r/financialindependence • u/fidgit86 • 9d ago

What do you do that you earn six figures?

It seems like a lot of people make a lot of money and it seems like I’m missing out on something. So those of you that do, whats your occupation that pays so well?

15k Upvotes

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915

u/floundering_friend 9d ago

I build and fix powerlines and play with high voltage electricity

333

u/OkImplement4025 9d ago

I am a lineman for the countyyyyyyyy

10

u/Compu7erUser 9d ago

and i drive the main roadddd

3

u/cyberjacob 9d ago

Searching in the sun for another, overload

2

u/notqualitystreet 9d ago

I hear you singing in the wire

4

u/G604 9d ago

I can hear you through the whine

1

u/WhenSharksCollide 6d ago

Sorry to interrupt but what song is this? Sounds like my jam and a buddy is currently working with some high voltage stuff...

2

u/G604 6d ago

Wichita Linemen- Glen Campbell

1

u/WhenSharksCollide 5d ago

Thanks, I'll check it out when I have a chance.

10

u/yahahawoomy 9d ago

And the Wichita lineman is still on the liiinne.

7

u/poorrichardspub 9d ago

Tom put all my records on this rectangle

6

u/cburk4312 9d ago

Glen Campbell = peak of country music

3

u/LittleMathCat 9d ago

Doesn't matter where I'm at, if they play Rhinestone Cowboy, I'm going to sing my heart out. Every. Damn. Time.

3

u/Cosm0-9 9d ago

Like a Rhinestone cowboy BABAAAAA

1

u/Alternative_Shock474 9d ago

Plot Twist, It was actually written and sung by Willie Hutch but everything was stolen in American back then 🤷🏽‍♂️

4

u/SouthernSparks 9d ago

Jimmy Webb wrote Wichita lineman in 1968 for Campbell. Willie Hutch recorded it after Campbell had already recorded his lmao

3

u/kimmykimkimkim 9d ago

Jimmy Webb has given us So Much Good Stuff.

2

u/LarryCraigSmeg 6d ago

Galveston, oh Galveston

I am so afraid of dying

Before I dry the tears she’s crying

2

u/kimmykimkimkim 5d ago

Interrupting your sing-along to say Yesterday was Jimmy's 75th Birthday. And since seeing this post two days ago I have only stopped singing Jimmy tunes when I eat and sleep. Today it's Where's the Playground Suzy? that's stuck I my brain. Criminy.

4

u/SmartySexyFunny 9d ago

I’m a lineman for the New Orleans Saints.

3

u/_Log_Jammin_ 9d ago

Also lucrative.

2

u/QueenSlapFight 8d ago

Heard this song for the first time today. Odd to see it mentioned

1

u/imnotmyselflately 9d ago

That's clever!

1

u/twizzard6931 9d ago

Wichita?

12

u/I_no_know 9d ago

What’s your favorite voltage?

23

u/floundering_friend 9d ago

240v cos I can touch it.

3

u/foolishwasp 9d ago

What country?

-24

u/ThatsFkingCarazy 9d ago

Pretty sure the us is the only country who uses 240

14

u/ToshJoWe 9d ago

UK uses 240 too

13

u/midlifechange68 9d ago

Australia is a 240 volt country.

9

u/floundering_friend 9d ago

Bingo, Australia

6

u/ThatsFkingCarazy 9d ago

What other voltages do you use besides 240?

7

u/floundering_friend 9d ago

11kv 33kv 19kv

Transmission guys work on the bigger stuff

2

u/midlifechange68 9d ago

In SA, 240, 430, 3.3kv, 7.6kv, 11, 19, 33 and 66kv for distribution. Transmission is 132 & 275kv.

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u/imacoolmom__ 9d ago

My husband is a transmission lineman in the US. He clears $200k/month! We travel all over the US though, would love to come to Australia.

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u/chiliorange 9d ago edited 9d ago

230V/400V in households

10kV 20kV 30kV for distribution inner city etc.

110kV and 380kV big transmission lines

In Germany

1

u/AlbaMcAlba 9d ago

US uses 120VAC except stoves (and other high wattage things) which get 240VAC but I’m not sure if the property is fed 240V and stepped down or fed 120V and stepped up.

Many countries use 240VAC especially those from the old British empire.

3

u/_damppapertowel_ 9d ago

I watched a video from technology connections who explained this very well. He said something along the lines of “your house is provided 120 volts twice. By connecting to just one of them, you have 120 volts, and by connecting to both of them, you get 240 volts.” Take this with a grain of salt because I don’t know if this is what he actually said

1

u/AlbaMcAlba 9d ago

Actually that sounds right. Only just moved to USA and did wonder.

1

u/ThatsFkingCarazy 9d ago

This is correct . We call it single phase but if you open up your panel on your house , you have a 2 wires feeding it, 1 or each bus bar. If you need 240, you will have a 2 pole breaker(2 wires each carrying 120)

1

u/Mizz141 9d ago

In the EU we basically do the same when needing 400V, most don't since we just get 200V~ over a single phase which is enough for most appliances, in most cases we use a seperate phase entirely for kitchen appliances like Fridges, Ovens etc.

1

u/cracky1028 9d ago

Every household has 240v without being stepped down. The US has an interesting setup with their transformer. They have 3 leads off the transformer with a tap in the middle. Measure between the bottom lead and the top lead and you have 240v. Measure between the middle lead and the top or bottom and you have 120v. The US is one of the few countries that use this split phase transformer set up and requires 2 wires to deliver 240v instead of 1 wire.

1

u/AlbaMcAlba 9d ago

Oh that’s interesting. Is the transformer external to the premises?

1

u/cracky1028 9d ago

Yes, they might be on the property line but they will not be inside the building unless it’s a weird one off oddball set up but that’s usually in commercial applications and even then… this split phase set up is actually safer than traditional 240 because you would typically only be able to shock yourself with 120v instead of 240v should you be messing with the wires.

1

u/AlbaMcAlba 9d ago

Oh absolutely. In UK we need to carry a very large and bloody heavy 240/120 transformer to step down to 120V on job sites. Only allowed to use 120 appliances or battery powered naturally.

Appreciate your input 👍

1

u/ThatsFkingCarazy 9d ago

240 is used for a lot of things even in commercial settings where we usually use 277/480

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u/[deleted] 9d ago

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u/[deleted] 9d ago edited 9d ago

[deleted]

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u/Mizz141 9d ago

Quick addition to Japan,

They use 50Hz in places like Tokyo, Hokkaido and others, but 60Hz in Kyoto, Hiroshima, Osaka etc.

Pretty funny how that came to be too.

0

u/WellThatsAwkwrd 9d ago

240 is one of the most popular voltages in the world

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u/[deleted] 9d ago edited 9d ago

[deleted]

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u/WellThatsAwkwrd 9d ago edited 9d ago

You’re absolutely right, I was lumping 230v single phase and 240v single phase together in my brain due to many US appliances and motors being labeled 220v but actually being supplied by 240v.

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u/[deleted] 9d ago edited 9d ago

[deleted]

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u/WellThatsAwkwrd 9d ago

That’s correct. Most Residences in the US actually get a 240v feed that’s split down the middle at the transformer by connecting it to ground. So you have 240v from leg 1 to leg 2 but 120v from leg 1 to ground and from leg 2 to ground

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u/ThatsFkingCarazy 9d ago

I’m an electrician who hangs out in r/electricians and I never see it brought up besides in the us that’s why I said “pretty sure”. You are truly talking out your ass tho

1

u/WellThatsAwkwrd 9d ago

See my other comment, my brain was connecting 230v single phase and 240v single phase as being interchangeable due to many US motors and devices being labeled 220v but actually receiving 240v.

I am also an electrician that hangs out in /r/electricians. IBEW LU11

4

u/SureHorror5 9d ago

What's the hours like?

27

u/floundering_friend 9d ago

For me its 72 hours in a 9 day fortnight. But to make the 6 figures I do many Sundays and work overtime etc. Obv we work in the storms etc too

19

u/Aggressive_Ad5115 9d ago

Thanks for keeping us plugged Into reddit

I think? Lol

9

u/floundering_friend 9d ago

Haha. Yeah.. you're welcome.. maybe..

2

u/Environmental-Air241 9d ago

Just asking. How much roughly do you make a year? And are you in Australia?

3

u/floundering_friend 9d ago

About 125k. A lot make closer to 160-180k but I dont work as much OT as them. Yeah im in aus.

2

u/MoarZ1 9d ago

Holy shit! I'm in transmission in Norway, and earn about 60k.. (around 80k AUD) Guess i live in the wrong country

2

u/ajh579 9d ago

They get hazard pay cuz of the drop bears and fire storms

1

u/earoar 9d ago

That’s wild. I thought Norway paid really highly. In Canada you’d be making 150-300k. You guys probably work way less hours though.

1

u/MoarZ1 9d ago

Yeah probably.. 60k usd is with no overtime, 8 hour workdays five days a week and 25 days paid leave that you're free to use whenever you want. Also, really love my job so I actually don't care all that much about the salary being a bit low (by norwegian standards, though it's well over average income. Everything is just fucking expensive here).

3

u/Frenits 9d ago

Same industry - High Voltage Underground Transmission. I have a similar funky schedule, but it’s amazing! For me it’s you work 12 hour alternating days and nights for 14 out of 19 days. After you get 5 days off, then go in for a 4 day 8 hour week, then another 6 days off. Basically if you take 32 hours vacation, you get 15 days off! You can do this like 6/7 times a year! Amazing schedule!

And similar to you, the pay is very good!

3

u/GrislyMedic 9d ago

I am also a lineman and my hours are 40 a week M-F because I work for the local power company. I used to work 4 10s M-Th which I preferred. For a while we were doing M-Th then T-F to have 4 day and 2 day weekends which I really like.

2

u/Ravore 9d ago

Still 6 figures?

3

u/GrislyMedic 9d ago

It's there if you want it, some guys do. We go on call every fourth week for anything that happens after hours. I had 2 hours of OT last rotation I might get 30 next time since half the utility it seems like is out on isolation precautions for covid. When there's storms we provide mutual aid to other utilities so you get OT for all of that from the time you leave to the time you get back. You got ice storms in the winter, fires in the summer, and hurricanes in the fall for your storm money.

1

u/Bosa_McKittle 9d ago

Most of the time it take a lot of OT for trades to reach into the 6 figures.

1

u/gagexd 9d ago

And remember folks, current kills not voltage!

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u/Skrendie 9d ago

You know the analogy of water flow through a faucet. 'Power' is the volume/ amount of water going through the faucet. The opening of the faucet is the 'voltage'. The speed of the water (not quantity) going past the opening is the 'current'. The opening will have a water resistance of a surtain amount and will stay the same.

Let's say the source has no (power) water volume flow limit, you make the opening of the faucet 100x bigger (10.000 volts instead of 100) but the speed of the water (amperage/current) will stay the same. In this case the sink will be filled also 100x faster.

Now try to figure out if raising the voltage 100x will not kill anybody in this case.

Saying voltage does not kill could be applicable in some situations, indeed when the current at the source is actively restricted (as withelectrified barb wire) But in most cases it will kill you (faster). So watch out with these statements.

5

u/Squirrel_Kng 9d ago

Of all the things in life to be, electrician is some where near the bottom of my list. I just hate getting zapped.

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u/BeezDragon 9d ago

If you work with high enough voltages, you don't have to worry about experiencing a zap.

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u/_damppapertowel_ 9d ago

You probably won’t even feel it

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u/Destabiliz 9d ago

Your nerves simply vaporize before they can transfer any pain signals.

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u/floundering_friend 9d ago

Zero zapps so far thankfully

2

u/WellThatsAwkwrd 9d ago

So do Electricians. That’s why we avoid getting zapped lol

2

u/Frenits 9d ago

Especially in the extra high voltage industry (think transmission voltages), there are so so many safety mandates. If I remember correctly, that the actual leading cause of injury/death is actually gravity.

1

u/Squirrel_Kng 8d ago

I got no problem with gravity. Rock climber an all. I just fear that one mistake and zzzzzzaaappppp… smoking. I hate even working on house hold shit. Don’t get me wrong I know how shit works and how to do it safely, it’s just shy of being a phobia. I hate, hate getting shocked.

5

u/dondestadono 9d ago

i used to be an on-site inspector/project manager. Now im a manager for a construction oversight company for substations and transmission lines

1

u/DLTMIAR 9d ago

Cool.

You making $100k+

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u/Brunette_Rose 9d ago

I’ll stay broke. Thank you for doing this important and risky job.

1

u/floundering_friend 8d ago

Haha no probs

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u/Born_Wrap_9846 9d ago

My spouse is a lineman, well troubleshooter now. He has made up to 250k with overtime. I thought he was crazy when he skipped out on college, but so far it’s been the best decision of our lives.

Edit because I have clumsy thumbs.

1

u/floundering_friend 8d ago

Wow that's incredible pay! Where about do you guys live. Yeah most of my friends who went to uni and have legit important jobs like physios and looking after the disabled earn about half what I do. And have student debts. It definitely worked out financially!

2

u/Born_Wrap_9846 8d ago

The Northeast US, pay is great up here and there just are not enough line workers.

1

u/floundering_friend 8d ago

Yeah awesome! Im keen to get there one day

3

u/I-Kneel-Before-None 9d ago

Yeah, I do right of way for the transmission companies in the midwest. Everyone in the industry makes good money. Hard to get into initially, but easy to keep good work. I work for slightly less pay to keep a steady work flow and not have to move all over the country, but I got offered a decent sized raise to move to Las Vegas for 3 months, but I wouldn't have a job once it was over so I declined. Better to have a stable income even if it is lower. Also the fact I live in a low cost of living area but get paid like I live in a big city is pretty great.

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u/WhySoManyGuards 9d ago

I work in substations. Once I am at top pay, I will be able to hit 100k with a little bit of overtime every year.

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u/floundering_friend 9d ago

Nice one! Substations creep me out haha. Glad I don't have to go in em very often

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u/WhySoManyGuards 9d ago

I enjoy it. I played lineman when I was in the US Army. I enjoyed that too. My hours are better than our linemen though, which I enjoy. I do 4 10 hour shifts, M-TH, with OT whenever I want it. The linemen work a full 40, but are expected to work overtime roo, which can be an extra 20 hours a week sometimes. I enjoy the work/life balance I have now.

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u/floundering_friend 9d ago

Yeah balance is definitely a plus. I go through phases of working a lot but thankfully it's optional. Just been working my bare minimum recently which is mon-friday 9 hour shifts. Every 2nd Monday off. But can go through peak times of working every Sunday and nights etc

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u/Massive-Material-795 9d ago

I ditto this except I wire the metering for high power customers for the power company. Schedule is currently 4 10’s will go back to 5 8’s after Labor Day. I have to work about 10 hours of overtime in a year to hit 100k. I normally make way more because overtime is plenty of you want it.

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u/floundering_friend 8d ago

Nice one! Good to know you can make plenty of money if you decide to pack in the OT!

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u/FuckfaceCharlie3 9d ago

Me too I'm an inside wireman in the IBEW but I've done some line work as well for Hawkeye and made $110k in about 6 months. For the past 7 years I've been splicing and placing fiber optics. The most I've made is $179k and $130k on the low side

3

u/floundering_friend 8d ago

Wow that's great money especially when you convert to AUD!

1

u/FuckfaceCharlie3 8d ago

I also live in NYC so it all works out proportionally but I'm pretty well off and don't have to worry about money

1

u/floundering_friend 8d ago

Ah yup! Expensive city! Thanks for sharing :)

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u/Designer-Wrangler228 9d ago

EE here! subs/distribution!! props🤝

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u/floundering_friend 8d ago

Nice one! My company is offering free electrical engineering degrees. Im considering it but also I hate homework hah

2

u/Naufragium150 9d ago

Electrician student here. What is your license? I'm working toward my E-2 right now. Looking to make as much money as possible in the trade and lineman seems to be the way. How do I get to your level?

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u/Average_Scaper 9d ago

But can you handle a 9V to the tongue?

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u/floundering_friend 8d ago

Nailed that part of the interview!

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u/MediumSizeSam 9d ago

I am a groundman now but I made 100k last year as a yard guy

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u/floundering_friend 8d ago

Nice! I think the trade works a little different down here. Does a groundman only stay on the ground? And not fly the buckets or is that just a title for the leader of a gang? I'd love to come to US to experience it over there

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u/bigpopparedux 9d ago

Same sphere, I’m a systems control operator, meaning I buy and sell power for a municipality. I also dispatch trouble trucks, line crews and other necessary personnel when outages occur. Pretty sweet gig, except the shift work kinda sucks.

1

u/floundering_friend 8d ago

Nice one! Yeah im glad I've managed to avoid shift work so far! A lot of the guys in the depot plan to make it up to dispatch eventually. But jobs only come up when the old guys retire.

2

u/cbaldwin2552 9d ago

I inspect your power lines.

1

u/nim_opet 9d ago

I was always yelled at that “electricity is not a toy!”

1

u/_damppapertowel_ 9d ago

It can be if you use it correctly

1

u/Practical-Camel-9952 9d ago

I'm trying to get into the trade myself.

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u/[deleted] 9d ago

[deleted]

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u/floundering_friend 9d ago

Haha yeah well its pretty fun most of the time! Especially at night!

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u/collinbrydge 9d ago

Union ? If so what local ?

2

u/floundering_friend 8d ago

Umm I am in a union but think it works a bit different over here. We're going through a big fight atm with our company. So lucky we are strong unionised group

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u/TimmyD1 9d ago

I’m also a Lineman (Trouble Department now) made $150k last year with about 500 hrs of OT. Located in the US near Washington DC. Topped out Journeyman’s base salary is $100k with zero OT.

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u/floundering_friend 8d ago

Nice one!! I've never actually worked out how many hours of OT I do. But I would assume quite a lot. Is troubleman someone who only does breakdown work? Its a bit different in Aus. We don't have titles like journeyman and troubleman etc what is the difference? We all just do all the work. Also don't call myself a line man cos I'm a chick but being Australian everything has a nickname so we're linies.

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u/TimmyD1 8d ago

Journeyman are the top “Lineman”. They do everything from renewing poles, transformers, upgrading wire etc. Troublemen do trouble work and switching only (Hit poles, wildlife related outages, falling trees, vegetation, etc) any outage that can happen non-storm. And switching in substations, 200 & 600 amp switching on the distribution side. Troublemen usually work alone on rotating shifts 24/7 365 days a year. Journeyman Lineman usually work on a crew and have a more stable schedule unless a storm comes through. And again I work for a Utility. Contractors work completely different

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u/floundering_friend 8d ago

Ahh thanks for clearing that up. Well I'm a journey lady then. But also we do troubleman work mixed in.

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u/throwaway374810562 9d ago

Electrician I assume? I want to become one. How hard was it to earn six figures?

1

u/floundering_friend 8d ago

Its a type of electrician sorta yeah! Not hard once I finished my apprenticeship!

1

u/throwaway374810562 8d ago

if you dont mind me asking, what state are you in if you're in the u.s.?

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u/floundering_friend 8d ago

Im in Australia

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u/111skan111 9d ago

I supervise this men like him and plan jobs/ do paperwork

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u/PrecariouslySane 9d ago

How much does that job pay

1

u/floundering_friend 8d ago

I'm a woman, but thanks for doing the planning! That job is definitely more stressful than going outside and doin the work for usrr

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u/Affectionate-Fan9408 9d ago

Sweet! I do the same job in the UK predominantly fault work. Gross pay for me last year was £113k so I think around $155k USD? My basic is £55k but I do a fair bit of overtime.

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u/floundering_friend 8d ago

Sounds similar-ish pay to us. I'm in Aus i think our base wage is about 90k AUD.. but with allowances and OT obviously goes higher. Where are you in the UK. I did the standard year through Europe and lived in London for a year when I was 19!

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u/Smoke1Jay 9d ago

I once had one of those green transformer boxes blow me up and threw me about 10-12 feet and broke my back . I didn’t even want to turn on a light switch for a long time

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u/PrincessMoo-Moo 9d ago

You’re basically Thor

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u/floundering_friend 8d ago

Haha oh I wish I was that strong. But I dont want to be a bearded lady!

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u/Sir_Ironbacon 9d ago

You earn every penny

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u/floundering_friend 8d ago

Thanks mate!

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u/KING_JELLYB3AN 9d ago

Ok Next top comment...

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u/Skywalker87 9d ago

Most of my in-laws are in the substation business. Their company is great for newbies as the company pays for them to get their journeyman’s license.

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u/floundering_friend 8d ago

Nice one! Thats how it works here in Aus. You get hired by a company and they put you through 4 years of work and training

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u/GuitarPlayerEngineer 9d ago

I do the same thing but I don’t do the actual work. I stay informed about it.

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u/floundering_friend 8d ago

Smart fella!

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u/TheDisGardener 9d ago

The schools around me only offer small industrial electrician which I'm doing along with my Electrical Engineering Tech degree. Would this be suitable to play with mega lines?

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u/babsrus 9d ago

I almost went to school for that but I didn't want to sell my soul to the local electric company. Is it worth it?

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u/floundering_friend 8d ago

Umm. Not sure about selling my soul. Still got one. Haha. Yeah its worth it.

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u/DetroitDonger 9d ago

I am also a lineman in Detroit

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u/floundering_friend 8d ago

Nice one! I've never been to USA. What's it like working in Detroit?

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u/BigEz38 9d ago

I’m a lineman for the city. Base pay is almost $130000. Over time puts it a lot higher.

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u/floundering_friend 8d ago

Wowee! That's amazing! That's about 180k AUD base rate! What city do you work for?

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u/BigEz38 8d ago

Chicago area.

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u/SherlockCumbercat 9d ago

I test, maintain and repair transformers. Good money in utilities if you dont mind working in the weather

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u/floundering_friend 8d ago

Yeah I do hate getting wet tbh. But its gotta be done sometimes.

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u/problemchild24 9d ago

Where at? Yall hirin

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u/floundering_friend 8d ago

Haha, I'm in Australia, we take on apprentices every year! Come on down!

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u/problemchild24 8d ago

Seems like the big utilities in the US are the same, maybe once or twice a year they take a group of apprentices. I have 2 years working with a contractor, would be cool to compare how our two countries do things

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u/floundering_friend 8d ago

Yeah I would love to do some sort of exchange for a year or something! We don't have wooden poles in my state so I'd love to learn how to climb with those spikey boots! Where abouts do you live?

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u/JuicyCut 9d ago

This guy builds.

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u/Easteuroblondie 9d ago

That is incredibly important work

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u/floundering_friend 8d ago

Thanks mate! We don't hear that very often down here.

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u/Select_Pianist_997 9d ago

I’m heading to lineman school in a few months

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u/duxkaos1 9d ago

Sometimes i wonder how my life would be if i work my same job some where else, i earn around 9 500 $ / year doing the similar job like you do, i work at Test lab of high volt and i also go out on field to check transformers stations and do diagnostics on them.

Fuck.

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u/floundering_friend 8d ago

Oh wow! Where in the world are you?

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u/duxkaos1 8d ago

Croatia =)

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u/floundering_friend 8d ago

Oh cool! I went to Dubrovnik once. I loved it! Beautiful country!

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u/duxkaos1 8d ago

Yeah it is beautiful but its full of corruption and shit, basicly i would never trade my country for other but sometimes i wonder how would my life be if i earn my yearly salary in month.. Everything is just expensive, if you lets say play video games and new AAA game drops out that cost 80$ and your paycheck is around 750$ with your rent being 500$ you wonder if it even worth to take it, while in other countrys ( like yours i imagine) would be no problem to spend 80$ on something like that if you are into it.

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u/floundering_friend 8d ago

Yeah that sucks friend. Yeah it is pretty expensive in Australia but the job pays well here. Sorry to hear it is not as good over there! Are there other companies that pay more or is it the whole industry?

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u/duxkaos1 7d ago

Its basicly whole country, average salary in country is around that, but as always there is few with 3000$ and again alot working under the average, only "exit" is moving to germany/ireland/sweden where half my friends went.

I have family in Australia that imigrated after WW2 ( we were the "bad" guys) and i know that over there kindergarden and stuff like that are extreamly fucked up with prices.

But visiting them would cost me around 3 paychecks. Just for a trip.

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u/floundering_friend 7d ago

Yeah cost of living is high but there are a lot of opportunities to make money here. Especially for someone doing our job! Sweden would be amazing and Germany! I think jobs are hard to come by in Ireland! That's why there are so many in Australia! Cost of child care here is very high, I know that sometimes it is cheaper for one parent to stay home, because even if they worked full-time, all the money would go towards child care! Its crazy! I am glad I'm not having kids! Maybe you can emigrate to one of those other countries with your friends, or come here to Australia!

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u/duxkaos1 7d ago

I just have some weird mentality that i cant explain to you if you dont know me irl ( or people from here that have similar opinion and there is alot of them) my dad was high ranked commander in our indepentence war and there is some weird blood going tru my veins that i just cant abandon the land he took bullet for ( wounds)

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u/AngryThanator 9d ago

I manage this guy. Bay Area

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u/floundering_friend 8d ago

I'm a gal, but would love to come to "Bay area" im in Aus!

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u/Sintarus 9d ago

Hey, me too!

1

u/Josh_Your_IT_Guy 9d ago

If you're one of the crazy mother fuckers I saw replacing spacers in a basket, you deserve 7 figures.

Thanks for keeping the lights on by the way!

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u/floundering_friend 8d ago

Haha. Damn, I'll take the 7 for sure!! No problems!

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u/udidntcmihere 9d ago

How do you get into this type of career? Like what did you study?

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u/floundering_friend 8d ago

I did a short pre voc course at TAFE (trade school) and then I applied for an apprenticeship to our states utility company. Did a 4 year apprenticeship and been qualified for 2 nearly 3 years now.

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u/Best-Dragonfruit-292 9d ago

Funny, they were only offering us 60k to start here.

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u/PlebianStudio 9d ago

As someone who has a phobia for electricity stuff, you deserve it lol.

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u/floundering_friend 8d ago

Its mostly not scary once you've been trained. But it definitely has potential for danger.

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u/PlebianStudio 8d ago

Welp I have 0 expectation to be trained so will stay a phobia lol.

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u/keyboard_blaster 9d ago

I'm a welder and machine repair tech, and also play with high voltage. It's awesome. Wish I made that kinda money tho.

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u/floundering_friend 8d ago

I nearly blew myself up last year while oxycutting a pole. There was a hole in the flexi pipes that some dodgy bugger had just wrapped tape over. When I pushed for oxygen a ball of flame happened, my gloves set on fire. I ditched them and ran out of the giant hole I was In. Welding can also be scary haha

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u/keyboard_blaster 8d ago

Flicked a ball of molten aluminum off my torch and it landed on my crotch and burned through. That was in trade school, I haven't been in the field long enough to get seriously injured. In my third week at the new job I was moving a cart with 1300lb on it with my father, and he squeezed his pinkie so hard between the tray and the side of his vice that it exploded from the pressure.

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u/floundering_friend 8d ago

Oh my face just pulled a gross face reading about your dads finger! Holy moly! Yeah ive had some molten steel burn through my pants overalls and burn my leg! Let's both get through our careers unscathed!