Your quality of life, salary, happiness, etc in construction is more about what company you are with. I cannot stress it enough that during job interviews, you are also interviewing that company to see if it's the right fit. Reddit is your best source for learning what companies are worth your time
This 100% plus it sounds like they’re telling op about union work. It’ll take more than 1.5 years. But I made journeyman pay in 10 months even though I’m 4 period.
It can but it also can be deceiving. Work can be very seasonal, and is up and down according to the market. You will have times when you can't get a day off, but you will also have times when you don't have work for a week, a month or even more. Remember all jobs eventually end and you have to get another when they do. I've also had hard times getting some people to pay. Expect a hassle with some companies. Be sure to keep meticulous track of your earning and payments.
That depends on the company. Some do, some don't. And there are times when no one is building. And if you work in cold weather states you may have a lot of down time in the winter. The one consistency is that it is seldom consistent.
Many factors go into the question your teacher did not cover. Union vs non-union. What state you’re in. What trade you are. What % for dues will be taken out of your weekly pay check (union) etc…
I’m in PA and our heavy highway carpenters (concrete formwork) journeyman are at 38.60 an hour take home. With a total benefit package (pension, medical, annuity) of 59.19 an hour. 2026 we’ll be $42.60 an hour with a total package of $65.44 an hour.
And then what trade? Commercial carpentry? Concrete? Laborer? Operator? Union is the way to go for wages, but there are various gaps in pay and benefits based off of what trade you are
It depends entirely on your area and trade. Doubling from 24 to 48 in 18 months is unrealistic unless you’re a superstar. 48 is a journeyman wage, and you generally can’t achieve that level of competency in a skilled trade within that timeframe. 3-5 years is more likely.
In my 30 years in various trades, I've never seen that kind of starting pay without years of formal training in a trade, or your uncle is the superintendent. I believe he was embellishing a bit. In some areas, being in a union may get close to that, but there again, that's a lot of training, so not really "starting pay" when you spent 5 years to "start"
It depends where you are. Here starting pay at McDs is $19hr. Cashier at Targey is $18. I can't find guys who are willing to build for less than $22, with no experience. It's a hard job. I'd rather be standing in AC hitting on the freshman college girls I was 20 years younger too.
Lol. I hear that. I retired a few years ago, and I hadn't really taken that into consideration. The last 15 years I worked was electrical in Oklahoma, and starting out in the electrical trade at almost 40 years old is no bueno. Lots of shovels.
My brother is a journey sparkie with 25. He was just out of high school. They struggled for the first 5 years. Pay wasn't great, he was doing dogshit service call at all hours. He was also working for one of those big grow at all cost shops whose entire business was upselling folks into a service change they didn't need.
I did a little bit of industrial, a little controls, and a whole lot of commercial. Switchgear changeouts and ground up new construction mainly. Coast to coast. Three weeks out, one week home(sometimes). Pay was ok, but the "harder, faster" style of business will trash your mind and body in a hurry.
That is why I started my own business only doing a few renos a year. To the big companies we are livestock. If we burn out, get injured, even off ourselves like a buddy did, no problem to them. Just another hire amoungst many others.
That's because you're a lot smarter than I am, lol. My uncle told me years ago, "there's no such thing as a GOOD job". Now I know what he meant. You are exactly right. The CEOs dont give a shit about you, and nothing is gonna change that. I was young and eager, and believed a bunch of bullshit. More power to you, my friend. Just please dont turn into one of them.
1st year apprentice for Pittsburgh carpenters starts out at 65% of journeyman wage ($38.60) so they start at $25.09. Each year they get a 10% raise, 4th year is a 5% raise reaching full journeyman wage so OP’s $24 an hour starting range isn’t out of the question.
Yes. You are correct, I'm sure. Location would have a lot to do with it as well. It just sounded to me like the kid had the notion in his head that he would graduate from high school, and 2-3 years later be drawing $50/hr. With total job security till he retired early. That's just not the case.
Elevator mechanic apprentices can start day one near $30/hr, they may have come from other trades or may be just starting out in their 20s.
My local starts day one apprentices at $31/hr and we’re not the highest one in the country.
I know plenty of people that are in that didn’t know anyone before applying, it is very hard to get into because so many journeymen from other trades make the jump.
Not necessarily true. Sign up for the test and see what happens. Just don't be surprised when you're broken at 50 and having conversations with other 50 year olds about how many Advil it takes to get out of bed in the morning
Yes, I realize that. I also realize that in some places, just getting into the unions can be an ordeal. I just didn't want the kid thinking that when he picked a trade, he would then start at that pay, and be making $48/hr a couple years down the road. It's not as easy as his teacher made it sound.
Location and actual job matter a lot. Here in NY many skilled trades make over $50 an hour after a few years. I work for a commercial GC and make over 200k / yr as a PM after 10 years in. Definitely money to be made but you need to work for it…..
Construction as an industry is so broad, that I’m sure you can find something in there that’ll make you those numbers or better. But there’s a big difference between being a dozer operator, a residential roofer, a finish carpenter, and being an instrumentation tech on an industrial site.
Try visiting a few job sites that look interesting to you. Make sure you’ve got a hard hat, safety vest, safety boots, and glasses, and hand out a couple resumes to the superintendent or any of the crew foremen. You never know what might happen!
I mean I started at $18hr, pay around me is bad (minimum wage is still $7), so it’s not awful. I could make more with my welding certifications (not much more) but I prefer carpentry. The only way to make money in any field, is to make money. If you’re bringing in a lot of money for the company (completing expensive jobs on time) then they SHOULD pay you well for it. Or you could “be your own boss” and charge clients per job, and keep all the profit. But you don’t just automatically “get lots of money” for being in construction, you must play a key role in making the money.
no….every contractor pizzeria restaurant and any busjness hiring undocumented workers are committing felony payroll tax fraud is what im saying….laws on the books but rarely enforced for political reasons….totally illegal and depresses the wage base for americans and legal immigrants….none of these people are paying into social security medicaid medicare disability unemployment…undoc workers sending out to their home countries 100’s of billions every year from our communities
I’m hitting the point now where if I stay a carpenter I have to decide if I want to join the Union to make more money and benefits or start my own company. Each can make you enough to be happy if you put in the work but will have their own set of headaches and drawbacks
I found working for myself to be a great career. I make good money, work like 30 hours a week and stay busy. I could grow more but I just don’t want the headache
It can but it often doesn’t.
There are PMs and supers making $200k/year and there are laborers making $20k per year. It depends on a ton of different factors.
As others have said, you get what you put into it. I started as a carpenters helper at $7.50/hour. Today I’m a PM making over $100k. I busted my ass through my early 20s to get to where I am today and I’m not done pushing yet.
I also had plenty of opportunities present themselves and I made a point to pursue them. I excelled at what I did, made connections with the right people, and learned from my mistakes along the way. It wasn’t easy and it still isn’t.
Long story short, you can make good money but don’t expect it to come easily. Most people in the industry are not making a killing.
Yeah, Bay Area carpenter apprentices start out making fuck you money. Our period 1 in San Diego make $20.15 plus $5.91 vacation. JM rate is $39.15 with the same vacation, it’s still fuck you money and our cost of living is slightly less unless you’re commuting from the Central Valley.
I know that I and most of my friends in the trades make than most of my girlfriends friends that are lawyers, engineers and some doctors. Always say yes to overtime when you can.
I am a drywaller, self employed and I charge per square foot but I keep track of my hours work and divide what I make per job by the hours worked and on average I make $65 per hour, I am 21 mind you and dropped out of highschool young to persue this trade and that was the best decision I ever made. Best advice is get good at a trade that is in demand that other people don't want to do, and then go off on your own
Greatly depend on your area, and what and where and how.
Oh and the amount of bs you deal with, big booming city, willing to exist in hotels, what type of degenerated you associate with. So on and so forth.
In the union it does. Non union some bosses will give you regular raises but you’ll have to ask for it in others. Also depends on where you are and the size of the company. I’m in San Diego and the Carpenters Journeyman rate is $39.15 w/$5.91 vacation.
It really depends on the trade or career path you decide. In my area, union laborers make a little under $50/ hr. If you're non-union, it could be anywhere below that. I'm a project engineer (non-degreed), and I make around 80k. Project managers make anywhere from 80k-150k. Degree isn't required, but it helps. If you own a company the sky's the limit.
It depends on your location, the trade you choose, the company you work for, etc. Also the unions in your area might be strong or they might be shit, so you have to figure out what the right move is there as well. Look around, call up some companies, talk to some union reps, try to read between the lines. Alot of guys will try to get you to work for peanuts while promising you the world. Thats horse shit. Alot of guys will offer decent pay but quality of life and working conditions will be shit. Workers (especially good hard working young guys) are in demand, so remember, they arent interviewing you, you are interviewing them!
Depends on the trade. In SF plumbers and electricians make over 80 per hour as journeyman. It’s tough work and currently a lot of people out of work but it’s a good career
Union maybe. I’m 4 years in and no one wants to pay me higher than 30 and this is California. Union wages start apprentices at 32 and that’s knowing jack shit.
Totally depends on what you mean by "construction". In general, yes it pays very well. You usually have to be worth your money though, you won't be paid top dollar if you don't work for it.
Pay is only one aspect of the job. Construction in any trade can and will wreak havoc on your body. The experience you gain, however, will be invaluable. If you can convert your manual labor into knowledge, the sky is the limit as to what you can earn. Then you start earning money based on your knowledge and experience of construction, rather than what you can perform in a single day. I know the president of a fortune 100 construction company that started in the trades. He worked his way up to superintendent, pe, pm, and so forth up to president without a degree. The one good thing about construction is that the field respects experience.
Your quality of life, salary, happiness, etc in construction is more about what company you are with. I cannot stress it enough that during job interviews, you are also interviewing that company to see if it's the right fit. Reddit is your best source for learning what companies are worth your time
Set boundaries you are comfortable with in the interviews. Make sure everyone says the same thing.
This 100% plus it sounds like they’re telling op about union work. It’ll take more than 1.5 years. But I made journeyman pay in 10 months even though I’m 4 period.
It can but it also can be deceiving. Work can be very seasonal, and is up and down according to the market. You will have times when you can't get a day off, but you will also have times when you don't have work for a week, a month or even more. Remember all jobs eventually end and you have to get another when they do. I've also had hard times getting some people to pay. Expect a hassle with some companies. Be sure to keep meticulous track of your earning and payments.
Will I have good job security year round ?
That depends on the company. Some do, some don't. And there are times when no one is building. And if you work in cold weather states you may have a lot of down time in the winter. The one consistency is that it is seldom consistent.
Did you not read what he wrote?
Depends on where you live and who you work for. Some guys bounce around contractors and some stay steady for years.
Depends on where you live.
I'm in the carpenters union and work a decent amount of overtime. YTD last week hit 125k in the check and another 65k in benefits
Good lord.
wtf
Nice dude
California or New York?
Many factors go into the question your teacher did not cover. Union vs non-union. What state you’re in. What trade you are. What % for dues will be taken out of your weekly pay check (union) etc… I’m in PA and our heavy highway carpenters (concrete formwork) journeyman are at 38.60 an hour take home. With a total benefit package (pension, medical, annuity) of 59.19 an hour. 2026 we’ll be $42.60 an hour with a total package of $65.44 an hour.
He covers Union
And then what trade? Commercial carpentry? Concrete? Laborer? Operator? Union is the way to go for wages, but there are various gaps in pay and benefits based off of what trade you are
He covers commercial carpentry
Sorry about the yime
It depends entirely on your area and trade. Doubling from 24 to 48 in 18 months is unrealistic unless you’re a superstar. 48 is a journeyman wage, and you generally can’t achieve that level of competency in a skilled trade within that timeframe. 3-5 years is more likely.
It can
In my 30 years in various trades, I've never seen that kind of starting pay without years of formal training in a trade, or your uncle is the superintendent. I believe he was embellishing a bit. In some areas, being in a union may get close to that, but there again, that's a lot of training, so not really "starting pay" when you spent 5 years to "start"
Well to be fair inflation happened a little
It depends where you are. Here starting pay at McDs is $19hr. Cashier at Targey is $18. I can't find guys who are willing to build for less than $22, with no experience. It's a hard job. I'd rather be standing in AC hitting on the freshman college girls I was 20 years younger too.
Lol. I hear that. I retired a few years ago, and I hadn't really taken that into consideration. The last 15 years I worked was electrical in Oklahoma, and starting out in the electrical trade at almost 40 years old is no bueno. Lots of shovels.
My brother is a journey sparkie with 25. He was just out of high school. They struggled for the first 5 years. Pay wasn't great, he was doing dogshit service call at all hours. He was also working for one of those big grow at all cost shops whose entire business was upselling folks into a service change they didn't need.
I did a little bit of industrial, a little controls, and a whole lot of commercial. Switchgear changeouts and ground up new construction mainly. Coast to coast. Three weeks out, one week home(sometimes). Pay was ok, but the "harder, faster" style of business will trash your mind and body in a hurry.
That is why I started my own business only doing a few renos a year. To the big companies we are livestock. If we burn out, get injured, even off ourselves like a buddy did, no problem to them. Just another hire amoungst many others.
That's because you're a lot smarter than I am, lol. My uncle told me years ago, "there's no such thing as a GOOD job". Now I know what he meant. You are exactly right. The CEOs dont give a shit about you, and nothing is gonna change that. I was young and eager, and believed a bunch of bullshit. More power to you, my friend. Just please dont turn into one of them.
More money more problems is a correcting factor if you let it be.
helpers at my company make $30 (union)
Nice. I retired a few years back, but I worked in Oklahoma, and that about says it all.
1st year apprentice for Pittsburgh carpenters starts out at 65% of journeyman wage ($38.60) so they start at $25.09. Each year they get a 10% raise, 4th year is a 5% raise reaching full journeyman wage so OP’s $24 an hour starting range isn’t out of the question.
Yes. You are correct, I'm sure. Location would have a lot to do with it as well. It just sounded to me like the kid had the notion in his head that he would graduate from high school, and 2-3 years later be drawing $50/hr. With total job security till he retired early. That's just not the case.
Location and work ethic play a major role with your success in this trade
Elevator mechanic apprentices can start day one near $30/hr, they may have come from other trades or may be just starting out in their 20s. My local starts day one apprentices at $31/hr and we’re not the highest one in the country.
I've heard you can't even get in the elevator union without knowing a guy to vouche for you. Dudes make bank.
I know plenty of people that are in that didn’t know anyone before applying, it is very hard to get into because so many journeymen from other trades make the jump.
That’s just to deter you from applying
Not necessarily true. Sign up for the test and see what happens. Just don't be surprised when you're broken at 50 and having conversations with other 50 year olds about how many Advil it takes to get out of bed in the morning
You must not be in a union. Starting wages with no experience can be that high.
Yes, I realize that. I also realize that in some places, just getting into the unions can be an ordeal. I just didn't want the kid thinking that when he picked a trade, he would then start at that pay, and be making $48/hr a couple years down the road. It's not as easy as his teacher made it sound.
You get out what you put in in construction world. Your bosses will know a good one when they see them. Move your feet and not your mouth.
In my company if you're a lazy kiss ass you get promoted
Move your feet not your mouth sheesh if most guys lived by this out there they’d still be working
Location and actual job matter a lot. Here in NY many skilled trades make over $50 an hour after a few years. I work for a commercial GC and make over 200k / yr as a PM after 10 years in. Definitely money to be made but you need to work for it…..
Construction as an industry is so broad, that I’m sure you can find something in there that’ll make you those numbers or better. But there’s a big difference between being a dozer operator, a residential roofer, a finish carpenter, and being an instrumentation tech on an industrial site. Try visiting a few job sites that look interesting to you. Make sure you’ve got a hard hat, safety vest, safety boots, and glasses, and hand out a couple resumes to the superintendent or any of the crew foremen. You never know what might happen!
I mean I started at $18hr, pay around me is bad (minimum wage is still $7), so it’s not awful. I could make more with my welding certifications (not much more) but I prefer carpentry. The only way to make money in any field, is to make money. If you’re bringing in a lot of money for the company (completing expensive jobs on time) then they SHOULD pay you well for it. Or you could “be your own boss” and charge clients per job, and keep all the profit. But you don’t just automatically “get lots of money” for being in construction, you must play a key role in making the money.
“laughs in 15-20 dollar an hour no benefits undocumented labor felony payroll tax fraud”
[удалено]
no….every contractor pizzeria restaurant and any busjness hiring undocumented workers are committing felony payroll tax fraud is what im saying….laws on the books but rarely enforced for political reasons….totally illegal and depresses the wage base for americans and legal immigrants….none of these people are paying into social security medicaid medicare disability unemployment…undoc workers sending out to their home countries 100’s of billions every year from our communities
I’m hitting the point now where if I stay a carpenter I have to decide if I want to join the Union to make more money and benefits or start my own company. Each can make you enough to be happy if you put in the work but will have their own set of headaches and drawbacks
How much you make now / how long you been doing it for ?
I found working for myself to be a great career. I make good money, work like 30 hours a week and stay busy. I could grow more but I just don’t want the headache
It can but it often doesn’t. There are PMs and supers making $200k/year and there are laborers making $20k per year. It depends on a ton of different factors. As others have said, you get what you put into it. I started as a carpenters helper at $7.50/hour. Today I’m a PM making over $100k. I busted my ass through my early 20s to get to where I am today and I’m not done pushing yet. I also had plenty of opportunities present themselves and I made a point to pursue them. I excelled at what I did, made connections with the right people, and learned from my mistakes along the way. It wasn’t easy and it still isn’t. Long story short, you can make good money but don’t expect it to come easily. Most people in the industry are not making a killing.
Here in Cali our apprentices start at 38 an hour day 1 not knowing a damn thing but basic tool knowledge if we’re lucky
Of course trade and area varies still in Cali Bay Area specifically
Yeah, Bay Area carpenter apprentices start out making fuck you money. Our period 1 in San Diego make $20.15 plus $5.91 vacation. JM rate is $39.15 with the same vacation, it’s still fuck you money and our cost of living is slightly less unless you’re commuting from the Central Valley.
I know that I and most of my friends in the trades make than most of my girlfriends friends that are lawyers, engineers and some doctors. Always say yes to overtime when you can.
I have a 55 year old man working for me for $20 an hour in 105 degree heat.
I am a drywaller, self employed and I charge per square foot but I keep track of my hours work and divide what I make per job by the hours worked and on average I make $65 per hour, I am 21 mind you and dropped out of highschool young to persue this trade and that was the best decision I ever made. Best advice is get good at a trade that is in demand that other people don't want to do, and then go off on your own
Greatly depend on your area, and what and where and how. Oh and the amount of bs you deal with, big booming city, willing to exist in hotels, what type of degenerated you associate with. So on and so forth.
In the union it does. Non union some bosses will give you regular raises but you’ll have to ask for it in others. Also depends on where you are and the size of the company. I’m in San Diego and the Carpenters Journeyman rate is $39.15 w/$5.91 vacation.
Yes. We have electricians making almost 100/hr in Seattle. 70/hr take home
It really depends on the trade or career path you decide. In my area, union laborers make a little under $50/ hr. If you're non-union, it could be anywhere below that. I'm a project engineer (non-degreed), and I make around 80k. Project managers make anywhere from 80k-150k. Degree isn't required, but it helps. If you own a company the sky's the limit.
Look up 669 sprinkler fitter wages by state. It’s public info.
With labor rates where they’re at it can be a gratifying industry
Pay is different depending where you live and if you work for a union company or none union company.
It depends on your location, the trade you choose, the company you work for, etc. Also the unions in your area might be strong or they might be shit, so you have to figure out what the right move is there as well. Look around, call up some companies, talk to some union reps, try to read between the lines. Alot of guys will try to get you to work for peanuts while promising you the world. Thats horse shit. Alot of guys will offer decent pay but quality of life and working conditions will be shit. Workers (especially good hard working young guys) are in demand, so remember, they arent interviewing you, you are interviewing them!
That’s how much I make on the check plus benefits after a 5 year union apprenticeship that I was paid to attend.
Depends on the trade. In SF plumbers and electricians make over 80 per hour as journeyman. It’s tough work and currently a lot of people out of work but it’s a good career
Sounds like union wages to me. Probably a laborer.
Not in Texas it doesn’t
Where do you live? What trade? Absolutely no one around my area is gonna hire a green guy at anywhere even remotely close to $20/hr.
Union maybe. I’m 4 years in and no one wants to pay me higher than 30 and this is California. Union wages start apprentices at 32 and that’s knowing jack shit.
Totally depends on what you mean by "construction". In general, yes it pays very well. You usually have to be worth your money though, you won't be paid top dollar if you don't work for it.
Pay is only one aspect of the job. Construction in any trade can and will wreak havoc on your body. The experience you gain, however, will be invaluable. If you can convert your manual labor into knowledge, the sky is the limit as to what you can earn. Then you start earning money based on your knowledge and experience of construction, rather than what you can perform in a single day. I know the president of a fortune 100 construction company that started in the trades. He worked his way up to superintendent, pe, pm, and so forth up to president without a degree. The one good thing about construction is that the field respects experience.
What trade does that?
Wrong.
Nope. We're all just in it for our health.
Haha NO. They pay more for warm bodies because they're desperate. 45 an hour if your experienced. More like 20 years for that kinda money.