What do you for a living. And what do you earn.

mx295
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Quartz Hill, CA US
mx295 3/6/2020 10:54am
3/6/2020 10:54am Edited Date/Time 3/7/2020 10:04am
I own a water truck company.. my current contract is for $20,000 a month.
1
Raoul Duke
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140
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Las Vegas, NV US
Raoul Duke 3/6/2020 12:11pm
3/6/2020 12:11pm
I’m a semi professional race car driver and amateur tattoo artist. Make enough to get stoned in my hotel on Friday nights.
8
GoggleFiend904 3/7/2020 10:09am
3/7/2020 10:09am
I work in water distribution. I made around 42k last year with a promotion in December. The promotion was only 95 cents up front, but I get three evaluations in the next year with a potential 3-4.5% raise at each. Also in the middle of union negotiations with hopes of some good pay increases. We are by far the lowest paid district in the desert.

It’s cool work and I don’t dread having to clock in every morning, that’s a rare find for not having a degree
mikec265
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Edinboro, PA US
mikec265 3/7/2020 8:35pm
3/7/2020 8:35pm
I own a small 3 semi truck company. I play with stocks on the side, and buying and selling trucks/trailers on the side. Basically 2 hired drivers take care of the hauling. My wife and I are basically full time parents since I work from home. During the warmer months I play with my kids, and dirt bikes all day, but get interrupted by phone calls and emails 8-5. It's a life of leisure, but I had to bust my ass to get here. After tax deductions I don't make much, but I've invested a lot into stainless chemical tanks that hold value well. Looking for other tax sheltering investments all the time. It's common for me to park my Alta on top of a jump peak and pull out my cell phone and note pad on our private track. I have a lot of time and freedom.
1

The Shop

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Spergen
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GB
Spergen 3/12/2020 4:26pm
3/12/2020 4:26pm
jeffro503 wrote:
I work for myself as a private contractor. I'm basically what you would call a " Sub-contractor " in the drywall part of construction. My hourly...
I work for myself as a private contractor. I'm basically what you would call a " Sub-contractor " in the drywall part of construction. My hourly rate is $65.00/hr , with minimum charges on small stuff , which is $250.00 for the first 2hrs , and then my normal rate of $65.00/hr after that. The hourly rate isn't bad , but I do have days or at least some hours where I make zero dollars. I can take two days and drive around and bid 6 jobs , and not get any of them. But......I have 3 main general contractors I work for , that I do all their work , so I don't advertise , as they can keep me pretty buried. Anything above and beyond what those three contractors give me is considered a bonus , or " extra work ". About 109 months out of the year I stay extremely busy , and the other 2 months I'll use for some vacations or need to hustle and line some work out. About 28 years in the trade , and the last 12 have been on my own.
Just out of curiosity do you know a rough real world salary for an architect in the US?
Spergen
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Spergen 3/12/2020 4:34pm
3/12/2020 4:34pm
Gworm wrote:
I never went to college, but I fly a corporate jet. I'm actually in Van Nuys right now. Not gonna give figures out on social media...
I never went to college, but I fly a corporate jet. I'm actually in Van Nuys right now. Not gonna give figures out on social media, but it pays well.
.
I made a major career change in my early 30's. I was an excavation contractor, and got tired of chasing money and not getting paid.

When I was starting, a good friend who has been in aviation forever told me "you'll never become a millionaire flying, but you get to live like one".
Yep, one of my business partners fly's 777s for a well known airline, spot on with that comment.
IanMac138
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400
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West Linn, OR US
IanMac138 3/12/2020 6:05pm
3/12/2020 6:05pm
Senior Art Director at a creative agency specializing in sportswear/outdoor lifestyle brands.
135K / year w/ annual bonus up to 10% of salary + solid health benefits for my family and 401k matching up to 6%. Federal and state taxes along with SS take a good chunk every 2 weeks out my paycheck but luckily my wife is a private contractor working in the creative industry making good money as well so we get to write off some things.
1
jeffro503
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St Helens, OR US
jeffro503 3/12/2020 8:34pm
3/12/2020 8:34pm
Spergen wrote:
Just out of curiosity do you know a rough real world salary for an architect in the US?
That , I don't really know. Some of the generals that I work for hire one , or they do the design themselves. I do know they aren't cheap. There is a reason why you need degree's in doing that type of work , but it's so far out of my league , that I honestly don't know much about it. Can I ask why? Planning to build something here in the states?
chuck317
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Cleveland, TN US
chuck317 3/12/2020 8:38pm
3/12/2020 8:38pm
chemical company 25 hour. profit sharing each quarter , adds another 20 thousand a year
1
Markopolo400
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1426
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St. Paul-ish, MN US
Markopolo400 3/13/2020 8:25am
3/13/2020 8:25am
I'm a Product Development Engineer (Mech E by degree). I work on the R&D side of automotive collision repair equipment.
JWalkowiak951 3/13/2020 8:44am
3/13/2020 8:44am
Journeyman Tool & Die Maker by trade. I Now work at a refinery in the rotating equipment department as a “Machinist Specialist”. I made $131k last year with around 550 hours of O.T. Also a Volunteer Firefighter which pays $7.50/hour for the first hour on an incident scene and then $5.00/hour after that
1
MotoSavage
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Olathe, KS US
MotoSavage 3/13/2020 11:29am
3/13/2020 11:29am
Been working in the moto industry for the past couple of years at BikeGraphix being the lead designer. Pays well and is a pretty laid back career. It's hard to find the fine line between hating going to work and doing something you enjoy.
1
Spergen
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GB
Spergen 3/13/2020 12:02pm
3/13/2020 12:02pm
jeffro503 wrote:
That , I don't really know. Some of the generals that I work for hire one , or they do the design themselves. I do know...
That , I don't really know. Some of the generals that I work for hire one , or they do the design themselves. I do know they aren't cheap. There is a reason why you need degree's in doing that type of work , but it's so far out of my league , that I honestly don't know much about it. Can I ask why? Planning to build something here in the states?
No I am an architect, and to be fair here in the UK if you are outstanding on the tools you can earn just as much. To say I spent 7 years at university shouldn't of bothered. But it is a cool job seeing what I scribble on paper getting built.
newmann
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US
newmann 3/13/2020 12:35pm
3/13/2020 12:35pm
Markopolo400 wrote:
I'm a Product Development Engineer (Mech E by degree). I work on the R&D side of automotive collision repair equipment.
R&D side of automotive collision repair equipment.

tell us more...
Markopolo400
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Markopolo400 3/14/2020 8:46am
3/14/2020 8:46am
newmann wrote:
R&D side of automotive collision repair equipment.

tell us more...
What do you want to know? Tongue
newmann
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newmann 3/14/2020 9:41am
3/14/2020 9:41am
newmann wrote:
R&D side of automotive collision repair equipment.

tell us more...
Markopolo400 wrote:
What do you want to know? Tongue
What do you make?
Nairb#70
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Ivoryton, CT US
Nairb#70 3/14/2020 3:13pm
3/14/2020 3:13pm
I plan on making my money the old fashioned way. I'm going to inherit it! Laughing
3
Ebs
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MI US
Ebs 3/14/2020 3:51pm
3/14/2020 3:51pm
newmann wrote:
R&D side of automotive collision repair equipment.

tell us more...
Markopolo400 wrote:
What do you want to know? Tongue
newmann wrote:
What do you make?
hammers, probably.
2

Pit Row

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newmann
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newmann 3/14/2020 5:02pm
3/14/2020 5:02pm
Markopolo400 wrote:
What do you want to know? Tongue
newmann wrote:
What do you make?
Ebs wrote:
hammers, probably.
I love me some good hammers. There was a time when a company was proud enough to stamp their name in their product. Picked up this old Blackhawk and rehung it for another 50 years worth of use. Blackhawk has been in the autobody industry forever.


1
BMSOBx2
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Antioch, CA US
BMSOBx2 3/14/2020 5:19pm
3/14/2020 5:19pm Edited Date/Time 3/14/2020 5:23pm
Retired, on Permanent Vacation. Life is good if I live. I'm in the prime demographic for not surviving this virus thing. C'est la vie.

Where can I get one of those test thingies?
2
JeremyK
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510
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12/19/2019
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North Tonawanda, NY US
JeremyK 3/14/2020 5:22pm
3/14/2020 5:22pm
I build the stamping dies that stamp body panels that Newman and Markopolo400 will eventualy fix possibly.
1
Shiftfaced
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859
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12/15/2008
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Ruby Ridge, ID US
Shiftfaced 3/14/2020 5:25pm
3/14/2020 5:25pm
I am a land-use planner for a development company.

I don’t make a huge salary, but I do get commissions/profit sharing on our retail projects, and ownership in the multi-family housing projects we develop.

Currently provide 629 doors, and another 272 are under construction right now.

Company will never sell those assets, so it should be a steady paycheck until I die.
Electro21 3/15/2020 3:19pm
3/15/2020 3:19pm Edited Date/Time 3/16/2020 3:17pm
I’m active duty Army and work as a medium-voltage electrician. I make about $6700 a month after taxes, but have to pay the ex-wife $2k a month for a few more years....
MudPup545
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Imlay City, MI US
MudPup545 3/16/2020 1:40pm
3/16/2020 1:40pm
Ford Motor Company/UAW skilled trades journeyman. Just a tick under $72,000.
1
MelonFan123
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Ventura/LA County, CA US
MelonFan123 3/16/2020 4:56pm
3/16/2020 4:56pm
I'm a Digital Marketer, I do digital media ad buys, digital marketing campaigns and social media management. Some of my clients are your favorite moto brands. Although I make the bulk of my money in other verticals and industries.
JeremyK
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North Tonawanda, NY US
JeremyK 3/16/2020 5:45pm
3/16/2020 5:45pm
MudPup545 wrote:
Ford Motor Company/UAW skilled trades journeyman. Just a tick under $72,000.
What department?
Indian_Dunes_4ever 3/16/2020 10:02pm
3/16/2020 10:02pm
I work in a bowling alley.... I'm the guy who sprays deodorizer/disinfectant in the shoes when people are done with them.

I make $9.75 an hour.


1
MudPup545
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Imlay City, MI US
MudPup545 3/17/2020 1:26am
3/17/2020 1:26am
MudPup545 wrote:
Ford Motor Company/UAW skilled trades journeyman. Just a tick under $72,000.
JeremyK wrote:
What department?
Auto Mechanic.
1
ktm300xcw2018 3/17/2020 7:39am
3/17/2020 7:39am
Hammer 663s wrote:
Data Center Manager. I oversee staff and vendors maintaining and servicing industrial-scale power generation and delivery gear, HVAC systems, Fire systems, Security, and all the other...
Data Center Manager. I oversee staff and vendors maintaining and servicing industrial-scale power generation and delivery gear, HVAC systems, Fire systems, Security, and all the other parts that make up a data center. I have 2 buildings, with a third under construction, that total almost 750,000 square feet and an almost $1 billion capital investment. I have enough generator capacity to light a small city - about 200 MW of diesels. Salary over $125k.

It's a world that's relatively unknown to most people, but everyone has a phone, computer, car, TV, Alexa, or uses a forum (anyone ever heard of Vital MX?) and ALL that data is in a data center somewhere. I did 20 years on the IT side before I came over to DCM. Less stress here as the systems don't obsolesce as quickly as IT gear does, so not as much retraining needed.

It's a real struggle to find qualified people to run my sites. I'm hiring now, start my Engineer I's at $27/hr, go up to $75/hr for the right Chief Engineer. Send your kids to an HVAC or electrical trade school and I will employ them for life, no degree needed.
This is true. Im a steamfitter out of 602 in DC. Were making crazy money building data centers in the DMV. I did $118k in 2019.
1
dirtnasty
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Copenhagen DK
dirtnasty 3/17/2020 10:41am
3/17/2020 10:41am
Data and business analyst for a pharma company in Denmark. Just a tick over 100k USD last year.

Would probably make more money living in the states with my resume but I like it here and every time I head home to visit the family in So Cal I really can't picture myself livin that life. Although I do miss having a garage with a KTM in it.

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