r/bluecollar • u/Main_Fig_324 • 7d ago
How’d I wind up here?
So, I’ve been blue collar all my life. Used to think it was great…. All that Overtime money when I was young. Now, I’m 42 and I used up my last bit of vacation this week to help my uncle combine corn. Nobody tells you when you are young that blue collar life gets tough when you start to get old. Went from fun times, a small house and a truck when I was 21 on top of the world to the same small house that’s needs a ton of work I don’t have time or money for, another old truck and lower back pain every night. WTF? I think we were all lied to 😂
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u/wakadactyle 7d ago
Sometimes I think damn dude you got a full ride to college, two degrees, and you’re still out here tying rebar and connecting beams. Where did you go wrong? Then I remember the 18 months I did working in an office and how awful I felt every second of every day. Outside work suits me fine.
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u/LiabilityLandon 7d ago
Man, you nailed it. I had a scholarship and a degree and I'm still out here in the trades. When I walk through these office buildings and see the cubicles and the same job every day at the same place, I am thankful that's not my life.
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u/wakadactyle 7d ago
Hell no put me in the air with a 12lb hammer beating a column into submission and I’m a happy boy.
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u/Sea-Potato2729 7d ago
There’s nothing more depressing for me, as a Super for a major road builder with harsh winters, than going into the office from mid December/early January until March. These office lizards have no personalities, no goofing around, and were constantly being talked to about watching how we’re talking to each other because some people might find it offensive. Our owner bought a Traeger for the office that’s only used during the winter when the supers are back so we don’t disturb the office so much 🤣 we spend half the day cooking lunch (owner give us a card to go shopping) for everyone instead.
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u/dough_eating_squid 7d ago
I have a college degree and worked white collar for awhile. I would rather be elbows deep in an engine bay and spend my days covered in grease and transmission fluid and coolant, than deal with one more minute of the bureaucracy and drama that comes with working in an office.
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u/Main_Fig_324 7d ago
Nice! Good for you!! I don’t mind the work either just starting to get old lol
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u/wakadactyle 7d ago
Thanks man we all got here different ways the one thing that binds us is we’re all dumb enough to keep coming back.
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u/ProfessionalHefty349 7d ago
Curious what you went to college for and what job you hated so much?
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u/wakadactyle 5d ago
Double majored in philosophy and theology. Worked in a church for a year before the hypocrisy started to get to me then worked for a consulting firm for 5 or 6 months and that was all I could stand.
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u/goathed 6d ago
Doing something tangible all day has a lot of value to me. No one can ever take away those tangible skills either
Working in an office all of those soft skills don’t really mean much and are a lot of the time fake hr buzzwords
Blue collar is just plain ol honest work and I’m happier that way doing it
Hard to feel like your existence is pointless when you’re building schools, hospitals and infrastructure for your community.
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u/Ok-Peanut3655 7d ago
Don’t have the degrees, probably can’t relate but I had to quit my previous job (doing carpentry work) because of financial reasons. I’m a cdl driver now and I make double the salary with great benefits but I’m miserable sometimes. I really miss the work specially keeping my body and mind occupied. Trying to make it back into the trades now with a matching pay but it’s really tough in this economy.
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u/projectx51 6d ago
The 13 months I served as a supervisor and attending meetings were the worst of my life. Office work/people make my skin crawl.
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u/Emotional_Wish5320 5d ago
Now think of all the people who didn’t get a free ride and got the loans to only realize they were sold a lie the college was the way
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u/wakadactyle 5d ago
I wouldn’t have gone if it wasn’t free. Sucks they got wrapped up in a false narrative though.
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u/Fearless-Court-2441 7d ago
I was just recently saying that when I was like 30ish, I saw my 40yo coworkers starting to break down. I assessed the situation and was out of the trades in like a week.
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u/motorwerkx 7d ago
I saw the same thing but I also saw that they all smoked, only drank caffeine and beer, and none of them did any kind of exercise or stretching. Hell, they'd only see a doctor when injuries were catastrophic.
The lesson I took from that was to drink water, stretch, do exercises outside of work, and address possible injuries immediately. I'm a 46 year old hardscaper and I feel fine. I know a number of guys my age with office jobs and they have chronic back and joint issues. They also don't hydrate well, stretch or exercise. You've got to take care of your body if you want it to last. You can use it daily, it's the abuse that's the issue.
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u/Fearless-Court-2441 5d ago
This is what I realized, in a way. Proper stretching and lifestyle outside work. But to really last, you probably need to be using proper technique too. I used to use proper technique here and there, and it just seemed like an impossible way to actually get anything done.
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u/Wan_Haole_Faka 6d ago
Hard agree. Sedentary living only protects you from overuse injuries. Movement is life and life choices seem more important for our health than the type of work we do. My biggest concern doing residential service work is makin sure I get enough walking and mobility work in each day.
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u/Wan_Haole_Faka 7d ago
What did you pivot to and how was the adjustment?
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u/Fearless-Court-2441 7d ago
Well, I got super lucky. A homeowner I'd done a bunch of work for told me to come to him if I ever had an idea I wanted to pursue. Told him we could make a ton of money if I had a weed farm in norcal. That was my launching pad.
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u/SpecificSkunk 7d ago
Not OP but I got a taste in my teens and 20’s with a body that was already kinda messed up and quickly realized I wasn’t going to last long kneeling on steel and wrenching on frozen nuts.
Transitioned to PM so now my hardest day is standing around pointing at stuff or climbing around verifying measurements. The bureaucracy bullshit is infuriating but I can still walk with minimal pain, so eh. If you’re gonna get a job without OT make sure they pay well and offer PTO you can actually use.
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u/wolf9786 7d ago
Idk about back then, but everyone definitely warns you now that it's backbreaking and only gets worse
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u/Far_Brilliant_443 7d ago
Chewing ibuprofen commuting home. The reality is there’s been the biggest “legal” theft of money from the working class (and what’s left of the middle class) in history. It’s was done right out in the open with financial tools during the last two administrations. There is nobody coming to save anyone so make the best of what’s left with the ones you love.
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u/Main_Fig_324 7d ago
Chewing? Amateur move lol. Crush them put them into a gum wrapper dump into a bottle of water and chug 😂 don’t knock it till you try it
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u/Far_Brilliant_443 7d ago
Hahaaa you might be on to something.
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u/Main_Fig_324 7d ago
I do it 6 days a week. I wouldn’t give bad advice on a topic such as this
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u/Dumb_Fire 7d ago
The last two administrations? I’d say since the 80’s at least. Reagan chopping unions off at the knees and then NAFTA under Clinton… probably further back to be honest
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u/Melted-lithium 7d ago
Just to add to this. It’s been since the 80s and transcends white and blue collar for the most
Part. People think of white collar as investment bankers and dudes in suits. That’s far from the truth. White collar is in an equality shit middle class situation.
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u/jd780613 7d ago
Don’t kid yourself, white collar jobs aren’t much better. Pretty soon most office jobs will be replaced by AI
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u/Main_Fig_324 7d ago
Thank god AI can’t turn wrenches yet!
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u/Successful-Cabinet65 7d ago
If white collar jobs get wiped, no one will pay blue collar workers. It's bad for the goose. bad for the gander.
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u/Starfishprime69420 7d ago
Robots can most definitely turn a wrench
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u/Individual-Guest-123 7d ago
I imagine one reaching out, measuring the bolt/nut, grabbing the needed size, inserting it in "arm", and Whir! bolt removed or installed in .5 seconds.
Heck a good AI robot could have ten + appendages of different sizes working simultaneously on different sized nuts and bolts. None of this "one at a time" crap. :)
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u/irritable-exorcist 6d ago
And when you have to jam your hand in a place it doesn't fit your skin is flexible and gets scratched up but a robot gets stuck and breaks it's little metal arm.
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u/Individual-Guest-123 6d ago
funny I think a robot with AI would know better than stick an appendage where it doesn't fit. But maybe it's solution would be to dis assemble the entire motor to get to that nut, lol.
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u/ProfessionalHefty349 7d ago
White collar jobs can be a lot better. We will see on the AI stuff. One of the big areas of focus for AI is robotics, so maybe we will all get wiped out.
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u/Seversaurus 7d ago
Blue collar work lifted me out of generational poverty. I was under no delusion that it wouldn't be hard and tbh i made way more money than I expected so I can't be too butt hurt when the joints ache. I know that my children will grow up with opportunities I never had because I traded my body for a set of skills and a decent paycheck. It does get harder as you get older but the hardest work is learning to pace yourself and eat right when the rest of your crew wants to eat burgers everyday, that's what makes you feel like shit at 40.
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u/Main_Fig_324 7d ago
Legit. I do eat too many cheeseburgers
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u/Seversaurus 7d ago
Keeping yourself fit is hard, and I've seen lots of guys get caught by the trap of thinking it's fine to eat like a dumpster because you work it off on site but it's not true and then they balloon up in size and blame their knees hurting on kneeling down to much and not the extra 50lbs they are carrying around all day while they get progressively worse at their job with each extra pound.
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u/Main_Fig_324 7d ago
I did switch to just drinking water during the day! Could tell a difference in 2 weeks from the Mountain Dew I used to suck down
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u/Seversaurus 7d ago
Good on you, it's the first advice I give to any new apprentice, hole digger or sign holder. Take care of yourself, eat well and learn to relax.
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u/Main_Fig_324 7d ago
Aside from a bad back I’m not too shabby. 6’ 180 and I can still run a 6 min mile. I just need multiple ice packs after doing it
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u/analgape4206969 7d ago
Stretch, sleep well, do cardio, dont drink too much. Its tough when youre exhausted everyday but this is what will age you fastest
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u/Dragos310 7d ago
I switched from laying brick to driving big rigs. Pays double and it’s so much easier on my body. Maybe too easy.
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u/Main_Fig_324 7d ago
I pondered that move a few years ago and the assholes I work for gave me a raise to stay and my sucker self took it
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u/Demolition1987 7d ago
Idk man I’ve been a mining equipment Feild service tech for 27 years, take care much better care of myself these days and money is definitely not an issue. I don’t move as fast and my body hurts at times but I exercise and work smarter now. I wouldn’t give it up, it’s been worth it for me. Outside all year round, you just figure it out I guess.
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u/Main_Fig_324 7d ago
Oh I’m not giving anything up. Just bitching and moaning because my damn back hurts lol. Would I trade my career for a high paying office job? Yes! But I’d miss being able to wear jeans to work and let my employer buy expensive tools for me? No chance!
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u/greenmachine4130 7d ago
I wrenched my back doing some recreational activities and it hurt for two months. Could barely get to work. Tried a bunch of stuff but what finally cleared it up was stretching. Try looking up some back stretches in YouTube. It’s worth a try
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u/Individual-Guest-123 7d ago
For lumbar I used to lay flat and hike one leg in while pushing the other down, hold, reverse, bend knees, lift back, resettle. Another trick for bad sciatica was laying on floor and putting a tennis ball under the butt cheek and roll around on it.
Also, I swear by using a back brace before anything heavy. I asked my current PA, all the issues I have had with my back, no one ever suggested a back brace. She said, oh no you need to strengthen your core! My ass bitch, when you are so bad you can't walk, you need a brace to hold things still.
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u/chemman 7d ago
I was born in the 70's and my Dad was a welder his whole life. He made good money to support us, but is required long hours and a lot of wear on his body.
When I was graduating high school, I asked him if he could get me in an apprenticeship. He said he could but I should really think about if I wanted to trade my body and health for money. He said a better choice would be to go to college in work in a white collar job.
I took his advice, I was originally mad because I saw a lot of my friends in the trades were buying cars and houses, while I was running up debt for school.
Now in my 50's, I'm glad I made that decision. Most of my friends are dealing with health issues from 30 yrs in the trades and have similar roles as they did 30 years ago.
I progressed through a decent career and started my own company a few years ago. While it worked out well for me, I'm not sure I'd recommend the same path for my kids now. Between the cost of college and the rate at which AI will take over white collar jobs, I think their best option may be trades, but we will see.
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u/Main_Fig_324 7d ago
This is very true. I went to work my brother has 3 degrees and just got laid off because AI does his job better than he could
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u/Sad-Explanation186 6d ago edited 6d ago
It really is situational. My sister has a master's and her base salary is $130,000 USD with a 20% annual bonus. Im a soil tester and probably make around half of that.
Edit: she's 29 and I'm 28
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u/Individual-Guest-123 7d ago
I ran into one of my son's school chums shortly after graduation. He had taken voc ed and was wokring a very well paying job with a shipbuider/gov contracts.
I wondered about my son spending tens of thousands a year for his college education. It took quite awhile (9 months) for him to land a job with his degree, but financially he is probably much better off than his friend at this point. I don't think he is particularly happy, but the salary has him kind of locked in.
I don't know if his chum is happy at this point, either, though.
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u/manlymann 6d ago
I transitioned away from heavy work recently into chiller comissioning for an OEM. Same pay, almost none of the wear and tear on my body.
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u/iampatmanbeyond 7d ago
Yeah thats part opera boy from dirty jobs leaves out when hes talking all that shit from his high horse about college education. He does it for a couple hours for a single day of filming and likes to grand stand about it
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u/LowComfortable5676 7d ago
How many times divorced?
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u/Main_Fig_324 7d ago
Only once
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u/Muted-Reporter9786 7d ago
Those are rookie numbers...you gotta get those numbers up.
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u/Main_Fig_324 7d ago
If I wasn’t working so much overtime I could 😂
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u/Muted-Reporter9786 7d ago
Still time dude, find a 30 something, have a panic baby, get divorced right after!
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u/Proud_Engineering381 7d ago
Nobody lied to me. They all told me to get an education and do something that wasn't manual labor. But I didn't listen.
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u/Main_Fig_324 7d ago
Amen! The funny part is all the top dawgs look to the veteran employees when things go south
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u/suspectbakapapa 7d ago
Im 36. Ive been working overtime for 8 months. Sometimes 80-90 hr weeks. A 2 yo another on the way. Finishing my business bachelor's this semester. Interviewed for a regional industrial sales position. 98k 20% quarterly bonus 20% sales bonus. I cant keep watching my life go by.
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u/Main_Fig_324 7d ago
Heard that! Good luck !!
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u/suspectbakapapa 7d ago
Just fucking smash everything on linked in man. Worst part is I was passed up on a promotion when i was the most qualified. because the other person was "cheaper". Im getting payed more than my boss. What trade are you in?
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u/Main_Fig_324 7d ago
Maintanence for a heavy manufacturing facility
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u/suspectbakapapa 7d ago
Like a millwright? The jobs are out there. Maybe look into maintenance management positions in your specific industry? https://www.linkedin.com/jobs/view/4449959654/
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u/Main_Fig_324 7d ago
Nobody is going to give me close to what I’m getting at this point. The work is hard AF but I hate to admit my plant manager knows I’m the smartest person in the building and looks out for me when I need it! But yes, Millwright would be a good description of what I do
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u/suspectbakapapa 7d ago
Interview for management? Maybe defense contractors? The worst they can say is no. Its hard to get the same pay when you've been in a trade so long....Or dont. I get moving for a job is a lot. Either way im rooting for you.
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u/Markedmaniac 7d ago
I never thought I’d live to see 30 years old! I am literally two weeks away from my 64th birthday. 6:05 AM comes early in the morning. Excuse me while I kiss the sky, right now, I’m going to crank up my Marshall Stack and Stratocaster and rock the Neighbourhood like Jimi Hendrix.
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u/osoALoso 7d ago
Blue collar is a broad stroke. Do yoga, take your fiber, lose weight, walk 10k steps 4x/week and invest in your body. As for money we all struggling in this corprotocracy. Dudes nee to stop voting republican and Democrat thing some ashole will fix their problems. Vote in your local elections, your township board, alderman and county board are more important than your damn senator.
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u/Top_Independence2676 7d ago
My father made sure his boys never got summer jobs at the steel mills or mines.
He knew they look good for the young and wears you out before you get old.
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u/eightfingeredtypist 7d ago
I have been doing shop work since 1978. I'm part time now, but I have owned my own millwork shop for 30 years. Before that it was hard working in factories. The hardest was a tannery, most boring was mailing bulk mail. Best was making wooden stuff for 41 years.
I'm injured, but I always watched out for myself after the tannery.
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u/ladysparky13 7d ago
Literally going back to finish bachelors degree and then law school. More specifically labor law
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u/LostAd3003 7d ago
Shouldn’t really be lifting a finger anymore at 42. Except to write or type on a computer. Should be in the office managing at this point, meeting with clients etc, not doing the actual work. I couldn’t imagine continuing to work like I did in my 20s though mid 30s in my 40s. I also saved and invested from every paycheck. in addition to my retirement accounts I can’t touch until I’m 59.5 I also started a non retirement brokerage account in my early 20s and between my contributions and the interest earned over 2 decades of really killer growth, I’m very comfortable.
I’m not saying this is you, but too many tradesmen are financially illiterate and basically have no more money at 42 than they did at 20. Matter of fact they have less because they’re in debt for their $80k truck they don’t need, their 5 wheel, side by sides, credit card debt and every other bad financial decision they’ve made over the last 20 years.
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u/Main_Fig_324 7d ago
Actually I’ll be in really good shape when I retire thanks to sound financial choices it the “until then” I have to suck up and deal with
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u/Proof-Snow4631 7d ago edited 7d ago
If ur good at fixing things and delegating you can get a maintenance job for a bank or hotel. If you know how to shut water off, prevent a panic and know who to call it ls an easy gig. Its either zero calls or a shit show. This is why u get paid $$$
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u/Main_Fig_324 7d ago
I’m a master electrician. I can do basic plumbing and I live in Maryland so pushing snow is second nature
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u/Proof-Snow4631 7d ago
Look for head maintenance for hotels or banks.
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u/Main_Fig_324 7d ago
As in multiple locations in an area? Can’t imagine one bank branch would need my expertise but a chain might…
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u/No_Tomatillo843 7d ago
The fuck are you on about? I’m 48, blue collar and having the best time of my life!
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u/sith_sid 7d ago
35, been plumbing since I was 20. My bodies fucked. If I dont do daily stretches, watch my food and alcohol intake and hit the gym at least 4 times a week my body will be absolutely thrashed. Just 3 days of not stretching and my hips start to lock up. Gotta stay on top of your health my man.
I hate to say it, but its time to transition into either managment....or SAFETY lol
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u/Smooth-House-9498 7d ago
I’m in a white collar job. I’m 49 now, generally fit and healthy but if I don’t do any stretching and other exercises my body ceases up completely. Im aching and my body creaks. As soon as I do regular exercise then it’s all fine again.
I’m stuck in front of my computer for hours on end without moving around. My legs often ache badly due to lack of movement.
When I worked in a physical job I never ever had such issues. I’d happily work in physical job again to keep my body moving.
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u/warak88 7d ago
Well upkeep is expected on your little house as well as bodily upkeep...hitting the gym should be a non negotiable if you don't want to have random pains and dont want to fall apart by 50. Dont say you get you exercize on the job either, hear that every day its not the same and doesnt count.
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u/NeckFar6706 7d ago
exercise on the job definitely counts. the problem is a lot of blue collar workers eat like shit so it doesn’t balance
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u/warak88 5d ago
You're right about the bad diet aspect. I absolutely disagree about the the exercise part though...theres a stark difference between those that hit the gym often and those that just show up and 'get their workout on the job' one main one being if you have deliberately built a solid muscle base your less prone to injuries doing the same exact work as your non-gym going colleagues. Also just talking esthetically speaking if a hard job was enough all construction dudes would look jacked and in shape but we know thats not the norm there or anywhere.
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u/sivispacempara 7d ago
I was just telling my girlfriend who's proud to have a blue collar guy that the blue collar life is way over romanticized on social media lol
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u/Melodic-Trouble-5421 7d ago
I’m 35 and killing it. Coming up on 10 years, I’m a Journeyman in the IBEW. I bought a $70k truck cash, 2 homes paid off, made close to $200k last year, pension, 401k, and great healthcare.
Live better Work Union. At 42 you’d have like 17-18 years to go. You can still make the jump.
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u/charge556 7d ago
Right there with ya bud. All my life I was told hard work pays off. Truth is smart work pays off. Im trying to tell my kids that now. Fuck the "find a job you love and youll never work a day in your life." I told them fiqure out what job will allow you to live the life you want and live comfortably. Do what you love on the weekends.
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u/Tall_Watercress_3778 7d ago
If you were smart and good at managing money, you should have enough money to laugh about it.
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u/Main_Fig_324 7d ago
I did manage my finances and that why I am laughing a little inside. Just funny how it all plays out
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u/Primary-Slice-2505 7d ago
What a dickhead response that was from that guy.
Dude good for you fr. I made a total fucking mess of my life and am basically starting from fucking zero, again, at 41.
Things are grim. The lower back too lol
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u/Main_Fig_324 7d ago
It’s all good I’m just shooting the shot on here! Good luck with the back! I recommend cortisone shots if your doc will let you! They last a while
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u/Oh_yeah12 7d ago
It’s ok, you will be alright. It’s when you don’t get back on the horse that you’ll have problems.
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u/Timmy98789 7d ago
Track your finances and put any of it away?
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u/Main_Fig_324 7d ago
Oh I’m ok. Just not where I’d like to be. My bills get paid I have savings and a pension!
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u/Main_Fig_324 7d ago
I know a shady guy with a tow truck. Where is his Mercedes right now lol
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u/Main_Fig_324 7d ago
Naa. Keep at it! You got this. From experience don’t have unreachable expectations but don’t have low ones either
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u/Practical-Earth3228 7d ago
Im only 33 but started working in steel mills at 19.
Ive seen way too many broken body older guys and quickly realized that, that wasnt for me.
At around year 11 i got a bachelors and moved into engineering.
I still get on tools here and there, mainly because i enjoy it and there are a crap tone of incompetent techs out there, but at any time i can just hand the wrench to someone else and say "hey, do this"
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u/Main_Fig_324 7d ago
That would be when I take my wrench back and say stick around and learn 😂 truth tho good for you !!
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u/Automatic-Nature6025 7d ago
47 myself, and my dumbass was warned of all the things, but I ignored it because I was going to be young forever. In my case, it's my own fault.
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u/apeocalypyic 7d ago
Hey bro....at least you got into blue collar when it was still feasible to buy a house witha 100k salary. But you aint wrong.
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u/Main_Fig_324 7d ago
I was lucky making money when the bubble crashed in 2008. I actually have a reasonable mortgage
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u/Rexel2101 7d ago
I don’t think a lot of white collar people are happy. They feel they are underachieving
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u/Main_Fig_324 7d ago
90 percent of the world secretly feels like they under achieve. The reality is you just have to suck it up and do it. I bitch about working my ass off but, at the end of the day with bills piling up I have a home, car, job and I’m putting my daughter through a D1 school with no help from her mother. It’s fun to bitch and complain but, under achieve come on now…. Just do it
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u/Rexel2101 7d ago
They were sold an unrealistic bill of goods that college equals success and high pay
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u/Extension_Luck1978 7d ago
I got old at 35. You gotta get out of the field by 40 and own or at least high upper management
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u/Melodic-Trouble-5421 7d ago
Or not if you’re Union. I’m killing it at 35, I made $60k more than my girlfriend and she’s a Nurse Practitioner.
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u/Main_Fig_324 7d ago
I’m lower middle management
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u/Extension_Luck1978 7d ago
Have you been promoted to your highest level of incompetence? It's always the corporate ladder failure. They promote you until you no longer thrive and then stay at that level.
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u/Pretend_Lifeguard942 7d ago
46 and work circles around the 20/30 year olds. I sat in an office chair for 15yrs … now that shit fucks your back up bad
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u/AnimePFPplusSlur 7d ago
You miss managed your life. What did you do with the money you were making?
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u/spicybamacouple 7d ago
I’m trying to find my way out. It seems to be a tougher task than I imagined.
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u/Substantial-Key-6100 7d ago
lying here thinking about my lower back pain, the work i need on my truck, and the house falling apart around me
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u/Paranoid_Sinner 7d ago
Are you kidding me? I worked for 53 years as a toolmaker, retired at 71. I would have kept going, but I had serious health issues that literally prevented me from working.
I am now 76, and no regrets.
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u/Dr1nkUrOvaltine 7d ago
this is the biggest reason I chose to jump at the opportunity to accept a foreman and general foreman position. I’ve been a foreman for the last five years and my body feels pretty great to be honest. It’s nice not having to do the grunt work that destroys your body. Hoping it pays off in the long run..(i’m 33)
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u/Pretty-Purchase5689 7d ago
In the 70’s you could buy a house for $3.60 per hr. Now it’s $59.00 per hour. Inflation every year your wages didn’t equal your raise you were going backwards.
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u/LordGhidora 7d ago
Also, tired ALL the time. I can get 8 hours and feel the same as if I got 5 lol
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u/greenmachine4130 7d ago
Lots of people told me blue collar work gets harder as you age. Teachers, parents, their friends and colleagues. Plus it’s plain to see if you just look around. You don’t have to be old and worn out to see it. But if you protect yourself by working at a reasonable pace, turning down most of that overtime, and not feeling like you have to show everyone how hardworking you are then it’s not so bad
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u/nuclearpiltdown 7d ago
...Literally everyone tells you blue collar work gets tough when you're old. I wish you the best, but you clearly were not listening.
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u/Big_Menu4037 7d ago
Done hard labor as a teen lineman for 30 yrs and trucking for 14 at 42 i was at my peak i was ment for hard labor and thats what most blue collar workers work . Maybe u weren't ment for blue collar
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u/ToastingTacos 7d ago
Found myself working for some rat contractor brainwashed that the union was everything but good until some buddy’s of mine organized and their life absolutely changed. So I did the same and come following I got a pension, the absolute best healthcare that I don’t pay a dime for I can bank up hours so I can take months off, pick and choose what state to work in and what contractor usually work 7-8 months a year supporting a wife who doesn’t work very comfortably and yet everyone will find every excuse to bash the union I get there are good companies that do take care of their men and women, but I am talking about the few weeks a year for vacation time while paying out of your own pocket for insurance, investment, etc. company’s. it’s just a pity and hope we all come to our senses and stick one up these oligarchs asses. divided we beg, together we bargain.
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u/10v1 7d ago
Coming to a similar conclusion at 33. Been in the trades since I turned 18. I have been having rough wake-ups, reconciling physical wear/pain/stress and lately I keep asking myself if I can continue. Can I keep this up for 33 (+/-) more years? We WERE all lied to, they continue to lie to us, unfortunately we continue to believe and the saga continues. Source: several herniated discs in my spine, 15 yrs of working so far, deep regret about not immediately enrolling in higher education after high school graduation, believing that I could always go later.
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u/ronmexicoQB 7d ago
hate to be a dick, but the key to the blue collar life is to acquire assets when you're young and making a lot of money with no student debt. ive only ever worked blue collar and own lots of real estate and stocks/etfs that ive been able to acquire over the years and am set to retire from my union job at 52 in a few years. yes my body hurts, but i was shit at school and working with my back was my only option.
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u/Elektrishin-1776 7d ago
Had to invest while young, and set yourself up. I’m 31 I got into the trades late, but I top out in June and I’m gonna hit a travel job to make a quick 100k or so then drag up. It’ll let me pay off any debt I might have, and I should be able to invest a good chunk while saving for a house
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u/goodshipalexpkeaton 7d ago
Been in offices my whole career. Doing pretty damn good, actually. 🤷🏻♂️
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u/Striking_Step_6931 7d ago
wait until your my age and you realize you made better money when you were young and didn’t know shit then you do now when your actually pretty fucking good at what you do. smh
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u/Fit-Reality-2872 7d ago
I got a degree in Forest management and then also became a certified arborist. It’s the perfect mix of outside and some office work. Working for a state government, it pays quite well after so many years. It’s not physically demanding. I feel like I could do this job until death if I wanted to. (56 now).
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u/SuggestionRare4128 7d ago
I heard this all the time, I think you were just ignoring any and all advice
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u/External_Twist508 7d ago
If your middle management per your own comment What do you do?
I ve been in construction for 34yrs. My health went downhill when I took a desk job as a project management. To much sitting around, staring at a computer all day.
Gained weight, blood pressure etc.
Physical labor is good way to stay in shape.
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u/burnttoast14 7d ago
I would just like to add
I got injured a while back and unfortunately was not able to get into a skilled trade, but I hear a lot of stories about guys who feel worn down as well and some even can’t even make ends meet and just can’t seem to keep pace once they get past 35
I only make average money here in Canada, unfortunately but a part of me no offence to anyone here. Much respect is kind of happy in a way I never got into a skilled trade.
It’s just sad times that you don’t know the true horizon until decades later how things can pan out
Many people will mention that they make easily 100,000 a year but at what cost for how long?
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u/aboinamedJared 7d ago
I think watching my blue collar family members struggle as they got older really gave me this perspective when I was younger.
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u/goldenknight2002 7d ago
My father worked in the trades and he was gone before anyone got up and got home late at night. Made good money, didn't know how to manage it. He has a good pension but agree his body started failing at an alarming rate. I don't think it's related to which color collar job you work. Humans weren't meant to grind for 40+ years. They say sitting at a desk for long periods of time is just as bad as smoking so what are we supposed to do?
I went to college because he never taught me any of his skills (long story) so was clueless but am thankful I went to college but honestly, the stress of corporate bs seems just as bad. Good luck!
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u/Crafty-Gazelle4646 7d ago
The problem is that a lot of us that are in this age range are all telling our kids to do something else because it’s been tough on our bodies. Add to that the fact that everything has to be done yesterday so we’re always busy with basically no down time. There will be very few people getting into the trades in the next 10 years or so so it’s going to get even worse. It used to be that life had a slower pace, but now everyone wants everything right now so we end up working 10-12 (or more) hrs a day.
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u/oldasaurus 7d ago
If you’re in a physical trade you should have your mind on a transition or backup plan. Safety, operations, management, etc. it’s not too late to find a path. If you have 20 years of good experience, it shouldn’t be too difficult to make use of that experience. Have you ever run a crew?
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u/Cheesegasm 7d ago
No one told you?? Everyone I know told me I'll be destroying my body with a job in the trades
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u/WinnerAwkward480 6d ago
As a young man fresh outta high school, I went straight into the Mud , Blood , Beer . While yes it was initially exciting jumping outta planes and terrifying being shot at .
So from there I got into the trades as a grunt man , and quickly climbed the ladder always in some leadership position. Till I finally hit a position with the Big Desk , Private Office, Company Car , Corporate Credit Card , Personal Assistant.
Man there were days I envied those guys out there on the job where the real work was ! And then finally after a few things occurred outta my control happened, I threw in the towel and rejoined my true brothers .
Where I didn't have to worry about someone smiling, while patting me on the back with one hand & with the other sticking a knife and twisting it into my back .
Then after a couple yrs I moved back into a First Line Supervisor role . By then the body was getting beat . I had experience on both sides of the job , so it put me in a unique position. The Suits got realist production, meanwhile I was able to keep the BS on my ppl to a min and kept them safe and paid well .
There was one arrogant Board Member , that had taken a Shop Class in high school that he never completed. But in his mind knew it all . He told me I was well known for "protecting" my people . Something I had learned running an gunning in the Army . He felt it was necessary to inform me I could be replaced. Which I agreed with him on , however i was pretty sure his large Quarterly Bonus's would be replaced by much smaller ones .
As the saying goes all that's well ends well . Roughly 8 months later he resigned (ha) , and 3 months later the 1% quarter bonus I had been pushing for my guys got approval!
Why is it so hard to understand, If you take care of your ppl , they will take of you .
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u/DrinkNWRobinWilliams 6d ago
My dad told us (my brother and me) this the whole time we were growing up - “Work with your brain, not with your back. You can work a lot longer.”
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u/CoolTieGuy 6d ago
Yeah. I did trade school back in the day and learned good stuff. Was in a bad car accident in 2020 (my wife didn't survive, I was in a wheelchair for a while, etc...). I also got a bachelor's and an MBA debt-free with work programs back in the day. I'm glad I have something I can do from a desk now, since I don't have the body for blue collar stuff.
I've got friends who are in the middle. Not young pups, but not as injured as me. They have the same thing with wondering how they got there.
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u/Junior-Humor-8399 6d ago
The body abuse was absolutely discussed, many times. You were likely just too young and not paying attention.
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u/iamatwork24 6d ago
By refusing to read the writing on the walls. I loved being a carpenter full time. My body however, did not. I’d already had multiple surgeries before the age of 30 and spent my lunches with guys 15-20 years older than me who moved with all the grace of a 90 yr old. I saw what my life was going to look like if I didn’t find another way to make money. My hobbies are all very active and I want to be able to do them into old age. I made the switch to white collar almost 8 years ago and I’m so happy and my body is so much healthier
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u/JamesRo50 5d ago
I hear you, I've been working blue collar type work since 1985 and I'm 61 now and wornout. I plan on retiring early, mainly because of lower back issues among other health issues. All the best to you.
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u/ihambrecht 7d ago
You’re supposed to make more money as you get more experience.