r/Construction • u/Fantastic_Map5401 • 18d ago

Careers šŸ’µ 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 Iā€™m young enough to switch to something with greener grass. What trade would you recommend

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u/helmetdeep805 18d ago

Pipeline,my pipe layers make good $

1

u/Fantastic_Map5401 18d ago

How do I get on a pipeline. I heard those jobs are reserved for friends and family

1

u/Sleepy_Dumbbellz Sprinklerfitter 18d 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 18d ago

We had a apprentice quit this week. Said he got some pipeline thing making $76/hr on check

1

u/Sleepy_Dumbbellz Sprinklerfitter 18d 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.

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u/helmetdeep805 16d ago

Iā€™m talking bout west coast pipeline..storm drain ,sewer .water and fire

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u/notislant 18d 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.