What’s it like working in the trades?

10 comments

1. Depending on the kind of trade, some require several years of put in time. Where you’re learning, possibly making less money than you would like to. However, there are other trades specifically in heavy construction, the big yellow, iron stuff, that once you start, you can move pretty quickly and make a decent living. Just really depends on the area, and how motivated people are to hire workers and train and retain them for the benefit of the employee , as well as the benefit of the company in the future.

2. 40 isn’t dead. He’s not too old to move onto something new.

   A lot of skilled trade jobs are in high demand right now, my brother-in-law is a pipefitter and makes really good money but he makes that money by traveling. He’s been to Mexico several times working on a nuclear reactor, the Caribbean, lots of places but he has to travel to make really good money. If he works here, the Southern US, he makes a few dollars more than I do as just a blue collar machine operator.

   Again, 40 isn’t dead if he is looking to change and do something new.

3. I love it, I worked in a cubicle for about a year realized I hated it went back to concrete.

   Depends on experience on pay but most companies I’ve worked for are good about raises when you work for them cause keeping a good employee is a big issue so they do like to pay well

4. I’m a licensed industrial mechanic, that takes 4 years of training before you can write your final exam. I’m currently nearing the end of my electrician apprenticeship, which is 5 years of training. These are pretty good example of trades that take a long time to get yourself established in but once you are up to snuff then these days you can have your pick of jobs around the country and potentially internationally, go where you want and where the money is good.
   At the other end you have more generalized labor in very lucrative areas. I know guys who are making $60/hr with nothing more than a highschool diploma after landing a job driving rock truck at one of the larger mines. The same is true with oil field work or large road construction projects. The pay is fantastic but there is fierce competition for those jobs. However if you lose that job (and I know from experience how bad the ups and downs of a resource industry career can be) then you are left with skills that are much less marketable and may only get you a gig at 1-1/2x minimum wage with a local contractor in a dump truck.
   As for stability it depends on the trade and the region. Like I said resource industry can be very volatile for new guys until you get some senority under you. Construction industry is often more stable, as is manufacturing, the big thing there is the resource industry goes up and down quickly and often, manufacturing can be stable for a long time, take a major nosedive and never recover. Skilled trades are generally more marketable and stable than operation/production workers. Top of the heap for stability is service trades; eg. auto mechanic, HVAC technician, plumber, etc. Start as an apprentice at an established car dealership and if they like you you practically have a guarenteed job for life.
   The big thing is getting a trade you like, that will make all the difference. A job you are passionate for reflects on how you do it and how you are perceived by others. 40 is a little older to be getting into it, the new guy gets all the grunt work, but many see their trades through to retirement age so it’s quite doable. That being said I have plans to change careers and drive a desk by the time I hit my mid 40s, try to save what’s left of my back and body.

5. Machinist in aerospace. Older is better younger kids just don’t want to work in a physical field. Maintenance is always hiring, and the income is reasonable. 40k to 60k generally. Depending on where you live, etc. I love it, and overtime can be super rewarding if you just want more money. The work isn’t that physical, really.

6. I know plenty of guys in the trades. Lots of ex-military. Generally very successful in general.

   There’s a “happy medium” of job stability where once you’re no longer the new guy and before you’re the boss, you just collect piles of money with little concern.

   The biggest problem you have is ‘the trades’ wildly vary, so he could be doing anything from sitting in air conditioning programming an industrial doodad up to sweating away in the sun doing manual labor until his back breaks.

   There’s usually a reason a job sits empty and the fluff article seems to avoid mentioning any specific reasons in favor of fluffy political positions. The most common reason is certification and licensing. If you want to weld you can walk off the street and start doing exhausts for about $20/hr OR get the underwater nuclear UFO metal aerospace welding cert which takes 20 years of experience and more effort than a PHD but at least it pays $200/hr, although its empty right now.

7. Most of these jobs that pay decent where you don’t need a deep background of knowledge have a caveat.

   You’re not going to have set schedule for one. You’ll be working off hours, time away from family etc. Your kids will potentially grow to resent you since you aren’t home much. Lots of relationships suffer from this, infidelity etc.

   Most of these jobs aren’t paying you all that money for the actual job, they’re paying you for the inconvenience/schedule/time away etc etc.

   There’s always going to be a catch. If you don’t want that, then work a more average job that pays you less than 40k per year but gives you a set schedule with decent time off.

   I know lots of contractors in the private security field that get paid lots of money, but they’re in a third world country, dangerous as fuck, always looking over their shoulder, they’re never home, gone for MONTHS at a time, sleeping odd hours or rarely sleeping, high stress situations to infinite boredom, no western comforts etc etc etc

   Its all about what you really want, where you’re at in your life.

   I also know guy who works a 9 to 5, gets paid 40k per year, weekends and holidays off. They’re frugal, save their money, drive a yaris, bland, bland, bland life. Choice is yours.

8. How lucrative it is depends heavily on the country/area, but most of the tradigital trades are pretty stable at least.

   40 is not too old though I’d avoid the ones that have you lifting a lot of stuff(mason comes to mind)

9. Depends what trades you’re looking at. Electricians, Automotive Mechanics, Plumbers, and HVAC as going to be needed everywhere and if you don’t mind nights and/or weekends, you pretty much write your own paycheck.

10. Trades are hard work that will destroy your body over time

    I wouldn’t seek it out as a 40 year old