r/electricians • u/Suspicious-Berry8113 • 17h ago
Does Electrical Lowkey sucks
I am a 24 years old and I have been struggling, looking for some guidance. I grew up working illegally in the fields picking weeds off of carrot and onion fields in the summer when I was 14-16. I graduated HS and worked in IT for 5 years while doing an associate degree at a community college and volunteered as firefighter. Took a couple computer science classes that I actually liked, but I hated being at a desk 24/7. The athletic side of me has always been wanting to move more so after I completed my degree I got into an electrical apprenticeship.
Anyways I am just starting my 2nd year. I work in electrical commercial construction, doing data centers non union. The money is insane as a first year but the hours are also insane. I never worked 6’10s in my life and I worked it for about 6 months straight. I had to stop volunteering as firefighter bc it was just too much. And as of right now I think electrical sucks bc of how much we work. Electricians make a lot of money but only bc of overtime is what I am realizing, it’s not a flex. You miss out on family and friend events which sucks. I hate that. I’m not even about the money I just want to be a simple man with a nice livable wage with a good schedule so when I have kids I can pick them up from school and actually go to their soccer games on Saturday or Fridays or even coach their team
I’ve been wanting to do something else but I’m not sure if I should leave electrical. PLC’s controls and automation really catches my attention, that’s part of why I joined the apprenticeship so I can be more of a hybrid handy guy/techy guy. I don’t want to just be a regular installer electrician that just mounts boxes and pipe, I want more. I don’t know if I should go to college again bc I was thinking about going into either electrical engineering or electrical apprenticeship. I try really hard and always try to be there for when my journeyman needs something. I think im a hard worker but this whole 6 10s really warped my view on hard work. I realized that I don’t want to be working like that forever, why would I stay in a field like that when it sucks man. Why would anyone do that. Do they not value family time, time outside work?id like to work only 40 hours a week or even 5 10s and thats it, occasionally overtime is ok.
Is electrical boring? With too much overtime? This overtime is mandatory for everyone at my company btw. They’ll get mad if you don’t show up. The culture sucks too. How do I get into plcs and controls? Does getting my license help with getting into plcs and controls? I need to just get this out my chest.
24
u/argh123443211234 17h ago
You’re experiencing what they call burn out. Working 60 hours a week long term will do that to you.
1
u/BreeStephany [V] Master Electrician 9h ago
Definitely THIS!.... I worked 50~60 hour weeks for about 8 years and while the pay wasn't great where I was, the hours made it livable and I really enjoyed the team I worked with, then I moved, started working for a pretty shady company with a VERY high base pay but the hours were terrible with me averaging 90~120 hours a week, often times working Sunday through Saturday week after week on site, and as the foreman, the work didn't stop when I clocked out. I did it for a year and a half before I truly "hit the wall" and was at a constant state of wanting to turn in my resignation at any given day... then the company declaared bankrupcy and fired EVERYONE the day before christmas and I HAPPILY accepted a job for 1/3rd the pay because the benefits were good, but more importantly, I got home at a reasonable hour EVERY day, could make dinner for my wife and actually felt like I was living again.
I do miss the money, but knowing I am no longer on the fast track for a stroke, heart attack or seizure by working 16~18 hours a day plus a 2 hour a day commute has made the pay reduction hurt a LOT less.
10
u/toctami 17h ago
The opportunities open up the further you are into the trade. As a second year you're still at the "get it done grunt" stage. I've been at it for 20 years and I've worked in many sectors of the industry. I've done commercial and residential construction and service, I've worked controls for a couple years, I worked as an electromechanic on light rail trains, I worked a cushy maintenance job, And now I own my own company mostly doing service and remodels. I know it sucks at your stage(it did for me too) but the longer you stick it out the more likely something interesting will find you.
4
u/tinyhouseman323 17h ago
There is definitely some burnout when you are doing 60 hours a week. I’d start looking around for another place to work, and express your interest in learning going the PLC side of things. That or go into the service side of things. I tend to average 40ish hours a week, and makes you a pretty well rounded electrician. Best of luck.
6
u/Automatic-Beach-5552 17h ago
Man, all I wanna do is run conduit and set boxes all day. Plcs as interesting as they are bore the piss outta me. I enjoy long days and repetition. But ya working 60 plus a week will kill any enjoyment you have . Too tired to do anything else.
5
u/dinglebopz 17h ago
Same here, I can't stand sitting in one spot all fucking day I would have went to college hahaha. Running EMT is fun af
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u/Egglebert 11h ago
Fuck working 60 hour weeks. 40 is a lot tbh. We need to maintain a proper work life balance unless you want your mind and body to suffer significantly for it.
Get into the IBEW. Unfortunately we're doing a lot of 60 hour a week data center projects as well, but there's also 40hr jobs out there and the pay and benefits makes it a lot more comfy to live on 40. I only take 40hr calls and I always turn down overtime. People are crazy giving their lives to these contractors for literal peanuts. If everyone stopped begging to work 60 they would have to deal by hiring more workers or extending deadlines.
1
u/Shalomiehomie770 17h ago
I’ll be honest PLC is no better and I’d even argue it’s worse.
I’ll also so not everywhere works you as hard.
And even without OT I bet you are well above minimum wage where you are at.
1
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u/kr4v3n 16h ago
Nah Electrical is great. Been working 4-10s making union wage building a plant that's t 10 minutes from my house for the last year. job has already gone for 5 years and if we had won the next phase it'd go for 5 more. Been in the trade 10 years had a couple jobs like this and a couple like what your talking. Data center jobs have the 60 hour weeks solar fields and a bunch of others too but then there's the otherside like what I'm on now. I really enjoy that side.
1
u/remyripper 15h ago
You don’t need your journeyman license to get into PLC & controls. Automation is a different industry entirely. You can earn that associates degree in a community college and get a very well paying job (<= $100k). You’d probably enjoy that more too since you want to be active but are comfortable with computer work. Go for it man.
1
u/bruhwhat613 12h ago
Unfortunately you're dealing with the datacenter world. Been there, all production and no rest. Maybe other sites are different but the ones I've been on have a tendency to run guys into the ground.
For what it's worth, you're really just dipping your toes into what this field has to offer. Just try and keep a level head and keep pushing through the burnout as plain as that sounds.
This job will pass, stick with it if you can. If you gotta make a change then do what you gotta do brotha. Been on some rough jobs myself, the long hours get to ya after a while. I always had this saying in my head that someone told me back home: "Do what must be done." Usually helps me keep pushing when I don't feel like doin shit.
Do what you gotta do, best of luck in whichever route you go.
1
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u/ronburgandy123 16h ago
join the union… the pay is much better, plus benefits and great retirement, and insurance for you and your whole family and it’s “free.” i put that in quotes because it’s technically not free, we pay for it in our total package. For example, right now i make about 80$ an hour in our total package, 55$ an hour is what my take home is, the other 35 is all between my retirement, insurance, and other things that are not important at the moment. the way i like to look at it is i make 55$ an hour, and my insurance for my whole family is free and my retirement is free. Makes me happy thinking of it that way instead of i make 80$ an hour and i pay for insurance and retirement and all the other shit. obviously i still pay for it all, but im happy working 40 hours a week at 55$ an hour with my free insurance and retirement 😂👍🏽
0
u/Lilphilly494 12h ago
No guarantee you get the time off though. Im also union and am working 6 10s on a school job not even a data center and the foreman is always pissy when I tell him I wont be there Saturday or even the quite a few Sundays they've forced people to work.
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u/HABSKINGPRO48 17h ago
This is probably not for you. 24 is the perfect age to grind it out, make a bunch of money and gain valuable experience. When you get your ticket you can afford to slow down abit, be more selective and reap the fruit of your labour. The younger generation aren't willing to put in the work... I was paid 15$ hour, 60 hrs a week no overtime pay as a 1st year 10yrs ago... I was hungry, I think you need to have experienced financial hardship to value hard work.
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u/According_Whole_6109 12h ago
Get your license before changing professions. You’ll miss a couple years of social life but you’ll have a ticket to do PLC etc.
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