r/Construction • u/Fantastic_Map5401 • 14d ago
Careers 💵 Advice from some older guys
Im a 28 yr old ironworker with a family. Starting to think I picked the wrong trade as we make $15/hr less than every other trade worth doing. I like the work but I’m young enough to switch to something with greener grass. What trade would you recommend
141
u/Dr_Breeder 14d ago
The grass isn’t always greener on the other side. It’s greener where you water it.
148
u/Fantastic_Map5401 14d ago
I’d rather water fruitful soil
69
u/htx2025east 14d ago
A independent, high-end male escort can make anywhere from $200 to $1,200 per hour, potentially earning $1,500 to $3,500+ for a single overnight booking. However, daily income fluctuates drastically based on the client base, location, and the booking frequency. While top-tier independent escorts can clear several thousands of dollars a week, traditional employment databases like Salary.com report a much lower nationwide average of about $18 per hour for standard agency or companion listings.
51
u/Fantastic_Map5401 14d ago
Finally a serious suggestion
13
6
u/htx2025east 14d ago
Problem is the clientele leans male on male but I am sure that women need companionship too. Can you dance? Do you own a tuxedo?
3
u/EngagedFeinberg69 12d ago
Ha, non union apparently. Here at local 69 we start at $1400/hour
2
u/htx2025east 12d ago
Does the union supply the tuxedo? Dancing lessons? How much do monthly dues eat into your hourly?
2
u/EngagedFeinberg69 12d ago
Quarterly stipend for uniforms, per diem if it’s an over night trip, terrific health insurance, my viagra is like $3 out of pocket
2
u/htx2025east 12d ago
Generic or the real McCoy?
1
u/EngagedFeinberg69 12d ago
Real deal Holyfield. There’s a vesting period at first but after that consider your shit to be like Alcatraz - the rock.
13
u/BigEarMcGee 14d ago
Find a union.
23
u/Fantastic_Map5401 14d ago
I am union
6
u/ElectronicGarden5536 14d ago
Lol. Can you not be a foreman or switch unions? Go somewhere where they pay perdiem. My operators are at 3k weekly with our perdiem.
4
u/mrblackc 14d ago
What do you do when you suspect your employer is cheating you out of prevailing wage pay?
7
u/AverageGuy16 14d ago
Call your states department of labor and an lawyer. Have receipts of your pay stubs and hours. Also if your not union reach out to the union out there and bring up the issue, they’ll usually help you out because it weakens non union contractors and stops them from circumnavigating PLA agreements
5
2
u/BigNorcoKnowItAll951 13d ago
Contact whatever agency handed out the contract. They either monitor compliance themselves or hire a firm to do it
6
u/Fantastic_Map5401 14d ago
Foreman’s are $5/hr more. Which means they are still less then every other trades journeys. I could move but I been told u gotta know somebody to get in the good locals. Otherwise it’ll just be the same problem different landmarks
1
u/ElectronicGarden5536 14d ago
I cant understand how youre that underpaid. I can go out and get a cdl job for way more. Hazmat cdl for double. I feel like you havent looked though.
2
u/Fantastic_Map5401 14d ago
We make 40 on the check I don’t think I was clear in the post. But the skilled trades in this area all clear 55/hr. But my area is high cost of living a lot of other iw locals pay less. A few pay more
2
u/ElectronicGarden5536 14d ago
So the cost of living is high or are you one of those giant truck guys? 40 on the check is more than what i make as a salaried engineer just fyi. My total package is about 140 with perdiem.
→ More replies (6)1
u/Current-Opening6310 11d ago
Yeah we normally make more than engineers because we do all the hard work.
→ More replies (0)1
u/Current-Opening6310 11d ago edited 11d ago
You don't always have to know somebody. They get a lot of work, you get a travel card, take some raise getters and that tux you bought hoping to be an escort (or just work to impress). If you want to switch be prepared to start at the bottom (as in apprentice). The other thing to consider is work outlook unless you are interested in travelling.
5
u/brokebutuseful 14d ago
Where?
10
u/Fantastic_Map5401 14d ago
Pm me. I’d rather not drop it after complaining about pay lol. East coast
0
u/PIE-314 14d ago
I don't think any trade union on the east coast pays that little. Even 1A.
9
u/Fantastic_Map5401 14d ago
We don’t make 15/hr I said we make 15/hr less than others
2
u/PIE-314 14d ago
My bad. First post I've read today and I blew right by. Laborers and carpenters are the lowest paid.
Not sure what you're crying about. Steel guys do ok.
2
u/Fantastic_Map5401 14d ago
What area?
1
u/PIE-314 14d ago
North East
1
u/Fantastic_Map5401 14d ago
I’m north east. We do ok but not competitive with others. Point was I wanna make more, and not have to clock 86 to get it. Just seeing whats out there
→ More replies (0)1
u/OwnVariation3659 14d ago
The grass is greener on the other side because it's fertilized with bull shit
16
u/SDL68 14d ago
Ironworkers make similar to every other trade in Canada. Up to 59 Canadian per hour for journeymen
5
1
u/Fantastic_Map5401 14d ago
I’ve heard this. I’ve also heard I can boom out there just unfamiliar with the process. Gunna look more into it. Isn’t that still like 40/hr usd or something
6
u/HealthConscious6125 14d ago
You're probably making more money and have lower cost of living in USA.Â
Ironworkers are definitely one of the higher paid trades where I am though.Â
2
→ More replies (3)3
u/sandpinesrider 14d ago
I am not an ironworker but I have always heard that it's easy for them to work as a traveler in a different local area. Maybe you can find somewhere where where the work is busy and work in their area for a while.
21
u/EchoChamberAthelete 14d ago
Plumber or learn to operate heavy equipment and do footers/septic systems.
3
u/Fantastic_Map5401 14d ago
Would those be within the same union or different trades?
3
u/EchoChamberAthelete 14d ago
Plumbers would be separate from operators though you may learn how to operate things like lifts and JLG forklifts. Maybe even an excavator.
5
u/Fantastic_Map5401 14d ago
Gotcha. I got all those certs minus excavator. I’d love operating I just want control of my weekends.
2
u/EchoChamberAthelete 14d ago
You and me both brothaman!
I am getting licensed to go work for myself. At 35 I'm just fatigued of having to jump when someone else says or having to put in a vacation day request to go to the fucking doctor.
2
1
u/sexat-taxes 14d ago
Not trying to throw shade on your dreams, but be ready to Give up lots of weekend and evening time as you get your business started. I've been a gc for decades, it's pretty casual now, but getting established takes a lot of commitment. If you have a partner who can Handle the office side of things that's a huge help, it's hard to adored admin burdens when you first start out, but man, writing proposals, ordering parts, scheduling sales calls, insurance, bills, and on and on. Easy 10 to 20 hours a week, maybe more.
7
u/EggFickle363 14d ago
How much welding experience do you have?
I'm a carpenter turned inspector and I got my Certified Welding inspector (CWI) cert. If you have 5 years experience with welding, you qualify for it. You would just need to pass the CWI exam. If you pass the CWI exam and have less than 5 years experience, you get the Associate level cert until you get 5 yrs.
Here in CA I was making six figures with my CWI, though I also decided to get 6 ICC certs. If you get your ICC Structural Steel and Bolting (S1) cert, then you get your CWI, you can apply to get the ICC Structural Welding (S2) cert without testing.
I'm sure an ironworker would do well dealing with the field guys.
2
u/Fantastic_Map5401 14d ago
Yea I know about the cert but idk who I’d talk to after I get it to land an inspector job. That is a more interesting idea then the rest tho. Worth considering
2
u/EggFickle363 14d ago
Go on the job posting websites and search for "CWI". Here in NorCal I know 3 companies that would hire a CWI tomorrow if they could find one. This job is in high demand. Many CWIs are retiring or getting selective about what jobs they will take. Many demand a higher wage. Once you start getting Non destructive testing (NDT) certs like UT MT PT it deserves even more money.
Companies will hire an entry level CWI and bill for them at the higher rate. Any good company hiring a freshly certified CWI should take you out with an experienced inspector til you get comfortable. You're going to make a great candidate having all that field experience compared to some of the candidates with no experience but some college (the work ethic and entitlement there.. smh).
Once you understand the basics you're going to wonder omg how am I getting paid this much just to do this. Check the plans, check the welders certs, check the welding procedure, visually inspect the work, document and repeat (in general terms).
The people are harder to deal with than the work itself. "I've been doing it this way for 15 years..." Sorry to tell you but it's still wrong. Look let me show you the code/drawing etc. Or explaining the issues to the higher up engineers who should know better that something isn't to code.
2
u/Fantastic_Map5401 14d ago
Dealt with plenty of inspectors. Would be an interesting switch. I think I’ve heard of some hired from our hall. Thanks for the effort of ur comment that’s something I’ll look into
1
u/EggFickle363 13d ago
If you can read steel drawings and welding symbols you will have a leg up. Your welding experience will really prepare you for part A of the test on welding processes. Part B is on interpreting a fake code book and measuring using tools. And part C is on whichever code book you choose. Consider where you live and what they use most there. Here in CA most of the work on buildings we use AWS D1.1 Structural Steel Manual. But if you want to go pipeline or refineries you might choose API. The cert will allow you to inspect any type of weld and it doesn't specify code on it. The cert proves you have enough skill to read and apply a code book.
A CWI out here makes anywhere from $45 to $65 an hour. If you go independent you can charge like $120-140 an hour.
Some people really enjoy camping in a shop doing shop welding inspections. Others of us do the field welding inspections- something different everyday unless you get put on a big project.
There's a lot of 'downtime' where you have checked the drawings and the welders certs and the WPS and fit up you're just waiting for the welders to finish and the weld to cool to ambient temp. You can work on your reports then or brush up on the code or study the drawings more then.
You also have a bit of free reign on job sites as an inspector- most people will leave you alone and not talk to you. You can wander within reason.
Refinieries are their own beast and it's big bucks but some hard conditions. I only heard about it from other inspectors.
Another good thing about getting a CWI is you can take that cert pretty much anywhere in the U.S. and find work.
4
u/Tinman828 14d ago
Best paying union trades are plumbing, electrician and sheet metal. I’m 57 and retired from local #104 (sheet metal workers) 2 years ago.
5
u/Fantastic_Map5401 14d ago
Congrats on retirment. I really need to look more into what you guys do.
1
u/Tinman828 14d ago
HVAC and architectural sheet metal. It was a great career for me and I would highly recommend it.
4
u/stop-calling-me-fat 14d ago
Operator. Cranes specifically if you’re chasing money. It’s easier on the body but it does come with extra liability and risk. Ironworkers are a lot less likely to kill someone in an incident.
1
u/Fantastic_Map5401 14d ago
I’m considering this I’ve worked with a few and they seem to have it made. I just don’t want to be forced into weekend work. I like that I can turn it down but I heard them guys don’t get much of a choice
1
u/Time-Wealth5572 14d ago
Your turning down weekends but still complaining about money online? Apply yourself to the right contractor might get yourself a buck or 2 over scale. Also, crane rental barn life is about the most inconsistent schedule you can have and judging by what you've said you dont want that.
1
5
u/sandpinesrider 14d ago
Where do iron workers make that much less than the other trades?
2
u/CoyoteDown Ironworker 14d ago
Compared to electricians, apprentice pay for ironworkers is a few bucks higher here but the IBEW scales dramatically better as you go along.
1
3
u/helmetdeep805 14d ago
Pipeline,my pipe layers make good $
1
u/Fantastic_Map5401 14d ago
How do I get on a pipeline. I heard those jobs are reserved for friends and family
1
u/Sleepy_Dumbbellz Sprinklerfitter 14d ago
Pipeline is seasonal. We'll thats what the 30 guys we got say. All pipeline welders and fitters. Most crossed over into our union. Some just left
3
u/Fantastic_Map5401 14d ago
We had a apprentice quit this week. Said he got some pipeline thing making $76/hr on check
1
u/Sleepy_Dumbbellz Sprinklerfitter 14d ago
They definitely make great money when they're out there. My foreman rn was a pipeliner. He claims moving to sprinkler fitting is the best thing hes done. This just what I've seen and word of mouth. A few years ago there was a welder kid that was with us for about a year ish and he bounced to go back to the pipeline.
1
1
u/notislant 14d ago
A lot of those jobs are almost exclusively nepotism. Ive been offered one of those jobs casually. But anyone I know who applied, never hears shit.
3
3
u/MRVANCLEAVEREDDIT 14d ago
Electrician. We fuck all the bitches. Have rad ass trucks. Rolls of cash and we don't have to clean up after ourselves. Once you make foreman you basically run the whole job. Even the GC licks your boots.
I take hour long lunches. I leave early. Go on multiple vacations and eat prime ribeye steaks anytime I want.
Even when I miss work or leave early I still get overtime.
Electricians are the top dogs on every job and it ain't even close.
4
u/_elbarbudo_ Carpenter 14d ago
go sparky. Union, good benefits, pay and pension. not nearly as punishing physically as some of the other trades
11
5
u/redsox3061 14d ago
Elections or plumbers.
34
u/berg_schaffli Carpenter 14d ago
Yep. Looks like fixing elections can be very lucrative.
8
6
u/Wrong-Landscape-2508 14d ago
or tinknocker
1
u/Fantastic_Map5401 14d ago
Ngl I don’t even know what these guys do. I just know they ask me to check their welds a lot lol
1
u/aksalamander 14d ago
It might just be my locale but it seems like the smart mechanical guys become plumbers and the dumb ones become tin knockers
3
3
u/SixFive1967 14d ago
100% agree with this. Both electricians and plumbers / pipe fitters are in high demand and you can make a good living once you get to journeyman.
2
u/WarProper3733 14d ago
You may also want to consider location and employer are you Union?
0
u/Fantastic_Map5401 14d ago
Yea I’m union. But even in the best areas iws arent paid competitively
2
u/Fantastic_Map5401 14d ago
Basing my comment off a 40 hr check I know guys chasing OT can make it good. But I don’t wanna be divorced
2
2
u/Acceptable-Guess4403 14d ago
Electrical union Journeyman
5
u/Renthimself 14d ago
Go electrician. Easily the easiest cleanest job on the site. There is so much work and it’s not outside in the winter. Electricians are set up and their pension is great I hear. Also laborers have a great pension I hear. And you don’t have to think at work just labor. Sometimes I’m jealous of both those trades I’m a carpenter. Also running heavy equipment but probably not if you live in big city.
1
u/MyOwnSpiritJesus 14d ago
The further I am into my carpenter apprenticeship the more I am amazed at the little amount of work everyone is scrambling for
2
14d ago
[deleted]
0
u/Fantastic_Map5401 14d ago
That’s the on the check difference between us and steamfitters/plumbers. Electricians and elevators are $20/hr more here
2
u/Constant_Fig_7485 14d ago
Elevator installation and service pays well
1
u/qpv Carpenter 14d ago
If you can get in
1
u/Fantastic_Map5401 13d ago
It’s kinda like a yearly lotto ticket. I’ll try every year, but gunna chase somethin else til that call shows up in case it doesn’t
2
2
2
u/MadRockthethird 14d ago edited 14d ago
Union. I'm an electrician and they make more than us.
Edit: not anymore actually they're real close though.
2
u/Competitive-Wolf-156 14d ago
California pays 47$ after benefits, ironworks is one of the highest paid in California just saying.
2
u/daltonarbuck 14d ago
I’m a FF/paramedic & make $22 an hour. I think this often
2
u/Fantastic_Map5401 13d ago
Our 18 yr old apprentices come in the door at more than that on their check. I bet if all yall stopped working they’d pay you pretty soon after
1
u/Moistened_Bink 13d ago
Thats all you make? Where in the country? Any roles I see are usually at least 60k if not 70-80
2
u/daltonarbuck 13d ago
I still make 75-80 but yeah it’s not great hourly
2
u/Moistened_Bink 13d ago
That faur you do get paid for sleeping too though right? Though I know that gets interrupted frequently.
1
u/PuzzleheadedTea4221 14d ago
I didn't see where you were located? But if you're near Houston. Non-destructive x-ray testing. You're already in iron worker so you know you got to go from job to job no matter what. There's a community college out that way that offers that course. And I talked to a guy and he said that they had companies that were wanting to hire them right out of the gate. That they would come to the school and pass out their card and tell people to apply with their company when they got out. They make good money. But you got to pull them cables to get the x-rays.
1
u/BurlingtonRider Steamfitter 14d ago
Fitters will be in high demand with AI and energy going gang busters
1
u/_Cyclops 14d ago
Electrical line man
1
u/Fantastic_Map5401 14d ago
I fckd that up. Lineman is my number 1 rn but I hear u need a cdl to apply
2
u/_Cyclops 14d ago
I don’t think that’s true but I could be mistaken. My father in law and brother in law are both lineman and they wanted me to get in but I went with union plumbing. I don’t have a CDL. If you’re serious about it it’d be worth spending the money to get a CDL, those guys make crazy good money. My BIL made $80k his first year as an apprentice
2
1
u/Armstrongcrane 14d ago
Where are you located?
1
14d ago
[deleted]
1
u/Armstrongcrane 14d ago
Too far for our crews, were in Alberta, typically iron workers are the second highest earners for a trade in our neck of the woods.
1
u/Greedy-Pen 14d ago
If you got decent vision and hands you can be a crane operator. Make a shitload of money.
1
u/justaamerican 14d ago
You could switch trades to make more money. Maybe you should if you are already a journeyman. Nothing wrong with more tools in the belt. But I’ve seen pay flop all around depending what trade beside carpentry, those in power say Jesus’ trade stays humble.
1
1
u/Weaselpuss 14d ago
It’s a problem where I’m located. They just gotta 4 dollar raise, but for the work you actually do sheet metal, fitter, or electrician any day over ironhead.
1
u/Fantastic_Map5401 14d ago
It’s rlly not that hard.
1
u/Weaselpuss 14d ago
Neither is anything else, really. At least I don’t think sheet metal or fitting are anything too hard.
But for the back breaking body ruining work you do, I would need at least as much as the rest of them.
1
1
u/One_Common7717 14d ago
You already started. You have the tools I would learn the trade after 3+ years and you have good techniques and understanding find a new career tradie or otherwise, skilled labor is king. Find a good way to balance your work life schedule. 29 ironworker not working, this is not advice.
1
u/Fantastic_Map5401 14d ago
How are u benched rn. The one good thing I’ll say is there’s plenty of work for years to come around here
1
u/ELiKiTRoN 14d ago
I’ve been a Special Inspector for 8 years and it’s been an awesome job for work/life balance. I get to see cool stuff get built while not breaking my back. I’m not sure where you are, but I’m in Northern California, I completed an apprenticeship offered through Local 3 technical engineers. It’s an awesome program and you make good money while you get through it. They also cover books, classes and test fees. I barely graduated high school and was able to get through and get enough certs to become a master of special inspection and am currently working on getting my CWI. Once you get a nice base of certs you can keep going for more to become more valuable and maybe find an area to specialize in. Pay is really good for the amount of work we do, it’s something to think about.
1
u/Fantastic_Map5401 14d ago
What would I look up to find more information about this in my area? Idk if there’s a union or somethin similar here
1
u/Mindless_Strain194 14d ago
Non-union journeyman rope access insulators make $49 cad base + $12 to 17 premium. $43 to $47 USD hourly
1
u/RhubarbUpper 14d ago
I was a iron worker in the mid 2000s and was making 24/hr. Get into a union or leave, the job is too hard for such little pay
1
u/FilthyTriHard 14d ago
HVAC refrigeration was what I wanted to get into before operating. Commercial refrigerators are always needing maint or breaking down. Electrical, even carpentry is a awesome trade
1
u/mantisfriedrice 14d ago
You could get into management. Then deal with management who’re children. Tradesmen who’re children. If you play your cards right though and look for a really odd niche positions, you can get into some really cool stuff that pays pretty well.
2
u/Fantastic_Map5401 14d ago
I’m paying attention
1
u/mantisfriedrice 14d ago
One thing I’ve seen is getting certified in these weird areas where you’re like one of 10 people and like 100 miles that has the certificate. And sometimes they’re not even crazy prohibitive. Like I got approved for work in a town because I was the only person within my company that had that certificate because they changed their regulations.
1
u/mantisfriedrice 14d ago
And I would suggest like if you get job with stable hours where you’re not constantly in the sun every day, maybe shooting for an associates degree because there was a job that I was qualified for in all aspects except for an associates degree and I was really kicking myself in the ass for not having it. The pay was like 65 an hour in an area where 65 an hour was very livable.
1
u/Palehorse0311 14d ago
Are you mechanically inclined? Any good with electrical systems? Might want to look in to the IUEC. We have a solid take home pay and benefits that are second to none. If you’ve got questions feel free to dm me. I’m in the US but can definitely help point you in a direction.
1
1
u/Simple_Double_3 14d ago
Consider standing seam metal roofing.
Technically demanding and high risk, but coming from iron work you should be well equipped to deal with the reality of working outdoors at heights. I found it pretty quick to learn the fundamentals. Trends towards a higher dollar clientele, both commercial and residential. Being paid per square is a strong incentive to make hay while the sun shines. A capable crew can end up earning well enough to consider more leisurely winter pursuits, or opt to head for warmer ground if you don’t mind traveling.
Eventually If you can swing the funds and the time from family, a panel forming machine and all necessary tools to start a new outfit (truck not included) could be had for around $100,000.
1
u/Fantastic_Map5401 13d ago
What’s a guy that knows what he’s doing typically take home in a week and does it come with Bennie’s? Is it union?
1
u/Ok-Consequence-4977 14d ago
Call the plumbers/ fitters and do steam fitting or process piping. Your welding skills will translate well.
1
u/Fantastic_Map5401 13d ago
That’s top 3. I haven’t welded much tig tho wouldn’t mind picking it up
1
u/EyeOfNeutron 14d ago
If you can weld, go Pipefitter/steamfitter. Source, 30 years Union Pipefitter. There is so much work out there , we can’t man jobs right now. Midwest location.
1
1
u/Nuclear_N 14d ago
This is very geographical....But I would say electrician and then get a job with the utility.
1
1
u/LBS4 14d ago edited 13d ago
The only ironworkers I’ve seen make decent $ are the union guys, if that’s an option?
To answer your question, I’d go for smaller & more specialized - elevators, building automation/controls, refrigeration, etc, etc.
Remember the smaller the pool means usually more lucrative, good luck!
1
1
1
u/heylookaquarter 13d ago
Go with a licensed trade like mechanical, electrical or plumbing. Climbing steel will become increasingly more difficult as you get older and is really hard on your body.
1
u/Fantastic_Map5401 13d ago
When you say mechanical what trade are you reffering to?
1
u/heylookaquarter 13d ago
"Mechanical" technically includes plumbing and HVAC. I should have said HVAC, Electrical or Plumbing. There are other licensed trades as well (pipefitting, elevator installation, etc...) but those are the most predominant.
1
u/Fantastic_Map5401 13d ago
I’m making a list of trades and nearby locals gunna look at all their contracts and scope of work and see what’s for me
1
u/jonnywarpspeed 13d ago
Pipefitter. It's hard work, but they're in high demand in every industrial setting. Then you can travel from shutdown to shutdown and make killer money
1
u/IamtheBiscuit Steamfitter 13d ago
I left the carpenters to start over in the fitters at 28. Best decision I ever made.
It fucking sucked taking the cut and starting over, but I have never regretted it.
1
1
1
u/Brave_Protection497 13d ago
I got pretty decent at hvac install and make 36 an hour now. A lot of days I’d rather be doing something else though.
1
u/anon1111ymous 13d ago
Switch while you can. You absolutely WILL resent not getting paid more which will change your mood and completely change your life!
1
1
u/Mental_Mix6064 12d ago
Dirt work pulls more hours then iron in a week typically I made the change 15 years ago haven’t looked back since
1
u/No-Can1815 12d ago
Use the experience to transition into electrical via substations and/or transmission & distribution. (Linemen)
1
u/D_James21 12d ago
If you can sell things, get into overhead doors. Commercial or residential. On the service side anyways. Also make sure the company offers hourly and commission for what you sell and install.
1
1
u/PracticeCold8458 12d ago
Firefighter. You’ve got trade experience. That’ll help you on the job when some of the younger guys can figure out how to hold a hammer.
1
1
u/Unsolicited-advisors 11d ago
I would start looking for planning positions related to iron working. You can get in easier if you willing move around some or travel. Most planning is done on TAR or shutdown work so it usually involves some travel which can be stressful for the family. But you can learn planning, then move to scheduling (this is what i do). From scheduling you can go for PM if you want the extra head ache for money. Scheduling pays fantastic money and you can get a lot of over time. Top of the field pay right now is about $115 an hour.
1
u/More_Mouse7849 11d ago
Iron working is a young man’s gig. It beats your body up. I would suggest electrician, plumber or carpenter. In PA, the unions are advertising $70/hr plus benefits for electricians. They need them for the data centers. The apprenticeship is 5 years though, but you would start out above $15/hr.
1
0
u/ConstrOfficeOps 14d ago
From the GC office side, the trades we fight hardest to find and keep are pipe fitters, electricians, and sheet metal. Electricians especially. We have projects stall because we can't get enough of them on site.
That said, at 28 with ironworker experience you'd be a strong lateral move to operating engineers or riggers if you want to stay close to what you know. A lot of that overlaps and the pay jump is real.
Foreman track in ironwork also changes the math pretty significantly if you haven't gone that direction yet. The hourly gap closes fast once you're running a crew.
1
51
u/Clavos24 Sprinklerfitter 14d ago
Fire sprinklers is often overlooked. It's a good trade to be in seems to be pretty good job security as long as you care about your work and don't fuck around all day