday. It was definitely easier a year or 2 ago to get into, but it does still exist.

[Chrysippus]

It's a debate purely because tradesmen feel the need to defend themselves.