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

[JeenyusJr]

The Misc has impressed me ITT. Different strokes for different folks. Anecdotal evidence for successes and failures on both sides.

My mom was an elementary teacher and both my parents had Uni degrees. School was always "easy", so I wouldn't even argue this was the hard path. For me Uni was the right path regardless, and imho paid off. I could have made a nice life in the trades, but happy with my decisions and career. I'm on dat dere easy mode now.

[1slo5oh]

LOL.. this is hilarious... I didn't even bother reading the whole thread to know OP along with others have been blinded by his vaginal walls..


Plain and simple... as with anything in life it is what you make of it!!


You can just as easily be a lazy kunt with a degree as you can working as a tradesman...And 90% of my friends who went straight to college post HS to get their big bad degree don't make $hit and STILL paying off educational debt...


On the flip side I can safely say I have worked with some go nowhere...dead end... un motivated mthrfkrs...in and out of construction

Again it is what you make of it... you put in the effort you will get rewarded...


*Has a degree AND works in construction crew* checking in

[SkepticalOne]

So having a degree makes you a better person than someone who has a trade? People like you are the reason why society sucks in general. It is like if you don't drive a Porsche and drive some normal car you are scum. I know of plenty of people who are loaded who drive around in **** boxes. I am sure you would not (OP) because you are too interested in showing off to other people you are better. Well guess what, normal people with a head screwed on properly do not give a $hit.

Getting a degree is by no means something special,you think only smart intelligent people can get one? Not really, a good memory is what is needed basically.

Last but not least, when a person holding a degree tells me that he thinks a full grown horse weighs 150kg that takes the cake.

Running your own business > Degree - Why? ?Because you are self reliant and don't need to rely on someone else to give you a job.

Getting a degree is something special, especially if you've made a sacrifice to pay or it and worked hard to achieve it. But it should not ever take away something from someone else who hasn't made the same achievement. It also shouldn't cause one to believe that they're part of some elite class or society.

Your perspective seems a little more divisive, putting business owners above those with a degree. I am a Professional Engineer who leads a business area within a multinational tech firm. I have a Bachelor, Masters in Engineering and an MBA. I would not be a good business owner, as I like working the 9-5 and enjoying the rest of my time with my family and hobbies, but I consider all of those things personal choices that help me optimize my overall quality of life.

The only ones I truly pity are those that make life choices for the wrong reasons or simply out of ignorance, and end up suffering a less fulfilling life.

[wickedman]

Yeah no **** you'd rather be an engineer or a doctor, the point is most people can't do that and get a degree in sociology.

[ThisGame31]

Skimmed through the thread and saw a lot of 100k and 250k being mentioned for tradesman. Where is everyone getting these numbers from? I understand MEP tradesman, oil and gas have high salaries after certs. journeyman and what not. Those seem to be the ones that are brought top over and over again. But if your not in those fields I don't see how your getting those numbers unless

A) your working for yourself, which then are you stating 100-250k in work done per year?
As in before paying fixed costs for your company, paying other employees? Or is this what your stating you are bringing home?

B) your working in the MEP, gas/oil and working a lot of OT

C) your in a larger company probably commercial and in a management position that you have worked up to

Im not arguing with anyone who is claiming these numbers, I genuinely would like to know the background behind the numbers.

I have been in construction since I was 15, and now have my associates in Carpentry and about to finish my bachelors in Construction Tech. I will be going into full time work this summer and am bouncing between family business, starting my own, or a management position in a commercial construction company.

[stevesteve12]

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.

to say being a dermatologist making 400k/35hour/week/doing respectable work for humanity or being a successful investment banker retiring at 40 with net worth of 50MM is better than a roofer is misinformed/inexperienced?

[SirTony]

I have nothing people in trades, but we live in the world of overpopulation alongside globalization and mass migration. And that means that if you were born in 1 world country you have the opportunity and the advantage to get a higher education"degree" and by those means get a head start. So in the future, you don't have to compete for jobs with people that never had that opportunity

[miscdontlift]

There are pros and cons to both. Do the one that you enjoy more because whichever route you go, you will have to hustle hard to make those six figure numbers miscers are throwing out here.
A lot of people may be reading this thread debating whether to choose trades or go to school and get a degree. You won't make money in the trades if you have no interest in it and go to work hating your job and vice versa. There is no easy money so just choose the one suited to your personality and you should make decent money.

[jerzyfit]

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

LOL this. Inb4 "I have a bachelors degree" oh cool, what do you do? "I'm a waitress".

[JeenyusJr]

Skimmed through the thread and saw a lot of 100k and 250k being mentioned for tradesman. Where is everyone getting these numbers from?

Quite honestly they are bad at Math &/or frauding m8.

I know a lot of guys who basically figure out their most profitable day/week then extrapolate for the year (just lol if it's *365). I've also seen guys try to break down how much they make "per hour" and mess up the Math, round up, overestimate a little, then produce some ridiculous #. Guys in trades are quite often bad with money and make mistakes figuring out their hourly or annual salary. Better to ask them "How much was your last paycheck". No offence. srs.

[Mirrors]

7 pages of people claiming +150k/year salaries but no proof.

Lawl

Automatically assume miscers are frauding unless I see a spoon pic. You'd be surprised how much people lie about pointless chit on the Internet.

[solidus2k3]

in b4 miscers claim 100k calories

[Kansas123]

Skimmed through the thread and saw a lot of 100k and 250k being mentioned for tradesman. Where is everyone getting these numbers from? I understand MEP tradesman, oil and gas have high salaries after certs. journeyman and what not. Those seem to be the ones that are brought top over and over again. But if your not in those fields I don't see how your getting those numbers unless

A) your working for yourself, which then are you stating 100-250k in work done per year?
As in before paying fixed costs for your company, paying other employees? Or is this what your stating you are bringing home?

B) your working in the MEP, gas/oil and working a lot of OT

C) your in a larger company probably commercial and in a management position that you have worked up to

Im not arguing with anyone who is claiming these numbers, I genuinely would like to know the background behind the numbers.

I have been in construction since I was 15, and now have my associates in Carpentry and about to finish my bachelors in Construction Tech. I will be going into full time work this summer and am bouncing between family business, starting my own, or a management position in a commercial construction company.

People that do own their own business do make that much. My dad owns a construction company and he averages making between 150-350k each year after paying everybody/vehicles.

[frozensparky]

Skimmed through the thread and saw a lot of 100k and 250k being mentioned for tradesman. Where is everyone getting these numbers from? I understand MEP tradesman, oil and gas have high salaries after certs. journeyman and what not. Those seem to be the ones that are brought top over and over again. But if your not in those fields I don't see how your getting those numbers unless

A) your working for yourself, which then are you stating 100-250k in work done per year?
As in before paying fixed costs for your company, paying other employees? Or is this what your stating you are bringing home?

B) your working in the MEP, gas/oil and working a lot of OT

C) your in a larger company probably commercial and in a management position that you have worked up to

Im not arguing with anyone who is claiming these numbers, I genuinely would like to know the background behind the numbers.

I have been in construction since I was 15, and now have my associates in Carpentry and about to finish my bachelors in Construction Tech. I will be going into full time work this summer and am bouncing between family business, starting my own, or a management position in a commercial construction company.

I've been an electrician in the oil field for the last 15+ years in northern BC Canada and I'll break down some numbers I've seen.

As a journeyman working for a company I was making just over $38 an hour, first year at that with OT I made a little under 140K. It was a heavy construction year with a lot of OT and a ton of camp living. The company also let me run my own truck which paid either $1.10/km or an hourly rate whichever was more. The truck brought in about 60K. So yes I made 200k but I also had a 1100 truck payment, fuel, repairs, and I provided my own tools. So realistically the truck may have brought in 10K in extra money and in the end the truck is beat to $hit.

I then went the sub contracting route. No other employee, didn't sell parts, just myself, my truck, and I was now able to charge rental on things like calibration equipment, generators, laptops and some other items as well. For the 2 years I did that I was bringing in 250K-300K but again putting out quite a bit for the truck (no different than before though) plus the cost of my rental gear (paid for itself pretty fast), as well as wellhead insurance, WCB, and other things associated with business ownership. Taxes were less as a company though so in the end I made more money but def had more headaches

Lastly where I've been for the past 7 years. Direct employee for an oil filed company head electrician. By far the best I've had although with the recent price of oil we have taken cuts. 50+/hr all OT is double time, 4 weeks (just cut from 5) vacation a year, stock matching program (actually better than matching, we invest 5% company gives 7.5%), good bonus although this year was cut a bit. Base salary is just over 100k but with OT, stock, and bonus I usually end up between 175k - 200k with honestly not much OT (10-30hrs a month).

[Jibt3ch]

I'm still over here loling about you idiots saying you make 250k a year with some random ass degree. Just lol. Unless you're like the top 0.01% you're not making anytbung close to 250k. Do u *******s realize how much money that is? That means you're making just shy of 5,000 a week LMAO. God damn op you're fuking retarded. Unless you live in LA wherr it cost 5ga a month for a 1 bedroom apartment then you're not making 250k.

Maybe some top tradesmen can APPROACH thay with tons of ot and being seniors but some random ass degree is not making 250k lol

[ChknFrydMFer]

Future tradesman checking in (in trade school atm)

There is a ton of money in trades in my area due to the amount of refineries...all about how ambitious you are...A buddy of mine hit 180k last year and 140k the year before (did work a lot of OT) as a pipefitter for a Chemical Palnt. What does he do majority of the time? Oversee jobs done by contactors...life on ez-mode.

Respect for degree brahs...I couldn't handle college (went 1 1/2 yrs)

Equal respect for Trade brahs...it takes equal knowledge to learn a trade and do well in it.

[SupMayne1]

These are the simple facts:

Trades = hard, back breaking labor just to make an average wage

Degrees = well educated, office type jobs making way more money

[Jibbo]

Where do you people live, Mexico and are talking peso's or something, I live in Michigan, work as a Sr. Engineer and average 80 - 90K, trades in the area average around 40 - 60K, many well below.

[Nattyliftinglol]

meet alot of scummy people as I am getting into OHS and doing safety inspection ect now....lots of tradies are lower class, love their beer and their chit food....BUT they know how to work as a team and you can have a laugh with them......most grew up around lots of mates playing sports so they are more on my level....... most office people I encounter and introverted and are boring as chit, grew up socially sheltered and are hard to get along with, stand offish....fuk them and their intellects

moral of the story, make bank were you can...cause in every field of work there are fukwits.

[20Mavs11]

I've worked white collar and blue collar

White Collar: Coffee shop in the building, educated discussions about sports, politics, current news, everyone has a clean vocabulary (no cussing to get your point across), no fighting, work gets done, (some office politics at play)


Blue Collar: brb crushing ***** pills and sniffing the in front of the boss, cussing at people to get your point across, trying to fight everyone who disagrees with you, brb you're a cowboys fan? automatic fight and disrespect everyday for no reason, missing work on mondays, because you're still hung over, brb 3 to 4 kids you have to support via child support so you come into work depressed, brb a basic 5/10 female in the area, your personality changes entirely and you talk **** to every male to look superior, brb ****ing your own friends over for a woman.


It's awful. Especially talking to these morons, it's either selling drugs on the side or starting your own business (that will never happen).

Oh and I forgot to mention how they all drive nice cars, but complain about bills daily.

[jacobcmurphy]

My dad went to trade school. At first he worked chitty jobs, fixing AC units, doing plumbing, etc. Then he got into commercial appliances, both hot and cold. Started making more money doing that and opened his own business. 20 years later he has a multi-million dollar business.

But he's spent countless years working in hot kitchens, fixing dirty greasy chit. Countless nights he didn't get home until close to midnight. Stress of running a business made him go bald. His body is beat to chit from doing manual labor all day for years. Pretty much all the cons you stated.

My dad sure as chit wouldn't want me going to trade school and having to do the chitty manual labor he had to do. Would much rather just have me go to school and run the financial aspect of his business.

[ThisGame31]

I've been an electrician in the oil field for the last 15+ years in northern BC Canada and I'll break down some numbers I've seen.

As a journeyman working for a company I was making just over $38 an hour, first year at that with OT I made a little under 140K. It was a heavy construction year with a lot of OT and a ton of camp living. The company also let me run my own truck which paid either $1.10/km or an hourly rate whichever was more. The truck brought in about 60K. So yes I made 200k but I also had a 1100 truck payment, fuel, repairs, and I provided my own tools. So realistically the truck may have brought in 10K in extra money and in the end the truck is beat to $hit.

I then went the sub contracting route. No other employee, didn't sell parts, just myself, my truck, and I was now able to charge rental on things like calibration equipment, generators, laptops and some other items as well. For the 2 years I did that I was bringing in 250K-300K but again putting out quite a bit for the truck (no different than before though) plus the cost of my rental gear (paid for itself pretty fast), as well as wellhead insurance, WCB, and other things associated with business ownership. Taxes were less as a company though so in the end I made more money but def had more headaches

Lastly where I've been for the past 7 years. Direct employee for an oil filed company head electrician. By far the best I've had although with the recent price of oil we have taken cuts. 50+/hr all OT is double time, 4 weeks (just cut from 5) vacation a year, stock matching program (actually better than matching, we invest 5% company gives 7.5%), good bonus although this year was cut a bit. Base salary is just over 100k but with OT, stock, and bonus I usually end up between 175k - 200k with honestly not much OT (10-30hrs a month).

Thanks for the break down, sounds like you have made it pretty well in oil/gas. Good for you man. I think me personally being in strictly construction skews my perspective of the other fields. When I hear tradesman I automatically think carpentry, masonry, excavating, MEP, everything that goes into home/building construction.

Great to see there is other options out there that offer a hell of a salary and life.

Also, a little off topic, but do you have any concern over your job with the way oil/gas has been fluctuating?

[ThisGame31]

People that do own their own business do make that much. My dad owns a construction company and he averages making between 150-350k each year after paying everybody/vehicles.

Awesome to hear, If I were to go the route of building my own business I would strive to get it to that level.

Does your dads business specialize in a certain branch of construction? Build homes? Or a general contractor?

[Kansas123]

Awesome to hear, If I were to go the route of building my own business I would strive to get it to that level.

Does your dads business specialize in a certain branch of construction? Build homes? Or a general contractor?

He's a sub contractor framer. The actual contractors make way mode than him. But 90% of what he does is residential framing and a little bit of commercial. Other 10% is weird jobs such as demolition of the inside of a building

[Dan_Staat]

People ITT are assuming that there are no skilled trades.

Of course the fukking laborers are alcoholics/druggies/worthless. They literally dig holes and sweep construction sites for a living.




Good luck finding an HVAC service tech, electrician, pipefitter, carpenter, etc that can stay employed year round being a piece of chit. Customers don't deal with drunks. They'll lose their jobs faster than they can blink. Not to mention when on construction sites, many of the general contractors require a drug test just to work on site.


Source: someone who's worked in commercial HVAC for 4 years, with plenty of construction experience as well. IE myself.

[Autopilot]

I wish I was born in 1974 instead of 1994.

I was born in the 80s....youngster.

[nin-com-poop]

They choose to remain uneducated so they choose a trade. Big difference between those ilk and one that makes something out if it. Some guy did repairs on my parent's house before they sold. He did the trades (and had an education) and now does his own business. After which he told me the money he was making and I was like "Wat?!"

[zeusftw]

i can confirm i work in trades and me 950k/year out of my 2 year diploma that required a high school diploma pass

[BusterMudd]

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

At the risk of coming across as pedantic, you've merely listed some symptoms of the problem with trade craft. The actual problem itself comes down to this very simple fact: Learning a trade teaches you how to perform a particular skill. If the world finds itself in need of that particular skill, you can earn a decent wage...but it's rare that you can ever demand significantly more than whatever the going wage for that skillset is.

Conversely, earning a degree teaches you how to solve problems. And the world never finds itself running low on problems, and always is happy to throw a chit-ton of cash at whoever can solve them.

[Sillst]

Okay that's it bros, I'm seriously considering leaving the office to do either

Plumbing / Pipe fitting
Electrician
Line work (leaning towards this one)

Poverty reps for any advice on getting started