employment - tradesmen

Betho · #1 01/23/07, 01:09 PM

I know employment can be a big problem when you are living in a remote location. Do tradesmen generally do OK? We have a friend who is a tile setter interested in possibly homesteading in our area, I was just thinking of whether or not tradesmen like that would make enough money to do it.

hunter63 · #2 01/23/07, 01:25 PM

He may have to travel, but they generally do better than say, a factory worker.
Is he union?

NorthernWoods · #3 01/23/07, 02:37 PM

Get involved in the power company. That is where the money is.

Betho · #4 01/23/07, 02:58 PM

no I don't think he's union... he may not even want to do tile anymore but that's his "trade" and so I was just trying to see if that's usually marketable in rural places.

the power company? like installing power lines or something?

tiogacounty · #5 01/23/07, 04:21 PM

First, in most cases you can forget about just showing up at your local utility company to get a job. Most tradesmen involved are linemen, with union tickets, long apprenticeships and the job isn't nearly as easy, glorified, or well paid as you might have heard. Since deregulation the behavior of a lot of the power industry has left these guys grossly understaffed and frequently facing layoffs and outsourcing. There have even been battles with management that wants to eliminate the "ground man" on a crew. So you can respond to a service call, ALONE, get hung up on a high voltage wire and die, but at least you saved the company money!
As for the tile gig? Maybe, if you are willing to travel, or are in an area that is remote but has a lot of money from the summer/vacation/trophy home crowd. When I built homes for a living, I had a great tile setter from 200 miles north in upstate NY. He was in a very depressed, rural area and was happy for any work I could find him, even if he had to travel four hours and sleep in his truck to get it.

hunter63 · #6 01/23/07, 04:42 PM

As much as unions are put down sometimes, at lest in sheet metal trade, the my union is state wide, so I can transfer to another area.
Whether there is work there or not is another question.
Still might have to travel.
Same for pipe fitters, steam fitters, plumbers, electricians, carpenters, etc.

CatsPaw · #7 01/23/07, 05:11 PM

Generally, when you know a trade you can get along most places. Doing tile means you can expand pretty easily to possible other floor types.

If you specialize and move to the country, chances are there won't be much local work....as in you can tile for only so many neighbors. Travel would probably ensue.

This person may find a new trade that is more fun. Being in the trades at least gives you an "in" to other trades. The more trades you know the more work you can perform. Specializing is alright around a larger metro area. Less people more knowledge more work.

Linda H · #8 01/23/07, 06:39 PM

Since moving to Missouri we've "hired" a local trademan several times. He and his wife moved here about the same time as us. Their primary trade is hanging sheetrock, but they started doing just about anything to survive. They charge 25.00 an hour for both of them. It took them about a year to get well enough known to actually keep busy, but they did make ends meet for themselves and two kids.

In our area there are three husband/wife combo's that do trade type work.

NorthernWoods · #9 01/23/07, 08:26 PM

I'm telling you, if you're fit enough, and not scared of climbing, get into line work. The money to be made is rediculous. Be a storm trooper, double bubble in NY at almost $80/hr, 16hr a day (or course you don't actually "work" that long). Eat out at Outback, Texas Steak House, etc. Order anything you want!

Work the commercial gigs and storm for 3-6 months and take off the rest of the year.

Basically, you determine your own income.

Of course there is that 3 year apprenticeship program but even then, you start out at over $20/hr...well, it depends where you are from. Maybe the worst might be nothern Maine, $16/hr, I don't really know, still not bad at all.

Haha, if you're from the south, then their pay is just a big joke and you can forget everything I just said

e.alleg · #10 01/23/07, 08:58 PM

I'm friends with a guy who quit being an auto mechanic and made a career of being a lineman for the electric company. Training took about 4 years of steady 40 hour weeks making twenty-something an hour plus bennies. (take home about $800 a week) He said training was easy; they don't just say "here go put up this pole", instead you shovel dirt for 10 minutes from the auger and watch the other more experienced guys do the work and a lot of driving here and there. Once he had all his check boxes checked off they gave him a truck to bring home, a beeper, and a crew. I don't know for sure but I would say that he makes well over 100k a year. He isn't a 9-5 worker anymore though, if the beeper goes off while having Christmas dinner he's up and out with a smile on his face. Sucks for the wife and kids but having $$$$$$$$ is worth it to some families. I would have done the same thing but I'm afraid of heights and afraid of getting zapped. I was taught not to touch the wires. lol.

NorthernWoods · #11 01/24/07, 04:45 AM

Yeah, $100,000 is fairly easy to make. I'd say, at the very least, $50,000 the first year. Second year, 65-75 Gs.

How long it takes all depends on what company or contractor you work for. If you get to spend a lot of time with one who goes out on every substancial storm, then the time only takes around 3 years. They "say" it should take 3.5years.

Quote:

Originally Posted by e.alleg

He isn't a 9-5 worker anymore though, if the beeper goes off while having Christmas dinner he's up and out with a smile on his face.

You get that way when you are making a dollar a minute.

vinylfloorguy · #12 01/24/07, 06:42 AM

Yes a person can make it doing a trade in the county. I am a floorcovering installer in noth central nebraska, and I make between 30 to 50 thousand a year. The trick is you must show up when you say you will, do what you said you will do and if there is a problem you must go above and beyond to make it right. it takes a long time to make a good rep. but only a heart beat to ruin it.

Trixie · #13 01/24/07, 07:37 AM

I would say in Texas, a rural area might be better for a tradesman. In a city, you are probably going to be competing with the illegals for any job of that type.

Actually, even in rural areas and small towns, it is true, depending on the number in the area.

e.alleg · #14 01/24/07, 07:54 AM

I live in a small town in a rural area, trying to find someone to pay me for what they can do themselves is next to impossible. There are some general contractors that do Ok I guess but It seems that in a city everyone has a lot of money but no time, out here everyone has no money but plenty of time. I sell stuff on the internet so I do OK but if I depended on the local economy to survive I wouldn't be able to afford the down payment on a postage stamp.

Beeman · #15 01/24/07, 10:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by e.alleg

I live in a small town in a rural area, trying to find someone to pay me for what they can do themselves is next to impossible. There are some general contractors that do Ok I guess but It seems that in a city everyone has a lot of money but no time, out here everyone has no money but plenty of time. I sell stuff on the internet so I do OK but if I depended on the local economy to survive I wouldn't be able to afford the down payment on a postage stamp.

That's pretty much the way it is here, everyone is a jack of all trades or has a brother or another relative that can do it (usually cheaper). Trades here are no benefit get paid cash and usually low paying.
Power company here is a good job, but you better be related or you ain't getting in.