Who here works in a trade (electrician, laborer, plumber etc)?

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Jan 5, 2006
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#1
I'm thinkin of a career change.. Elevator Mechanic pays bank! but I fucked off my math classes in high school and college so im in the process of re-taking them again.. What's a good steady paying trade tho, with apprenticeship?
 

BUTCHER 206

FREE BUTCHER206
Aug 22, 2003
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#3
I'm thinkin of a career change.. Elevator Mechanic pays bank! but I fucked off my math classes in high school and college so im in the process of re-taking them again.. What's a good steady paying trade tho, with apprenticeship?
i got a homie whos a commercial electrician journeyman and shit was rough for him, he got laid off for like 3 months, shit was sketchy for awhile still is, and he had a very busy schedule sometimes working like 70 hour work weeks + taking math classes and other classes to get certified

got another homie whos in carpentry, he got laid off like halfway through his apprenticeship, then recently got put back on.

shit is shitty for all laborers far as i know. my uncle is a contractor and does concrete and landscaping, his shit is rough too.


i heard underwater welding is huge right now, if youre willing to travel.
elevator technicians do get paid bank, but youre on call 24/7, and you really really have to know your schooling. its tons of physics and advanced math and sciences and engineering. you could be a lesser "mechanic" but youd be aiming low, and that job could be pretty intense especially because you'll be installing elevators in unfinished buildings and that shit is very dangerous cause youre dealing with equipment that weighs thousands of pounds, and you're riding elevators that arent even done and safe yet.


i dunno much about plumbing but my homies sink was clogged 3 days ago, plumber came out and wanted $540 just to run an auger down the drain to the septic tank. LMAO @ charging almost 6 bills just to snake a drain, they told him to fuck off and climbed on the roof and ran a garden hose down the drain, and unplugged it all themselves in like 3 minutes
plumbers get paid good, if the work is there and youre willing to get shit dirty now and then
 
Dec 4, 2006
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#4
I do it all bro...but times are hard right now..

you could be working for the next 5-6 months and next you know you're out of work for 2-3 months..

even people in unions are having a tough time with jobs...
 
Dec 12, 2006
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#7
Well my experience in the unions is that its all about who ya know and elevator jobs are like the top of the demand depending on where u live they can make a couple hundred an hour and I understand your point but unions and corporations are different beasts
 
Jan 5, 2006
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#9
Barber School is a possibility as well.. or I can go into the automotive collision repair field with my pops and make $55k a year gotta work my way of course.. apprentice and shit
 
Mar 11, 2011
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#11
If your going to join a trade you have to go union for that serious cheese.

You gotta pay your dues for the first 3-4 years as an apprentice which ain't easy cuz your the first dudes to get laid off when jobs finish or the company downsizes.

Plus in these trade unions you get all your beneftis paid buy the company and you don't have to contribute shit.


Pick a trade that interests you and fuckin go for it. Here are some ideas.

1. HVAC
2 Carpenters
3. Ironworker
4. Electrician

Bust your ass in any of those trades and you could easily be making $80K/ a year in a few years
 
Mar 21, 2009
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#13
i am part of local 38 san francisco plumber and pipefitters. the pay is about as high as it gets for union trades unless you're gunna do elevators or a crane operator. but work is kinda spread out right now. like right now i'm laid off until the end of the month, but going back to build a hospital which will take a couple years. it's been so slow since 08 that we have been only taking like 2 or three apprentices a year in the north bay program. and yeah it's a lot easier if you know someone
 
Mar 21, 2009
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#14
I'm thinkin of a career change.. Elevator Mechanic pays bank! but I fucked off my math classes in high school and college so im in the process of re-taking them again.. What's a good steady paying trade tho, with apprenticeship?
also, i ran into a guy i went to high school with on a job and he was an elevator mechanic. he was dumb as fuck too so i can't see the test really being quantum physics or anything. go for that. those guys don't work very hard and get paid well. kinda scary tho
 
Jan 5, 2006
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#15
IS THERE TRADE SCHOOLS FOR AUTOMOTIVE REPAIR? OR DO YOU GOTTA GO TO ROP OR A COMMUNITY COLLEGE?
ROP or find a shop thats willing to let you learn while you work helping a painter or prep or something of that sort. Well for collision, automotive repair helps to go to a school and get certified in ASE or I-car