per hour wages
In the mid west, Indiana area a union plumber
might make 27 per hour plus benefits.
thats the big dream--the land of milk and honey--
getting on at the union......
its what they all sit around and talk about on Friday afternoon
in a bar somewehre --- its all Beer Talk.....
But this means you do what they tell you to do,
no back talk. what-so-ever...
you show up ON TIME dressed llike a decent human being , not a slob
at 7.30 in the morning ready to work --rain--or shine..
out in an open field, or on a half built building, ect.....
It also means driveing as far as 50 -75 miles from home
useing your own vehicle and your gas , if thats where the job is....
(you got to keep those big benefits on your mind)
They dont want to hear any excuses about how one of your kids is
sick or your car has broke down, your wife is in jail, ect ect....
You have stay off durgs, and stay sober
and be willing to take a drug test at any time....
and you got to pass it too
usually you can expect year round work if you are a decent ,
competent hard working plumber,
if you are a trouble maker, they send you back to the union hall to sit..
for a up to 6 months, or till you quit.
usually the only people that can get in to the unions around here are
related to someone that is already in, or knows someone.
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The average non-union plumber can make anywhere from apprentice
of 10-15 per hour and up to 22-24 for a journneyman..
benefits are an illusion.....its a pipe dream.... BEER TALK again....
NOBODY is gets good benefits anymore...maybe if you are in Congress..
Marry a NURSE and use her insurance for benefits....you are better off.
It takes at least 5 -7 good fun years to get to the 24 dollar level if you can
tolerate it, usually thats with changeing jobs a dozen times along the way.. chaseing after those big BENEFITS....
I guess you will get a good experience working at many different jobs...
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If you do your own thing some day, your own business
a good honest service plumber can charge 65- 90 per hour
in this region for various services.....many charge much more...
I have made more in one day than many make in a month (beer talk??)
and I am grateful for it, but it does come with a price.....
My best advice:
if you are already makeing fairley good money, and
you are already over 30, dont wast your time chaseing
those big plumbing benefits...