Local community college partnered with our local airport and they have a pilots program. They can opt for a 2 year associates or not if I understood correctly. 3 of my young patients right now are in the program or went through it.
Also one of my patients said they want to leave their job and become a dog walker. They gave me the numbers and it seemed to add up…but no clue how true it is.
Electrician came to my FIL’s house the other day and said it’s damn near impossible to find help nowadays. He said he cannot even get people at apprentice under him for $20/hour. He’s going to pay someone $20/hour to learn from him so they will have a job making even more when they are done, and no takers.
Same with welders. Had a patient tell me he’d give up his right arm to hire three good welders right now. He said the ones that are available are in such demand that they can’t show up late, fail drug tests, cuss out the boss, etc…and they’ll have another job within hours.
We as a society made a huge mistake taking “shop” class out of high schools and pushing the idea the only way you can be successful is to obtain a college degree. We should’ve been encouraging students for both college and trade school
I would say its at least a year (if you stick with one kind of metal) to become a good welder.
I can get a job here as a “technician” at the local Physical Therapy place, no education needed. Your just assisting patience, making sure they don’t fall etc.
Starting at $20 full healthcare, and other benn. Weekends off, they are open 7-7 m-f get 40 hrs in there.
Not sure $20 an hour to be an electrician, with the tools, the travel, etc. is really that good a pay these days.
Also one of my patients said they want to leave their job and become a dog walker. They gave me the numbers and it seemed to add up…but no clue how true it is.
Do dog walkers get benefits? I can’t see that job providing Health Care. Which I wonder how many of these folks consider that. Sure when your young it doesn’t matter, but… shit happens, especially working a manual labor job.
Electrician came to my FIL’s house the other day and said it’s damn near impossible to find help nowadays. He said he cannot even get people at apprentice under him for $20/hour. He’s going to pay someone $20/hour to learn from him so they will have a job making even more when they are done, and no takers.
Same with welders. Had a patient tell me he’d give up his right arm to hire three good welders right now. He said the ones that are available are in such demand that they can’t show up late, fail drug tests, cuss out the boss, etc…and they’ll have another job within hours.
We as a society made a huge mistake taking “shop” class out of high schools and pushing the idea the only way you can be successful is to obtain a college degree. We should’ve been encouraging students for both college and trade school
I would say its at least a year (if you stick with one kind of metal) to become a good welder.
I can get a job here as a “technician” at the local Physical Therapy place, no education needed. Your just assisting patience, making sure they don’t fall etc.
Starting at $20 full healthcare, and other benn. Weekends off, they are open 7-7 m-f get 40 hrs in there.
Not sure $20 an hour to be an electrician, with the tools, the travel, etc. is really that good a pay these days.
He made it sound like the $20/hour is what he would pay them to provide training to them, not as a new hire. He didn’t tell me what a new (or experienced) electrician makes but I assumed it would be a lot more than $20/hour after the apprenticeship was complete.
A few years ago, my wife had an electrician come to our house as we were redoing our basement. I cannot recall exactly how much he charged but I do recall telling my wife “geez, if he does just a few of these jobs a year, plus smaller stuff on the side, he’s gotta be making at least $100k/year”
What was the breaking point for your brother?
I know you were a teacher. And my wife is also. Granted she is in a great district WRT pay and bennies, but she still has a headache with her admin and parents because the kids aren’t the brightest. Still she loves the fact that she can be home by 3 and has summers and holidays off.
I don’t know how much money it would take to make me or her choose the road life of 18 wheeling away from home for long stretches over the frustrations of modern public education.
But I do know there are many factors. Kids, retirement options, etc,
Glad he’s happier.
Also one of my patients said they want to leave their job and become a dog walker. They gave me the numbers and it seemed to add up…but no clue how true it is.
Do dog walkers get benefits? I can’t see that job providing Health Care. Which I wonder how many of these folks consider that. Sure when your young it doesn’t matter, but… shit happens, especially working a manual labor job.
Oh I agree. But there’s always low-income public healthcare options.
I still cringe when I see dog walkers with 5+ different dogs on leads. Just seems like a recipe for disaster.
Electrician came to my FIL’s house the other day and said it’s damn near impossible to find help nowadays. He said he cannot even get people at apprentice under him for $20/hour. He’s going to pay someone $20/hour to learn from him so they will have a job making even more when they are done, and no takers.
Same with welders. Had a patient tell me he’d give up his right arm to hire three good welders right now. He said the ones that are available are in such demand that they can’t show up late, fail drug tests, cuss out the boss, etc…and they’ll have another job within hours.
We as a society made a huge mistake taking “shop” class out of high schools and pushing the idea the only way you can be successful is to obtain a college degree. We should’ve been encouraging students for both college and trade school
I would say its at least a year (if you stick with one kind of metal) to become a good welder.
I can get a job here as a “technician” at the local Physical Therapy place, no education needed. Your just assisting patience, making sure they don’t fall etc.
Starting at $20 full healthcare, and other benn. Weekends off, they are open 7-7 m-f get 40 hrs in there.
Not sure $20 an hour to be an electrician, with the tools, the travel, etc. is really that good a pay these days.
He made it sound like the $20/hour is what he would pay them to provide training to them, not as a new hire. He didn’t tell me what a new (or experienced) electrician makes but I assumed it would be a lot more than $20/hour after the apprenticeship was complete.
A few years ago, my wife had an electrician come to our house as we were redoing our basement. I cannot recall exactly how much he charged but I do recall telling my wife “geez, if he does just a few of these jobs a year, plus smaller stuff on the side, he’s gotta be making at least $100k/year”
Yea come to think of it, we just got a couple quotes to clean our gutters. Got damn that stung when we finally handed over some cash to have one downspout unclogged in 40 min.
Necessity. Find the needs and fill the voids. We are so off the mark when it comes to what we prioritize re education.
Electric or plumbing as far as trades, electric as the first option. The key there is to remain fit as the physical aspect of the jobs can destroy a person’s future if they’re not careful.
I think it’s better to work with your brain and play with the physical body.
The obvious answer is running car dealership you inherited. That pays way better and is much less work than the other suggestions in this thread.
My friend’s son just dropped out of college to become a tug boat driver. A what?! A tug boat driver. Apparently they can make upwards of $100,000 - $150,000 a year (mid career to end of career).
My wife’s grandpa spent from the time he was a POW in Germany until he retired in the 80s as a tug boater of paper pulp on the York river in Virginia - the company closed those operations in 97. Obviously never made that kind of money, but enough to raise 4 kids.
Be the founder of the next Microsoft…
Seriously - Any trade focused on repair and maintenance - mechanic (car or big equipment), electrician, plumber, welder.
But I’d strongly suggest the person take a few personal or small business finance/accounting classes.
A lot of people on here are talking about plumbers and electricians making a but load of money, there are a couple of caveats. Unless you are the owner, the people who work for these companies aren’t making bank because most of them are not union. Once you get into a union, you can do very well, but just machinists, plumbers, electricians, and construction, aren’t making a ton of money without a union.
I started out as a machinist, I hated it and the money wasn’t very good. I have worked in manufacturing my whole career and sure you can make $50K to $60K a year, but a lot of that is due to overtime. In northwestern PA, the average hourly wage for machinists is around $20/hr. Unless you are exceptional, have extra schooling, or move up and out of being on a machine, that is about what you’re going to be.
The company I just left, there are a lot of guys who have been there well over 10 years, running very expensive equipment and still are not making $25/hr, this is not unusual in my area. They have increased their wages a little recently because the local convenience store offers $14/hr. A person coming right out of high school, with no experience is only making about the same or less with a lot of promises of great money and it never materializes.
I’m sure this is my n=1 scenario, but even where I grew up in Southern Indiana, the money isn’t great.
In-N-Out near me is paying $21 per hour for new employees.
You absolutely do not have to be union to get paid well in the trades.
Open shop contractors have to compete with union shop, so wages have to be competitive. Many guys go from union to nonunion because they realize they can take home more money.
The key to working in the trades is to work your way into management. Then your not working physically, but mentally.
Journeymen in our area are easily making over $100k per year, just a few years out of high school.
In-N-Out near me is paying $21 per hour for new employees.
Free double doubles animal style?? Sign me up
Mortician
Wrong, schooling for this close to a medical doctor.
My suggestion as someone hinted: CEO of big tech start up
You absolutely do not have to be union to get paid well in the trades.
Open shop contractors have to compete with union shop, so wages have to be competitive. Many guys go from union to nonunion because they realize they can take home more money.
The key to working in the trades is to work your way into management. Then your not working physically, but mentally.
Journeymen in our area are easily making over $100k per year, just a few years out of high school.
As I said, this is dependent of my area. There is nobody in my area, even the best people on machines, plumbers, electricians, making anywhere near that kind of money, unless they are the owners. If I remember correctly, you are in Austin, a booming area where the wages have to be significantly higher. I would say another caveat to making more money would be the willingness to travel. What you are stating is not attainable in my area, unless you are in a union.
I’m sure Automatic Jack would have a similar situation as yours since I believe he is in Long Island. They don’t pay those wages outside of Philly and Pittsburgh, PA. I’m sure you’ll get closer on the eastern side of PA, but after you start getting west of Harrisburg, the wages significantly decline.
City cop. Good benefits. Generous time off. Most decent agencies pay ballpark $100kish within 4-5 years of getting hired. Pensions aren’t ubiquitous like they were a generation ago but many agencies still have a 20 years and out pension.
Mortician
Wrong, schooling for this close to a medical doctor.
Really? What’s I’m seeing is that associates degrees are available for mortuary sciences. SUNY Canton has a 4 year degree in NYS. Hardly seems like the rigors necessary for the additional four years post-graduate (and struggle applying and getting accepted).
City Firefighter as well. My brother does 24h on, 72h off. Made Captain after about 10 years. Good benefits, pension. Has a little side hustle. Definitely hard work. But enjoys his shifts at the station, cooking/cards/show binging between runs.