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Work that doesn’t pay particularly well and can be hard on your body. This is a huge departure.

by steve_adams_86 3y ago

JohnFen 3y ago
Experienced welders, plumbers, and electricians make as much as senior software devs do, at least in my part of the US.
- tharkun__ 3y ago
  Which works or doesn't work depending on where you are. You're not the son of that particular (local) biker gang's members or in favour with them? Sorry, no welding for you! As a software person this sort of thing seldom comes to mind. What we also dismiss is all that professional association and certification stuff that we don't have to deal with. I don't know about you, but so far I still like the freedom and ability to move up and around we have better than being stuck working myself up from entry level through to a high paying job by waiting for someone else to retire or move up and out of the way first. Or you become a business owner, which in the plumbing and electrician business I guess is very common. But not everyone is cut out for that.
  - apercu 3y ago
    "You're not the son of that particular (local) biker gang's members or in favour with them? Sorry, no welding for you!" That seems super local. I've got welder friends (and electrician friend, and plumber friends and my brother is a GC). I've lived in Texas, Michigan, Illinois, Iowa, Wisconsin and Ontario. I've never heard that biker gangs have a monopoly on welding jobs. And in my crazy 20s I dated a CC Riders ex-wife.
    - tharkun__ 3y ago
      I'm not a welder so I can't tell you more. It's hearsay. I guess it's the same kind of super local / random thing as restaurant owners may have to deal with in order for their establishment to be "protected" :shrug:
- astura 3y ago
  Median pay (2022) from the U.S. BUREAU OF LABOR STATISTICS. Welders: $47,540 per year https://www.bls.gov/ooh/production/welders-cutters-solderers-and-brazers.htm https://www.bls.gov/ooh/production/welders-cutters-solderers... Plumbers: $60,090 per year https://www.bls.gov/ooh/construction-and-extraction/plumbers-pipefitters-and-steamfitters.htm https://www.bls.gov/ooh/construction-and-extraction/plumbers... Electricians: $60,240 per year https://www.bls.gov/ooh/construction-and-extraction/electricians.htm https://www.bls.gov/ooh/construction-and-extraction/electric... Software Developer: $124,200 per year https://www.bls.gov/ooh/computer-and-information-technology/software-developers.htm https://www.bls.gov/ooh/computer-and-information-technology/...
  - the_only_law 3y ago
    Even if you’re in an area where $60k is decent, I’m not sure it’s as great as it sounds. I remember talking to an electrician turned Uber driver a couple years ago. He was making ok money, but with insane hours and in shitty environments. I don’t recall exactly what he said he wanted to do, but he was looking at getting out of the field. Anecdotally, I’ve heard similar stories from friends in nursing.

Work that doesn’t pay particularly well and can be hard on your body. This is a huge departure.

JohnFen 3y ago

Experienced welders, plumbers, and electricians make as much as senior software devs do, at least in my part of the US.

tharkun__ 3y ago
Which works or doesn't work depending on where you are. You're not the son of that particular (local) biker gang's members or in favour with them? Sorry, no welding for you! As a software person this sort of thing seldom comes to mind. What we also dismiss is all that professional association and certification stuff that we don't have to deal with. I don't know about you, but so far I still like the freedom and ability to move up and around we have better than being stuck working myself up from entry level through to a high paying job by waiting for someone else to retire or move up and out of the way first. Or you become a business owner, which in the plumbing and electrician business I guess is very common. But not everyone is cut out for that.
- apercu 3y ago
  "You're not the son of that particular (local) biker gang's members or in favour with them? Sorry, no welding for you!" That seems super local. I've got welder friends (and electrician friend, and plumber friends and my brother is a GC). I've lived in Texas, Michigan, Illinois, Iowa, Wisconsin and Ontario. I've never heard that biker gangs have a monopoly on welding jobs. And in my crazy 20s I dated a CC Riders ex-wife.
  - tharkun__ 3y ago
    I'm not a welder so I can't tell you more. It's hearsay. I guess it's the same kind of super local / random thing as restaurant owners may have to deal with in order for their establishment to be "protected" :shrug:
astura 3y ago
Median pay (2022) from the U.S. BUREAU OF LABOR STATISTICS. Welders: $47,540 per year https://www.bls.gov/ooh/production/welders-cutters-solderers-and-brazers.htm https://www.bls.gov/ooh/production/welders-cutters-solderers... Plumbers: $60,090 per year https://www.bls.gov/ooh/construction-and-extraction/plumbers-pipefitters-and-steamfitters.htm https://www.bls.gov/ooh/construction-and-extraction/plumbers... Electricians: $60,240 per year https://www.bls.gov/ooh/construction-and-extraction/electricians.htm https://www.bls.gov/ooh/construction-and-extraction/electric... Software Developer: $124,200 per year https://www.bls.gov/ooh/computer-and-information-technology/software-developers.htm https://www.bls.gov/ooh/computer-and-information-technology/...
- the_only_law 3y ago
  Even if you’re in an area where $60k is decent, I’m not sure it’s as great as it sounds. I remember talking to an electrician turned Uber driver a couple years ago. He was making ok money, but with insane hours and in shitty environments. I don’t recall exactly what he said he wanted to do, but he was looking at getting out of the field. Anecdotally, I’ve heard similar stories from friends in nursing.