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Labor is just way too expensive. At this point I wonder if I should stay a software engineer, or switch to construction. We've looked down on construction work

Labor is just way too expensive. At this point I wonder if I should stay a software engineer, or switch to construction. We've looked down on construction workers a bit too much.

giraffe_lady 2y ago
Way too expensive for what? If you're making under the $40/h that they do and you're still young and fit then maybe you could switch? I hear this sentiment a lot though but knowing plenty of blue collar workers they aren't so desperate for bodies they're beating down the doors of middle aged softhands like us.
- pclmulqdq 2y ago
  Heavy equipment operators start at around $100/hour where I live. A more extreme case is that I know a union AC tech in NYC who makes the equivalent of a Google salary (about $300-400k/year) and he doesn't pull a ton of overtime to do it.
  - geor9e 2y ago
    >AC tech in NYC who makes the equivalent of a Google salary My immediate thought was "thats crazy, capitalism is out of whack" My second thought was realizing I couldn't rationalize Google salaries either. I could imagine a parallel universe where they make less than civil/mechanical engineers (~$160 TC). Supply and demand I guess.
    - ein0p 2y ago
      It’s easy to rationalize Google TC by looking at their balance sheet. Thanks to the work of Google employees it basically prints money. It’s only fair that they share in this success, since if Google could find someone cheaper, it would.
    - pclmulqdq 2y ago
      It takes a lot of money to get people to compromise their morals. That's why wall street has to pay so well, and I think it's the same for ad tech.
Loughla 2y ago
The problem with highly paid jobs like construction is that you don't start there. You start low and work your way up. Oh, and the absolute toll it takes on your body. That, too. I went to college to get away from Blue collar work after seeing my uncles with major surgery in their late 40's.
- emseetech 2y ago
  I don't want to undercut the very real physical toll of blue collar labor, but I'll note that the blue collar people I know who wore protective gear including knee pads, did things by the book, followed safety protocols and ate a healthy diet are doing so much better in late middle age than the ones who fit the construction worker stereotype.
jmathai 2y ago
Or solve a problem in this space and productize it. After 20+ years in software, that’s what I’m doing and it is so refreshing. https://trywireshark.com https://trywireshark.com
- lancesells 2y ago
  Very cool. I immediately thought if you get big enough there would be Wireshark compatible base boards.
  - jmathai 2y ago
    That would be cool indeed. I haven’t thought about others creating Wireshark compatible baseboards but it’s an idea I can get behind! Thanks for your feedback.
blinded 2y ago
No joke. I really like dry wall and painting.

Labor is just way too expensive. At this point I wonder if I should stay a software engineer, or switch to construction. We've looked down on construction workers a bit too much.

giraffe_lady 2y ago

Way too expensive for what? If you're making under the $40/h that they do and you're still young and fit then maybe you could switch? I hear this sentiment a lot though but knowing plenty of blue collar workers they aren't so desperate for bodies they're beating down the doors of middle aged softhands like us.

pclmulqdq 2y ago
Heavy equipment operators start at around $100/hour where I live. A more extreme case is that I know a union AC tech in NYC who makes the equivalent of a Google salary (about $300-400k/year) and he doesn't pull a ton of overtime to do it.
- geor9e 2y ago
  >AC tech in NYC who makes the equivalent of a Google salary My immediate thought was "thats crazy, capitalism is out of whack" My second thought was realizing I couldn't rationalize Google salaries either. I could imagine a parallel universe where they make less than civil/mechanical engineers (~$160 TC). Supply and demand I guess.
  - ein0p 2y ago
    It’s easy to rationalize Google TC by looking at their balance sheet. Thanks to the work of Google employees it basically prints money. It’s only fair that they share in this success, since if Google could find someone cheaper, it would.
  - pclmulqdq 2y ago
    It takes a lot of money to get people to compromise their morals. That's why wall street has to pay so well, and I think it's the same for ad tech.

Loughla 2y ago

The problem with highly paid jobs like construction is that you don't start there. You start low and work your way up. Oh, and the absolute toll it takes on your body. That, too. I went to college to get away from Blue collar work after seeing my uncles with major surgery in their late 40's.

emseetech 2y ago
I don't want to undercut the very real physical toll of blue collar labor, but I'll note that the blue collar people I know who wore protective gear including knee pads, did things by the book, followed safety protocols and ate a healthy diet are doing so much better in late middle age than the ones who fit the construction worker stereotype.

jmathai 2y ago

Or solve a problem in this space and productize it. After 20+ years in software, that’s what I’m doing and it is so refreshing. https://trywireshark.com https://trywireshark.com

lancesells 2y ago
Very cool. I immediately thought if you get big enough there would be Wireshark compatible base boards.
- jmathai 2y ago
  That would be cool indeed. I haven’t thought about others creating Wireshark compatible baseboards but it’s an idea I can get behind! Thanks for your feedback.

blinded 2y ago

No joke. I really like dry wall and painting.