- My Forums
- Tiger Rant
- LSU Recruiting
- SEC Rant
- Saints Talk
- Pelicans Talk
- More Sports Board
- Fantasy Sports
- Golf Board
- Soccer Board
- O-T Lounge
- Tech Board
- Home/Garden Board
- Outdoor Board
- Health/Fitness Board
- Movie/TV Board
- Book Board
- Music Board
- Political Talk
- Money Talk
- Fark Board
- Gaming Board
- Travel Board
- Food/Drink Board
- Ticket Exchange
- TD Help Board
Customize My Forums- View All Forums
- Show Left Links
- Topic Sort Options
- Trending Topics
- Recent Topics
- Active Topics
Started By
Message
re: High-Paying Trade Jobs Sit Empty, While High School Grads Line Up For University
Posted on 4/26/18 at 9:28 pm to olemc999
Posted on 4/26/18 at 9:28 pm to olemc999
quote:
I make about 86,000 a year as an elevator technician.
Yeah, as a facility mgr once I had to go to a seminar on elevator emergencies. Locally there are a lot of regulations that help make it a fairly lucrative job.
In emergency, we couldn't open the unit and had to call a tech. There were only about 6 in the whole State
2
Posted on 4/26/18 at 9:28 pm to Mingo Was His NameO
Got a union pension plan and a blue cross blue shield plan.
This post was edited on 4/26/18 at 9:31 pm
Posted on 4/26/18 at 9:30 pm to RogerTheShrubber
I lucked up into getting my elevator job. The boss man needed an electrician, I was an electrician. His dad was in the Coast Guard and I just got out of the Coast Guard 
Posted on 4/26/18 at 9:35 pm to Mingo Was His NameO
quote:
I've got 3 more than you.
I don't think anyone believes that you have one degree, much less 5
Posted on 4/26/18 at 9:36 pm to olemc999
quote:
Got a union pension plan and a blue cross blue shield plan.
That's not a bad gig then, but you are in the minority. Especially going forward as union continue to shrink. Good for you though, sounds like you do pretty well.
Posted on 4/26/18 at 9:37 pm to RedRifle
It's easier to find someone who has a shitty degree working a job they think they are too qualified to work than it is a good plumber.
Posted on 4/26/18 at 9:38 pm to Twenty 49
quote:
A bad back, bum knee, diabetes or arthritis are inconveniences to a 50 year old white collar worker, but many carpenters, plumbers, machinists, etc. with such problems end up applying for disability or are forced into lower paying unskilled jobs (Welcome to Moe’s!) that arent as physical.
Why do you labor under this bullshite? My fiancée is a dentist. You have any idea how many dentists retire early due to all of those same problems plus have high suicide rates? I've done physical work for my entire life plus the usual (and unusual) physical training the military has required for nearly 20 years and I have exactly zero mobility pain. You do realize that younger people can take advantage of smart working practices that pay attention to ergonomics and not suffer from back and knee injuries? You do realize sitting in a chair glfor hours can cause debilitating neck, shoulder, back, and extremity injury?
Some of you are incredibly narrow-minded...
Posted on 4/26/18 at 9:43 pm to RogerTheShrubber
In Maine there is only about 40-50 elevator techs in the whole state.
Posted on 4/26/18 at 9:44 pm to deltaland
quote:
I know a guy who makes 400k a year doing electrical work for farmers on irrigation pivots/wells and such. He can't find a young guy willing to do it to take over when he retires in a couple years. Makes more than most local doctors/lawyers do
The OT has by far the rosiest view on trade jobs I've ever seen.
Everyone seems to know a guy like the one quoted lol
Posted on 4/26/18 at 9:45 pm to Clames
quote:
Why do you labor under this bullshite? My fiancée is a dentist. You have any idea how many dentists retire early
Well yeah, because they can afford it. 99% of plumbers can't.
Posted on 4/26/18 at 9:53 pm to GetCocky11
quote:
Everyone seems to know a guy like the one quoted lol
in general if you have a decent, well rounded circle of acquaintances you will
Posted on 4/26/18 at 9:53 pm to GetCocky11
quote:
The OT has by far the rosiest view on trade jobs I've ever seen. Everyone seems to know a guy like the one quoted lol
Everyone loves the outlier. Meanwhile there are office buildings full of lawyers, bankers, engineers, salespeople, coders, doctors, creatives, etc., etc. making similar and/or better money.
Posted on 4/26/18 at 9:56 pm to Clames
Sure, it can go either way. I’ve always thought dentists are especially prone to disability. A hand, vision, or standing issue can knock them out. Same for barbers.
Surgeons file disability claims often under their special policies. But they can still make bank in a clinical practice even if they can’t operate.
I’ve got two relatives who were wrecked in knee or shoulder from factory jobs. Shoulder had to hang it up at 52. Knee is limping on after surgeries. Another one has limped since he was 30 after bad back surgery, but he has a degree and white collar job so put in over 40 years.
I see a lot of disability applications. Shitloads of blue collar guys start applying at about 45 and up.
Surgeons file disability claims often under their special policies. But they can still make bank in a clinical practice even if they can’t operate.
I’ve got two relatives who were wrecked in knee or shoulder from factory jobs. Shoulder had to hang it up at 52. Knee is limping on after surgeries. Another one has limped since he was 30 after bad back surgery, but he has a degree and white collar job so put in over 40 years.
I see a lot of disability applications. Shitloads of blue collar guys start applying at about 45 and up.
This post was edited on 4/26/18 at 9:58 pm
Posted on 4/26/18 at 9:56 pm to GetCocky11
quote:
The OT has by far the rosiest view on trade jobs I've ever seen.
It's weird. The OT is generally a contradictory place so maybe that's why.
Anyone that believes the trades are a hidden gem needs to go the their local supply house and spend 30 min drinking a cup of coffee while observing the men that come in. Vast majority are tired men who will have no choice but to work until their bodies just can't anymore. This is the reality of the trades.
Stay in school kids.
Posted on 4/26/18 at 9:56 pm to RedRifle
If you spend anytime in a major trauma center, you will see that many of these jobs come with risk of severe injury.
While I agree that college isn't necessarily for everyone, it remains the best option for students who excel in high school.
While I agree that college isn't necessarily for everyone, it remains the best option for students who excel in high school.
Posted on 4/26/18 at 9:57 pm to RogerTheShrubber
quote:
in general if you have a decent, well rounded circle of acquaintances you will
Yeah I know a trade worker who does well. However, I also understand that the vast majority of trade workers will never reach that level of pay and will top out at 65k a year if they're lucky.
This post was edited on 4/26/18 at 9:59 pm
Posted on 4/26/18 at 10:00 pm to GetCocky11
quote:
and will top out at 65k a year if they're lucky.
Just depends on where you live
Posted on 4/26/18 at 10:10 pm to RogerTheShrubber
quote:
depends on where you live
Interestingly enough, so does the cost of living.
Posted on 4/26/18 at 10:12 pm to Chuker
quote:
Anyone that believes the trades are a hidden gem needs to go the their local supply house and spend 30 min drinking a cup of coffee while observing the men that come in. Vast majority are tired men who will have no choice but to work until their bodies just can't anymore. This is the reality of the trades.
Stay in school kids
This is all true, but only if they are college material and with a career in mind that has some possibility of paying the bills. Less than half of all high school graduates go to college, and a significant number of those that go to college should have done something else. Nothing is being done to provide career training for these students while skilled labor jobs go unfilled.
Posted on 4/26/18 at 10:16 pm to RedRifle
Based on what I paid my plumber for 2.5 days of work, I’m about to quit my job and become one.
Page 8 of 10
Popular
Back to top
Follow TigerDroppings for LSU Football News