Which city and state are you talking about?MrMan wrote: ↑March 28th, 2024, 6:24 pmWhere is this. The last I heard, union electricians were making about what they did 30 years ago in one city, without wage increases for inflation, so I'm thinking it was $40 an hour.Natural_Born_Cynic wrote: ↑March 15th, 2024, 8:22 amYeah.. I should've quit High school and learn a trade such as Welding, Plumbing, Electrician, Carpentry etc. They make up to 100k USD when your experienced and you can take your skills to Austrailia and Saudi Arabia(also pays well).
But this would be going out to the union hall, going to a job site and working for that hourly wage. I am not talking about house calls. Maybe these tradesmen who companies that do home visits for repairs a living can make that much if they manage their business well. It's a hassle and a lot of the ones in the union would rather just do the commercial and industrial. Having to pay dues, if they follow the rules, for wildcat work for houses makes doing houses undesirable for union electricians in some parts of the US that have weaker unions, at least. I don't know about the northeast.
I am in Northern New Jersey, and Plumbers, HVACs, Electricians make decent money once they establish their own business or worked for many years. Ranging from 100k to 400k a year as a business owner. 50k - 100k as a employee. Sometimes Union members make more but you have to pay your dues to the Union. That's what I heard. Newbies only make like 40k -50k. You got to work your way up just like white collar jobs. Pay and benefits might differ state to state, city to city.
However unlike university, you don't have tens of thousands in student loan debt, you start early, you get to build up your actual skills, and your job is at least safe from Automation and Generative A.I for at least 10 -15 years into the future? I don't know.
Not everyone is cut out for university. Some people are talented with their hands, others with their brains.
The real sweet gig is becoming an "union longshoreman" inside one of New Jersey ports. There are many such as Port Liberty Bayonne, APM terminal, PNCT Terminal, and Maher Terminal. These f*ckers make more than 100k operating container cranes, forklifts and other vehicles. They can get a job by referral and connections to existing members in the union. So, its quite nepotistic. But the benefits and salary is quite stellar compared to other jobs. If the Union strikes then the entire port stops and the whole trade gets disrupted.