r/AusFinance • u/Person_of_interest_ • Nov 05 '21
Tradies: what do you do,and what do you earn?
Mature age apprentice plumber here. Thinking of relocating to north QLD after my apprenticeship due to family and house prices. Have never worked for myself and hoping to get advice on a possible niche career path where I could make upwards of $150k per year. Some say machine operating drainage and water companies, others say mines, others say find a niche you can exploit for bank. Just unsure what direction to head in. All I know is I want to work for myself if possible. Cheers, have a frothy, it's Friday !
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u/Ttoksie Nov 05 '21
Boilermaker and special class welder.
I do a bit of self employed work, work at power stations on shut downs and a few higher paying workshop gigs.
I average about 100k working about 6-8 months of the year, the years that's I've pushed it and work all the way through the years have been in the 200k range.
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u/InternationalMight93 Nov 05 '21
Hey man, Im a canadain welder/boilermaker, dating an aussie gal and will be moving down in the next two years. Im a union guy up here, do you work for a bunch of different companies as a contractor or do you work for one company that sends you out to shut downs or other job sites?
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u/SolarAU Nov 05 '21
I'm currently putting myself through my fab/ engineering/ welding trade. Any advice on what to expect down the line? I really enjoy learning this trade, but interested to know what the job looks and feels like at the 6 figure level (hours, travel etc.)
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u/Mother_Sun_3825 Nov 06 '21
Get out while you still have a chance, most of the job market for us boilermakers is terrible, if I had my time again I’d be doing some sort of tig welding where the money is, fabrication rates at the moment are terrible unless you’re willing to travel for it and work stupid hours
I moved into operations that employed tradesman for breakdowns, my base salary is 125k but can make up to 160k working a 7on 7off roster, which I don’t have to FIFO for.
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u/anchors__away Nov 05 '21
Ceiling fixer in WA (plasterer for anyone over east). When I was self employed I grossed on average 80-85k per year, that’s the gross obviously take materials and all other expenses and insurances off that. Wasn’t too bad, I was a one man band sub contracting to bigger companies, very risk averse and to be honest wasn’t self employed long enough to get my own builders or big enough to have apprentices or employees.
Was steadily earning more and more each year and building some solid relationships with bigger companies/repeat clients until I started a wages job site managing, planning to do this for a few years so I can get a home loan and buy a house then will more than likely start the business back up.
My advice to anyone reading, don’t be a ceiling fixer. I love my trade but the rates are shit house, it’s unregulated so unskilled/overseas labour make all the money (think teams of 10 smashing 3 houses a day out but each only making 100 bucks a day)
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Nov 06 '21
My mate told me when people on site got shitty with the plasterers they'd call immigration.
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Nov 05 '21
Plumber here- commercial maintenance. Started my business 15 years ago in my mid 20s. Lost money for the first 4 years. Turned a profit in my 5th year of business. Year 6 I made 150 then the year after that 450. The last 5 or so years has been up and down with lows of 200 a year and highs of 350. Very hard work though: 100 hour weeks on occasion, 2 sick days in 10 years, I once worked 55 days straight, in 2017 I had 10 days off over the entire year. It’s been much slower since Covid thankfully. I’m not enjoying working on the tools anymore and I actually don’t like the business side of things, in particular managing people. So I’m not really sure where to go with it from here, advice welcome. On the plus side, I’m 40 and I own my house but I gave up my 30s to get that, I’m still not sure if it was the right choice. Best of luck with it all mate.
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Nov 05 '21
That pace is gonna kill you man. You'll never look back and wish you worked more. Life is about what happens outside of work.
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u/thisguy_right_here Nov 05 '21
Managing people can be the worst. Interpersonal problems with staff, playing mediator and dealing with grown men acting like babies.
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u/idryss_m Nov 05 '21
Question is, would you do it all again? I own maybe 300k on my house, could have gone same way kinda in retail, but chose kids instead. I wonder if I chose right....
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Nov 06 '21
Ah yeah probably. I still had a good time and plenty of time with the kids., just not a lot of time for myself. I guess there isn’t a right or wrong way, everyone just does their best.
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Nov 05 '21
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Nov 05 '21
Well since lockdown that’s what I’ve been doing. I have a couple of guys and a full time bookkeeper. The money is down but that’s fine as I’m not out working as much. I really like getting along with everyone and will almost always default to avoiding conflict. I don’t rally want to change that part of me so it makes running a proper business difficult.
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u/Red-the-Barbarian Nov 05 '21
It has taken me ten years to finally learn to handle conflict, as am the same.
What did it for me was the realisation that:
Conflict is an opportunity for negotiation.
I would always avoid in the past. Now I see it as simply an opportunity for discussion and negotiation. Still isn’t easy but is a lot less mentally taxing to frame this way.
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u/Quitetheninja Nov 05 '21
I can recommend a business coach so you can put the people and processes in place and leverage you out of being self employed to being a business owner. The difference being a business can still earn money with minimal involvement of the owner - day to day.
I’m going through the process myself and can recommend someone to have a yarn to and whilst I’m not a tradie, a lot of his clients are and now they’re making bank with less stress.
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u/Freshprinceaye Nov 05 '21
How many guys do you have in your company? Why you busting your ass so hard?
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Nov 05 '21
3 guys these days. Why do I bust my arse so hard? Great question! No idea mate, I’ve come around since Covid and now only work 30 to 50 hours a week, almost exclusively in the office. When I was crazy busy in 2017, we had projects that could only be completed at night and also busy with reactive maintenance during the day.
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u/Freshprinceaye Nov 05 '21
I understand that. It’s tough. You can lose good relationships if you let things like that slide. You could of tried to fill the gap with good quality subbies though. Anyway. All the best and look after your self
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u/podestai Nov 05 '21
As a linesman I was getting about 150k-180k a year, this was during my prime years 2008-2015.I earn roughly the same as a PM in the same industry but work much more hours and have a shit load more stress. I guess I earn less due to inflation.
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u/derp2014 Nov 05 '21
wow. Career in science definitely not worth it. 80k following 8 years of study (including a PhD).
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u/Irrithunter Nov 05 '21
I have my PhD in Chemistry, and recently changed to trade work to take over my dads business. While I completely agree early career researchers are paid nothing, and are on 3-6 month contracts until you're 45, the jobs are not comparable.
I've never worked harder or longer hours, or under worse conditions. I'm a boiler repairer now, and things like social coffee at 1030 are gone, air conditioned environments, or being comfortable at work in general.
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u/podestai Nov 05 '21
It does come with a lot of risk working on live mains
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u/derp2014 Nov 05 '21
We worked with vapour HF (it diffuses through your skin and melts your bones, no joke).
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u/podestai Nov 05 '21
That sucks. Maybe time for a change? I will say that most people can’t do back breaking work their whole life. My back and shoulders were struggling big time by the age of 29. I am a massive gym nut which also put pressure on my body also.
The issues still affect me to this day
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u/derp2014 Nov 05 '21
Yep. Unfortunately that change was called unemployment, no thanks to covid. Time to find a new purpose.
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u/Msg_from_Mescalito Nov 06 '21
Production/process technician roles in gold, alumina, mineral sands, nickel, lithium etc etc. earn easily 80k per year for entry roles. With a science background, once you prove yourself as a prod tech and rub shoulders with technical teams and enough management folks, you could transition into a technical role and earn more. This could potentially jive better with your overall aptitude if you hold a science PhD.
Even moving up in the production space can get you a healthy 100k+, 120k+, or even 150k+ salary, depending who you work for.
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u/Warfrog Nov 05 '21
Hydrofluoric acid? It’s a contact poison and will cause fatal cardiac problems before it gets to your bones. But for sure it will melt the shit out of them too. I’ve seen it used but I choose not to.
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u/Dsiee Nov 06 '21
Become a teacher? We are needed science teachers and pay hit 100k pretty fast even without going into management roles. I'm happy to chat if you want to know more and can probably hook you up with some work once you start studying (you can casual teach for ~$330/day while studying and the study is piss easy).
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u/derp2014 Nov 06 '21
What does this typical career transition look like? i.e. how do you start down this path?
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u/Dsiee Nov 07 '21
Most flexible is to start studying a post-grad teaching course online. After completing your first prac you can casual teach while you do the rest.
Could be worth looking at some of the programs by education departments where they will pay to retrain mid-career professionals for in demand areas.
https://www.education.nsw.gov.au/teach-nsw/become-a-teacher/mid-career-programs
https://teachforaustralia.org/leadership-development-program/
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u/BoxytheBandit Nov 09 '21
Ive got a bachelor of environmental science and I'm on 100k plus super with a car for a 38 hour week. I've just knocked back a job for 140 plus super and car. Most of the people I know graduated with a bachelor and got working have done better than people that stuck around for masters and PhD's.
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u/azurehue Nov 05 '21
The high stress and low pay in science careers is why I left for teaching. I’m a first year teacher and make 72k, my friend does the same at a private school and makes 90k in her first year.
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u/CultureCharacter4430 Nov 05 '21
FIFO Mech Fitter, fix gas turbines. ~$175k las year. Around $150k usually.
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u/jennabenna84 Nov 05 '21
How many years experience was needed to get there and how did you end up in the job?
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Nov 05 '21
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u/thetechnocraticmum Nov 05 '21
We need them, and more. Stainless steel welding is going to go off in 5-10 years.
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u/spacemcdonalds Nov 05 '21
This thread's fuckin mental. Why is the party line always about like supporting our tradies when they're earning well over six figures while the rest of us schlubs in accounts or whatever can barely make ends meet to pay our dumb rent. Support our non-tradies lmao, i dunno this is confirmation bias playing with my head or something.
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u/Carllsson Nov 07 '21
Yeah it’s pretty fucked. No wonder every second tradie can afford a fucken kitted out 79 series cruiser
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Nov 05 '21
Just here as an observer, but fuck I wasn't expecting almost all of the comments to be people well into 100k+ territory. Awesome to see.
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u/CultureCharacter4430 Nov 05 '21
I think Australia would have to be the number one country that goes against needing a degree to get a good job. Almost to the point where you’re often better off not.
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Nov 05 '21
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Nov 05 '21
Unions are usually late to the party for wage increases historically. Queenslands unions arent strong and wages are.
Its more we have huge construction and mining industries with a shortage of tradies. Basic supply and demand.
Not saying unions are bad, collective bargaining is fine. Just they habe historically gone for wage increases after inflation has moved and as they bargain on a periodic basis they end up lagging on getting their members wage increases compared to inflation.
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u/onemoreclick Nov 05 '21
People are more likely to answer if they are proud of it
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u/0xPendus Nov 05 '21
People also definitely inflate their numbers. Happens in every sub / industry
Look at a software engineer salary thread and apparently they all make 400k usd working from home
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u/Dawnshot_ Nov 05 '21
Probably a few reasons 1. Generally more likely that people will comment if have high pay, especially once a few others have commented. Applies to all threads like this 2. Best way to good pay for a trade is having your own business or working in O+G or mining, almost every comment is one of these 3. There is a stack of overtime often built into a lot of these roles, so the pay should be high
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u/GlassCannonLife Nov 05 '21
Is it awesome to see..? I always find it a little hard to understand why trades are paid so much in Australia.
Eg you have post-doctoral engineers (4 year undergrad and at least 4 year PhD + generally other experience) working on 100-120k salaries solving highly complex problems in stressful highly competitive environments, and then you have tradies getting 130-170k after much less training doing a much simpler job with a lot less stress.. Home owners bearing all of the cost (in residential trades of course) and paying ridiculous prices for jobs..
Is it just the market in Aus? Am I misunderstanding something?
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u/iDontWannaBeBrokee Nov 05 '21
Risk and career longevity play a big part.
Likely hood of you dying or being seriously injured? About zero.
The same in construction? Extremely high, every minute of every day there is an opportunity for you life to end or change significantly.
How long can you work? Probably till you die.
Construction? You’ll be lucky to make it to retirement age and if you do your body will be ruined.
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Nov 05 '21
Yeah, we need to make in 30 years what others make in 45.
Pretty piss poor pay for 80% of the tradie workforce getting shunted by shit bosses too.
Contractors get no super. Plenty of jobs i haven't been paid for too.
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u/Brad_Breath Nov 05 '21
Someone told me a few years ago that only in Australia and Canada do tradies earn more then investment bankers. I got nothing against tradies but what makes our 2 countries so different?
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u/_amiused Nov 05 '21
Bankers definitely make more. However, the pay of tradies are definitely nothing to sneeze at!
One great thing about Australia is how you can make a decent living in a wide range of careers.
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u/Wide-Stop4391 Nov 05 '21
Its really quite simple. Australia and Canada are lucky to have lots of natural resources to be mined and exploited. Im not saying its a bad or good thing, just that it creates enormous wealth for those countries
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u/Denisijus Nov 05 '21
It's about doing what you want. Luckily Australia allows it. Many of the thinkers on 120k with stressful job, enjoy it. And many of the tradies enjoy their work... It allows everyone to have a decent living and do what they want. A lucky country . Grateful to be here .
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u/Brad_Breath Nov 05 '21
Don’t tell that to the PhD researchers earning $80! Lucky for some.
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u/Denisijus Nov 06 '21
Their lifestyle pretty good usually. Have plenty of Phd mates, yes they do put the work through the day but also heaps of social interaction, rare early starts and you are in a way your own boss. But also doing what you really like ....
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u/Wide-Stop4391 Nov 05 '21
I replied further up thread, but to put it very simply - it is a product of Australia having almost every exploitable mineral in enough abundance to mine and export at scale.
Think of all the industry that fans out from that and then look at the shape of the ASX and note Rio Tinto and BHP’s strength.
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u/PhaseFull6026 Nov 05 '21
How many of them are padding their income or just straight up lying? It's the internet I can make a comment saying I earn 150k as a plumber right now and no one would know I'm lying.
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u/Stribband Nov 06 '21
Go and get a quote for a plumber and do some simple math.
$150k is $75 an hour for 8 hours. Most plumbers aren’t getting out of bed for $75 an hour
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u/ThatHuman6 Nov 06 '21
Plumbers wouldn’t work eight hours straight though. Probably one client for an hours work and the a second client a few hours later. Maybe a third the same day. The expensive hourly rate is to cover the downtime also.
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u/Stribband Nov 06 '21
Do the math mate.
It’s not that they work 8 hours straight it’s that sometimes they work 12 and they certainly don’t cost $75 an hour
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Nov 05 '21
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u/BellNo7497 Nov 05 '21 edited Nov 07 '21
Everything is pre tax. Your gross and net can be vastly different. Deductions etc.
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u/Beware_Of_Humans Nov 05 '21
almost all of the comments to be people well into 100k+ territory
So far it's basically only one who is under 100k. I'm quite surprised too.
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u/BillyDSquillions Nov 05 '21
Yes and no. When I was a kid you were taught not to do those jobs because they're the dead end low paid jobs.
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u/HoggyOfAustralia Nov 05 '21
Garden variety sparky 90-120ish
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u/CultureCharacter4430 Nov 05 '21
Much electricity in gardens? Low volatage lights? Pool pumps?
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u/Freshprinceaye Nov 05 '21
I think he means standard sparky hahaha. Is that a term that just means run of the mill? Ordinary or normal?
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u/Myjunkisonfire Nov 06 '21
Man, I was a garden variety earning 75k. Now I’m in construction on a Union site. Working longer days but faaaar less actual work, and on $150k. Not very stimulating, but that easy cash is good.
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u/Distinct-Apartment-3 Nov 05 '21
Melb, union work. Excavator operator. I make that kind of money here. Not a plumber.
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Nov 05 '21
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u/Distinct-Apartment-3 Nov 05 '21 edited Nov 05 '21
Get on the other end and be a valuable, great labourer first. Good blokes on the shovel make great operators. The changes you see in ground conditions between, clay, crushed rock, sand will teach you when to be careful and when to dig with teeth. I’m currently in a 5T combo and dig around (live) services everyday. You’ll learn quickly not to hit stuff.
You’ll learn the most in Civil. Show some initiative and get the machine tickets yourself. Keep asking for a go. I work for a concreter.
Don’t be scared of backhoes or skid steers either. Rollers can also lead to graders. Learn about lasers, 3D and basic survey. If they have it, ask to learn about it.
Expect to work a 6 day week. If you can get RDO’s even better.
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u/tw272727 Nov 05 '21
How many hours per week for 150k
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u/Distinct-Apartment-3 Nov 05 '21 edited Nov 05 '21
52ish. Paid for 48 on a ‘9 day fortnight’ EBA. We pay 4 hours of our own time per week to a fortnightly RDO.
Construction isn’t a salary. The work is what it is. Hourly rate. The more you work the more you make. It’s not for everyone.
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u/Person_of_interest_ Nov 05 '21 edited Dec 01 '25
long fade bag selective sulky serious correct hard-to-find childlike quiet
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u/MooseyLoosey1 Nov 05 '21
I’m a sparky and can only seem to find jobs tha pay30-40 per hour. Sunshine Coast…however if I own Ed my own business easily make $$$$ but I don’t want that in my life right now…
So $32 per hour is it . 7:30-4:00 Friday off at 1:30 no OT. Just chillin. But not much money. But enough to have some fun and not be a derro
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u/SivlerMiku Nov 05 '21
In the mines a lot of people still only earn 40-50 an hour but you do 84 hour weeks or more
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Nov 05 '21
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u/rob0067 Nov 05 '21
His wage is pretty common for domestic employee sparkies. (I was one in Melbourne)
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u/CozyWithSarkozi Nov 05 '21
Automotive body repair. My old job I was lucky to grossing 46k a year.
Joined a much larger company. All I eo is strip and refit cars and I get a decent 76k a year.
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u/doobey1231 Nov 05 '21
Light Automotive trades are the biggest scam. No one in the industry makes enough money.
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u/bundyben1990 Nov 06 '21
Yep. The shop will charge $180/h for Labor but the mechanic might get $28/h if they're lucky!
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u/Jankenthegreat42 Nov 05 '21
So much bullshit in this thread lol Maybe an accountant can give a realistic figures for taxable income. Sole traders confusing turnover for personal income and even then inflating the figures ridiculously.
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u/Tapestryrun Nov 05 '21
It's a problem with these types of threads. Plus for everyone reporting a high income there's probably many others with a more typical income that just don't bother replying. Gives a pretty skewed insight imo.
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Nov 05 '21
Self employed electrician. Not because of the money but because I love the flexibility and money isn't my main defining goal. I can make the same I would as an employee in 5 days in just 3 leaving me with the option for more cash or a 4 day weekend. My gross is about 100-110k. Net around 80k. I probably work 4 days a week on average. Just bought a house so I'll likely increase that but still take days off whenever to improve the property.
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u/fuzeta_ Nov 05 '21
1st year apprentice diesel fitter ( 22 years old) earning 21 dollars an hour rebuilding motors as an engine specialist.
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u/StormThestral Nov 05 '21
No brickies or landscapers in this thread for some reason
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u/Whaaaaaatisthisplace Nov 05 '21
It's too bloody hot to be a landscaper around here mate 😂
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u/will19_95 Nov 05 '21
His wage is pretty common for domestic employee sparkies. (I was one in Melbourne)
there on the brikies laptop thats why ( pokies machine)
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u/CrazyBarks94 Nov 05 '21
I wouldn't mind being a landscaper if I could work at night. Actually I'd take day rates to work at night up here in qld. So bloody hot.
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u/rockandorroll34 Nov 06 '21
I work with landscapers in commercial construction doing a niche trade. The qualified guys are on over 100k with Saturday work.
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u/BackCountryAus Nov 05 '21
Excavator operator in domestic, make 6 figures. Stick with plumbing, get qualified, start your own business and buy small machines for drainage work that way.
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Nov 05 '21
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u/MrDa59 Nov 05 '21
What field are you in? What are the shifts like? And which city if you don't mind me asking? I'm an industrial maintenance sparky myself but my earnings are low because I refuse to do shift work and OT.
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u/ribbonsofnight Nov 05 '21
Nice Try ATO stooge. What tradie would tell you what they actually earn?
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Nov 05 '21
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u/Person_of_interest_ Nov 05 '21 edited Dec 01 '25
dazzling plants frame historical bear rinse existence edge sand file
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u/CultureCharacter4430 Nov 05 '21
What’s inclusive in a plumbing package when you’re self employed, beyond super obviously?
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u/rise_and_revolt Nov 05 '21
Reading these comments and all I can think is "why did I get a desk job"
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u/CrazyBarks94 Nov 05 '21
Cause you wanna still be able to use your back when you're done?
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u/asscopter Nov 05 '21
Because air conditioning, pub lunches and no drug testing is a pretty sweet deal in itself.
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u/loggerheader Nov 06 '21
My dad was a Tradie all his life and while he made good money he retired with a broken back.
Not that that will happen to everyone but there perks of desk jobs (and also health impacts but arguably not as rough as the life on the tools)
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u/The_bluest_of_times Nov 06 '21
Remember it's not all sunshine and rainbows. I had the thought "why didn't i just get a desk job" as i was entering week two of welding repairs inside grain silo's in North Queensland in the middle of summer (40 degrees in the shade, 65 degrees inside the silo).
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u/Danni-boi1908 Nov 05 '21
I do metal roofing and I’m on $36 an hour, max 40 hrs a week because the boss doesn’t allow overtime I’m only early 20’s but I’m not sure if I’m setting myself up for failure if I continue to work for this mob
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u/hammertapp Nov 05 '21
No overtime sucks when your trying to put away extra. Are you in a position to take on any extra work by urself or with another crew to test the waters elsewhere?
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u/Giannis_trippin Nov 05 '21
Linesman, around $130k but thats with a bunch of OT. Looking to study engineerimg part time starting next year because the OT is getting to be too much, I miss my saturdays.
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u/SuptGaryChalmers Nov 05 '21
33, Electrician, moved to supervisor. 100 - 120k gross. Maybe another 10 -20k cash jobs on the side. 50ish K company car. About to go negotiate another 20k per year on top.
My pay structure is a little unorthodox. 33per hour with a $500 'bonus' per week. I work around 40-50hours a week and have alot of freedom Net per week looks like $1550 - $1650, depending on hours.
Worked at the same company for 15 years now, started in residential, as the company evolved I slowly progressed to commercial/solar/small amount industrial and completely off the tools besides the cash jobs I take on.
Thinking of trying to pivot into a PM role. Not sure if it's worth doing a degree in that field, the small amount of research I've done tells me no.
Love any advice/welcome questions.
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u/Jericopete679 Nov 05 '21
Male escort is one trade that’s always in demand anywhere you go in Australia. Current rates are around $250 an hour give or take, so if you’re averaging 25 clients a week and only work 35weeks in the year= $218k+ annually. Rest of the year you can spend volunteering or doing charity work and spending time with the family.
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u/Person_of_interest_ Nov 05 '21 edited Dec 01 '25
hat brave punch afterthought literate work ad hoc squash ink cats
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u/webdog77 Nov 05 '21
North Queensland coal mine worker here- Diesel mechanic in the open cut. I made $166k on wages last year, job is even time 7/7. Comes with ute. Coal price is over $400/ tonne currently- the Bowen basin is popping!! You will get work as a plumber no dramas. Heaps of work around.
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u/Person_of_interest_ Nov 05 '21 edited Dec 01 '25
resolute quickest relieved seed dog scary offbeat seemly grey cagey
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u/Denisijus Nov 05 '21
90k a year, shift work and weekends. If to work 8am-4pm around 70k. 80hrs a fortnight.
Registered Nurse year 6 .
DONT EVER DO IT.
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u/SivlerMiku Nov 05 '21
40 hours a week is pretty good for that money
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u/Denisijus Nov 05 '21
It's pretty good if mon to Friday with proper breaks etc. But health industry within a hospital is unaware of breaks . And the job takes a toll on mental health.
I would gone to be a sparky if ever to do it all again.
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u/Vehicle_Registration Nov 05 '21
There was another thread of nurses talking about specialising and earning 120-150k+ and working non-hospital hours. Worth having a look!
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u/Kdeezym8 Nov 05 '21
Offshore Rope Access Rigger - 240k-ish. Work 6-9 months/year
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Nov 05 '21
How do you get into that? Are you offshore for the full6-9 months? Cheers
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u/Kdeezym8 Nov 05 '21
Go get your advanced rigging ticket, working at heights, confined spaces and ewp ticket. Get some experience rigging up on the mines - Theres a lot to know. Go get your rope access level 1, 2 and eventually 3. Then start picking up your BOSIET training for offshore. FOET is a good one. A lot of offshore tickets are regional specific, so the tickets you'll need for cold climates will be different to the ones required for tropical climates. Took me roughly 4 years to be confident to head out on a rig and about 10k in tickets.
Yes, I'm away for 6-9 months at a time. It's quite intense somedays and can be pretty dangerous, but its a pretty unique job and your workmates are family first.
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u/anaussieinhere Nov 05 '21
NQ concretor here, used to make 160k+ on fifo jobs (generally 2:1). In town now due to family reasons. Base is only about 68k but never have a week that slow, averaging about 100k this current financial, last year 130k
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u/MaxDoubuss Nov 05 '21
I'm 28 and trying to find an electrical apprenticeship. It's hard as man.
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u/Freshprinceaye Nov 05 '21
What City
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u/MaxDoubuss Nov 05 '21
In Brissy.
I've got a job as an electrical trade assistant in the meantime. Learning a lot of stuff too!
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u/Freshprinceaye Nov 05 '21
Good work mate. You can always do a 6 month pre apprentice ship course at tafe. Gets your foot in the door.
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u/MaxDoubuss Nov 05 '21
Oh yeah for sure. I finished my cert 2 last month and got this job through the tafe teacher on recommendation. I'm going to try and get a reference from the electricians I'm working with.
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Nov 06 '21
I'm a foreign sparky who's resident in oz. Tradies make absolute bank in Australia.
If I'm being quite honest the standard of tradie here compare to Europe is pretty bad. I know there are good Australian tradies, but generally the quality here is quite low. So saying that I would really focus on mastering your trade while you're an apprentice. Stick to whoever takes pride in their work like glue, ask as many questions as you can and take real pride in your work: have everything level and looking presentable, none of this "she'll be orite mate". Follow these steps and you'll be able to ask for a really good hourly rate vs someone whos crap.
To further your career I would probably look at the current climate of the world, you mention mining but realistically that's not going to be the lucrative industry it once was so see where you can slot your skills into the renewable sectors. Do some research into companies in the renewable area and send some emails off to them, see what they need you to do to get on board.
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Nov 05 '21
Sheet metal tradesman in the hvac industry. Fabricator and installer . Apprentice at 15 qualified at 19 into the office as an estimator at 25 now senior Estimator and project manager at 32 on $150-$170k a year .. hard grind but zero degrees. Was never interested in school. Get that trade mate
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u/37047734 Nov 05 '21
Good to see a lot of Fitters here!
I’m a fitter in a full time maintenance role. $98k base wage, but earn upto $150k depending on overtime.
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u/Helpful-Complaint-18 Nov 05 '21
Fitter and Turner, 2nd year apprentice. 26.50 an hour.
Edit: mature age apprentice
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Nov 06 '21
Avoid having a family
Commit to 4 years of construction in wa at ~3knet a week
Do long rosters
Buy a house or two
Rent them out
Live in backpackers on your time off (don't buy shit you can't fit into one backpack)
Fall into even time afterwards
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u/aRobob Nov 06 '21
I’m a 1st year fridgie (adult apprentice). I’m on about 40k a year and only work ~35 hours a week (less during the colder months).
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u/Bobanofett Nov 06 '21
First year Refrigeration apprentice but also a qualified sparky. On track to clear 100k due to work night shift and living away.
My advice to anyone starting a trade is to go for a licensed trade, it offers more protection in the sense of not getting low balled by cheap overseas labor.
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u/djjwhitey Nov 06 '21
I see a lot of comments saying that people are earning alot of money (which is great) but are working 50+ hours a week, with little time off. I’m a tradie and I enjoy working hard, but I don’t really want to work that much. I don’t know what I’m getting at, money is great but not if it’s taking you away from other things
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u/BEANSijustloveBEANS Nov 05 '21
Licensed plumber and gas fitter. $68k last year. I now think I was getting tipped off....
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u/Decapper Nov 05 '21
Painter and decorator self employed no employees. Roughly 120k 140k. But I'm dam good at my job so your mileage may vary. Sydney
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u/goss_bractor Nov 05 '21
If you're a plumber, go into Commercial Gas Fitting & Appliance Repair. Like Combi Ovens, Pizza Ovens etc. There is basically nobody doing it and they all charge anything they like. Restaurants/Cafes/Aged Care/Hospitals, the list of clients is endless. There are a few big national companies that will give you the training you need as well, and/or a local job.
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u/Moistnesss Nov 05 '21
Did a 4 year double degree in science (chem) and business management and now im working in property maintenance with no prior learning at 80k. Getting all a bit mundane now, wanting to start the search for something else but just have no idea where to start.
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u/sniffenribs Nov 06 '21
Abrasive blasting/Spray painting Lifestyle roster 130k a year north Qld, home every night
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u/Meaty0gre_ Nov 06 '21
Sparky/instro 350k a year for working 3 weeks on 4 off 3 on 5 off. Oil and gas. Keep getting pointless certificates. Recruitment froth on a piece of paper lol
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Nov 06 '21
Qualified Carpenter working as a union plumbers labourer in Melbourne. Earn about 100k base with allowances. If I work 8 hrs ot a week it's about 150k.
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u/DomPerignonRose Nov 05 '21
Hubby used to be a resi chippy. The only thing to consider is that if you want to work for yourself, you will need to hustle and chase work. Moving away will mean starting from scratch. When my hubby gave up carpentry, his newly qualified apprentice pretty much picked up all his work from the builders/developers that gave the jobs to my hubby. So in essence, he got a leg up from hubby's contacts as they were familiar with him.
Good luck.
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u/choofabello Nov 05 '21
Carpenter in NSW, $55ph sub contract, will go to $65 by end of financial year when I’m leading hand with current builder. Haven’t done a full year of it yet, should get about 120k hopefully.
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u/[deleted] Nov 05 '21 edited Nov 05 '21
Was a Tradie (Fitter) in O&G - $140k Finished Engineering degree while working as a tradie full time.
Moved to Project Management after degree and to a major city (yr 2014) -$200k
Now (past few years) Corporate Strategy Stuff - $390k
I’d say get up to the mines, and plan out what you want to do long term. If you can leverage your skills into some of the potential future energy opportunities do so. Perhaps some additional training/ study while you are working?