re: The High Cost of a Home Is Turning American Millennials Into the New Serfs

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People on this board really are too rosy when discussing trades .

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the average plumber makes about $23/hour
the average welder makes $18.50

they must be putting in a lot of OT to be making six figures at 23 like everyone on TD says they do

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the average plumber makes about $23/hour
the average welder makes $18.50

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That's not that great considering many aren't getting benefits. That's roughly between 35-45k with no overtime, but you're responsible for your own health insurance, no company sponsored retirement, ect. You can survive off that, but it would he hard to save enough to retire at a decent age unless you are a slave to your job or never spent on any indulgencey for pretty much your entire career.

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Good luck finding a family home for that in a decent city that doesn't have bars on the windows or ride on wheels.

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Come on now. Maybe its like that in Baton Rouge but there are many houses you can get in subdivisions that are in nice areas between 250-300k. Just cant expect marble, heart of pine, and a huge poolhouse out back.

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I know many young people knocking on 6 figures in the south and they're in debt up to their asses. 3 years in the workforce and they have a $60k truck, $40k boat, $225k house, etc etc.

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I feel bad enough that I've bought a $30k truck and $215k house just 3 years out of college. Although I am married, so my wife's salary helps with that.

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There's girls holding signs on the road sites here making 35/hr 12 hr days, 7 days a week.

Guys running equipment or welding are making 45/hr

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I'll be sure to reference all your anecdotal data when looking at empirical studies that just tell you facts. You may know people that make that and young people that make a lot of money, but the indisputable facts are that people are making less than they were in 1980. How so many of you just ignore facts "because you know someone that does it different" amazes me. One of the biggest reasons no one in this country can get shite done, IMO. Everybody thinks they know more than the empirical evidence that they are provided with.

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That's not that great considering many aren't getting benefits. That's roughly between 35-45k with no overtime, but you're responsible for your own health insurance, no company sponsored retirement, ect. You can survive off that, but it would he hard to save enough to retire at a decent age unless you are a slave to your job or never spent on any indulgencey for pretty much your entire career.

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Not sure where those figures come from because apprentices make 18/hr

Mines locally start you at 60k with a 6 month training course, bump you 10k a year til 100k and its COL raises after that.

If I was married to somebody that made even $30k a year I'd be just as dumb as my friends are with money

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If I was married to somebody that made even $30k a year I'd be just as dumb as my friends are with money

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That's basically my situation and I'm not really that tempted to spend a lot. I don't have expensive taste and I don't really want for much. Eventually I'd like to get a boat, but right now I'd much rather spend my money on the little traveling I'm able to do than on things.

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Mines locally start you at 60k with a 6 month training course, bump you 10k a year til 100k and its COL raises after that.

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Juneau, Alaska is probably one of the worst places to use as a comparison to pretty much anywhere else in the USA..

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That's not that great considering many aren't getting benefits. That's roughly between 35-45k with no overtime, but you're responsible for your own health insurance, no company sponsored retirement, ect.

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Is that commonplace? I just checked a handful of NOLA plumber job postings on Indeed and several mentioned health insurance and 401Ks. My stepfather works in HVAC (which is pretty damned similar to plumbing) and gets insurance/retirement plans. Takes home somewhere in the $70-$80k range. Not great for a guy in his mid 50's, but definitely provides a comfortable enough lifestyle.

The big advantage for plumbers, welders, HVAC, electricians, etc... is that they make full-time money while they learn. An 18 year old getting into one of those fields and making $12/hr to start for 4 years is $70-80k in the black and making close to $20/hr when they're 21. An average high school student that goes to a state college for business could spend ~$40k on his education while working ~10 hours a week @ $10/hr, only to start off with a $40k/yr salary. The business major has more earning potential, but it's going to take a while to make up the ~$100k head start that the skilled labor has, especially with that student loan being 6%+ interest.

The hypothetical skilled tradesman has a lot lower risk, as well. The 6 year college graduation rate is 60%. Plenty of people don't make it. If you can't keep a job as a plumber or electrician, then you sure as shite weren't going to make it in college.