Is working in the trades actually a foolproof, easy way of making a f^ck ton of money? Or does it still require years of experience for good pay?

[WhiteBoyChill]

I always hear a f^ck ton of people saying nowadays whether they be family, friends of family, random people that you meet, etc, that getting in the trades, will guarantee you a f^ck ton of money.

And they almost always seem to back this up by citing either media reporting, or claiming that they know somebody that is making a f^ck ton of money as a result of being a tradesman.

But to me, like many things in life tend to be, I seriously do question if the hype is perhaps being blown out of proportion.

Many people seem to have this idea that anybody can just effortlessly step into the trades, and expect to just have this guaranteed pathway to making a f*ck ton of money lined up for them.

I’m trying to understand the issue more clearly, but I still find the issue quite confusing.

Some people seem to argue “yeah, I work in the trades and I make a lot of money”.

But there’s also new guys starting out that say they barely make any money.

There’s just a lot of missing context to my understanding.

How many years of work does one have to put in to make a decent salary? How much effort and skill does it require?

Is the work insufferable? Is it something most people are actually capable of doing? Is the work related stress something most could mentally handle?

I get stressed very easily.

Is the physical labor involved extremely intense on the body?

I just seriously question whether telling everybody to get involved in the trades is really the right advice, and even if it makes sense for myself (given that I get stressed easily)

Are there strong barriers to entry?

But the people I’ve heard from all seem to think that anybody can just effortlessly step into the trades and expect to earn a f^ck ton of money.

But I seriously question whether this is the case.

After all, I come from a family of college graduates myself, and I have no blue collar family background of any sort, or any personal credentials of my own. Other than knowing how to use really basic tools, I guess.

Updates

+1 y

I’m just trying to understand the truth of the situation is all.

Is entering the trades and earning a good salary really something that mostly everybody can just effortlessly do?

And do most tradesmen actually earn a f*ck ton of money, or is it just the guys that have been around the longest, and work in the higher level positions?

[Chazmatazz269]

Join a union and train through their apprenticeship program. After 4-5 years, you’ll be making an excellent wage, or not at all. The apprenticeship is when you learn what it takes to work in a given trade. It’s also when the contractors decide if you have what it takes to help them continue to get projects and complete profitably. It has a little to do with longevity, but not entirely. A smart, hard-working and ambitious young person can surpass someone with decades more experience if they commit themselves.
Most public skools are pushing students toward colleges and universities. The trades are lacking in membership and interest. So there’s a ton of work pretty much everywhere in the US, including a lot of overtime. Even if you don’t want to run work, you can make a lot of money on shutdowns. I know guys who make $200k/year basically working part time. They jump on a heavy OT gig for a few months, then take a month off. Their houses, new cars & trucks, boats, et cetera, i even know a guy with a plane and he’s saving for a helicopter… all paid off. Exotic vacations, weird gambling pastimes, whatever. There’s money to be made. But it’s not easy, and it’s often dangerous.

[WhiteBoyChill]

When you say “its not easy, and its often dangerous”. Could you elaborate?

[Chazmatazz269]

The building trades require brains, some brawn, and some risks. Some trades are more dangerous than others. I’m an electrician. I could be killed on the job any number of ways on any given day. That’s part of why it pays so well. The more dangerous the project, the more money you are likely to earn, if you’re union.
You’ll work around heavy machinery and powerful equipment, even if you’re not working directly with them. The site can change dramatically over one day, introducing hazards that weren’t there yesterday. You have to keep your head on a swivel, more or less. Tradesmen are often treated like second class citizens, but we’re far from it. Every modern developed nation on the planet would revert to medieval times if tradesmen all went on strike simultaneously. There isn’t a single other “essential” industry that doesn’t rely wholly on electricity, running water, and reliable structures. The word “infrastructure” is a concise way to describe all the trades without giving us credit for the work we do to keep everything most people take for granted running effectively and efficiently.

[WhiteBoyChill]

I agree. But how did you learn the skills? Was it under an apprenticeship?

[Chazmatazz269]

Yes, but the apprenticeship is difficult for different reasons than the job. There is a bit of hazing. They want to make sure you’re cut out for the work before they invest a bunch of time, energy and money in you. It pays less. The pay graduates as you progress through the program. Naturally, the more knowledge, skill and experience you have, the more valuable you are. And if you haven’t kept up on academics, cracking open books and doing maths again takes some getting used to. I liked it though! I was one of those “when are we ever going to use THIS?” math students in skool. Then i learned the math of electrical production, distribution, storage and utilization. Not to mention the maths of construction and maintenance.
Now i get it. And i make a good living.

[WhiteBoyChill]

I see so you do have to get through some BS the first few years and it isn’t necessarily easy to start?

In a way that’s kind of like trying to graduate from college I suppose. Lots of pain and struggle

[BonzoInBitburg]

For every 7 people who are leaving the trades only 1 enter. Supply and demand has overinflated trades wages significantly over the last few years. I have a construction company and one of our carpenters got her journeyman ticket at 22 and was making 75k a year. She's now 24 and making 85k a year. She's on track to be a supervisor in a couple years at 100k and by the time she's early 30s she'll be off the tools and a project manager at a min 125k a year. Instead of paying for schooling, she gets paid to go and was able to buy her first house when she was a 3rd year at 21. If you have a weak mind and a strong back, you will be on the tools for the rest of your life. If you are halfway smart, work really hard and good at math, you will be managing projects and on a path to be off the tools in short order. It's not uncommon for guys with 20 years experience to work their way up to 250k a year.

[WhiteBoyChill]

Fr? Its not uncommon to get to 250k?

That would make them like the top 1% earning Americans. And on par with people who spent years in college and med school, studying their asses off for like 8-10 hours a day.

Not to be rude, but I’m not 100% sure I believe you on that one in particular

[BonzoInBitburg]

If your self employed working 45 hours a week you can make that. Just look at all the trades guys driving $100k trucks. It's an aging workforce and we anticipate having to pay our carpenters over $100 within 10 years. Maybe sooner if things don't change. You don't even have to pay for your education because you get paid to go to trade school.

[WhiteBoyChill]

For reference, you work in the trades yourself?

[BonzoInBitburg]

I have a construction company

[WhiteBoyChill]

Oh ok. So what are the “trade unions” that will train people?

I live in the Northeast

[BonzoInBitburg]

Usually you just find a company to hire you and you start your apprenticeship. I think Massachusetts has a free pre-apprenticeship program. It is a few months long and give you some starter experience. It looks good on a resume.

[WhiteBoyChill]

Ah ok. I wish I had known that earlier, so I could’ve done it this summer.

[Chazmatazz269]

A meaningful apprenticeship will last years, not months. There isn’t a single skilled trade that could teach the brightest people on earth everything they need to know to be successful in a few months.

[BonzoInBitburg]

@Chazmatazz269 I said it's a pre-apprenticeship program. It's designed to get people in the trades and into jobs. To get your actual journeyman ticket is approx 5000 hours depending on the trade

[WhiteBoyChill]

So 5,000 hours would be roughly a couple years of work I presume, assuming 10 hour days?

[BonzoInBitburg]

Usually 3-4 in class school terms and 1500-1800 hours working between school terms. It usually works out to 4 years with each year 10 months working and 2 months in class. But if the company you're working for is really busy, I've seen 3.5 years. It depends on the trade

[OlderAndWiser]

In the electrical field, a guy begins as an apprentice and works at that level for five years. His pay gradually increases over the five years. After five years, he tests and becomes a journeyman. If he is a union employee, willing to travel and work overtime, yes he can make a shit ton of money

[WhiteBoyChill]

I see. I just wasn’t sure if it was one of those things that was as simple as just riding it out.