this post was submitted on 14 Oct 2023
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Most of the time the 8 hour desk job pays more unfortunately. Unless you’re in a good steel workers union that is.
I think toxic fumes might be worse
If your workplace has good safety standards it's not as much of a problem these days, I'd rather wear a respirator at my job working with fumes and dust than sit at a desk all day and fuck my back and eyes up. Though I'm fucking my back up too probably, but if you don't overwork yourself and use proper techniques even manual labor doesn't have to be so bad for your body.
Idk plumbers, electricians, contractors, etc make a lot around here. I'm sure they usually have business overhead that factors into their hourly rates (like $100+ an hour here in Seattle). Or if they work independently, they'd still need to pay taxes, insurance, health insurance, licensing, etc., but assuming they make $60/hr after all that, that's pretty good.
I'm a contractor. I work in hospitals where it rains money. They charge $120 an hour for my services. By the time all the hands get in the pot, I get very close to $100 less per hour.
Both UA and IBEW have a higher pay scale than the Ironworkers local where I live.