Also that construction worker: has bad back, bad knees, arthritic hands and skin cancer at age 42
Don’t get me wrong the trades are amazing for a kid to get into right out of school, and they’re critically necessary. But don’t be expecting to make a lifelong career out of it, because it is absolutely hard on your body. Do it for 5 years max and move up to management.
There are less intense trades. Sure, a bricklayer and drywaller is gonna be hurting after ten years, but telco, electronic security, automation, and fire alarm trades are quite sustainable and offer technical challenges often to keep things interesting. You just need to be okay with heights. We use scissor lifts quite a bit.
Bad back, bad knee, arthritic hands, missing the tips of 2 fingers, bad wrist, a lot of scars, pulmonary fibrosis (Scarred lungs from working in dusty environments) at 50 yrs.
But thankfully no cancer yet lol
This is one thing continually overlooked when people bring up trade careers.
I agree, it’s solid (and for me) fun & gratifying work. I really enjoyed my time in the field and wouldn’t trade it for anything.
If it’s a skilled trade you can make more money than a lot of recent college graduates as well.
But to your point, it WILL absolutely chew your body up over time and construction sites are an exceptionally dangerous work environment. You can do everything right and some asshole not paying attention can cause life changing injuries to occur.
My advice for anyone looking at going into the trades is to get a few years under your belt, get some certifications and then find your way into an office management position.
The implication is not that it doesn’t pay well, it’s that it’s dangerous and very hard on your body. Work as a construction worker till your 50 (if you don’t die in an accident before then) and your body will hate you for it
University educated. Changed careers at 29 and did tech college and got a diploma.
Now I paint and fix shit for a rental company and I make 4x what I used to make. No papers required. It’s wild.
I’m a teacher, and I push for kids to consider the trades on a nearly daily basis. Find a job that other people can’t, or don’t want to do, and you can get paid!
The real money is in being a plumber, electrician, mechanic, or what have you. As soon as you upskill a little bit, you’re golden.
