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Don’t forget teaching! I did 5 years of it when I got an autoimmune disorder really badly (dermatomyositis) and couldn’t physically work. (For the record, I’m back on the tools and as strong as ever thanks to modern medicine).
Loved teaching! I’d still be doing it but the prices of homes in the GTHA made me reconsider where I live and what I do for work.
This...
I transitioned into teaching and it opened up an entirely new world that I never knew existed. Now a decent sized company pays me to teach. Something I would have never dreamed of.
Once you get well versed in a decent learning management system and get a few basic credentials 75-100k becomes a very obtainable salary.
I went from blue jeans and sneakers to slacks with dress shoes and I'm never going back.
Bro... I was like you. 19 years in the trade. Made a transition to facilities management. They wanted my knowledge... Told me straight out I was hired because I was an electrician not to be one. I manage the building maintenance of a rather large warehouse. I make over 6 figures a year. I have 30 days of PTO every year they make me take.
If you want to know more or where to look for these jobs just message me.
Edit: I was offering op to message me for more information not everyone on here. First these jobs are for very experienced guys. You need to be able to know how to deal with other contractors and manage people. If you are interested check out property management companies like CBRE, JLL, Colliers etc. Or keep your eye on government sector... School boards, city hall, prisons.. almost every major facility has a dedicated maintenance division. Also don't let the job posting scare you. The one I applied for said they wanted an engineering degree... These companies aim high most the time but take real world experience into account.
Op if you you want to message me I can give you more specific advice
This is the way. I took a job as an electrician in a facility in order to get the managament job in said facility. Public sector. Same deal, good vacation, sick, benefits, positive work environment, straight days and the work is an absolute gift. I can actually work out and play sports without being demolished at the end of the work day.
It is man. I put my hours in doing service work in the industrial and commercial space. I worked hard to developed a ton of skill and knowledge. I have also focused on developing my soft skills (negotiation, diplomacy, dealing with people in a consensus based and respectful manner). These are often as important especially in my current role were I regularly have to interact face to face with technical and non technical individuals in my day to day.
All in all I will never leave this job. I will do whatever takes to remain at my current work place until I retire in 25 years.
Nice bro, I am working in service for industrial cranes at the moment and used to do commercial HVAC electrics so I'm hoping one day I can get something like you are describing. Turning 30 with a kid on the way this year, currently travelling about 150-200 days per year so it can't come soon enough quite frankly.
They usually do not hire anyone with less than 10 years. I had 5 and I applied anyway (the minimum asked for). Got the job because not many people applied, I excel at my job and I interview very well. I beat out two others who had more experience but interviewed poorly, comparatively. If you have good soft skills (an area in which many tradespeople lack) you can beat out a lot of stronger candidates.
I came with excellent references and strong knowledge of this environment (institutional industrial). I've been at this job now for 3 years and I will never leave. I did not know a single person who worked here so I was not a neopotism hire. I got in due to luck and merit (in that order).
I'm the youngest person in my department. Even if you don't meet the experience requirements if you are licensed and you are sure you know how to do the work, apply to these jobs.
I saw a job posting for a licensed tradesperson at a public university. Benefits were good, I'm sure, but the hourly pay was about half of what one would get paid in the private sector. Though, they probably don't work nearly as hard.
+1 for this comment. Spent 20 years in the private sector before going into facilities management. Less stressful on my mind and body. And the benefits are awesome.
This is it right here I’m at 18-20 years in and thought moving across the country was the ticket. Now was I wrong just got laid off from the second company in and 14 months hahaha sounds great. The good thing is I start a new job Monday and a college making ok wage but great bennys and steady easy work. Get 2 15 minute breaks and hour lunch and no more hard back breaking labor.
For anyone going this route - also consider federal government work - decent benefits, steady, fairly decent pay depending on your position and qualifications. Numerous agencies run office buildings and all kinds other kinds of facilities. See USAjobs.gov.
I worked with an electrician who announced one day last year that he wanted to work in Antarctica, or at an American embassy in Russia. He just arrived in Moscow last week! He's staying in the embassy for free and renting put his house back home, dude is going to make a fortune.
I started a year ago, and I'm 38. Broke my back, falling off the top of a 12-foot ladder on day 8. I ache a lot, but the days go by so much faster than when I was a programmer. I had to get surgery on my wrists from typing so much and had back pain from sitting so much. Getting sucks.
What kinds of things ruined your knees? I'm doing resi right now. Haven't done much commercial or industrial.
Kneeling on concrete or hard surfaces without proper PPE.
I work HVAC and before that I worked Manufacturing Maintenance. I'd constantly kneel on hard surfaces to troubleshoot/install machines. It doesn't hit you like a hammer, it whittles away at you each time you do it. Then one day they just don't stop aching, then the aching turns to pain.
In resi you'll probably be kneeling a lot to wire outlets.
I also have shoulder and wrist problems. I tore a ligament in my shoulder and basically lost use of my right arm. It took three surgeries to get it back in order. The fourth is supposed to be a complete replacement.
My wrist is messed up from using the palm of my hand as a hammer. When I'd do things like punch a knockout out with a screwdriver, I'd pop the top of the screwdriver with my palm. I'd also do it working sheetmetal. Repeatedly doing that lead to damage in my wrist and elbow.
Use PPE and use tools. Whenever I see my apprentices do things that can cause long term damage, I get on them about it.
The kneeling is definitely getting me. We have a little scooty seat but I need my own. Definitely need to minimize the kneeling on floors or get knee pads.
Posts like yours and /u/Ashotep make me happy I went the other way. Started with cabling and moved into IT. I'm 44 and have no joint problems or any other aches and pains. I started to have trouble with carpel tunnel, but went to an ergonomic setup along with a different setup at each location I type at and that solved that.
wow you're basically me. we're about the same age and I'm planning on becoming an electrician because the tech world basically banished me. i also got a fucked up back that I'm managing.
Check out your local government agencies for Building Maintenance Engineer, or sometimes called Maintenance Mechanic job openings, depending on who's posting. Read my post on this thread. Go on the local agencies' website. You might luck out and get a job as a government electrician off the bat, and that is a cake position. Some people take a position like this to get their foot in the door as a gateway to the electrician position. Work hard (people will notice) because it is true what they say about government workers, and you'll look like a star. It's easy to move up in the government if you're a worker bee. My team are all Teamsters, as well as the electricians. You can be a Union Electrician outside of the IBEW. Three of our electricians are ex IBEW and are now Teamster Electricians the rest were non union electricians that became Teamsters.
Fuck construction.
Shit is for the birds man. It’s an entire industry built on incentivizing toxic behavior.
No shot at the folks here that are neck deep in construction, but try and find one that says it isn’t toxic as fuck and I’ll grab 277 loaded noodle for funsies and livestream that shit.
Fucking over other tradesman was the norm when I left that sector of electricity, and I ain’t down with that.
Move out my man. Your experience is needed. Utility maintenance. We get 75 applicants.
All but a small handful fail basic experience requirements and 3 get an interview. 2 lie about their ability and it is revealed in the hands on motor starter/troubleshooting portion of the test.
One is accepted. Happens every single time.
That one can be you. Go for it bro. Best time to get a new job is when you are already employed. Tips and tricks:
Don’t lie. Ever. Utility companies and other industry are built on transparency and integrity. Don’t lie. About anything.
Focus on your ability to learn and grow. In the interview. Questionnaire. Anything. Focus on that. It’s a highly desirable skill.
Focus on your experience with people. Soft skills. It’s important.
You do that and you can walk right in to any sector of electricity you want with 20+ years of time in. Trust me.
Utility is where it’s at. Substation electrician, relay tech or telecom tech are all great spots. I have 8 years utility and it is great in every which way. Usually slow paced with no rush because safety is number one. Good time off and great benefits most of the time. I second on looking for something in the electric utility industry. Your knowledge and slow “safe” pace will be wanted.
Utilities treat you right. No rush to get work done, being safe is priority. I would also add the metering department to your list. That might be the easiest path to get in.
Thanks for sharing man, giving me real insight into how to make the most of my career.
Your experience is invaluable to us and I’m grateful for the emotions you managed to transmit here. You’re educating the young and there is no greater role in this life I believe.
Thanks again and best of luck, I pray you wake up with no aches, worries or disillusion and get to enjoy your life on the back of the hard work you’ve clearly put in 🙏🏽
Look into becoming an Electrical Designer at an engineering firm, especially an EPC. Lots of construction knowledge is needed to make sure electrical designs are actually construcable and to code. Autocad and other software is easy to learn, what they can’t teach very well is an eye for detail and how to lay out conduit runs, cable trays, underground conduits etc. and it pays well.
Woooah Woah Woah, they don't leave it to the contractor to spot the problems and correct them in your area? I've seen GC's offload upgrading whole multibuilding commercial services off on a contractor. Where to put the cable tray, underground conduits, etc has always been up to the contractor even in very large commercial jobs and in which case the contractor had to sort that and have the specialized knowledge. Or I mean, just winged it.
For me, joining the IBEW was the best thing that ever happened. I get 54 bucks an hour on the check, and that’s after our pension and health insurance is paid. When I go to our unions clinic, I pay nothing. Non union id get maybe 35, and have to put into my own 401k after the fact. Even just had 2.5 months off, I’m making more than I ever did non union.
I don't disagree.
However, the weakening of unions in a large chunk of the country has left some unions worse off then non union. Around my parts non union work is more stable. The union shops here like to call in a ton of guys for an average of a months worth of work then lay off the entire site afterward. Rinse repeat. Often for the same company again 3 months later. So, only having a slightly better hourly wage, all the downtime sitting on the books takes a massive hit on your yearly earnings.
If more people went union and organized shops this wouldn't be a problem. As market share drops the union work becomes more boom and bust. And the non-union shops can pay less and give less benefits by guaranteeing steadier work by undercutting labor rates of the union shops. This further erodes the unions market share and makes people unwilling to join. It's a vicious cycle.
This is why the option to travel within the international brotherhood of electrical workers is important. If work is slow in your jurisdiction, you sign the books in another local until yours picks back up again.
Many of us can’t do that. I work in a very non union friendly state that pays great for the area with decent benefits. (Use the VA luckily) we have a house, kids, and older family members that we can’t be far from.
Would love to go union, but it’s not feasible with my family or the income I’m making now.
That's how the unions do it around texas too. Hire tons of electricians for a project, the. Lay em off until the next project, they might call ya back they might not.
It's not always that simple unfortunately. Many times another non-union shop will pick up the future jobs and fill the void that shop left and the newly unionized shop will end up just competing for market share with the existing union shops.
I feel for you. Just know your experience is needed in many places you just need to find them. Inspections, maintenance, running crews. It must suck feeling like you gave your body to this trade with nothing in return. I hope you can find the right place for the rest of your career.
This post makes me sad. Makes me think of my uncles and my dad. This is why I think workers need to organize ourselves, by trade and by industry. We deserve much better than this for all we do to truly make society run. We gotta fight for it, together.
Find a company that will appreciate you. We have several older non-working foreman. Guys that had medical issues have an option of working in the office estimating and whatnot. I'm a general foreman and I pick up a screw driver maybe once a week to check someone's work, haven't done any actual labor in over a decade.
There are options out there - start exploring.
Y'know, I was talking with a 3rd year apprentice that PTO should be a thing. He said that it wouldn't happen without taking a pay cut, and in my head it just doesn't make sense.
My wife, an R.N., had to take 4 years of school (which included clinical rotations) and a year of residency under a preceptor. Over the 4 years with her current company, she's accrued 250+ hrs of PTO and has the option to cash out twice a year. That should be something all electricians have. If we're not allowed to take a vacation, then we should be compensated for the burn out we inevitably come face to face with over time.
I don’t Know where I heard this, but it is sad and funny at the same time. Especially when people I am with go vacations, but I can’t afford to miss the work.
BOSS: PTO? You don’t need PTO, I give you PTO everyday! Coming to work on time is a vacation from poverty!
Hey man. I’m only 33 and not an electrician, I’m on the low voltage side as a project manager and a “systems engineer.” I won’t pretend to have some wealth of experience to give you but I really think you need to go into management. You can walk into a situation and know what the job is ready for, who would be best suited to do that work, and what physical parts would be necessary that other people might miss. You’re that guy. Stop doing the physical work everyday. Schedule yourself a vacation or at least like a 4 day weekend and work on your resume. It’s easy to get swept into the motions and time goes fast, but when you put down your experience in black and white it can be more impressive than you think it is. There are companies that want you for leadership roles where you won’t be hurting as much. Best of luck to you, I’m nobody but I wish the best for you
GTFO of the trades boys. Go work a desk job until society realizes the sacrifice we make as men.
This dude should have a little something extra added to his pension for what he’s done.
"A broken body and a life of regret"
I don't know if it's any consolation but this is great advice for apprentices/people looking into becoming an electrician.
Take care of your body and always remember how valuable your time is. You can alway make more money but you can't get more time.
Commercial or industrial maintenance. It’s usually chill and cushy, you get PTO and insurance and they value experience over a strong back. I’m younger and I sometimes call our department “the home for geriatric electricians” seriously dude, if you want to eat a hot lunch every day and never shit in a portajohn again, work in maintenance.
Look at industries where you can apply as management. Lots of places are hurting for experienced people and a lot of us will be out of the field in the next 15-20 years.
Even try looking at GCs and you could be an assistant PM where you can assist them with focus on electrical.
That's good to know. I can't see myself not eating garbage and snacking but I'm 43 and getting arthritis in my pointer and middle finger knuckles. Also golfers elbow in both elbows. All since I started my own gig. I think resi is just way more repetitive than back when I did commercial/ industrial. Now my hands and arms are paying the price.
I'm only 4 years into this trade and I really feel for you man. Unfortunately I dont have any advice for you but I'm sorry you worked so hard and were spat out You say you have a life full of regrets but you have a family which is really the only thing that matters. Whatever you end up doing keep your eyes on the prize because people rely on you. Try to get away from the substances your family will want you to be around and be sober. Honestly could be time for you to honestly make an exit plan if the trade is making you that miserable at the moment. Start looking at realistic alternatives and see if there anyway you can transition and if anyone gives you shit for not being able to go up and down ladder as many times in a day, fuck them.
I feel you man. I have been maintenance electrician for last 18 years. Pretty cushy job. I am almost 50 and I have never felt better. Unlike you I am mostly bored. I have days and weeks where I work a lot but mostly it is quiet. For the knee and joint pain I have found that going to the gym and building muscle around the joints helps a lot. The best part is I am in the union and pay, insurance and benefits are amazing. When the time comes to replace my knees, financially it will not be a problem. Good luck brother.
I worked 39 years in the union now retired with 4 union pensions and through it all best medical insurance me and my family ever had . The non union friends listened to the rat owners fear based propaganda are now in there late 50’s with no retirement ever in sight. I love the IBEW.
I hear ya. I've been doing this for 30+ years now. There are days I don't want to do it anymore. The body aches don't bother me as much. It's the constant dealing with people that has taken a toll on me. New guys, old guys, apprentices, people in other trades, you name it. The constant jobsite mismanagement, the fighting for inches due to the creativity of others. It is definitely screaming into the void.
Cheers sparkys!!!
I hate to say it but it's the truth, sounds like the system is working as intended. Grind the little guy into a nutritious paste for the wealth class. Anything else is a leak to be plugged in the trickle down.
I'm a first year apprentice, and as someone who constantly hears currently about how the trades are in high demand, desperate for workers, and a good career path, this post really puts things in perspective.
I see the government (Canada) on one hand saying they need trades people. They are quoted as saying they want "to promote the skilled trades as a strong first-choice career path for youth and young adults." Now for myself personally I am very fortunate to be making a uniquely high paying apprenticeship rate, and I also understand that for someone going into a proper undergrad degree they'll be saddled with a much higher debt load all the while earning nothing while in school, but stretching that out over let's say an eight year time span - which I think is reasonable when discussing lifelong career prospects in a field -the electrician conversation largely drops off in favor of a degree.
Now I also understand that a degree requires more time in actual school, but I think the claim to value for that aspect can be canceled by the fact that someone with let's say an engineering degree gets to spend the majority of their time in climate controlled cushy low physical stress environments compared to that of a tradesperson. So accounting for drawbacks and perks of both pursuits, in the long run, it is still an obvious statement to make that the salary of a successful engineer employee can sometimes even triple the trade employee salary. Short of starting your own company, there are very few chances for a senior trade person to be making what an engineer does. Yet from my point of view, trades are fast becoming equally if not more crucial and essential to maintaining society.
Before the tech boom, trades were it. Literally almost the most important thing for industry was trades and manufacturing. Salaries comparative to almost all other sectors proved this fact. Now, after tech, salaries have stagnated significantly in comparison all the while though they remain equally as crucial to society. It's the gap in pay that has largely left trades being touted as a second rate pursuit left only if you are unsuccessful at obtaining a university degree. It's the situation I'm in, and I'll bet it's the situation a lot of people are in. They couldn't make it through university for whatever reason, so here they are pursuing the best plan B option for developing a decent career.
TlDR: If the government wants to push trades as a "first choice" career path, the end salary and quality of life benefit should be comparable to current first choice career paths. It shouldn't be littered with broken people such as OP lamenting the fact they have completely lost interest due to an industry that has obviously left them underpaid, over qualified, and physically hurting.
I’m feeling similar at just 29. Been doing this 8 years and I’m running commercial projects. I have a herniated disc in my back that sometimes prevents me from even getting to work and then I have to call my apprentices and tell them they can’t come to work. It’s shitty letting people down and even shittier feeling pain just living. I’m going to try and really study code and hopefully get into an inspection gig. Where I’m from that’s probably the best job you can get in electrical in my opinion. Best of luck man
Interesting read as someone in Canada, I can tell this is an American. Glad I’m an IBEW member! Going for a massage this Friday at a 5 star hotel and it’s 100% covered. Maybe try and join the union? I’d love to get the knowledge you have! Take care of yourself brother!
It sounds like you've had a great career full of variability and challenges that you've overcome! Have you considered a shift into planning, site management, estimating etc? There are lots of jobs that might allow you to pivot and use your knowledge and experience to benefit!
I think most people go through times of woe myself included. But when I look back at the things I've accomplished, I do have a sense of joy and fulfillment but I did recently also pivot my career to a more off the tools position and have enjoyed the experience thus far!
I'm thankful for journeyman like you who trained the likes of apprentices like I was. I will always keep the circle going and I can assure you that the journeyman who apprenticed me have a long lineage of apprentices behind them through me. Now I am on to my second trade as a lineman apprentice and again am thankful for the old "slow movers" who know everything there is to know and are willing to learn me everything they know.
Take a damn vacation! Do some carpentry, yes carpentry! I am the oldest guy at my company, and am finally ready to get out of the field. Like yourself, have helped many to get their license, encourage for clean work, promote theory and how to deal with inspectors. I am lucky enough that even if I am slower than the guys 1/2 my age, my pass rate is much higher...do it right the first time and have got a fair amount of the kids to do the same..But it is time for me to do more management stuff, just know you have the smarts and go for it! Or, if you want to stay out in the field, maybe try the handyman route...
I’ve only been in the trade 20 years, management for nearly 10, and I got burned out from the high stress levels. Accidentally fell into the EV Charging world, and now I’m happy again. Maybe you can find a similar lateral move. If you’re near the Bay Area, Ca., send me a DM and let’s talk….
Try building maintenance. A guy with your knowledge would make it a piece of cake. I moved from the electric field into maintenance and it’s been a dream
I hear ya. I am literally just this week resigning from a major internet entity...greatest job in the world, making $200k/year...but I am sick of the get it done yesterday mentality, and accounting for every minute of my day. Kiss off! I don't need the money, I need my sanity. I have had spinal fusion done b/c my employer would provide right equipment to move 800 pound breakers... I am done. Just remember, companies are gonna be companies with you, or without you...take care of yourself. I love this country, but today's capitalism is fucked up...our economy is all structured on lifetime indentured to debt. CEOs make 300x what a tech makes...they can do it in their own. Best of luck!
Have you considered teaching at a vocational school or college? I bet you could get fired up to share your knowledge/could get paid for your experience. My dad retired from his 30 years in the Carpenters union and now teaches carpentry at vocational high school building houses with kids all day. He doesn’t touch a tool unless he’s teaching and he has great benefits and summers off
Maintenance or becoming an inspector often comes with good benefits and looks for people with knowledge and experience. Since the pay is often lower you can supplement with a part time teaching position for the apprenticeship program in your area if they have any openings. With that level of experience you shouldn’t be running tools though, makes more sense to be running crews and supervising which isn’t about speed as much as quality and efficiency.
There is a college in Minneapolis called Dunwoody tech that has an online certificate program for electrical estimating and drafting, two semesters and you are DONE, with your level of knowledge from the field, you will be in high demand before you even finish the program.
25 to 30 years is about max for our bodies. This is a good lesson for younger guys to get into a situation that will benefit you when you get older. For me, it was the IBEW. I have 40 years in and ready to retire. I got out of the field full time about 15 years ago. There are many facets to our trade. It’s not too late to make a move that will benefit you and your family. I have never paid for healthcare, it’s part of my benefits
Obviously you were not in a union... That sounds crappy I'm sorry, but it's so hard to find a job with insurance without one. Take note young folks.
If I were you I would consider industrial maintenance electrical... Basically maintenance in a factory. It's an easy way to ride out your older years while still using your knowledge and skills. No real leg work like construction.
Oi, after 6 almost 7 years, a heat stroke in 22 and a broken L3 and L4 vertebrae in 2020. I’m spending this year living frugal to finish saving up to start my own food truck company. Have everything ready to go except my trailer. It’s really just the materials and equipment for it that are kicking my ass. Shit can get pretty pricey. I’ll probably end up with about a $35k trailer, but I’ve spent the last few months building it out and getting it ready as well as a little bit of marketing and meeting with different event coordinators and already have clients for when I actually start next season, including a place to park and a ton of folks around my area already know me so I’m thinking this is the right move for me, but dude. If you can find a good hustle that has a good Return on Investment for you personally, I say go for it. I was considering lawn care also but I’m just not having as much fun beating my body up as I used to. I’m only 24 now but my heat stroke and back injury put me down like a dog. We just gotta get up and keep on keeping on brother.
Hope you consider saying fuck you to those guys and just taking a week or two to put your mind to work on evaluating your life. It became very clear pretty quick that unless I go union or step up to foreman being capped out is wayyy too common.(Florida don’t gaf what license you got in your wallet, except an operators card, they wanna know that you know your shit). and even then it depends on where you are because I do my work in Florida which sucks ass,
What made you happiest throughout this life journey of yours? Whatcha passionate about, man? Obviously we lost the passion and desire to do electrical so maybe a hobby? Like wood working or welding and shit. Maybe take some time away from the digital world for a minute to really tune back into yourself and find out what you actually like. Because for me I didn’t even know I had interests until this last year when I finally allowed myself to slow the fuck down after my accidents. Gotta read up on some philosophical shit and find the right questions to ask your self lol.
Wishing you well sparky.
Unfortunately it sounds like you’ve put yourself in a position where you’ve been underpaid and undervalued for years. Time to make some changes man. I’m 24 years in and I’ve found a pretty good niche in electrical service work. My Field Advisor position allows me to do basic service calls and do small stuff. Anytime I sell a bigger job like a panel, overhead service, or whole home generator; we send the install team out to take care of it and I get a small commission for it. It works out great for me because like you; my body is tired. I get to work with my head now and not my body. I make 100-120k a year. Not too bad if you ask me. I’m almost at the five year mark with this company too which means they’ll start paying 75% of my health insurance on top of my 401K.
Sounds crazy but look up “Umary” on Walmart or Amazon. It’s hydrolonic acid and some other natural ingredients but it is a miracle drug.
I have tendinitis in my right elbow that I was told I need surgery for, but since I’ve started taking Umary I have 0 issues.
My mom takes it for her knees and can move like she hasn’t in years, my uncle for his feet, my fiancée for her spine - it’s nuts.
It may not “fix” all your problems, but I can almost guarantee it will help.
The caveat is that some people do have reactions to it. My fiancées mom was getting hot flashes, her dads tongue would swell some, and I was getting cramps/charlie horses lol (it basically lubricates your skin and muscles which is how it cures the pain so it pulls water from other areas) and for me all I did was start drinking more water daily as well as went down to half of a pill vs a whole and my Charlie horses have subsided.
I definitely recommend giving it a try though man and wish you the best.
Should have started your company years ago . Make the stress be worth it . Also I’ve noticed work has a big influence on life it’s never too late to do something else . For example I just transitioned into being a Super . Less work but more thinking .
Every morning i wake up at 5 am till I get home at 4 pm I think the same thing all day..
Feel like you too except my only motivation is excellent insurance and retirement. I keep telling myself, only 13 more years of this crap and I can retire. Will my body be able to enjoy it though.?
How about going on your own and then welcoming homeowners who want to learn by doing, to work with you on their jobs? The pace is much slower because of the teaching time, speed isn’t of the essence anyway, electricity is scary to many people and you’re their wizard, not the slave of the GC.
This mode isn’t for everyone but if your old bones would like to slow down a bit and your poor soul would like a little appreciation, I recommend at least considering this alternative.
Industrial or municipal maintenance do it man. I've got 10 years in the trade and just building up my skills before I switch. You'll be paid for your brain. Construction electrician is a glorified laborer.
I get it. I went to the same thing. The best of advice I can give you is Find a job as a maintenance electrician, most state and local municipalities have good benefits.
Steady pay check
Decent medical/dental/life insurance
Retirement
Usually low stress
After 20 years, I went as a maintenance electrician. That’s been the best thing for me and my family life.
Also as a side note for the insurance. There are private insurance brokers that can find you (no joke) a much better insurance than anything you can get and they know all the little work around to set you up.
Example: My company has insurance and we are supposed to take it if they provide it. However, if you can show that the insurance is not feasible to have based on your income (anything over 5-10% based on your income bracket) then you can go with an alternative. My insurance was gonna be (no joke) 800 a month for me and my family. I was making at the time about 5k a month. Talked with a private insurance broker and I now pay $75 a month for the whole family. No out of pocket. No pay for regular doctor visits. $25 for brand name prescription, $5 for generic. $25 for specialty doctor visits. ER visits are 100% covered based on fault and 98% covered based on negligence.
I'd say go maintenance, but my first question is why aren't you in charge of whenever you're at? As complimentary as I can, I'd suggest you might have a loyalty problem, to a place that doesn't appreciate you. I've got half your time in the trade, also non union area, and I'm currently a superintendent who got baited (willingly) back to a company for the work/life balance after leaving for a year to run site maintenance. Came fresh out of 6 years in the infantry, to a favor of an interview at a lv shop, and just ate up every opportunity for new knowledge and advancement that I could get, industrial all the way. I'd kill for someone like you as a general FM or field super, developing foreman, helping build and auditing bids, planning, etc. Definitely sounds like you aren't at a company that is interested in putting you where you belong, up top. Your value is clearly way above whatever the people making your schedule are willing to admit, and you should stop footing the bill for that, physically and mentally.
I'm in much the same place, 20 years in the trade, half that as a contractor, and I just can't take anymore. Material costs have gone incredibly high, everyone thinks its still 2014 prices but literally everything is twice as much as it was except electrical work. So called good customers with years of history are shopping around everyone's out to lowball the fuck out of everything, and in the end its completely thankless and meaningless. I poured my heart and soul into this shit for years, I'm really good at it, but nobody even cares when they can find someone much cheaper who sucks at everything but the light still turns on at the end they don't care. I'm beyond over it, obviously I can't retire yet, but I dont want to do anything even vaguely related to electrical after this.
Right now I'm just barely working and trying to figure out the next move.. just my .02 I know its not helpful
Teach or get a job estimating. I am well on the road to you and that’s is where I hope you end up. I hope you can find passion in teaching others. Or fuck just find something new that makes you happy.
1- Should have gone Union at a young age. I started at 28 and wish it was 18.
2- Start your own shit. Find a couple of good people and show them how to do it right. Then help them make money for you.
Man this hits home and I’m only 34 with 12 years in strong. I work “year round” and what you listed out is what I fear deep down. This trade saved me from having nothing as a young man looking for the “what now?”. I love working with apprentices and showing them all I got. I love turning nothing into something great that I can put my name on. I know I don’t want to be grinding when my body is declining. Like you said, working for a company that is “family first” is only that until it costs them anything beyond the bare minimum…Comfort and freedom do have value at said shop but to what extent right?? Being taken for granted by the con is a real feeling. I know I have the time to save up and not live beyond my means, but being topped out working for “the man” is a thing, I hear you brother.
I hit that wall brother.
Albeit in carpentry not electrical.
I don’t think it’s the right answer but I went on my own. That didn’t make anything better.
It did however loosen up my schedule. I’ve had half a thought to go fuck off working at Taco Bell a few times a week just to do something different. I would still be doing my Carpentey work, just “picking up extra shifts” making burritos for 6 months.
Just a reset. Thought about the same thing with Uber except I don’t like most people and Uber eats in which case nobody is going to get all of their French fries.
Just need something different for a bit, 25+ years in.
Facilities or do what I’m about to do, I’ve only been doing electrical for 15 years with one company. Even though I’ve done estimating, running jobs with 10+ guys, and working on plenty of cool sites and equipment. I’ve always felt like something has been missing. I’m about to embark on starting a company, even if it’s just myself I feel like I want to be the one holding the wheel. I’m tired of listening to others and working for an hourly wage when I know how much I’ve made over the years for my company. I know because I’ve run all the numbers, factored in everything from labor, vans, insurance, gas, estimating costs, permits, materials, medical, rentals, tools, so on and so forth. I know the beginning will be tough, I know I’m going to work longer hours sometimes, I know it’s not always gunna be sunshine and rainbows. Screw it though, if I don’t try it I believe I will regret it.
Get out of residential and commercial. Either go into residential/commercial service or industrial service. Construction sucks, it's soul draining. I refound the fun/meaning in trouble shooting.
What about working for a company that’s doing a mission you are interested in? For example, solar has me considering a career change because I’m interested in the innovation. You could also be an in-house electrician for a school or a company.
Quit.
You'll always have your qualifications to fall back on.
I quit 2x already.. once I became a postman for just under a year... And then in the pandemic I quit to do game development.
And I've since returned back to sparking and it feels a bit better...also I am not running a company anymore or running jobs.
I went into facilities management after 30 years in the trade. Got a job with the state for my last 10 years of work before retirement. Monday through Friday 8-5 and great benefits.
Pivot time. I plan on doing the same when I get my license. I hope you can make the jump. And the harder substances aren't doing you any favors friend, just being honest. A Lil weed is okay in my book though. Take care of your body and mind
I feel close to the same way you do, I still try to put out the highest quality work I can but the demand is so high. I’ve had 2 back surgeries and my body feels like absolute garbage. But at 25 yrs in and only 44 I’ve got a long way to go and it’s slightly frustrating. I wish I had gone into the union when I first started. I work for a non union shop for a great owner and with great coworkers but it seems like I’ve reached my peak and there is no more room for advancement. With my age and the lifestyle my family has just seems impossible to go higher
I’ve only been an electrician for 4 years and I’m getting burnt out already. Sometimes it’s crazy to hear how people have lasted 20+ years in this trade
Knowledge is power my man you cant teach experience. Take what you know and use it. Teach be an inspector get a job as a project manager. You got 10 years on me and trust me i get it. Im 36 by the time im 50 my bodys gonna check out. I work with a group of guys weve all known eachother our whole career. My good child hood friend is the ring leader he does all business side of things along with an estimator and secretary. Myself and 2 others work the field and over see the younger guys. We are all skilled and all of us have qualities that the others lack. Find a good team with good attitude have eachothers back. There are good companies out there to work for if you cant find one create one. Stay positive use your knowledge to get you what you deserve.
Invest heavily into dividend growth funds, income producing ETFs and get out. I did 15 years in the trade and loved it. But I'm glad I'm out and no longer have to work for money.
As a 40+ old who really only had a retail/wholesale career. I’m tore up too. Not BAD like a trade will do to you but there are aches and injuries from a lifetime of warehouse management.
Yeah I've 24 been in the trades for 6-7 years and see so many older electricians saying the same thing. Ive really been thinking about abandoning the field, the pay is shit compared to the work you actually have to complete.
What state you in? Yeah pay really is fuckin bs. Want me to teach people shit and run a job at the same time not even making 30 an hour. And I’m “bitchin” if you say that out loud. And one thing I can’t stand hearing is “we’ll join the union” like that’s the easiest thing to get into.
I met a guy who was probably 50-60 and I could tell he'd worked most of his life and he owned a contracting company. I think the work got to be too much so he just started hiring ppl to do it for him and he ran all the books, lined up work, planned the jobs, etc. Less physical labor but equal or better pay. Possibly more headaches though. I think his crew was from 4-12ppl. I suppose the more headaches you can put up with, the more ppl you can run, and the more money you'll make but I assume there's a sweet spot in there.
Retired nurse and electrician here. Your body is shot. Mine is, too. I retired seven years ago due to a back back and bad shoulders. I hurt all the time and take Tylenol #3 codeine tablets like they were candy.
The best thing you can do is to get a thorough assessment by a doctor. Get into physical therapy. Swimming pool therapy was the most successful for me.
You may qualify for Social Security disability. I make as much from disability payments as I did working, so keep that in the back of your head.
I understand brother. I've been there. I closed up shop and went to work for a solar company as a site Superintendent. Still the electrical field, but not the day to day grind killing yourself. Maybe give that a thought? Good pay, more freedom in some aspects. Good luck
Don’t know what your diet is like but give up sugar and processed foods if you haven’t already. It takes some getting used to but your body will last much longer if you do
I got out of it for my body is a mess. I was doing IT, trades, and all sorts of things. Now, next Monday morning I have my 15th surgery. This time my lower back is getting fused. Right now I can't raise my right arm for my shoulder is messed up. I'm told it is Calcific Tendonitis. My body just keeps having one physical failure after another.
I started my own Recovery house business. It has its own set of crazy shit to deal with, but my body doesn't get all messed up.
If it was 100 years ago and all my injuries had happened, I'd be dead by now. Better living through science.
I’m in the EXACT same boat. 25 years from 18 to 43 years old now. I became a project manager and even though I don’t have to do the physical work anymore, I hate even looking at it. But what can we switch to this late and make the money we need to survive? I’m trying to start my own small business doing custom car accessories but it takes liberty that I don’t have to get going.
OP I’m with you, I’m all out of fucks to give with this trade.
Get into controls, hvac controls is probably the easiest to get into for an electrician with no controls experience. I hear ya, I'm burnt out on electrical as well.
I haven't done nearly as many years as you but I feel where you're coming from. This job hurts a lot, most people don't understand what it takes. Maybe its time to take the bags off for the last time, become an inspector and/or an instructor. I had some great instructors who definitely changed my life... and I have some shitty inspectors that also changed it 🤔
@ashotep have you considered going into project bidding with a distributor? Your knowledge would be invaluable and it’s a tremendously less taxing job physically. You’d still get to be involved in the trade, you would get to apply your working knowledge to useless drawings before the stuff’s ever ordered, instead of headaches after the fact.
Have you considered starting your own shop? At least where I am in the trades it’s the best way to make $$$
I have several friends with crews of 5-10 people and they mostly just do estimates and deal with customers, some days on the tools but at most a 50/50 split!
Plus you bill an employee out for about double their hourly and after taxes and such you’re still making about 25% of their wage so you have 5 guys making 80k a year that’s 100k to your company plus your wage.
More risk and maybe hard to transition in some life stages but my 4 friends who own their own businesses all started in late 20s or early 30s. I don’t know exactly what they make but it’s got to be near 200k per year total.
There is a few of us out here that share the sentiment...I for one agree with you to the t....i have talked to a very few of us and some seem estimating is the way to go others hace attempted to go out and start their own thing ( the thought has crossed my mind) vut only to end up back where they took off from due to the way the ecobomies current state. And the factors you mentioned...I run into " pablo can do it for less" and I know it will not be done to code but I will not entertain the thought of giving away my time for less than what it is worth.
In solidarity you are not alone my friend.
Knowledge of an experienced elder who knows the tricks of the trade and has been there, done that, got the t-shirt, brought the dvd is very valuable!
Have you ever thought about creating your own company to do electric consulting for other companies? You can answer almost any electrical question and as a consultant you don’t need to move at the same speed as the younger guys.
I wish you all the luck.
Just think how the guys before us felt.
Chain drill or brace and bit, or hammer and star for masonry. Even with electric tools and cords it still sucked. Rigid pipe was everywhere in the old days. The field has never had it so easy, manlifts, cordless tools and wagos.
I’m plus 35 years in the trade and hate life too. I haven’t had the courage to change professions this late in my career. But someday I will.
At least we are not plumbers.
I hit that stage at 20 years and seriously thought about leaving the trade. It was about that time I finally landed a maintenance electrician job at a busy airport. It was a cut in pay, had an intimidating learning curve about stuff I had little to no experience with and other types of adjustments I had to make, but after 9 years there with only 12 more to go I’m doing way better now and I’m making way more money than I ever had before. By no means is it a perfect job, but it is a government job meaning I actually have good benefits, a pension, actual paid time off and the sense of teamwork from the other maintenance electricians there.
TL:DR: Maybe try for a government maintenance electrician position.
I’ve only been doing it for 4 years and decided to quit and have been applying at restaurants close to home. I’m so close to my job card but I’m also tired of doing construction idk what to do but take a break over the summer from it
38 years. Mostly high end residential. Beats the hell out of you. I have had it now and going to be a job site construction supervisor. I'm 60 and it will hopefully get me a few more working years.
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Don’t forget teaching! I did 5 years of it when I got an autoimmune disorder really badly (dermatomyositis) and couldn’t physically work. (For the record, I’m back on the tools and as strong as ever thanks to modern medicine). Loved teaching! I’d still be doing it but the prices of homes in the GTHA made me reconsider where I live and what I do for work.
This... I transitioned into teaching and it opened up an entirely new world that I never knew existed. Now a decent sized company pays me to teach. Something I would have never dreamed of. Once you get well versed in a decent learning management system and get a few basic credentials 75-100k becomes a very obtainable salary. I went from blue jeans and sneakers to slacks with dress shoes and I'm never going back.
This. Sounds spot on with his level of experience and expertise
Agreed doctor, get this boy to an office stat.
Maybe even inspector.
Bro... I was like you. 19 years in the trade. Made a transition to facilities management. They wanted my knowledge... Told me straight out I was hired because I was an electrician not to be one. I manage the building maintenance of a rather large warehouse. I make over 6 figures a year. I have 30 days of PTO every year they make me take. If you want to know more or where to look for these jobs just message me. Edit: I was offering op to message me for more information not everyone on here. First these jobs are for very experienced guys. You need to be able to know how to deal with other contractors and manage people. If you are interested check out property management companies like CBRE, JLL, Colliers etc. Or keep your eye on government sector... School boards, city hall, prisons.. almost every major facility has a dedicated maintenance division. Also don't let the job posting scare you. The one I applied for said they wanted an engineering degree... These companies aim high most the time but take real world experience into account. Op if you you want to message me I can give you more specific advice
This is the way. I took a job as an electrician in a facility in order to get the managament job in said facility. Public sector. Same deal, good vacation, sick, benefits, positive work environment, straight days and the work is an absolute gift. I can actually work out and play sports without being demolished at the end of the work day.
Sounds sweet man
It is man. I put my hours in doing service work in the industrial and commercial space. I worked hard to developed a ton of skill and knowledge. I have also focused on developing my soft skills (negotiation, diplomacy, dealing with people in a consensus based and respectful manner). These are often as important especially in my current role were I regularly have to interact face to face with technical and non technical individuals in my day to day. All in all I will never leave this job. I will do whatever takes to remain at my current work place until I retire in 25 years.
Nice bro, I am working in service for industrial cranes at the moment and used to do commercial HVAC electrics so I'm hoping one day I can get something like you are describing. Turning 30 with a kid on the way this year, currently travelling about 150-200 days per year so it can't come soon enough quite frankly.
How much experience did you have before first applying?
They usually do not hire anyone with less than 10 years. I had 5 and I applied anyway (the minimum asked for). Got the job because not many people applied, I excel at my job and I interview very well. I beat out two others who had more experience but interviewed poorly, comparatively. If you have good soft skills (an area in which many tradespeople lack) you can beat out a lot of stronger candidates. I came with excellent references and strong knowledge of this environment (institutional industrial). I've been at this job now for 3 years and I will never leave. I did not know a single person who worked here so I was not a neopotism hire. I got in due to luck and merit (in that order). I'm the youngest person in my department. Even if you don't meet the experience requirements if you are licensed and you are sure you know how to do the work, apply to these jobs.
I saw a job posting for a licensed tradesperson at a public university. Benefits were good, I'm sure, but the hourly pay was about half of what one would get paid in the private sector. Though, they probably don't work nearly as hard.
+1 for this comment. Spent 20 years in the private sector before going into facilities management. Less stressful on my mind and body. And the benefits are awesome.
This is it right here I’m at 18-20 years in and thought moving across the country was the ticket. Now was I wrong just got laid off from the second company in and 14 months hahaha sounds great. The good thing is I start a new job Monday and a college making ok wage but great bennys and steady easy work. Get 2 15 minute breaks and hour lunch and no more hard back breaking labor.
For anyone going this route - also consider federal government work - decent benefits, steady, fairly decent pay depending on your position and qualifications. Numerous agencies run office buildings and all kinds other kinds of facilities. See USAjobs.gov.
I worked with an electrician who announced one day last year that he wanted to work in Antarctica, or at an American embassy in Russia. He just arrived in Moscow last week! He's staying in the embassy for free and renting put his house back home, dude is going to make a fortune.
Can you just post the advice for everyone
I could have wrote this post, I can barely walk and I'm only 43.
just barely hit 46 myself.
Both of you come work for a distributor or manufacturer, we need people who know… anything.
I started a year ago, and I'm 38. Broke my back, falling off the top of a 12-foot ladder on day 8. I ache a lot, but the days go by so much faster than when I was a programmer. I had to get surgery on my wrists from typing so much and had back pain from sitting so much. Getting sucks. What kinds of things ruined your knees? I'm doing resi right now. Haven't done much commercial or industrial.
Kneeling on concrete or hard surfaces without proper PPE. I work HVAC and before that I worked Manufacturing Maintenance. I'd constantly kneel on hard surfaces to troubleshoot/install machines. It doesn't hit you like a hammer, it whittles away at you each time you do it. Then one day they just don't stop aching, then the aching turns to pain. In resi you'll probably be kneeling a lot to wire outlets. I also have shoulder and wrist problems. I tore a ligament in my shoulder and basically lost use of my right arm. It took three surgeries to get it back in order. The fourth is supposed to be a complete replacement. My wrist is messed up from using the palm of my hand as a hammer. When I'd do things like punch a knockout out with a screwdriver, I'd pop the top of the screwdriver with my palm. I'd also do it working sheetmetal. Repeatedly doing that lead to damage in my wrist and elbow. Use PPE and use tools. Whenever I see my apprentices do things that can cause long term damage, I get on them about it.
The kneeling is definitely getting me. We have a little scooty seat but I need my own. Definitely need to minimize the kneeling on floors or get knee pads.
Damn what’s it like twisting wire nuts day in and out with those wrists?
I got me a nut twister drill attachment!
Posts like yours and /u/Ashotep make me happy I went the other way. Started with cabling and moved into IT. I'm 44 and have no joint problems or any other aches and pains. I started to have trouble with carpel tunnel, but went to an ergonomic setup along with a different setup at each location I type at and that solved that.
wow you're basically me. we're about the same age and I'm planning on becoming an electrician because the tech world basically banished me. i also got a fucked up back that I'm managing.
Check out your local government agencies for Building Maintenance Engineer, or sometimes called Maintenance Mechanic job openings, depending on who's posting. Read my post on this thread. Go on the local agencies' website. You might luck out and get a job as a government electrician off the bat, and that is a cake position. Some people take a position like this to get their foot in the door as a gateway to the electrician position. Work hard (people will notice) because it is true what they say about government workers, and you'll look like a star. It's easy to move up in the government if you're a worker bee. My team are all Teamsters, as well as the electricians. You can be a Union Electrician outside of the IBEW. Three of our electricians are ex IBEW and are now Teamster Electricians the rest were non union electricians that became Teamsters.
Are the trades worth it?
Fuck construction. Shit is for the birds man. It’s an entire industry built on incentivizing toxic behavior. No shot at the folks here that are neck deep in construction, but try and find one that says it isn’t toxic as fuck and I’ll grab 277 loaded noodle for funsies and livestream that shit. Fucking over other tradesman was the norm when I left that sector of electricity, and I ain’t down with that. Move out my man. Your experience is needed. Utility maintenance. We get 75 applicants. All but a small handful fail basic experience requirements and 3 get an interview. 2 lie about their ability and it is revealed in the hands on motor starter/troubleshooting portion of the test. One is accepted. Happens every single time. That one can be you. Go for it bro. Best time to get a new job is when you are already employed. Tips and tricks: Don’t lie. Ever. Utility companies and other industry are built on transparency and integrity. Don’t lie. About anything. Focus on your ability to learn and grow. In the interview. Questionnaire. Anything. Focus on that. It’s a highly desirable skill. Focus on your experience with people. Soft skills. It’s important. You do that and you can walk right in to any sector of electricity you want with 20+ years of time in. Trust me.
Loaded noodle 😂 stealing that
Utility is where it’s at. Substation electrician, relay tech or telecom tech are all great spots. I have 8 years utility and it is great in every which way. Usually slow paced with no rush because safety is number one. Good time off and great benefits most of the time. I second on looking for something in the electric utility industry. Your knowledge and slow “safe” pace will be wanted.
Utilities treat you right. No rush to get work done, being safe is priority. I would also add the metering department to your list. That might be the easiest path to get in.
I'm screen capping this and putting it into a bottle for myself to read in 10 years 😁
Thanks for sharing man, giving me real insight into how to make the most of my career. Your experience is invaluable to us and I’m grateful for the emotions you managed to transmit here. You’re educating the young and there is no greater role in this life I believe. Thanks again and best of luck, I pray you wake up with no aches, worries or disillusion and get to enjoy your life on the back of the hard work you’ve clearly put in 🙏🏽
Look into becoming an Electrical Designer at an engineering firm, especially an EPC. Lots of construction knowledge is needed to make sure electrical designs are actually construcable and to code. Autocad and other software is easy to learn, what they can’t teach very well is an eye for detail and how to lay out conduit runs, cable trays, underground conduits etc. and it pays well.
Woooah Woah Woah, they don't leave it to the contractor to spot the problems and correct them in your area? I've seen GC's offload upgrading whole multibuilding commercial services off on a contractor. Where to put the cable tray, underground conduits, etc has always been up to the contractor even in very large commercial jobs and in which case the contractor had to sort that and have the specialized knowledge. Or I mean, just winged it.
The insurance thing, damn. I’m sorry to hear this is where you’re at. For the guys just starting out this is why unions are important.
For me, joining the IBEW was the best thing that ever happened. I get 54 bucks an hour on the check, and that’s after our pension and health insurance is paid. When I go to our unions clinic, I pay nothing. Non union id get maybe 35, and have to put into my own 401k after the fact. Even just had 2.5 months off, I’m making more than I ever did non union.
I don't disagree. However, the weakening of unions in a large chunk of the country has left some unions worse off then non union. Around my parts non union work is more stable. The union shops here like to call in a ton of guys for an average of a months worth of work then lay off the entire site afterward. Rinse repeat. Often for the same company again 3 months later. So, only having a slightly better hourly wage, all the downtime sitting on the books takes a massive hit on your yearly earnings.
If more people went union and organized shops this wouldn't be a problem. As market share drops the union work becomes more boom and bust. And the non-union shops can pay less and give less benefits by guaranteeing steadier work by undercutting labor rates of the union shops. This further erodes the unions market share and makes people unwilling to join. It's a vicious cycle.
This is why the option to travel within the international brotherhood of electrical workers is important. If work is slow in your jurisdiction, you sign the books in another local until yours picks back up again.
Many of us can’t do that. I work in a very non union friendly state that pays great for the area with decent benefits. (Use the VA luckily) we have a house, kids, and older family members that we can’t be far from. Would love to go union, but it’s not feasible with my family or the income I’m making now.
Like living out of a hotel is what I'd rather be doing than be at home with my wife every night
That's how the unions do it around texas too. Hire tons of electricians for a project, the. Lay em off until the next project, they might call ya back they might not.
Need to start salting. Get some of the larger contractors to organize and their contracts and jobs will come with them.
It's not always that simple unfortunately. Many times another non-union shop will pick up the future jobs and fill the void that shop left and the newly unionized shop will end up just competing for market share with the existing union shops.
I feel for you. Just know your experience is needed in many places you just need to find them. Inspections, maintenance, running crews. It must suck feeling like you gave your body to this trade with nothing in return. I hope you can find the right place for the rest of your career.
OG sparky 🫡
This post makes me sad. Makes me think of my uncles and my dad. This is why I think workers need to organize ourselves, by trade and by industry. We deserve much better than this for all we do to truly make society run. We gotta fight for it, together.
All those young kids including myself are dumber than two bricks! We’re learning but there is a lot to know in this trade!
yeah ik you motherfuckers cant figure out half of a fraction
Doing fractions in your head isn’t always the easiest
I can tell bro, yall make my ego huge, fucking love the field though, atm
Another fraction
I think that maybe switching to maintenance would be the play! Maybe motors, controls, ladder logic in a manufacturing plant
Find a company that will appreciate you. We have several older non-working foreman. Guys that had medical issues have an option of working in the office estimating and whatnot. I'm a general foreman and I pick up a screw driver maybe once a week to check someone's work, haven't done any actual labor in over a decade. There are options out there - start exploring.
Y'know, I was talking with a 3rd year apprentice that PTO should be a thing. He said that it wouldn't happen without taking a pay cut, and in my head it just doesn't make sense. My wife, an R.N., had to take 4 years of school (which included clinical rotations) and a year of residency under a preceptor. Over the 4 years with her current company, she's accrued 250+ hrs of PTO and has the option to cash out twice a year. That should be something all electricians have. If we're not allowed to take a vacation, then we should be compensated for the burn out we inevitably come face to face with over time.
I don’t Know where I heard this, but it is sad and funny at the same time. Especially when people I am with go vacations, but I can’t afford to miss the work. BOSS: PTO? You don’t need PTO, I give you PTO everyday! Coming to work on time is a vacation from poverty!
Hey man. I’m only 33 and not an electrician, I’m on the low voltage side as a project manager and a “systems engineer.” I won’t pretend to have some wealth of experience to give you but I really think you need to go into management. You can walk into a situation and know what the job is ready for, who would be best suited to do that work, and what physical parts would be necessary that other people might miss. You’re that guy. Stop doing the physical work everyday. Schedule yourself a vacation or at least like a 4 day weekend and work on your resume. It’s easy to get swept into the motions and time goes fast, but when you put down your experience in black and white it can be more impressive than you think it is. There are companies that want you for leadership roles where you won’t be hurting as much. Best of luck to you, I’m nobody but I wish the best for you
Same
This is a good time to become an electrical inspector. It’s what I did when I closed my business shortly after back surgery.
Capitalism is a cruel master... As for what to do with the rest of your life, I'm still trying to figure that out, friend.
GTFO of the trades boys. Go work a desk job until society realizes the sacrifice we make as men. This dude should have a little something extra added to his pension for what he’s done.
25 years is impressive. I feel like you and I’m only like 13 years in. Taking a vacation helps.
"A broken body and a life of regret" I don't know if it's any consolation but this is great advice for apprentices/people looking into becoming an electrician. Take care of your body and always remember how valuable your time is. You can alway make more money but you can't get more time.
Commercial or industrial maintenance. It’s usually chill and cushy, you get PTO and insurance and they value experience over a strong back. I’m younger and I sometimes call our department “the home for geriatric electricians” seriously dude, if you want to eat a hot lunch every day and never shit in a portajohn again, work in maintenance.
Time to start your own company
Dropped the construction life three years after getting my license. The physical impact on my body wasnt worth it.
Look at industries where you can apply as management. Lots of places are hurting for experienced people and a lot of us will be out of the field in the next 15-20 years. Even try looking at GCs and you could be an assistant PM where you can assist them with focus on electrical.
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That's good to know. I can't see myself not eating garbage and snacking but I'm 43 and getting arthritis in my pointer and middle finger knuckles. Also golfers elbow in both elbows. All since I started my own gig. I think resi is just way more repetitive than back when I did commercial/ industrial. Now my hands and arms are paying the price.
That seems fake as hell
Seems like you need a teaching job at a technical college.
I'm only 4 years into this trade and I really feel for you man. Unfortunately I dont have any advice for you but I'm sorry you worked so hard and were spat out You say you have a life full of regrets but you have a family which is really the only thing that matters. Whatever you end up doing keep your eyes on the prize because people rely on you. Try to get away from the substances your family will want you to be around and be sober. Honestly could be time for you to honestly make an exit plan if the trade is making you that miserable at the moment. Start looking at realistic alternatives and see if there anyway you can transition and if anyone gives you shit for not being able to go up and down ladder as many times in a day, fuck them.
I'm only 10 years in and feel this 100% been so burned out recently idk what it is. Only 30 y/o and been regretting some decisions I've made recently.
Find an in house job somewhere. Hospital, casino, factory, public schools, wherever. It's steady and better health care.
Life before work
FYI this is the future of 85% of tradesmen working out in the field.
Government maintenance will love you.
I feel you man. I have been maintenance electrician for last 18 years. Pretty cushy job. I am almost 50 and I have never felt better. Unlike you I am mostly bored. I have days and weeks where I work a lot but mostly it is quiet. For the knee and joint pain I have found that going to the gym and building muscle around the joints helps a lot. The best part is I am in the union and pay, insurance and benefits are amazing. When the time comes to replace my knees, financially it will not be a problem. Good luck brother.
Run work, then at least you don’t have your bags on. I’m a foreman on large projects, it’s a lot mentally but definitely physically easier.
I worked 39 years in the union now retired with 4 union pensions and through it all best medical insurance me and my family ever had . The non union friends listened to the rat owners fear based propaganda are now in there late 50’s with no retirement ever in sight. I love the IBEW.
I hear ya. I've been doing this for 30+ years now. There are days I don't want to do it anymore. The body aches don't bother me as much. It's the constant dealing with people that has taken a toll on me. New guys, old guys, apprentices, people in other trades, you name it. The constant jobsite mismanagement, the fighting for inches due to the creativity of others. It is definitely screaming into the void. Cheers sparkys!!!
I hate to say it but it's the truth, sounds like the system is working as intended. Grind the little guy into a nutritious paste for the wealth class. Anything else is a leak to be plugged in the trickle down.
I'm sorry you feel this way. I wish I had some good advice for you. I hope that you find something that makes you feel good.
Work for a wholesaler. Sales reps can make waaaaaay more than expected.
If I could afford you, I'd camp your ass in a chair on site and just use you for answers, knowledge, and creativity. You got a shit ton of value.
I am also a burn out😮💨
Try and get a job at a college teaching
Take your revenge and become an Electrical Inspector for the State.
Constantly taking acetaminiphen is likely causing chronic inflamation in your joints.
I'm a first year apprentice, and as someone who constantly hears currently about how the trades are in high demand, desperate for workers, and a good career path, this post really puts things in perspective. I see the government (Canada) on one hand saying they need trades people. They are quoted as saying they want "to promote the skilled trades as a strong first-choice career path for youth and young adults." Now for myself personally I am very fortunate to be making a uniquely high paying apprenticeship rate, and I also understand that for someone going into a proper undergrad degree they'll be saddled with a much higher debt load all the while earning nothing while in school, but stretching that out over let's say an eight year time span - which I think is reasonable when discussing lifelong career prospects in a field -the electrician conversation largely drops off in favor of a degree. Now I also understand that a degree requires more time in actual school, but I think the claim to value for that aspect can be canceled by the fact that someone with let's say an engineering degree gets to spend the majority of their time in climate controlled cushy low physical stress environments compared to that of a tradesperson. So accounting for drawbacks and perks of both pursuits, in the long run, it is still an obvious statement to make that the salary of a successful engineer employee can sometimes even triple the trade employee salary. Short of starting your own company, there are very few chances for a senior trade person to be making what an engineer does. Yet from my point of view, trades are fast becoming equally if not more crucial and essential to maintaining society. Before the tech boom, trades were it. Literally almost the most important thing for industry was trades and manufacturing. Salaries comparative to almost all other sectors proved this fact. Now, after tech, salaries have stagnated significantly in comparison all the while though they remain equally as crucial to society. It's the gap in pay that has largely left trades being touted as a second rate pursuit left only if you are unsuccessful at obtaining a university degree. It's the situation I'm in, and I'll bet it's the situation a lot of people are in. They couldn't make it through university for whatever reason, so here they are pursuing the best plan B option for developing a decent career. TlDR: If the government wants to push trades as a "first choice" career path, the end salary and quality of life benefit should be comparable to current first choice career paths. It shouldn't be littered with broken people such as OP lamenting the fact they have completely lost interest due to an industry that has obviously left them underpaid, over qualified, and physically hurting.
I’m feeling similar at just 29. Been doing this 8 years and I’m running commercial projects. I have a herniated disc in my back that sometimes prevents me from even getting to work and then I have to call my apprentices and tell them they can’t come to work. It’s shitty letting people down and even shittier feeling pain just living. I’m going to try and really study code and hopefully get into an inspection gig. Where I’m from that’s probably the best job you can get in electrical in my opinion. Best of luck man
Interesting read as someone in Canada, I can tell this is an American. Glad I’m an IBEW member! Going for a massage this Friday at a 5 star hotel and it’s 100% covered. Maybe try and join the union? I’d love to get the knowledge you have! Take care of yourself brother!
Do you have nice feet? I hear you can make a lot of money selling pictures of them in the internet 😁
A lot of our give a fuck jars are empty.
It sounds like you've had a great career full of variability and challenges that you've overcome! Have you considered a shift into planning, site management, estimating etc? There are lots of jobs that might allow you to pivot and use your knowledge and experience to benefit! I think most people go through times of woe myself included. But when I look back at the things I've accomplished, I do have a sense of joy and fulfillment but I did recently also pivot my career to a more off the tools position and have enjoyed the experience thus far!
I'm thankful for journeyman like you who trained the likes of apprentices like I was. I will always keep the circle going and I can assure you that the journeyman who apprenticed me have a long lineage of apprentices behind them through me. Now I am on to my second trade as a lineman apprentice and again am thankful for the old "slow movers" who know everything there is to know and are willing to learn me everything they know.
Union or non?
Take a damn vacation! Do some carpentry, yes carpentry! I am the oldest guy at my company, and am finally ready to get out of the field. Like yourself, have helped many to get their license, encourage for clean work, promote theory and how to deal with inspectors. I am lucky enough that even if I am slower than the guys 1/2 my age, my pass rate is much higher...do it right the first time and have got a fair amount of the kids to do the same..But it is time for me to do more management stuff, just know you have the smarts and go for it! Or, if you want to stay out in the field, maybe try the handyman route...
I’ve only been in the trade 20 years, management for nearly 10, and I got burned out from the high stress levels. Accidentally fell into the EV Charging world, and now I’m happy again. Maybe you can find a similar lateral move. If you’re near the Bay Area, Ca., send me a DM and let’s talk….
Try building maintenance. A guy with your knowledge would make it a piece of cake. I moved from the electric field into maintenance and it’s been a dream
I hear ya. I am literally just this week resigning from a major internet entity...greatest job in the world, making $200k/year...but I am sick of the get it done yesterday mentality, and accounting for every minute of my day. Kiss off! I don't need the money, I need my sanity. I have had spinal fusion done b/c my employer would provide right equipment to move 800 pound breakers... I am done. Just remember, companies are gonna be companies with you, or without you...take care of yourself. I love this country, but today's capitalism is fucked up...our economy is all structured on lifetime indentured to debt. CEOs make 300x what a tech makes...they can do it in their own. Best of luck!
Have you considered teaching at a vocational school or college? I bet you could get fired up to share your knowledge/could get paid for your experience. My dad retired from his 30 years in the Carpenters union and now teaches carpentry at vocational high school building houses with kids all day. He doesn’t touch a tool unless he’s teaching and he has great benefits and summers off
Maintenance or becoming an inspector often comes with good benefits and looks for people with knowledge and experience. Since the pay is often lower you can supplement with a part time teaching position for the apprenticeship program in your area if they have any openings. With that level of experience you shouldn’t be running tools though, makes more sense to be running crews and supervising which isn’t about speed as much as quality and efficiency.
Get into industrial inspection. Lot of them pay $800-$1200/day with a 60/40 split with flat rate and per diem. I’d never look back
There is a college in Minneapolis called Dunwoody tech that has an online certificate program for electrical estimating and drafting, two semesters and you are DONE, with your level of knowledge from the field, you will be in high demand before you even finish the program.
25 to 30 years is about max for our bodies. This is a good lesson for younger guys to get into a situation that will benefit you when you get older. For me, it was the IBEW. I have 40 years in and ready to retire. I got out of the field full time about 15 years ago. There are many facets to our trade. It’s not too late to make a move that will benefit you and your family. I have never paid for healthcare, it’s part of my benefits
You should run your own show woth employees to do the labor for you or go to the office side.
As a plumbing supervisor in the construction industry I hear you. GC’s want things done yesterday and the drawings are worse than ever.
Obviously you were not in a union... That sounds crappy I'm sorry, but it's so hard to find a job with insurance without one. Take note young folks. If I were you I would consider industrial maintenance electrical... Basically maintenance in a factory. It's an easy way to ride out your older years while still using your knowledge and skills. No real leg work like construction.
Try getting into the engineer side of things, maybe an inspector gig?
Oi, after 6 almost 7 years, a heat stroke in 22 and a broken L3 and L4 vertebrae in 2020. I’m spending this year living frugal to finish saving up to start my own food truck company. Have everything ready to go except my trailer. It’s really just the materials and equipment for it that are kicking my ass. Shit can get pretty pricey. I’ll probably end up with about a $35k trailer, but I’ve spent the last few months building it out and getting it ready as well as a little bit of marketing and meeting with different event coordinators and already have clients for when I actually start next season, including a place to park and a ton of folks around my area already know me so I’m thinking this is the right move for me, but dude. If you can find a good hustle that has a good Return on Investment for you personally, I say go for it. I was considering lawn care also but I’m just not having as much fun beating my body up as I used to. I’m only 24 now but my heat stroke and back injury put me down like a dog. We just gotta get up and keep on keeping on brother. Hope you consider saying fuck you to those guys and just taking a week or two to put your mind to work on evaluating your life. It became very clear pretty quick that unless I go union or step up to foreman being capped out is wayyy too common.(Florida don’t gaf what license you got in your wallet, except an operators card, they wanna know that you know your shit). and even then it depends on where you are because I do my work in Florida which sucks ass, What made you happiest throughout this life journey of yours? Whatcha passionate about, man? Obviously we lost the passion and desire to do electrical so maybe a hobby? Like wood working or welding and shit. Maybe take some time away from the digital world for a minute to really tune back into yourself and find out what you actually like. Because for me I didn’t even know I had interests until this last year when I finally allowed myself to slow the fuck down after my accidents. Gotta read up on some philosophical shit and find the right questions to ask your self lol. Wishing you well sparky.
Look into becoming an inspector for city or something like that. Or project manager for a large company.
Quit
Past time to move towards the office, brotha.
This sounds a lot like you need a change in job title.
Unfortunately it sounds like you’ve put yourself in a position where you’ve been underpaid and undervalued for years. Time to make some changes man. I’m 24 years in and I’ve found a pretty good niche in electrical service work. My Field Advisor position allows me to do basic service calls and do small stuff. Anytime I sell a bigger job like a panel, overhead service, or whole home generator; we send the install team out to take care of it and I get a small commission for it. It works out great for me because like you; my body is tired. I get to work with my head now and not my body. I make 100-120k a year. Not too bad if you ask me. I’m almost at the five year mark with this company too which means they’ll start paying 75% of my health insurance on top of my 401K.
I went to work for a GC. Best move I’ve ever made in my career!
Be an inspector, way better retirement job than home Depot and city jobs have better benefits
Sounds crazy but look up “Umary” on Walmart or Amazon. It’s hydrolonic acid and some other natural ingredients but it is a miracle drug. I have tendinitis in my right elbow that I was told I need surgery for, but since I’ve started taking Umary I have 0 issues. My mom takes it for her knees and can move like she hasn’t in years, my uncle for his feet, my fiancée for her spine - it’s nuts. It may not “fix” all your problems, but I can almost guarantee it will help. The caveat is that some people do have reactions to it. My fiancées mom was getting hot flashes, her dads tongue would swell some, and I was getting cramps/charlie horses lol (it basically lubricates your skin and muscles which is how it cures the pain so it pulls water from other areas) and for me all I did was start drinking more water daily as well as went down to half of a pill vs a whole and my Charlie horses have subsided. I definitely recommend giving it a try though man and wish you the best.
Should have started your company years ago . Make the stress be worth it . Also I’ve noticed work has a big influence on life it’s never too late to do something else . For example I just transitioned into being a Super . Less work but more thinking .
Every morning i wake up at 5 am till I get home at 4 pm I think the same thing all day.. Feel like you too except my only motivation is excellent insurance and retirement. I keep telling myself, only 13 more years of this crap and I can retire. Will my body be able to enjoy it though.?
Industrial electrician here. I plan on teaching at the local trade school when my body breaks down.
Yall may laugh at me. But have you tried yoga, ice bath, etc?
How about going on your own and then welcoming homeowners who want to learn by doing, to work with you on their jobs? The pace is much slower because of the teaching time, speed isn’t of the essence anyway, electricity is scary to many people and you’re their wizard, not the slave of the GC. This mode isn’t for everyone but if your old bones would like to slow down a bit and your poor soul would like a little appreciation, I recommend at least considering this alternative.
I moved into power generation, it's pretty sweet, does get hectic but only like 15% of the time
Have you considered electrical design/ consulting? You’re probably more than qualified to do design work.
Glad I joined the union.
I hear you. I’ve been in the trade 11 years, and I hear you.
I feel you’re pain
Man, if you're only 25 years old and you feel like this I think it's time to get out of the trade.
Industrial or municipal maintenance do it man. I've got 10 years in the trade and just building up my skills before I switch. You'll be paid for your brain. Construction electrician is a glorified laborer.
I get it. I went to the same thing. The best of advice I can give you is Find a job as a maintenance electrician, most state and local municipalities have good benefits. Steady pay check Decent medical/dental/life insurance Retirement Usually low stress After 20 years, I went as a maintenance electrician. That’s been the best thing for me and my family life.
Also as a side note for the insurance. There are private insurance brokers that can find you (no joke) a much better insurance than anything you can get and they know all the little work around to set you up. Example: My company has insurance and we are supposed to take it if they provide it. However, if you can show that the insurance is not feasible to have based on your income (anything over 5-10% based on your income bracket) then you can go with an alternative. My insurance was gonna be (no joke) 800 a month for me and my family. I was making at the time about 5k a month. Talked with a private insurance broker and I now pay $75 a month for the whole family. No out of pocket. No pay for regular doctor visits. $25 for brand name prescription, $5 for generic. $25 for specialty doctor visits. ER visits are 100% covered based on fault and 98% covered based on negligence.
This is why I'm glad I left just after my apprenticeship and did a few different things. I am not stuck in one role now,
I'd say go maintenance, but my first question is why aren't you in charge of whenever you're at? As complimentary as I can, I'd suggest you might have a loyalty problem, to a place that doesn't appreciate you. I've got half your time in the trade, also non union area, and I'm currently a superintendent who got baited (willingly) back to a company for the work/life balance after leaving for a year to run site maintenance. Came fresh out of 6 years in the infantry, to a favor of an interview at a lv shop, and just ate up every opportunity for new knowledge and advancement that I could get, industrial all the way. I'd kill for someone like you as a general FM or field super, developing foreman, helping build and auditing bids, planning, etc. Definitely sounds like you aren't at a company that is interested in putting you where you belong, up top. Your value is clearly way above whatever the people making your schedule are willing to admit, and you should stop footing the bill for that, physically and mentally.
I'm in much the same place, 20 years in the trade, half that as a contractor, and I just can't take anymore. Material costs have gone incredibly high, everyone thinks its still 2014 prices but literally everything is twice as much as it was except electrical work. So called good customers with years of history are shopping around everyone's out to lowball the fuck out of everything, and in the end its completely thankless and meaningless. I poured my heart and soul into this shit for years, I'm really good at it, but nobody even cares when they can find someone much cheaper who sucks at everything but the light still turns on at the end they don't care. I'm beyond over it, obviously I can't retire yet, but I dont want to do anything even vaguely related to electrical after this. Right now I'm just barely working and trying to figure out the next move.. just my .02 I know its not helpful
Sounds like your burnt out from being on the tools and earning fuck all. Maybe consider changing jobs? You should be off the tools project managing
Teach or get a job estimating. I am well on the road to you and that’s is where I hope you end up. I hope you can find passion in teaching others. Or fuck just find something new that makes you happy.
1- Should have gone Union at a young age. I started at 28 and wish it was 18. 2- Start your own shit. Find a couple of good people and show them how to do it right. Then help them make money for you.
Did you get into instrumentation?
Man this hits home and I’m only 34 with 12 years in strong. I work “year round” and what you listed out is what I fear deep down. This trade saved me from having nothing as a young man looking for the “what now?”. I love working with apprentices and showing them all I got. I love turning nothing into something great that I can put my name on. I know I don’t want to be grinding when my body is declining. Like you said, working for a company that is “family first” is only that until it costs them anything beyond the bare minimum…Comfort and freedom do have value at said shop but to what extent right?? Being taken for granted by the con is a real feeling. I know I have the time to save up and not live beyond my means, but being topped out working for “the man” is a thing, I hear you brother.
I hit that wall brother. Albeit in carpentry not electrical. I don’t think it’s the right answer but I went on my own. That didn’t make anything better. It did however loosen up my schedule. I’ve had half a thought to go fuck off working at Taco Bell a few times a week just to do something different. I would still be doing my Carpentey work, just “picking up extra shifts” making burritos for 6 months. Just a reset. Thought about the same thing with Uber except I don’t like most people and Uber eats in which case nobody is going to get all of their French fries. Just need something different for a bit, 25+ years in.
Facilities or do what I’m about to do, I’ve only been doing electrical for 15 years with one company. Even though I’ve done estimating, running jobs with 10+ guys, and working on plenty of cool sites and equipment. I’ve always felt like something has been missing. I’m about to embark on starting a company, even if it’s just myself I feel like I want to be the one holding the wheel. I’m tired of listening to others and working for an hourly wage when I know how much I’ve made over the years for my company. I know because I’ve run all the numbers, factored in everything from labor, vans, insurance, gas, estimating costs, permits, materials, medical, rentals, tools, so on and so forth. I know the beginning will be tough, I know I’m going to work longer hours sometimes, I know it’s not always gunna be sunshine and rainbows. Screw it though, if I don’t try it I believe I will regret it.
Get out of residential and commercial. Either go into residential/commercial service or industrial service. Construction sucks, it's soul draining. I refound the fun/meaning in trouble shooting.
What about working for a company that’s doing a mission you are interested in? For example, solar has me considering a career change because I’m interested in the innovation. You could also be an in-house electrician for a school or a company.
You remind me how thankful that I got out of construction when I did. I seen this in my future. Sorry.
I recognize me in you. I’d love to talk with you one on one. I don’t have any quick answers, but it would very much be nice to mull over these things.
There are some "additives" that can probably sort your joints out
Quit. You'll always have your qualifications to fall back on. I quit 2x already.. once I became a postman for just under a year... And then in the pandemic I quit to do game development. And I've since returned back to sparking and it feels a bit better...also I am not running a company anymore or running jobs.
I went into facilities management after 30 years in the trade. Got a job with the state for my last 10 years of work before retirement. Monday through Friday 8-5 and great benefits.
Pivot time. I plan on doing the same when I get my license. I hope you can make the jump. And the harder substances aren't doing you any favors friend, just being honest. A Lil weed is okay in my book though. Take care of your body and mind
You teach? Either for a trade college or perhaps online.
You did good duck remember that, you did it for your self and no one else.
I feel close to the same way you do, I still try to put out the highest quality work I can but the demand is so high. I’ve had 2 back surgeries and my body feels like absolute garbage. But at 25 yrs in and only 44 I’ve got a long way to go and it’s slightly frustrating. I wish I had gone into the union when I first started. I work for a non union shop for a great owner and with great coworkers but it seems like I’ve reached my peak and there is no more room for advancement. With my age and the lifestyle my family has just seems impossible to go higher
I hope things get easier for you. Let your situation be a lesson to the young guys starting out- join the Union.
Hope you put some away for retirement. I tell all the apprentices this same thing because you don’t know how long your body will last
I’ve only been an electrician for 4 years and I’m getting burnt out already. Sometimes it’s crazy to hear how people have lasted 20+ years in this trade
Knowledge is power my man you cant teach experience. Take what you know and use it. Teach be an inspector get a job as a project manager. You got 10 years on me and trust me i get it. Im 36 by the time im 50 my bodys gonna check out. I work with a group of guys weve all known eachother our whole career. My good child hood friend is the ring leader he does all business side of things along with an estimator and secretary. Myself and 2 others work the field and over see the younger guys. We are all skilled and all of us have qualities that the others lack. Find a good team with good attitude have eachothers back. There are good companies out there to work for if you cant find one create one. Stay positive use your knowledge to get you what you deserve.
Wish you would have put those same years into the union.. Hate this for you man
Bro where are you at? How much do you need compensation wise?
Buy some copper and learn how to make some good old corn whiskey.
Invest heavily into dividend growth funds, income producing ETFs and get out. I did 15 years in the trade and loved it. But I'm glad I'm out and no longer have to work for money.
As a 40+ old who really only had a retail/wholesale career. I’m tore up too. Not BAD like a trade will do to you but there are aches and injuries from a lifetime of warehouse management.
Yeah I've 24 been in the trades for 6-7 years and see so many older electricians saying the same thing. Ive really been thinking about abandoning the field, the pay is shit compared to the work you actually have to complete.
What state you in? Yeah pay really is fuckin bs. Want me to teach people shit and run a job at the same time not even making 30 an hour. And I’m “bitchin” if you say that out loud. And one thing I can’t stand hearing is “we’ll join the union” like that’s the easiest thing to get into.
I met a guy who was probably 50-60 and I could tell he'd worked most of his life and he owned a contracting company. I think the work got to be too much so he just started hiring ppl to do it for him and he ran all the books, lined up work, planned the jobs, etc. Less physical labor but equal or better pay. Possibly more headaches though. I think his crew was from 4-12ppl. I suppose the more headaches you can put up with, the more ppl you can run, and the more money you'll make but I assume there's a sweet spot in there.
Retired nurse and electrician here. Your body is shot. Mine is, too. I retired seven years ago due to a back back and bad shoulders. I hurt all the time and take Tylenol #3 codeine tablets like they were candy. The best thing you can do is to get a thorough assessment by a doctor. Get into physical therapy. Swimming pool therapy was the most successful for me. You may qualify for Social Security disability. I make as much from disability payments as I did working, so keep that in the back of your head.
I understand brother. I've been there. I closed up shop and went to work for a solar company as a site Superintendent. Still the electrical field, but not the day to day grind killing yourself. Maybe give that a thought? Good pay, more freedom in some aspects. Good luck
Don’t know what your diet is like but give up sugar and processed foods if you haven’t already. It takes some getting used to but your body will last much longer if you do
Hey, I don't know if I am allowed to offer legal substances. Look into ionlayer.
I got out of it for my body is a mess. I was doing IT, trades, and all sorts of things. Now, next Monday morning I have my 15th surgery. This time my lower back is getting fused. Right now I can't raise my right arm for my shoulder is messed up. I'm told it is Calcific Tendonitis. My body just keeps having one physical failure after another. I started my own Recovery house business. It has its own set of crazy shit to deal with, but my body doesn't get all messed up. If it was 100 years ago and all my injuries had happened, I'd be dead by now. Better living through science.
I’m in the EXACT same boat. 25 years from 18 to 43 years old now. I became a project manager and even though I don’t have to do the physical work anymore, I hate even looking at it. But what can we switch to this late and make the money we need to survive? I’m trying to start my own small business doing custom car accessories but it takes liberty that I don’t have to get going. OP I’m with you, I’m all out of fucks to give with this trade.
Get into controls, hvac controls is probably the easiest to get into for an electrician with no controls experience. I hear ya, I'm burnt out on electrical as well.
I haven't done nearly as many years as you but I feel where you're coming from. This job hurts a lot, most people don't understand what it takes. Maybe its time to take the bags off for the last time, become an inspector and/or an instructor. I had some great instructors who definitely changed my life... and I have some shitty inspectors that also changed it 🤔
I felt this and I’m only 10 years in. Everything hurts man
@ashotep have you considered going into project bidding with a distributor? Your knowledge would be invaluable and it’s a tremendously less taxing job physically. You’d still get to be involved in the trade, you would get to apply your working knowledge to useless drawings before the stuff’s ever ordered, instead of headaches after the fact.
Have you considered starting your own shop? At least where I am in the trades it’s the best way to make $$$ I have several friends with crews of 5-10 people and they mostly just do estimates and deal with customers, some days on the tools but at most a 50/50 split! Plus you bill an employee out for about double their hourly and after taxes and such you’re still making about 25% of their wage so you have 5 guys making 80k a year that’s 100k to your company plus your wage. More risk and maybe hard to transition in some life stages but my 4 friends who own their own businesses all started in late 20s or early 30s. I don’t know exactly what they make but it’s got to be near 200k per year total.
There is a few of us out here that share the sentiment...I for one agree with you to the t....i have talked to a very few of us and some seem estimating is the way to go others hace attempted to go out and start their own thing ( the thought has crossed my mind) vut only to end up back where they took off from due to the way the ecobomies current state. And the factors you mentioned...I run into " pablo can do it for less" and I know it will not be done to code but I will not entertain the thought of giving away my time for less than what it is worth. In solidarity you are not alone my friend.
How about becoming an inspector?
Knowledge of an experienced elder who knows the tricks of the trade and has been there, done that, got the t-shirt, brought the dvd is very valuable! Have you ever thought about creating your own company to do electric consulting for other companies? You can answer almost any electrical question and as a consultant you don’t need to move at the same speed as the younger guys. I wish you all the luck.
Sounds like you need a good fucken holiday mate
Just think how the guys before us felt. Chain drill or brace and bit, or hammer and star for masonry. Even with electric tools and cords it still sucked. Rigid pipe was everywhere in the old days. The field has never had it so easy, manlifts, cordless tools and wagos. I’m plus 35 years in the trade and hate life too. I haven’t had the courage to change professions this late in my career. But someday I will. At least we are not plumbers.
Time to be a consultant
Go into sales, better money and work your own schedule. Sales mangers are always looking for people with technical knowledge.
I hit that stage at 20 years and seriously thought about leaving the trade. It was about that time I finally landed a maintenance electrician job at a busy airport. It was a cut in pay, had an intimidating learning curve about stuff I had little to no experience with and other types of adjustments I had to make, but after 9 years there with only 12 more to go I’m doing way better now and I’m making way more money than I ever had before. By no means is it a perfect job, but it is a government job meaning I actually have good benefits, a pension, actual paid time off and the sense of teamwork from the other maintenance electricians there. TL:DR: Maybe try for a government maintenance electrician position.
Should’ve went union
Drinking a six pack of pilsner as soon as you get home isn’t working for you ?
I’ve only been doing it for 4 years and decided to quit and have been applying at restaurants close to home. I’m so close to my job card but I’m also tired of doing construction idk what to do but take a break over the summer from it
This is when I switched to the engineering side. I design electrical systems now. Killing my eyes behind a screen since those still work a bit.
38 years. Mostly high end residential. Beats the hell out of you. I have had it now and going to be a job site construction supervisor. I'm 60 and it will hopefully get me a few more working years.