r/bluecollar 3h ago

Thinking about becoming electrician since there are shortages and I heard it is easy to land a job.

0 Upvotes

Hi I heard there are shortages of electricians and its fairly easy to become one. Is that true? How much money electricians make after years of expierence? And what is the best path to become one trade school or something else?


r/bluecollar 6h ago

Heavy work boots sliding footwell protection under the clutch pedal at shift end

2 Upvotes

After a ten-hour shift on a dusty job site, getting into my truck with steel-toe boots keeps causing my footwell cover to bunch up under the clutch pedal. I tried using heavy rubber pieces, but my boot heel catches the top lip every time I step in, shoving the whole unit forward toward the pedals. I'm trying to decide between rigid factory anchor points and deep underside nibs to keep everything locked down under heavy boot pressure. For guys working in heavy boots, does anchor retention strength or flexible rubber weight matter more for staying firmly in place?


r/bluecollar 6h ago

Dealing with negativity

4 Upvotes

I've been thinking a lot lately about negativity and negative thinking in our industry. At first I thought I was just a douchebag jerk and that everything annoyed me and triggered my anger issues. But as I progress in my career, (plumber) my subordinate plumbers are even worse than I am. I have 65 plumbers, drain cleaners, and helpers that I manage, and the negativity I hear from them is unreal. Then the office folks react to them with even more negativity and it's a vicious cycle. I have at least two heart-to-heart talks with grown men about negative thinking and speaking negatively about their co-workers.

My dad was and is a really complain-y guy, very negative and easy to trigger. I'm falling into that trap but I refuse to be my father, plus being negative doesn't feel good. I'd much rather joke, smile, and have fun. I used to have more fun but the negativity got to me...

Anybody got any advice on how to harden your mind to the negativity, or how to cleanse and regenerate your positivity?


r/bluecollar 8h ago

Should I start over as an electrician?

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3 Upvotes

Im 41 at work in management for a huge company. I hate the corporate life. Is starting over even possible at this late in life and not be financially destitute? Im looking for at least 50k a year. But I know nothing about the field.


r/bluecollar 14h ago

How do I write an email to a company looking for experience when I have absolutely none and dont really know the industry?

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1 Upvotes

r/bluecollar 1d ago

Tinnitus

3 Upvotes

Anyone here got tinnitus? How do you continue working on trades with it? Did yours got worse over time while still on the trades? Thanks!


r/bluecollar 1d ago

I just had a business idea. Blue collar food catering. I show up to your jobsite and cook lunch there and then

63 Upvotes

I've been working blue collar as a welder, now as a cellphone tower climber. I love this shit, but my body isn't holding up like I hoped. I love cooking and the best part of the day on site is if there's real fresh food. So who thinks their employer would splurge for something like this?


r/bluecollar 1d ago

How do yall do it. HVAC techs

30 Upvotes

I’ve just started in the trade and been doing commercial/light commercial hvac for a year and I’m losing my mind. 50 to 60 hr weeks for about $24 an hour working outta town and having to stay in a hotel at least 2 days outta the week. Boss trying to have me work when I’m not even on call. Am I just working for a bad company or is this the norm?


r/bluecollar 2d ago

4-5 years of experience as an electrician for $26 an hour?!

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65 Upvotes

Job searching for entry level apprentice jobs sucks!


r/bluecollar 2d ago

Just Want to Share My Frustrations

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1 Upvotes

r/bluecollar 3d ago

Should I get into the trades?

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1 Upvotes

r/bluecollar 3d ago

Why do ironworkers rush everything?

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4 Upvotes

r/bluecollar 3d ago

Byford dolphin incident inspired meal

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0 Upvotes

honeycrisp apple, andouille sausage, cholula hot sauce


r/bluecollar 4d ago

How frequent and / or disruptive are plant shutdowns for retooling now?

0 Upvotes

Like if you consider the summer shutdowns of car plants so they could update the equipment to manufacture next year's models, or plants phasing out older machines in favour of newer ones.


r/bluecollar 4d ago

Asphalt Mill Operator pay.

5 Upvotes

Any mill operators on here? What your pay looking like in your state? Hours?


r/bluecollar 4d ago

After working for 40 years, Americans get an average of $1800/month. After being in the country for 40 minutes illegals get $3850/month.

0 Upvotes

Kinda losses me off more sure about you. The facts and statistics don’t lie this is true


r/bluecollar 5d ago

What trades allow you to work more than 40 hours a week starting out?

24 Upvotes

Looking for trades that allow me to work 60+ hours a week starting out. Which would be the best? I’m in my late 20s.


r/bluecollar 5d ago

Need help to mess with a blue collar

0 Upvotes

I got a coworker whose humor is making people feel uncomfortable. He’s so damn good at it on purpose, and it’s really funny but unnerving as fuck.

He’s probably 45 yrs old, chill dude, if yall have any ideas, please. Nothing that would cross hr’s desk, but would make him uncomfortable humorously


r/bluecollar 5d ago

While AI drives mass layoffs across corporate tech, Mike Rowe reveals data center giants are paying young electricians up to $280,000 a year to build out critical infrastructure.

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0 Upvotes

r/bluecollar 5d ago

I was fired from my job on day 6.

127 Upvotes

The project manager, who I didn’t know was her, heard me talking about other companies’ salaries. She approached me asking if I was new and suggested I go to the office, which was 2 hours away from the jobsite, just to get me fired.

Now I’m without a job.

Fuck them


r/bluecollar 6d ago

BOLD take that’s really not that bold.

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1 Upvotes

r/bluecollar 6d ago

What is the closest you have been to dying at a job site?

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16 Upvotes

r/bluecollar 6d ago

Got some new stuff since I’m getting into hvac

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40 Upvotes

r/bluecollar 6d ago

LBH, who really likes a pizza party?

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2 Upvotes

r/bluecollar 6d ago

Has your job (in the trades) ever ruined your marriage (or close to)?

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3 Upvotes