Chicago union electricians make $67/hr?! Holy Obama!

[xSauronx]

Yeh, I can't really hate on electricians. Maybe the guys doing residential stuff. But the linesmen working for power companies get a pretty rough rub. They definitely earn their pay. It's dangerous, difficult, and a major toll on the family life if you get shipped out for weeks doing repairs.

agreed. not sure what electricians around here make, but if we get a storm or a hurricane or a freak spell of snow or ice, the guys here work their asses off to get power restored ASAP.

 

[vi edit]

agreed. not sure what electricians around here make, but if we get a storm or a hurricane or a freak spell of snow or ice, the guys here work their asses off to get power restored ASAP.

Or worse...I've got two uncles that live in central IL that are linesmen for different power companies. Both of them spent weeks down in Florida a couple years ago when then those 4 hurricanes ripped through that state. They also spent weeks down in the gulf coast after Katrina repairing things. They went days without showers, worked 16+ hour shifts and slept in their trucks. Phone calls to family back home were very few and far between because of cell coverage and availablility. It's not fun work.

 

[Gibson486]

That is what you pay the company to have someone of that level do the work. Then when you see what the actual person gets paid, you see all these deductions. The person doing the work does not see all that money. The rate is what you bill the client.

What they are describing is the rate table. Under bid laws on some counties, you are required to bill a certain rate for certain jobs. You cannot bid less, you cannot bid more. This ensures a competitive market (or it's what they intend).

When I go out in the field, I am about $100/hr. Is that the money I see? Nope. I do not even see half of that.

 

[Turin39789]

Bah. As an overpaid white collar worker, it is pretty sad to see all the other overpaid white collar workers on here(mostly young guys imho) who are outraged that anyone who isn't white collar makes any kind of money. You got yours, why do you care if someone else is getting theirs? It's a good thing if more people are making living wages, unless you feel some happiness/superiority in assuming that everyone else must make $20 /hr less than you.

 

[bruceb]

For that type of job, it is a good rate of pay. Electrician work can be very dangerous in certain cases. Also, back in 1970 NYC Local 1103 IBEW, was making an average of $40 per hour, with a 35 hour work week. Skilled trades always make good money. But quite often the work is hard or dirty. Good trades to get into are Electrician, Plumber, HVAC techs, Carpenters, Masons (but this takes a certain talent, as does plaster work)

 

[runzwithsizorz]

How long is the training to reach journeyman status?

Here in my state,(VA.)------
"Two years of practical experience in the trade and a degree or certification showing the completion of a two year program from either a trade or technical school, or a community college; or
Four years of practical experience in the trade and 240 hours of formal vocational training in the trade; or
Five years of practical experience in the trade and 160 hours of formal vocational training in the trade; or
Six years of practical experience in the trade and 80 hours of formal vocational training in the trade; or
A bachelor’s degree received from an accredited college or university in an engineering curriculum related to the trade and 1 year of practical experience in the trade; or
Ten years of practical experience in the trade, verified by an affidavit from those who observed the candidate’s work in the trade."

This is JUST to attain journeyman. However, if you want to make a decent wage, (livable) one would have to become a master electrician, and/or contractor. Also keep in mind, all the tests, courses, books, and state *fees*, which in Va. are fairly reasonable, in Kaleefornika, not so much, lol.

 

[Engineer]

Wow, no Hacp posts?

After benefits for a quality skilled trades person in a relatively high cost living area...sounds about right. *shrugs*. I can certainly justify this much more than the millions upon millions that the CEO's rake in.

 

[JulesMaximus]

I'm still trying to figure out what Obama has to do with any of this...

 

[JEDI]

I'm still trying to figure out what Obama has to do with any of this...

he's from Chicago and/or illinois

 

[JulesMaximus]

he's from Chicago and/or illinois

So what? So are millions of other people...

 

[Bignate603]

I'm still trying to figure out what Obama has to do with any of this...

It has to do with a union. In some people's minds anything to do with organized labor is connected to Obama.

 

[DrPizza]

It has to do with a union. In some people's minds anything to do with organized labor is connected to Obama.

It's amazing that so many people who just barely got through school - in an easy major (calculus would have brought them to their knees) - think that anyone without a college degree doesn't deserve to make as much as they do.

Re: storms in Florida & the guys living out of their trucks. That's what my son did until the temps dropped to freezing. He lived out of the back of his (my) van. Had a YMCA membership to give him something to do in the evenings & so he could take a shower each day. He actually looks forward to those 16 hour work days, 7 days a week after hurricanes. Nice paychecks. Makes up for weeks like this week where he's not working (and not getting paid.)

 

[NL5]

It's amazing that so many people who just barely got through school - in an easy major (calculus would have brought them to their knees) - think that anyone without a college degree doesn't deserve to make as much as they do.

I find this funny as well. In our local, I would guess 1 in 4 have at least a Bachelors degree from a University PLUS the five years of schooling it takes to become an Inside Journeyman. 3 out of four have some college in addition to the 5 years of trade required schooling. Lineman are probably about the same - they generally require a little less trade schooling - but either way, it is a HIGHLY skilled trade, and requires more schooling than many white collar jobs.

 

[bruceb]

Personally, if I could have I would have been electrician. I took all the courses in high school, but could not get into Local 3 back in 1970 .. Ended up working for NY Telephone for 33 years, decent job, nice pay and benefits.

 

[iGas]

thats a lot of money for a blue collar worker. pretty bullshit

Why the jealousy?

There is nothing stopping you and everyone that wish to become an electrician/tradesman.

There are good & bad tradesmen so as engineers, but why mediocre engineers get higher wages than the majority of the population and the average tradesmen?

PS. I works with many good tradesmen (they would made great engineers if they had the money to go to university) that are well respected by trades worker as well experience engineers.

<----- BA. industrial design, BS. computer science, Journeyman plumber red seal, Journeyman gas-fitter red seal, 3rd year refrigeration mechanic apprentice.

 

[iGas]

It's amazing that so many people who just barely got through school - in an easy major (calculus would have brought them to their knees) - think that anyone without a college degree doesn't deserve to make as much as they do.

Re: storms in Florida & the guys living out of their trucks. That's what my son did until the temps dropped to freezing. He lived out of the back of his (my) van. Had a YMCA membership to give him something to do in the evenings & so he could take a shower each day. He actually looks forward to those 16 hour work days, 7 days a week after hurricanes. Nice paychecks. Makes up for weeks like this week where he's not working (and not getting paid.)

IMHO it is depends on the person. I'm terrible with language and humanity courses, but fly through calculus/physics classes at university.

But, I do agree that too many college grads have way too high expectations and demands.

I should have gone through school as a mechanical engineer but spend more money at university wasn't something I was willing to do after my second degree in computer science and an IT desk job that I hated.

 

[Bignate603]

It's amazing that so many people who just barely got through school - in an easy major (calculus would have brought them to their knees) - think that anyone without a college degree doesn't deserve to make as much as they do.

Re: storms in Florida & the guys living out of their trucks. That's what my son did until the temps dropped to freezing. He lived out of the back of his (my) van. Had a YMCA membership to give him something to do in the evenings & so he could take a shower each day. He actually looks forward to those 16 hour work days, 7 days a week after hurricanes. Nice paychecks. Makes up for weeks like this week where he's not working (and not getting paid.)

I agree. I do component design for turbine engines and work with quite a few technicians and mechanics that do assembly and testing for us. Any school they have is usually in automotive maintenance. Even the worst of them has more experience getting an engine or test rig together than all but the most experienced engineers. If you don't involve somebody from assembly in your design you're guaranteeing that you'll have issues getting everything together. You'd classify them as blue collar workers but their skills are very valuable to us.

 

[iGas]

Here in my state,(VA.)------
"Two years of practical experience in the trade and a degree or certification showing the completion of a two year program from either a trade or technical school, or a community college; or
Four years of practical experience in the trade and 240 hours of formal vocational training in the trade; or
Five years of practical experience in the trade and 160 hours of formal vocational training in the trade; or
Six years of practical experience in the trade and 80 hours of formal vocational training in the trade; or
A bachelor&#8217;s degree received from an accredited college or university in an engineering curriculum related to the trade and 1 year of practical experience in the trade; or
Ten years of practical experience in the trade, verified by an affidavit from those who observed the candidate&#8217;s work in the trade."

This is JUST to attain journeyman. However, if you want to make a decent wage, (livable) one would have to become a master electrician, and/or contractor. Also keep in mind, all the tests, courses, books, and state *fees*, which in Va. are fairly reasonable, in Kaleefornika, not so much, lol.

The US master tradesman cert is equivalent to red seal journeyman cert here in Canada.

ELECTRICIAN -- tradesecrets.alberta.ca

Journeyperson wage rates vary, but generally range from $25 to $40 an hour plus benefits.

To qualify for an Alberta Qualification Certificate based on work experience, a person must:

have at least 8,775 hours and 72 months of &#8216;hands-on&#8217; work experience as an electrician

PLUMBER -- tradesecrets.alberta.ca

Journeyperson wage rates vary, but generally range from $28.50 to $37.68 an hour plus benefits.

To qualify for an Alberta Qualification Certificate based on work experience, a person must:

have at least 9,000 hours and 72 months of &#8216;hands-on&#8217; work experience as a plumber

there are exceptions if the applicant has a recognized journeyperson certificate in a related trade
- a certified steamfitter &#8211; pipefitter must have at least 4,500 hours and 36 months of &#8216;hands-on&#8217; work experience as a plumber

- a certified sprinkler systems installer must have at least 6,750 hours and 57 months of &#8216;hands-on&#8217; work experience as a plumber

- a certified gasfitter (A) must have at least 6,750 hours and 57 months of &#8216;hands-on&#8217; work experience as a plumber

Time spent on supervisory or foreman duties, counter work, heading the tool crib, or on a training course is NOT counted as &#8216;hands-on&#8217; work experience.

REFRIGERATION AND AIR CONDITIONING MECHANIC

Journeyperson wage rates vary, but generally range from $30 to $45 an hour plus benefits.

To qualify for an Alberta Qualification Certificate based on work experience, a person must:

have at least 9,000 hours and 72 months of &#8216;hands-on&#8217; work experience as a refrigeration and air conditioning mechanic

The above also required 1680~2184 hours of trades school/college to become an electrician/plumber/refrigeration mechanic (additional schooling also required for additional certs), and you must have the additional Red Seal cert to be credited as a certify electrician/plumber/refrigeration mechanic in Canada .

 

[JEDI]

It's amazing that so many people who just barely got through school - in an easy major (calculus would have brought them to their knees) - think that anyone without a college degree doesn't deserve to make as much as they do.

Re: storms in Florida & the guys living out of their trucks. That's what my son did until the temps dropped to freezing. He lived out of the back of his (my) van. Had a YMCA membership to give him something to do in the evenings & so he could take a shower each day. He actually looks forward to those 16 hour work days, 7 days a week after hurricanes. Nice paychecks. Makes up for weeks like this week where he's not working (and not getting paid.)

Obama unemployment?

 

[DrPizza]

[/b]

Obama unemployment?

Nope. Someone made a mistake (and was fired.) The other company testing to make sure that there were no mistakes tested that particular thing and said it was fine. (more mistakes.)

Make mistakes with primaries, and you end up with a safety stand down while they complete the investigation. Someone gets fired. Enough energy to light half of a small city instead boiled a lot of water very suddenly. Fortunately, no one was hurt.

 

[Rubycon]

Nope. Someone made a mistake (and was fired.) The other company testing to make sure that there were no mistakes tested that particular thing and said it was fine. (more mistakes.)

Make mistakes with primaries, and you end up with a safety stand down while they complete the investigation. Someone gets fired. Enough energy to light half of a small city instead boiled a lot of water very suddenly. Fortunately, no one was hurt.

Nothing like the sound of primary faults. (as long as no one gets hurt!)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TYYvzB1Ucw0

 

[coloumb]

Eh - whatever the case - they take WAY too damn long to do their job [taking examples of Union electricians installing power cables/lines for semiconductor tools at the local Intel fab - holy hell, they move slower than molasses on a cold day and take 3x as long a it should to get the job done. It's god damn annoying].

 

[JEDI]

Eh - whatever the case - they take WAY too damn long to do their job [taking examples of Union electricians installing power cables/lines for semiconductor tools at the local Intel fab - holy hell, they move slower than molasses on a cold day and take 3x as long a it should to get the job done. It's god damn annoying].

did the contract state a deadline as to when the project will be done? the list out the financial penalties if the deadline is missed?

 

[NL5]

Eh - whatever the case - they take WAY too damn long to do their job [taking examples of Union electricians installing power cables/lines for semiconductor tools at the local Intel fab - holy hell, they move slower than molasses on a cold day and take 3x as long a it should to get the job done. It's god damn annoying].

Odd. The Intel fab here hires union electricians almost exclusively.

 

[TecHNooB]

My son is an apprentice right now. Sounds like a reasonable wage. This isn't wiring switches and outlets in your house - this is one mistake and you die type of work. They have to pay for a lot of their own equipment out of pocket - his climbing gear alone is around $1000. Plus, they ship the guys all over the place. One month he might be working in city A, then when that job's done, they ship him to city B 300 miles away for a few months. Try renting an apartment and tell them "sorry, can't sign a lease - I don't know if I'll be here for a year. In fact, I probably won't be here for a year." A lot of the guys live in motels. 10 degrees outside - he's up on the pole, exposed to the wind, working with live wires energized to 1000's of volts. A few weeks ago, they were putting in new poles crossing a swamp. A bit muddy of a job. As they put in new poles, they had to transfer the live wires from the existing poles to the new poles. You don't get to shut the power off to a village for a few hours. There's a shitload of training to get to that point.

Think you can install a new substation without years of experience? Go for it. One mistake... things go boom.

Including benefits... $67 an hour is reasonable.

Go to about 3 1/2 minutes in. He shows what happens if you get a pinhole in your gloves.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kQBZfcEJtLM

how dare you diminish my outrage!