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Only $10 for all 2024 SX, MX, and SMX series (regularly $30).
Most markets start 18-20 an hour for local delivery drivers, and top out is usually 30 an hour with 3% annual adjustment for inflation. 401k with ludicrous company match, company pension, 2 whole weeks plus 4 personal pto at start, nutty good insurance and health benefits. $3,000 a semester tuition reimbursement.
Also, almost every company executive started as a part time package handler. We hire from within. We aren’t a union operation unless you’re a pilot.
I didn’t complete 8th grade and have everything I could want because of FedEx.
I have friends making a very good living in NY in electrician union. What I’ve noticed is they have no paid time off, union dues, working outside possibly year round (sucks up north). We 100% need trade jobs, so I’m in no way discouraging anyone from taking that route.
To all these people saying 250k in debt for a college degree seems like they havened opened their eyes to other avenues to degree completion. There’s absolutely nothing wrong with Going to community college for 2 years, and finishing at at a 4 year university. Heck I attended a major engineering school for 3 semesters to finish my engineering degree, had essentially no debt, and my degree says the same thing on it as the folks who attended the same school for 4 years and paid 160-200k to do so. My Gf isn’t anywhere near 250k and she has a Doctorate in vet med.
Little 18 year old Sally and Johnny going to a 4 year school because they think college is just “what you do” and racking up 200k in debt over 5-6 years because they changed majors twice (because they didn’t know what they wanted to do) is the problem. Then add in the fact they graduate with a history/philosophy/arts degree, and who couldn’t of seen the writing on the wall they would be in big trouble finically when they finished. This is the problem.
The key isn’t all debt or pay, its finding something you can enjoy doing every day because you’ll spend a lot of your life working. I’m a firm believer in of you enjoy what you do you’ll never work a day in your life.
Any tradesmen will tell you, you make your own personal conditions and it’s an art to stay clean. I can grind and cut pipe just as good as the next guy, I just plan on staying clean and working safe. It can be back breaking, but always keep in mind “work smarter not harder”. I have had three back surgery’s and I’m still able to do my job daily because just following simple self taught rules and skills.
Most of our work is in refinery’s, power plants, pipelines etc. We do have work in new construction with HVAC and natural gas.
Myself I work for a maintenance department at a university which as others are saying, maintenance is the way to go. Hope this helps.
The Shop
If you are responsible, honest and reliable you will be set for a great career. A good 70/80% of trademen are complete flakes so be a normal human being and you will be way ahead of most of the field. And it’s very satisfying to see the finished product. My other advice is to learn what you can and once you are confident you need to go out on your own ASAP. I went from making wages of $30 or so an hour to triple that as soon as I got my own license. Being your ow boss is wonderful.
One last bit of advice. You will run across some very dangerous situations in many of the trades. NEVER put your health or life at risk to make a dollar. Much better to pass that one up and live a full life. I cannot think of anything worse than to lose ones life or be disabled due to a fucking job. Keep us posted and best of luck
BTW...there is a massive shortage of qualified tradesmen in the Country right now. Construction is booming like nothing I’ve ever seen and if you area is anything like it is here it is very hard to find anyone to do anything because they are so booked out. I turn down work daily and have had to work only for existing clients. It’s a great time to get into it
Most of the smaller plants don’t require previous experience or a degree but are normally more labor intensive. A lot of people start in places like this to gain experience and then apply for places like Shell, Exxon, Chevron, etc. These places are large “continuous flow” plants where the labor is almost non-existant.
One of the negatives for some people is that shift work is required. Most of these places work the DuPont 12 hour/day rotating schedule which has a built in ‘long change’ which gives you 7 straight days off each month. It’s based on a 28 day work month and you are scheduled to work 14 and off 14.
I’ve been in one plant for 30 years and do not regret not finishing college. It has paid the bills extremely well.
Oh yeah, Houston and Texas in general has quite a few very good MX tracks.
Carpentry is not enough to live on here in ca.
So I flip homes and have rentals. Main job is a project manager for a big company.
Pit Row
If you're willing to travel theres big money to be made. California is booming right now, and we've had a lot of guys quit here recently to chase money out there.
Post a reply to: Any Skilled Tradesmen here I can ask some questions?