As a homebuilder who sees how much trades get paid along with supply and demand for them, I would echo the statements about working in electrical or HVAC.

Framers get paid shit. There are too many of them. The plans for homes in Florida can get quite complex and therefore time consuming with the hurricane measures. The framers are one of the first crews on a job and last to leave. I got on site around 6:30 and framers are already there setting up. I leave at 5:00-5:30 and they're still framing.

The demand for electricians is incredible. They can't keep up with the work whether it's roughing, trimming or hot checking. If I were to get into a trade, this is what I would do. People will take a chance and try to DIY for lots of work around the house but electrical is where many draw the line at. Could be something as simple as installing fixtures and I've seen folks pay $100 for a fan and the pre-wiring is already there when the home was built.

Don't you need some "juice" to get into the trade unions?

quote:

Originally posted by XLT:

that's exactly how it is here in Oregon, my wife works for an industrial electrician company and they cant find any new people to go into the apprenticeship program, lots of no shows for interviews it's just crazy.

It’s not crazy. It’s hard work. Being an electrician is flat out a tough job. Kids nowadays are so entitled they feel they should be starting out in a job that is more prestigious and pays journeyman wages on their first check.

The trucking industry. Truck drivers are more scarce than just about any other profession. You can get hired on and they will train you and assist you in getting your class A CDL, at no cost. Then you drive, and get paid beaucoup bucks. Amazon drivers are some of the highest paid right now, and they just shuttle trailers from Distribution center to Distribution center.

No one wants to drive a truck because the job isn’t prestigious and one that all you’re millennial friends will look up to, even if you’re pulling down north of $100k.

quote:

Originally posted by XLT:
That's exactly how it is here in Oregon, my wife works for an industrial electrician company and they cant find any new people to go into the apprenticeship program, lots of no shows for interviews it's just crazy.

Slight thread drift, but the problem is that liberal union teachers and guidance counselors brainwash the kids and parents into thinking you can't have a decent life without some sort of college degree. None of them will dare say today that a kid isn't "college material" and would do better in the trades or military service.

My vote is for electrician. It's easy if you can think logically and no poop or sewer gas.

quote:

Originally posted by Beancooker:
Carpentry (finish) pays good, but you’re not going to start there. That’s 20 years down the road.
Framing, there’s little money left. Illegals and drugged up (meth) white boys are all that frame in this area. I’m sure there are a few exceptions, but they’re the exceptions.

If he wants to build stuff and make amazing money, he should look at a fence business. It’s money hand over fist.

A good drywaller will make a ridiculous amount of money, but shoulders will be done by 40.

If he wants to manage people, get into Supply Chain Solutions. (Warehouse and Distribution Center management). It’s indoor work, relatively easy, pays outstanding, but has a lot of stress.

had a friend in the framing business, he and his crew framed big money homes (he was a bit of a specialist for big homes with slate or tile roof, )

he got out of it about the time I built my last house and went into cabinetry, before moving away


he had a mostly white crew, when he could find some that were sober, meth was not a thing then, but alcohol and weed were,


the crew that framed my house were white rednecks from WVa, I asked the foreman (I was in the grocery biz at the time) if I needed to make sure there was plenty of beer around after the shift for them, and was told no, the builder would fire them all if so much as a can was found,


my house was built right too,,


now,, I don't think there are any white or black guys on framing crews in the area,

ditto drywall,

neighbor tried to hire out some guys to finish up a project for him a few years ago, business was good but not booming, and he called 6 different companies to get a wall or 2 hung and finished, ended up being a mexican crew (who did a fantastic job)


I had some repair work done maybe 10 yrs ago from a water leak, and know some folks that have had repairs and stuff done to drywall,, all the crews were hispanic, (cheaper, faster, and excellent work)

quote:

Originally posted by Hamden106:
Measure twice. Cut once.

. I got it wrong,now I know why the boards don’t fit.

My brother got a gopher job for a carpenter, for the summer.
He actually found a very good master carpenter
Who became a mentor,

After fiur months of hard work, in the eastern Iowa heat and humidity,he
gave him a 50% raise .

He worked part time till after college
then went full time for six years.

He left to do civil service work, after 6 months, the master carpenter offered him a one third partnership in his company.

He really enjoyed most aspects of the carpenter trade, from making hope chests to finishing homes.

But the Iowa weather got the best of him.

Best advice...use carpentry and furniture making as a hobby or past time, and something else as your primary job (the electrician suggestion above would be great if he's willing).

quote:

Originally posted by bigdeal:
Best advice...use carpentry and furniture making as a hobby or past time, and something else as your primary job (the electrician suggestion above would be great if he's willing).

I tell you, in our area, they can't hire people fast enough. Not many are good but the good ones can quit in the morning and be employed by the afternoon. All the big companies like Edmonson, Strada, etc., they're struggling for people. Strada will even take people with zero knowledge, train them, give them a company van and send them out.

quote:

Originally posted by satch:

quote:

Originally posted by Hamden106:
Measure twice. Cut once.

. I got it wrong,now I know why the boards don’t fit.

Board stretcher

quote:

Originally posted by Beancooker:
No one wants to drive a truck because the job isn’t prestigious and one that all you’re millennial friends will look up to, even if you’re pulling down north of $100k.

And because companies are working so hard at automating trucking that human drivers will quite possibly be defunct before a new driver today hits retirement, so it's not exactly a solid long term career choice.

Plus, everyone I've known who was a long haul trucker has hated it, and either got out of trucking completely or switched to something like local runs only once they get enough seniority. "Rolling jail cell" is a description I've heard more than once.

I choose a great career (not so much now with LE defunding) but I wish I had had the foresight to go into a trade instead of wasting my time in college. Something to fall back on...just in case. Electrician would have been my choice.

If carpentry is his choice, find out if a local business is offering apprenticeships to see it's for him. The PBS show "This Old House" promotes an apprenticeship program. It might be worth looking into.

https://www.thisoldhouse.com/t...-how-to-get-involved

https://www.thisoldhouse.com/c...prenticeship-program

quote:

Originally posted by XLT:
Don't do it. it's miserable cut throat job that is back breaking work, especially framing. time is everything how fast can you get it done for the cheapest price and trust me somebody else will do it cheaper and faster.

I would steer him into becoming an electrician, there is a huge demand and the pay scale is so much better. I kick myself daily wishing I would have made the move when I was younger, several friends of mine are electricians on the high end of the pay scale in industrial controls one is making 250k a year the other 180. I have a huge over head in my cabinet shop and have to deal with the general public daily. it's no fun lifting 90 lb sheets of plywood everyday and you make one mistake and your doing it over for free.

I would never do it again.

Me either. The guy who bought my business when I retired only lasted about 6 years. My son, who worked with me, then took it over. He lasted about the same. Now my son works for a big granite business running the wholesale glass shop. He said we were in the wrong business from the get-go. The granite shop has grown into a huge operation specializing in high-end stuff and is killing it. Everything: new buildings and raw materials, is paid off. Ah well.

I wasn't an Electrician , but I was in the electrical industry for 40 years . High voltage substation maintenance for utility companies . PLENTY of work all over the country and the pay is great .
Around here carpenters are not hard to come by unless you have the skills for high end work .

First off its good that he wants to be in the trades. College isnt for everyone.

I can tell you from my construction experience working in the cold sucks. Working in extreme heat sucks too. He will need to prepare for that.

Tooling gets expensive. Typically a carpenter expands into a roofer and a sider. Its hard to say no to extra work.

I also recommend the electrician route. If he get into the union its good money.

When I think of being a carpenter I think woodworking not the other building trades.

Maybe just start out as hobby like the rest of us.
Get a job to support yourself and do the carpentry on the side or for yourself.
At least until you get enough experience, get good enough to have a real specialized skill.
I can see doing this vs a mass-production construction type job.

I guess if you are already decent but lack experience there is a possibility of an apprentice for a cabinet maker or similar.
Most of us hobbyists who do woodworking consider that more of an art than being an electrician, dry-wall hanger or whatever.
Not that those jobs aren't important but IMO a lot less satisfying and less creative.

The question is: is it about the quest for the passion or a means to an end monetarily?
Those paths could be entirely different.

YMMV

Illegal alien labor performs many of the trade jobs here. Framing, drywall, roof, concrete, brick/stone, tile and carpet.


Electrical work hasn’t been affected as much because of licensing requirements. Lots of new construction plumbing work is by alien “helpers” overseen or inspected by licensed plumbers. At least we hope they are.

Trades here were decimated years ago by cheap labor.

Electricians and plumbers can still make a good living.

I have a minority interest in a home remodeling business . The business has evolved into fine carpentry and specialty projects. The managing primary owner had almost 20 years in rehabbing single family residences into high end rentals. Current projects range from a complicated sound proofing for a home studio to a rehab of a 100 year old 4500 sq foot mansion. My advice is get with a speciality remodeler with a good reputation.

Last night I spoke with my father regarding this thread, and I also mentioned that I will probably be going back to the trades since I cannot get an LE agency to give me a second look.

The first thing he said was go electrician, or go to the data cabling side of the electrical trade. He also stated that if he could do it again he would not have went into the Carpenters union but into the electrician union.

I spent this weekend looking at Pile Drivers, millwrights and the elevator trade.

The biggest thing I was looking at is what trade is the most consistent in working year round.

I am not sure where the OP friend lives but I know in Hampton Roads they are starting a massive five year bridge and tunnel project and hiring for every trade from apprentice to journeyman.

Thank you for all of the imput. I passed it all along and he was very appreciative. My son in law works on elevators and has consistent work with good money.