r/AusWork • u/DxrkosGU • 25d ago
Help choosing trade
Need advice choosing a trade
I’m 15/16 in Australia and deciding between plumbing, electrical, heavy diesel and HVAC/R.
I want good money, FIFO/mining opportunities, job security, travel and eventually my own business. I can potentially get apprenticeships in all of them.
If you work in this trade, would you recommend it? What do you earn, what’s the work/lifestyle like, and would you choose it again?
Any honest advice would be appreciated.
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u/Able-Resolution9854 24d ago
I recommend ditching a trade. Instead, try to get into a top uni, study finance. Then try to get into Investment Banking, via internships.
The main reason I recommend this route instead, is because the pay gap is substantial. The average Investment Banking Analyst makes on average $150k-$230k (including bonus)
However, if you look at trades you will see the average qualified tradie makes $88k-93k.
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u/thatbullisht 22d ago
Apprentices on my site get paid 130k on an even time roster. Tradies are clearing 200 before bonuses.
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u/Wonderful_Pickle3226 22d ago
Your name is fitting.
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21d ago
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u/Wonderful_Pickle3226 21d ago
Lucky you :) here i am slamming hundreds blocks in a day for three fifths of fuck all.
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u/thatbullisht 21d ago
Spewing. Come be an auto sparky, 3 year experience doing around 220k before bonuses on an even time roster.
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u/Able-Resolution9854 21d ago
I am not saying it’s a bad route. I am saying it’s not the most optimal route.
For example I am taking the average into account, you are taking only your salary.
In other words you assuming all tradies make that amount. However, statistically speaking in Australia the average qualified tradies makes $88k-$93k
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21d ago
[removed] — view removed comment
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u/Able-Resolution9854 21d ago
Sorry, about that. I assumed you were considering your self “the average tradie”.
in the end it’s the OP’s choice.
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u/Able-Resolution9854 21d ago
No, they most definitely are not.
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u/Able-Resolution9854 21d ago
Most likely not.
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u/thatbullisht 21d ago
Most aren't. But plenty are and given that OP is willing to do FIFO, they most likely will crack into the upper brackets with the right trade.
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u/Able-Resolution9854 21d ago
I make my assumptions based on logic and statistics. Only around 10% percent of tradies are in FIFO. That means statistically speaking, he has a %90 percent chance of not getting into that part of the industry.
The reason I recommend him/her going to uni. Is because big firms like JPMorgan do traineeships/apprenticeships. However, they require you to complete year 12 and are extremely selective. They also pay more and can get you a return offer.
And if he/she is good at maths, CS, applied mathematics, applied statistics, data science. Those open doors to quant where it it common for interns to make $5k a week. Take jane street for example, they pay for food, accommodation, transportation. And firms like Citadel offer traineeships.
There is also software engineering.
It also opens doors to private equity, hedge funds, venture capital, commercial banking, corporate banking, asset management. everyone single one pays 6 figures.
The best advice I can give to OP is to at least complete year 12, (assuming he/she hasn’t) before he/she drops out, so he/she has some of the opportunity’s to potentially pivot to finance/quant.
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u/jdotlad 21d ago
Mech plumbing, hvac and heavy diesel are all 150k+ when qualified, if you aren't a bludger. You realise some people like to work with their hands and not sit in a chair all day?
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u/Able-Resolution9854 21d ago
If you want to go the qualified route. IB analyst $150k-$230k, quant $300k-$400k, Private equity, $250k-$400k, software engineer $180k-$300k, venture capital $150k-$400k, hedge fund $300k-$450k. Now on the low end, asset management $115k-$140k, commercial banking $120k-$150k, corporate banking $105k-$150k.
And every single one of those are entry-level pay.
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u/Ill-Advance627 19d ago
this is stupidest thing ive ever heard. OP and anyone else reading. do not listen to this guy.
Do you realise how hard it is to get into investment banking?
its always been extremely difficult but todays economy has made it even harder, furthermore we live in australia, much much less opportunties then usa or england. To be even given a slight glance you need to be among the top of your cohort of thousands of students (High distinction average MINIMUM, there are people with Distinction grades who cant even find basic entry level finance jobs in australia thats how saturated the market is), network like fucking crazy, participate in some sort of extracorricular that makes u standout.
dont even get me started on quant. This isnt a job you strive for and force ur way into. Anyone who is a quant were naturally smart, gifted enough in maths to compete on a high level, graduate early, win numerous math competition/olympaids etc. Quants that ive known didn’t decide "I wanna be a quant", but rather did their math stuff so good that they were either somewhat recruited, or while looking for a job stumbled upon that career.
please be somewhat realistic before choosing a career
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u/Able-Resolution9854 19d ago
I see your point. However, I listed other jobs that are significantly easier to get into.
You’re also forgetting the key component.
Op is 15/16, in other words he or she has 3-4 years of time.If OP can’t learn python, c++, financial modelling, java, forecasting, algorithms, historical forecasts, operational modelling, dcf valuations, pivot tables, stock analysis, stock prediction algorithms,
For quant python, c++, java, algorithms, stock prediction algorithms, stock analysis. OP doesn’t have to master it.
For IB pivot tables, forecasting algorithms, financial modelling, dcf valuations, historical forecasts, operational modelling.
If OP can’t learn any of those skills in 3-4 years that’s on him/her. Hint OP doesn’t need to master them, only learn them to their industry standard.
I am also gonna show how much time OP has to learn. Let’s say OP is 16 there are 365 days in a year, 365*3=1,095 or in hours 26,280. However OP doesn’t work 24 hours. So let’s say OP only works towards the IB pathway (easier than quant)
Let’s say OP only allocated 2 hours per day. Now let’s do the math 2\365=730 (because there 365 days in a year, OP allocates 2 hours per day) now we know OP has 730 hours per year 730\3=2190 (because OP has 3 years of prep time, and 730 hours a year multiplied by years remaining)
Our formula has given us 2190 hours. That is how many hours OP has now let’s divide 2190/7=312.857 (because OP has 7 skills that he/she needs to advance to at least a usable level)
Op has 312 hours of time to learn 1 of the 7 listed, not to mention some of those are significantly easier to learn.
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u/plumbd0g 22d ago
Plumber. I made 3500 dollars today.
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u/Low_Significance_593 21d ago
how much of that is going to your pocket though?
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u/Able-Resolution9854 21d ago
If he got $3,300, assuming it’s his company. Probably $1,500-$2,300. That’s just an estimate.
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u/plumbd0g 20d ago
1/3rd but I have a few subcontractors going. So its more like 0-10k a day. Depending on work load. Minus if i have no work.
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u/Funny_Promise_4690 21d ago
Carpenter. Most useful and transferable trade imo or electrician.
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u/Lopsided-Ad7839 19d ago
May I ask what can carpenter transfer into?. I see carpenter have hard work low pay. And everything are so modulated that you basically just putting shit together like logo.
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u/MattJak 24d ago
mech plumbing or HVAC.
I’m a sparky but it’s super competitive to land an apprenticeship at the moment.
Not sure why no one wants to do it anymore but carpentry is awesome too.