Have the skilled trades become overrated as career options?

[Devin459]

Where are you all getting these ridiculous numbers from? Literally every trade I've looked up has a median salary of $50-60k in the US. Not poverty level obviously, but it seems like ever Miscer ITT is making $60 an hour or more from the trades. And acting like that's extremely common. Maybe in very regional-specific areas where populations are dense and COL is high. But for most trades, anything over $75k is in the top 20%. Again, fantastic option for the vast majority and above the national average, but not CEO 10k/day.

OP, judge a field from statistical averages/medians, not from anecdotes.

What kind of moron takes a term that encompasses hundreds if not thousands of different careers, and then tries to base some magical statistical median wage based off of the 3 jobs they researched that happened to fall under the term "tradie"? How fukin moronic can you be?

Should I do a study and ask 20 different CPA's what they make a year (65k), and then title my study "The median wage of financial professionals"?

^Answer to that question is no.. Because that would be fukin moronic, misleading and flat-out wrong.

[MikeLowrrrey]

Where are you all getting these ridiculous numbers from? Literally every trade I've looked up has a median salary of $50-60k in the US. Not poverty level obviously, but it seems like ever Miscer ITT is making $60 an hour or more from the trades. And acting like that's extremely common. Maybe in very regional-specific areas where populations are dense and COL is high. But for most trades, anything over $75k is in the top 20%. Again, fantastic option for the vast majority and above the national average, but not CEO 10k/day.

OP, judge a field from statistical averages/medians, not from anecdotes.

Key words: Looked up.

Most Journeyman across the board easily pull in $40/hr on average. I know because they were in my Construction Management classes. What you also don't realize is these folks are working on project worth $50,000,000 easy. You think some pleb off the street can do that job?

[navid93]

Where are you all getting these ridiculous numbers from? Literally every trade I've looked up has a median salary of $50-60k in the US. Not poverty level obviously, but it seems like ever Miscer ITT is making $60 an hour or more from the trades. And acting like that's extremely common. Maybe in very regional-specific areas where populations are dense and COL is high. But for most trades, anything over $75k is in the top 20%. Again, fantastic option for the vast majority and above the national average, but not CEO 10k/day.

OP, judge a field from statistical averages/medians, not from anecdotes.

You can type any state into the search function here and find the scale for that areas electricians, starting pay.

http://ibew.org/jobsboard/

In Chicago suburbs it’s $50+ an hour. In poorer places like Jackson, Mississippi it’s $25 an hour which puts you almost double the median household income.

These are starting pays for unions, don’t know about non

[MikeLowrrrey]

The guy in this thread saying he was hired as an apprentice at 200k per year.

Everyone on the misc e-stats. But in any thread about the trades, more miscers than usual come in throwing around these unheard of salaries.



This. In my extremely high COL area, the tradesmen making six figures and up are either running their own business, or are top guys in their company and are running jobs/crews.

If a Journeyman electrician makes $40/hr, that means he makes $80/hr OT.

Now if I'm doing this right, $40/hr at 80hr paychecks is $2300. Add in $80/hr OT at 40 hours and that means your entire biweekly pay check is $4300. That is all after taxes.

https://smartasset.com/taxes/illinoi...tor#U3iy6JEzNB

[CptClean]

Used to be a tradie union pipe fitter wanted to fukking kill myself that 7-3 every day life is soul crushing. Couldn't imagine it in an office would have actually killed myself.

Started commercial fishing, easily 10x harder than being a tradie but get antsy to go to work when I'm off and genuinely absolutely love my job, never know what you're going to make I have made 20k in 4 months and 90k in 1 month.

Just finishes up my Fishing Masters captains ticket and will get a 100% raise when I start running a boat and won't have to work on deck anymore but the pressure is immense if you don't perform you are fukking gone. Also have everyone's life in your hands have to know diesel mechanics, hydraulics, electrical, as well as boat stability etc. chit goes wrong constantly.

Best year was 280k CAD as a deckhand, and the best part is I am considered self employed so get tons of write offs.

Been in tons of crazy storms and sketchy situations though, have also worked 40+ hours straight many times, sleep 2-4 hours work another 40 hours straight. Driving the crab boat I work on into port right now as I type this post.


Can transfer my knowledge/sea time into working on tugs as well if I want to settle down, tons of jobs paying 150k+ working 2 weeks on 2 weeks off.

[propreffered7]

Where are you all getting these ridiculous numbers from? Literally every trade I've looked up has a median salary of $50-60k in the US. Not poverty level obviously, but it seems like ever Miscer ITT is making $60 an hour or more from the trades. And acting like that's extremely common. Maybe in very regional-specific areas where populations are dense and COL is high. But for most trades, anything over $75k is in the top 20%. Again, fantastic option for the vast majority and above the national average, but not CEO 10k/day.

OP, judge a field from statistical averages/medians, not from anecdotes.

my only guess is when looking at those stats, it doesn't take into account over time. i wish i had more specific references, though. as i agree with you it comes across anecdotal

there was this kid named manny in my class who acted like the trade didn't pay that much. but then he'd reference side jobs and making 1,200 or 2,000 dollars in a day. he had work on a ceiling fan he asked others to do and was saying he was charging 150. so, side work is another consideration along with OT

this one i cant remember all that well but i know one of the kids that was finishing up his hours in the field was talking about a 3k dollar check. i dont know the time period, but it'd be difficult for me to imagine he meant for a month. anything above that is pretty nuts imo for a likely 18 year old just starting out

i do think there's a pretty big disparity in quality of employee. how do you measure someone like me with vast amounts of college, a tradie job building broadway shows and competing at the state level in my trade... vs. my cousin whos never picked up a hammer and started out super green with no experience. there's no way he'd be on my level starting salary-wise

[vwdsg2468]

Where are you all getting these ridiculous numbers from? Literally every trade I've looked up has a median salary of $50-60k in the US. Not poverty level obviously, but it seems like ever Miscer ITT is making $60 an hour or more from the trades. And acting like that's extremely common. Maybe in very regional-specific areas where populations are dense and COL is high. But for most trades, anything over $75k is in the top 20%. Again, fantastic option for the vast majority and above the national average, but not CEO 10k/day.

OP, judge a field from statistical averages/medians, not from anecdotes.

Agreed

[Hutrapper]

Explain

All I meant was, its cool till you realize that there is little fun about working your ass off physically for 45 hours a week. Body tired...lifting builds you up, working wears you out.


I am thrilled I learned to build when i was younger, but am even more thrilled I am in a management position where I only do the lifting and hammering occasionally.

I think it is a much better thing for long term health.

[YUL]

Where are you all getting these ridiculous numbers from? Literally every trade I've looked up has a median salary of $50-60k in the US. Not poverty level obviously, but it seems like ever Miscer ITT is making $60 an hour or more from the trades. And acting like that's extremely common. Maybe in very regional-specific areas where populations are dense and COL is high. But for most trades, anything over $75k is in the top 20%. Again, fantastic option for the vast majority and above the national average, but not CEO 10k/day.

OP, judge a field from statistical averages/medians, not from anecdotes.

Most tradie jobs start around $150k and many make close to 400k after a few years.

Wearing out your body by your early 40s is worth it I guess. That and working 80hrs a week is something to be proud of and stuff

[ChrisLS8]

Median income for Electricians in May 2020 was $56,000. That's not including any double OT. Add another 20 hours each week and it's very easy to hit $100k./

https://www.bls.gov/ooh/construction...ians.htm#tab-5

J man sparkies top out at 68/hr here. Might be more since they actually get COL increases

[78novacaine]

Where are you all getting these ridiculous numbers from? Literally every trade I've looked up has a median salary of $50-60k in the US. Not poverty level obviously, but it seems like ever Miscer ITT is making $60 an hour or more from the trades. And acting like that's extremely common. Maybe in very regional-specific areas where populations are dense and COL is high. But for most trades, anything over $75k is in the top 20%. Again, fantastic option for the vast majority and above the national average, but not CEO 10k/day.

OP, judge a field from statistical averages/medians, not from anecdotes.

Every journeyman in my local (1 trade, 1 city) makes a minimum of $35/hr. Plus we don't pay a penny out of pocket for health insurance, have a pension plan, and a company funded savings plan. Plumbers and electricians make similar wages with similar benefits. That's $70k+ a year with zero overtime, and our city has the lowest COL of any other city it's size, so the wages here are actually lower than most other major metro areas.

That's not anecdotal evidence, that's facts. 10,000+ people in one city making $35+/hr in trades, and that's not even counting the massive petrochemical industry we have here.

[mvitz]

IT guy here, did 180K last year. Have a few engineering degrees and a masters. I have been at this for a long time. First year on the job a guy said never forget that the IT people are the blue collar people of the office. Damn straight. White collar jobs have been decimated by H1B and outsourcing. IT was the guinea pig back in the 90s. They are doing it to everyone now.

My family was in the trades, my father pushed us to go go college so we wouldnt have our bodies destroyed by the time we were 50. Little did he know they would destroy the white collar jobs as well. So here I am.

Most of my bros are blue collar guys and many make more than me. All are longshoreman, plumbers, HVAC, electricans and one pool guy who makes gigantic bank (rich people). Where I live the plumbers and electricians make more than doctors.

If I had to do it again I would have done a regulated skilled trade. Lots of opportunities for cash and side stuff. Way more than what I do.

Robots are coming, I am in the process of learning it. I already have the computer part and am now learning the mechanical bit.

[MikeLowrrrey]

IT guy here, did 180K last year. Have a few engineering degrees and a masters. I have been at this for a long time. First year on the job a guy said never forget that the IT people are the blue collar people of the office. Damn straight. White collar jobs have been decimated by H1B and outsourcing. IT was the guinea pig back in the 90s. They are doing it to everyone now.

My family was in the trades, my father pushed us to go go college so we wouldnt have our bodies destroyed by the time we were 50. Little did he know they would destroy the white collar jobs as well. So here I am.

Most of my bros are blue collar guys and many make more than me. All are longshoreman, plumbers, HVAC, electricans and one pool guy who makes gigantic bank (rich people). Where I live the plumbers and electricians make more than doctors.

If I had to do it again I would have done a regulated skilled trade. Lots of opportunities for cash and side stuff. Way more than what I do.

Robots are coming, I am in the process of learning it. I already have the computer part and am now learning the mechanical bit.

Why do you all keep mentioning how hard trades is on your body when you don't have to be in trades your entire life? Also there's other branches you can go from trades. Superintendent, start your own business, building inspection, being a professor, etc. Or you can stack money and go back to school in your mid to late 20s.

[jofedm]

Miscers whove been doing trades, how are your bodies holding up?

I’ve hurt myself in the gym more than 15 years of working. There are so many OHS laws nowadays to prevent you from hurting yourself. Literally not allowed to lift over 70 lbs on some sites.

[tk217]

Steel framing.

Basically once the Ironworker neanderthals finish their work so they can re-up on heroin we build all the walls, roofs, ceilings, pony walls, soffits, or anything else that has a finish on it. I've even built stairs and waterfalls

not sure why this made me laugh so much.

[1slo5oh]

Why do you all keep mentioning how hard trades is on your body when you don't have to be in trades your entire life? Also there's other branches you can go from trades. Superintendent, start your own business, building inspection, being a professor, etc. Or you can stack money and go back to school in your mid to late 20s.

Lets face it , those who keep repeating it are likely just soft individuals to begin with and likely have never really had to put in a hard days work in their entire life. And for that I kind of feel sorry for them...

[propreffered7]

also fwiw, i never finished my chemistry degree. i want to.. i want to more in the sense that i just want to be able to say i have it

but with a lull due to covid i decided to go to trade school. im about to go out in the field, and as im thinking about it now, im trying to weigh how i can finish chemistry with electric work

it's one of those things that sounds better in theory than practice imo. you're telling me i have to split my time halfway instead of fully pursuing electric to go finish a degree that will basically give me entry level work after a degree? lol

unless i had some super special job i was specifically looking for i know i'd get right after graduation i don't think it's worth it

time is better spent on trying to figure out how to make more in electrical (or even other trades)

[navid93]

Lets face it , those who keep repeating it are likely just soft individuals to begin with and likely have never really had to put in a hard days work in their entire life. And for that I kind of feel sorry for them...

I’m thinking about being an electrician but I keep reading horror stories about how after 20 years dudes can barley walk.

Is it really that bad as long as you lift and keep in shape?

[vwdsg2468]

I’m thinking about being an electrician but I keep reading horror stories about how after 20 years dudes can barley walk.

Is it really that bad as long as you lift and keep in shape?

Same but I'm thinking of becoming some type of mechanic.

[thesloshedman]

Journeyman heavy equipment mechanic and welder checking in. Didn’t enjoy welding so went back to school for heavy equipment tech after getting my journeyman’s ticket as a welder.
Currently making 38 an hour as a level 3, and will go up to 42 after I pass my exam. Company also pays me an extra $20 per hour for holding a welding ticket. Easily 150k a year with a few ot hours.

[thesloshedman]

Same but I'm thinking of becoming some type of mechanic.

Mechanic is hard a a fuk on your body

[CremeFraicheBro]

Wish I went into welding with a union tbh. I love to weld. Instead I went into law

Seconded. Lawyering blows don’t do it boyos

[SettingOff]

in reality majority only make mid-high teens. lead hands probably low-mid 20's at best. im talking bout typical 40 hr worker.

i do not believe anyone who says 40+ an hour for a standard construction tradie.

[aeons]

Where are you all getting these ridiculous numbers from? Literally every trade I've looked up has a median salary of $50-60k in the US. Not poverty level obviously, but it seems like ever Miscer ITT is making $60 an hour or more from the trades. And acting like that's extremely common. Maybe in very regional-specific areas where populations are dense and COL is high. But for most trades, anything over $75k is in the top 20%. Again, fantastic option for the vast majority and above the national average, but not CEO 10k/day.

OP, judge a field from statistical averages/medians, not from anecdotes.

Union wages aren’t usually posted on your typical job sites. I lol at the average and highest wage it says for my trade. It’s no where near what I make.

[vwdsg2468]

in reality majority only make mid-high teens. lead hands probably low-mid 20's at best. im talking bout typical 40 hr worker.

i do not believe anyone who says 40+ an hour for a standard construction tradie.

That seems quite a bit too low.

[400Lb Gorilla]

Every tradesmen that's not in a union.

Nope. Not in a Union, still technically a tradie, and definitely make way more than half that.


Boom, argument defeated

[400Lb Gorilla]

OP, for your original topic, I think it depends on the trade as to whether or not it is better than going the college route.

Tradesmen like electricians, welders, machinists, and plumbers can make great money but you need the experience or apprenticeship training to build up your reputation/value.

The rest of the trades I think mostly depends on the area you plan on living in, the demand for the trade and availability of the trades, whether you own your own business or work for someone, what industry you are in, and how much skill is actually needed.

All trades are dependent on experience to make good money though.

[stupid000]

in reality majority only make mid-high teens. lead hands probably low-mid 20's at best. im talking bout typical 40 hr worker.

i do not believe anyone who says 40+ an hour for a standard construction tradie.

Damn, you are stupid.

[SettingOff]

Damn, you are stupid.

actually you are

[stupid000]

actually you are

Just according to my username. The last time I made less than 40 an hour was when I worked in Texas a few years ago. Work was slow at the time so I took the job, with all the bonuses I made 3500 in one week and my union never knew I left the state.