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Just on PBS News Hour - Per Mr. Rooter Plumbing in Seattle, plumbers are making $200,000/yr. In Ithaca, NY electricians are paid $90/hr.
- Thread starter Boondocks
- Start date
Yeah im 30 and my back, knees and wrists are in rough shape. Pulling wrenches really does a number on you.
I knew a psychiatrist once who told me the only reason he became a psychiatrist is because he hated roofing so much as a young man.
You have to take into account that the "right" direction could be the totally opposite of what your kids perceive. My dad wanted me to follow in the family footsteps and work at a used car lot. I became a graphic designer instead lol. Obviously anecdotal but still. Not trying to judge in any way, just something to consider. :)
My aunt's husband ran his own plumbing business for about 25 years until he retired early due to joint pain problems. It was a very small outfit, they only did local house calls and had good arrangements with a handful of local businesses. My cousin (his son) told me that when his father retired and he took over the business, they had already paid off their house and had several hundred thousand dollars in the bank. They even had enough for my cousin to put down a $50k payment on the house right across the street.
All from a little plumbing business. If you're unafraid of hard work and can deal with gross stuff there is certainly a lot of money to be made.
All from a little plumbing business. If you're unafraid of hard work and can deal with gross stuff there is certainly a lot of money to be made.
This isn't new.
High skill high demand usually.
I respect the hell out of them for the effort that goes in
High skill high demand usually.
I respect the hell out of them for the effort that goes in
My uncle used to be a mechanic, the number of bull shit customers I saw when I swing by, and horror story he told me, yeah, fuck that noise.
I wonder if young people will start going for it? The social capital of a college degree still seems high. No one bats an eye when a friend says they filter out people that didn't go to college on dating apps. The media (not just news but films and tv) glorify college - friendships, parties, study abroad, etc.
Maybe this will change with the student loan crisis not going away.
Maybe this will change with the student loan crisis not going away.
Buying tools was always a perk to me. The most enjoyable part of the job IMO. Having good power and hand tools is just convenient in general. Actually, is there a power tool or tool thread on era?
yeah man. I recently bought the Makita LXT set in the last year. Used to roll with Milwaukee. Now I'm finding out DeWalt is slightly ahead in that tool tier.
I have an office job and I think I'd trade it for a trade. We are never going to fucking unionize (public accounting), get paid like shit for long, gruesome hours.
These tradespeople are making bank. And they have good insurance with unions so they can see doctors often without worrying.
These tradespeople are making bank. And they have good insurance with unions so they can see doctors often without worrying.
I had a Roto-Rooter guy come out to give me a quote on installing a new garbage disposal (which I had already bought at Home Depot) and he said it would be 400 bucks!!! He even said I'd be stupid to pay it cause I could just do it myself and he showed me how, lol. It took 15 minutes. Good on them for the hustle I guess.
Im a Milwaukee fanboy. I have a Milwaukee level for gods sake haha. When i finished school i received a $2,000 grant and i bought 2 brushless milwaukee drills and they are still going strong 6 years later. Been buying thier stuff ever since.
Love the black and red!
I've been a plumber for ten years and I only make $17 an hour. I ain't making anywhere near $200k.
My issue was I bought the Milwaukee v18 series that was discontinued in a year as the batteries died out easily. Left a bad taste in my mouth. The m18 series is incredible though
I don't know if it's a trade per se, but we had the Direct TV guy in our attic dropping a new coax line. It wasn't full Phoenix summer, but it was warm enough. Guy looked like hell when he came out. Meanwhile I been meaning to drop some coax myself recently, but can't be assed to do it.
I'm in a trades union and the pay is legit, but I think the high pay depends on what region of the country/labor laws/city your in.
A lot of areas that dont have strong labor laws or are right to work have shit pay.
As for the wear and tear on the body, I wish guys would not kill themselves over this work. Personaly I take my time and always enforce the work is a two man trade I dont lift or move anything heavy without a partner and proper equipment and safety. I always wear/use ppe. I do get shit for it sometimes and probably been laid of because I refuse to move my ass and break my back. I don't care I would rather have my body than the extra money.
A lot of areas that dont have strong labor laws or are right to work have shit pay.
As for the wear and tear on the body, I wish guys would not kill themselves over this work. Personaly I take my time and always enforce the work is a two man trade I dont lift or move anything heavy without a partner and proper equipment and safety. I always wear/use ppe. I do get shit for it sometimes and probably been laid of because I refuse to move my ass and break my back. I don't care I would rather have my body than the extra money.
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Not everyone works for a union. Heres the thing. Ive been on many job sites throughout my career. No one gives a fuck about you. No one cares about your health and safety when a deadline is approaching. The trades are so grossly behind in basic things like worker safety its sickening. I have dozens and dozens of stories regarding this. The money is nice. The rest is dogshit.
I would trade my job for an office job any day of the week (hence why i am going back to school)
You still can be. It's only a year of school and every community college offers trade programs.
Deadlines usually mean 20-24 hour shifts lol. The good ol days. And GCs talk the most shit on the job since they cut the specific Contractors the main check. Also unions are based on politics and usually are prejudice to non whites depending on where your local chapter is located.
The overall atmosphere is like being in a football or hockey locker room. You need thick skin.
learning how to fix as much as your own stuff as possible is a great way to save money.
Yeah, the more I complain, the more I know the grass ain't greener on the other side.
Hard work, tough on the body, but stick with it long enough and you can make bank. A buddy of mine told me to go into a trade. I decided sitting on my ass and being in an office was a better choice for me. We are both making pretty decent money so neither of us has any regrets.
While this may be true, in a predominantly union area you'd want to join the union for the big bucks (and other benefits). They usually get more applicants than they actually take on, and the apprenticeship is around 4 to 5 years. You're working and getting paid (not full journeyman pay) during the apprenticeship, though.
the smart ones start that way to learn the ropes, open their own company and hire young grunts to do all that shit while they pocket massive money.
Lol I appreciate when people do that. I understand sometimes people are just curious and wanna see what I'm doing but it can be a pain. One time when I was under a house, my customer followed me down there...🤣
A buddy of mine did it for a while and ended up quitting. Was just too hard on him to do on a regular basis. Tried doing it on the side but it was hard to fit it around the rest of his life.
Deserved considering how dangerous some of that work can be- have known of a couple of electricians who died in tragic work accidents.
Maybe I should go into a trade. My current career path failed.
Is it possible to start in your 30s?
Is it possible to start in your 30s?
I worked with a guy in his 40s, been doing it 4 years. You're fine.