If you are dead set on a trade then electric, become an electrician.
Hardest trade to learn. Can be very dangerous. However you are not going to break your body down doing it.
If you are willing to go to school for a bit, instrumentation is the way to go.
You can break your body down in electrical. It’s not all wiring devices. You have to carry pipe, work in odd positions, go up and down ladders all day etc.
You're talking about pretty standard expectations out of doing a trade for a living. Imo Plumbing and Welding are much harder on the body than electrical work. Overall electrical is pretty light work compared to a lot of professions.
I would put HVAC pretty high up on my list of difficulty, I think electrical work is more difficult in the higher levels though.
Now if your talking about doing HVAC + Instrumentation and Controls...... whew yeah. Few guys that can though.
I learned at a young age you are either going to work with your brain, your hands, or your body. I wasn't very good with my hands, and decided to save my body, thank myself for doing engineer work everyday. Salute to all you guys for getting it done out there though.
There is a difference in pay between different trades. Basically, the ones that seem to be more technically demanding will pay more, like electrician, machinist, etc, as well as those that seem more dangerous, like welding or iron worker. Those trades pay more than carpentry.
So, if you're not really into being a carpenter, 100% you should go for a higher paying trade.
Idk what the rate is down there. They are deff going to pay more than non union.all union contracts are available to the public.quick google search will tell you
Commercial carpentry sounds easy as fuck and pays good where im at. Pretty sure all you need is to have some minor plan reading skills and know how to use a tape measure
Carpenters union is also a lot of concrete and form work. Im also a carpenter and been looking into UBC, YMMV with how long you wait. Got an 80 on the test and I've been waiting since February. Plan for a year wait at least.
Check what the rate is for union carpenters in your county. In Kings county NY first year apprentice pulls down $25.60 and $31.83 benefits. Not too shabby for a 20 year old, and if you do decide to stay in you can retire while you're young enough to enjoy it.
If you're baltimore, UA local 486 if you dont want to travel too far.
I'm UA 602 which is primarily DC work. Pay, benefits, and the work is good. IBEW 26 if you want to go the electrical route -- I've got buddies in it and they seem to love it. Unions have a strong presence here, 602 being one of the biggest.
Damn that’s solid. I’ve got a buddy in 486. Yeah I already missed the deadline for 486 apprenticeship unfortunately. I’ll have to look into it for next year
IBEW, HVAC, Elevator union. I don’t know the wages, I’m in SoCal. But sometimes it isn’t worth it like FL. Find a good contractor too, it’s hard to weed out all the dips out there. That’s when I enjoyed being in the field and learning
Can attest to this. I’m a Sheet Metal Apprentice in Fl and we are laughably underpaid. Journeymen make ~$27/hr. I am going to transfer up north once I get my card where they make double.
Look into state jobs/civil service. The pay might not be what you want at first but medical benefits and OT make it worth it. Also steady hours and all that.
Custodial work. Maintenance of buildings. That type of thing. Most counties have civil services where there are open competitive exams you can take and if you pass you can get job offers with that title. For example, I did construction all throughout my 20s until I turned 28 I no longer wanted to have such a physically demanding job with no medical benefits and low pay ($20/hr). I applied to take a custodian exam (application fee was $50) passed the test then canvass letters started coming in the mail from schools and libraries in my county. The hours, locations and salaries vary however there all relatively close at times. I’m now an assistant head custodian (night supervisor) of my building (high school), just took the county exam to be a head. Which will allow me to move up a title, get on days and a salary increase; also more OT/DT available for that position. Not the best job by any means, but it works for me. Also I have 2 investment accounts (401k) i opened. 1 through the state and 1 through the school district itself that will be even more $$ I collect when I retire on top of a pension and hopefully social security.
unions here aren't as strong as they are in europe. so for your average tradesman the difference between being union and nonunion isn't as drastic, leading many to be fine with the tradeoffs of being nonunion. i support unions in theory but left my trade's union because being nonunion works better for me.
I’m a floor layer, but my advice is to go electrical dude, they make bank from what I hear, and all the local electricians I’ve talked to have said they have been slammed since before Covid.
United brotherhood and sisterhood of carpenters. 20+ years in this union in CA. Our 1st period apprentices start at nearly double your current pay. Safe working conditions, training provided, work while you learn, loads of advancement potential, incredible benefits and retirement, and become a professional in your field. I cringe to think I could have gone the non-union route. I would be making half my current pay with no pension or annuity
Do some research in your area and stop bye your local union hall to have a chat. They are always happy to give out free advice.
Best of luck!
Great health care & pension! There is so much involved in the sheet metal trade. I’m 16 years in and I am still learning new stuff. Keeps work interesting. Call or go to your closet training center & they will give you all the information you’ll need to get started.
You know what to do. Go join.
Ok but which union
If you are dead set on a trade then electric, become an electrician. Hardest trade to learn. Can be very dangerous. However you are not going to break your body down doing it. If you are willing to go to school for a bit, instrumentation is the way to go.
You can break your body down in electrical. It’s not all wiring devices. You have to carry pipe, work in odd positions, go up and down ladders all day etc.
You're talking about pretty standard expectations out of doing a trade for a living. Imo Plumbing and Welding are much harder on the body than electrical work. Overall electrical is pretty light work compared to a lot of professions.
What trade are you? I've spent the last 4 work days pulling service cables and lacing them all. Not light work in the least.
I was in welding, then steel detailing, steel design, and then graduated and became a structural engineer.
Try pulling heavy tek cable then get back to me.
Once again. Welcome to construction. It’s better than breathing in toxins all day. Try being a roofer or framer, that shit is absolutely brutal.
I think commercial ac is the hardest trade to learn. It’s such a broad trade… we’re expected to know everything even though that’s impossible
I would put HVAC pretty high up on my list of difficulty, I think electrical work is more difficult in the higher levels though. Now if your talking about doing HVAC + Instrumentation and Controls...... whew yeah. Few guys that can though.
Maybe so now that I think about it. I imagine learning to be a millwright is no walk in the park either
I learned at a young age you are either going to work with your brain, your hands, or your body. I wasn't very good with my hands, and decided to save my body, thank myself for doing engineer work everyday. Salute to all you guys for getting it done out there though.
Sounds like you have experience as a carpenter. Join the carpenters. You prob already have the tools and you partially understand how things work.
That is true. But carpenters also seem to be underpaid as far as trades go. That’s why I’m slightly against sticking with it
There is a difference in pay between different trades. Basically, the ones that seem to be more technically demanding will pay more, like electrician, machinist, etc, as well as those that seem more dangerous, like welding or iron worker. Those trades pay more than carpentry. So, if you're not really into being a carpenter, 100% you should go for a higher paying trade.
Idk what the rate is down there. They are deff going to pay more than non union.all union contracts are available to the public.quick google search will tell you
Commercial carpentry sounds easy as fuck and pays good where im at. Pretty sure all you need is to have some minor plan reading skills and know how to use a tape measure
For Union carpenters where I’m at, journeyman are at 35 an hour. That’s not great compared to electricans at 46 and pipefitters at 48
Yeah, im making 35 as an ape in buttfuck colorado. Thats not enough
Damn. Yeah maybe with OT it’s alright but idk. What do u do
Lineman. Nice username, lol
Carpenters union is also a lot of concrete and form work. Im also a carpenter and been looking into UBC, YMMV with how long you wait. Got an 80 on the test and I've been waiting since February. Plan for a year wait at least.
Oh damn what local is that. I talked to a guy recently from my nearest local and he took the test, got an interview, and got hired in 2 weeks
WA state. Only thing they have going on right now is a project for light rail.
I'm a 2nd yr apprentice formworker at 32/hr. I don't feel underpaid at all especially when jman is like 54 bucks
Where are you located tho. Jman where I’m at is 35
Ah yeah I saw after that's balls
lol no kidding
Not advice, but moving could be an option. Once life gets going it may not be an option. Either way, Goodluck with the trades and be safe.
Check what the rate is for union carpenters in your county. In Kings county NY first year apprentice pulls down $25.60 and $31.83 benefits. Not too shabby for a 20 year old, and if you do decide to stay in you can retire while you're young enough to enjoy it.
I'd quit too. I think Walmart pays more than that around here.
Walmart pays just enough for us to go 🤔hmmmm Nothing substantial but high enough above others people consider it
You're smart to be asking questions and advice. Ignore the shit responses. There's lots of people on her who want to help.
Your on the coast, docks, join the pile drivers union.
I actually considered that. Through the carpenters union they have pile driver training. How long does that take if u have any idea
4 year apprentice program.. Once you get accepted.. A welding certificate is a plus. But they train you 2nd or 3rd year and certify if not..
Go 486 or 602
If you're baltimore, UA local 486 if you dont want to travel too far. I'm UA 602 which is primarily DC work. Pay, benefits, and the work is good. IBEW 26 if you want to go the electrical route -- I've got buddies in it and they seem to love it. Unions have a strong presence here, 602 being one of the biggest.
Damn that’s solid. I’ve got a buddy in 486. Yeah I already missed the deadline for 486 apprenticeship unfortunately. I’ll have to look into it for next year
IBEW, HVAC, Elevator union. I don’t know the wages, I’m in SoCal. But sometimes it isn’t worth it like FL. Find a good contractor too, it’s hard to weed out all the dips out there. That’s when I enjoyed being in the field and learning
Can attest to this. I’m a Sheet Metal Apprentice in Fl and we are laughably underpaid. Journeymen make ~$27/hr. I am going to transfer up north once I get my card where they make double.
Look into state jobs/civil service. The pay might not be what you want at first but medical benefits and OT make it worth it. Also steady hours and all that.
How do you even apply/get into that? And what kinda jobs are involved
Custodial work. Maintenance of buildings. That type of thing. Most counties have civil services where there are open competitive exams you can take and if you pass you can get job offers with that title. For example, I did construction all throughout my 20s until I turned 28 I no longer wanted to have such a physically demanding job with no medical benefits and low pay ($20/hr). I applied to take a custodian exam (application fee was $50) passed the test then canvass letters started coming in the mail from schools and libraries in my county. The hours, locations and salaries vary however there all relatively close at times. I’m now an assistant head custodian (night supervisor) of my building (high school), just took the county exam to be a head. Which will allow me to move up a title, get on days and a salary increase; also more OT/DT available for that position. Not the best job by any means, but it works for me. Also I have 2 investment accounts (401k) i opened. 1 through the state and 1 through the school district itself that will be even more $$ I collect when I retire on top of a pension and hopefully social security.
Sprinkler fitter if they have a separate union around there, if not we usually fall under pipefitter if the unions still split fitter/plumber.
You’re in Baltimore. Be a longshoreman or Crain operator
I was literally just looking at longshoreman yesterday for the first time. Can u tell me what you know about it?
No clue, but they make bank. My coworker grew up in Bmore and tells me a friend of his was in it
As a Dane. It still baffles me that all of my fellow US trade and craftsmen. Still has discussions about the pro and cons of being in a Union?!
unions here aren't as strong as they are in europe. so for your average tradesman the difference between being union and nonunion isn't as drastic, leading many to be fine with the tradeoffs of being nonunion. i support unions in theory but left my trade's union because being nonunion works better for me.
I’m a floor layer, but my advice is to go electrical dude, they make bank from what I hear, and all the local electricians I’ve talked to have said they have been slammed since before Covid.
Look into garage door and garage door service. Tons of money out there, every day is different and can be quite entertaining.
I would apply to a bunch of unions and see who actually calls you. See what the benefits , pay and retirement is
Since you’re in Bmore maybe join the dockworkers union or I’d say electrical union. They seem to be the most solid and steady union
United brotherhood and sisterhood of carpenters. 20+ years in this union in CA. Our 1st period apprentices start at nearly double your current pay. Safe working conditions, training provided, work while you learn, loads of advancement potential, incredible benefits and retirement, and become a professional in your field. I cringe to think I could have gone the non-union route. I would be making half my current pay with no pension or annuity Do some research in your area and stop bye your local union hall to have a chat. They are always happy to give out free advice. Best of luck!
Yeah but that’s also cuz you’re in California. Rates are high in CA. UBC carpenters start at 20.60 and journey at 35.50 here
Hopefully your cost of living is proportionate to your wage. Housing is a killer in CA, uhggg.
Google: sheet metal training centers near you!!
Why’s that?
Great health care & pension! There is so much involved in the sheet metal trade. I’m 16 years in and I am still learning new stuff. Keeps work interesting. Call or go to your closet training center & they will give you all the information you’ll need to get started.
2 yeas experence, youre not a carpenter
Carpenter apprentice, relax