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Here are the wage rates for trades in Washington State. [1] Some highlights from the Seattle area: - Carpenters: $60/hr - Electricians: $75/hr - HVAC Mechani

Here are the wage rates for trades in Washington State. [1] Some highlights from the Seattle area: - Carpenters: $60/hr - Electricians: $75/hr - HVAC Mechanics: $82.50/hr Almost every item on the list pays better than a typical STEM degree. [1] https://fortress.wa.gov/lni/wagelookup/prvWagelookup.aspx https://fortress.wa.gov/lni/wagelookup/prvWagelookup.aspx

Retric 8y ago
The major limit on that is it assumes you’re working billable hours. The trades are much less stable than an office job.
- chroem- 8y ago
  It was only a couple years ago when Boeing was slashing their engineering workforce in Seattle, in a good economy no less, to boost dividends.
  - Retric 8y ago
    That only sounds bad because of how used we are to a steady paycheck. Working a paid 40 hour week, 48 weeks a year, for 60$ an hour for even 10 years in a row is extremely unusual for a carpenter. Owning your own company can result in more stability at the cost of non billable hours. Working for someone else means being at the whims of the economy and or weather etc. Injuries or heath issues present longer term issues. PS: Granted you need some flexibility as highly specialized work is always less stable over the long term.
georgeoliver 8y ago
That link is for prevailing wage contracts, usually performed by union tradespeople, where wages are about double what a non-union worker will make in the Seattle area. Less than 20% of construction workers in the US are in a union.
- chroem- 8y ago
  >Less than 20% of construction workers in the US are in a union Not in Seattle. During my exposure to the construction industry, I am the only person I know of not in a union.
vkou 8y ago
Amount that you make while making your way to the four different worksites of the day? $0 / hour. Amount that you make while out sick? $0 / hour. Amount that you make when you take two weeks of vacation? You guessed it, $0 / hour. Amount that you make when you can't fill your day with work? Amount that you make when the client, or the contractor who subcontracted to you stiffs you, and you've given up trying to collect? Amount you get for 401k matches, or in medical insurance? Zero, zero, zero, and zero. The advice for programmers who turn freelancers is to bill at double your hourly salary. Reverse this equation, halve those numbers. Now, throw in the wear and tear on your body, potential for a life-changing injury, and trade school doesn't look like a meal ticket to prosperity. It's a way to make a living. Better then unskilled work, but that's not exactly a high bar. Pushing papers 9-5 for $25/hour suddenly doesn't look that bad in comparison.

Retric 8y ago

The major limit on that is it assumes you’re working billable hours. The trades are much less stable than an office job.

chroem- 8y ago
It was only a couple years ago when Boeing was slashing their engineering workforce in Seattle, in a good economy no less, to boost dividends.
- Retric 8y ago
  That only sounds bad because of how used we are to a steady paycheck. Working a paid 40 hour week, 48 weeks a year, for 60$ an hour for even 10 years in a row is extremely unusual for a carpenter. Owning your own company can result in more stability at the cost of non billable hours. Working for someone else means being at the whims of the economy and or weather etc. Injuries or heath issues present longer term issues. PS: Granted you need some flexibility as highly specialized work is always less stable over the long term.

georgeoliver 8y ago

That link is for prevailing wage contracts, usually performed by union tradespeople, where wages are about double what a non-union worker will make in the Seattle area. Less than 20% of construction workers in the US are in a union.

chroem- 8y ago
>Less than 20% of construction workers in the US are in a union Not in Seattle. During my exposure to the construction industry, I am the only person I know of not in a union.

vkou 8y ago

Amount that you make while making your way to the four different worksites of the day? $0 / hour. Amount that you make while out sick? $0 / hour. Amount that you make when you take two weeks of vacation? You guessed it, $0 / hour. Amount that you make when you can't fill your day with work? Amount that you make when the client, or the contractor who subcontracted to you stiffs you, and you've given up trying to collect? Amount you get for 401k matches, or in medical insurance? Zero, zero, zero, and zero. The advice for programmers who turn freelancers is to bill at double your hourly salary. Reverse this equation, halve those numbers. Now, throw in the wear and tear on your body, potential for a life-changing injury, and trade school doesn't look like a meal ticket to prosperity. It's a way to make a living. Better then unskilled work, but that's not exactly a high bar. Pushing papers 9-5 for $25/hour suddenly doesn't look that bad in comparison.