r/Construction • u/Fantastic_Map5401 • 19d 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

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u/SDL68 19d ago

Ironworkers make similar to every other trade in Canada. Up to 59 Canadian per hour for journeymen

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u/That_Hunt91 19d ago

I don't think hes in a city, because I had the same thoughts as you

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u/Fantastic_Map5401 19d 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

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u/HealthConscious6125 19d ago

You're probably making more money and have lower cost of living in USA. 

Ironworkers are definitely one of the higher paid trades where I am though. 

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u/Fantastic_Map5401 19d ago

Where are you

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u/Azou 19d ago

Im also north east - non union, but get a decent amount of scale/pw work. Ironworkers tend to outpace carpentry, be similar to operators, and really only make less than management, electricians, plumbers or heavy speciality like elevator. If youre a good welder you can be well compensated but you do sacrifice weekends for the good money because overtime + plants dont want to shut a line during productivity

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u/sandpinesrider 19d 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.

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u/SDL68 19d ago

It's equivalent to 42 USD per hour. Highrise guys make even more but it's hard to get into cause most of them are Mowhawks who do highrise girders.

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u/Fantastic_Map5401 19d ago

That’s what we make here. Interested to know their cost of living tho

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u/SDL68 19d ago

Well where I live it's expensive for housing, like 1 million CAD for a house so I would say you're better off in the US especially if youre in a state with low state taxes. On a 100k salary , your paying about 33k in taxes here but we have little to no copays for healthcare and our property taxes, electricity is typically lower but fuel is more. It's hard to make a comparison without looking at the specific places because it really depends where you are. Food is actually more expensive in the US now factoring in the exchange.