I’m a 3 trade branch manager and the overwhelming commonality that drives motivation is telling the apprentices how much they can make a year consistently.
I had a guy who wouldn’t touch drains (plumbers mostly are above that for some reason) until he found out that he could make $150K/year as a drain tech (no license needed generally). Proved it with one of his peers and he literally switched his tune immediately.
Average HVAC service techs should be at $100K.
Good electricians are at $200K+.
Yeah, they make a lot more than most people. That’s what they should be telling young people. Like working with your hands or you’re a visual learner? Trades is where you should be. You’ll be happy, well paid, and have an amazing sense of accomplishment every day. It’s a great living.
Basically, drain techs unclog drains with drain snakes or augers. They can also scope the drain with a 100’ inspection camera to see what is causing a clog. Could be roots ingressing a drain or a clay pipe that’s cracking. That’s where the big money is because replacing the pipe is the only long lasting solution. Some companies do pipe lining but that’s a bandaid for more year instead of decades. Replacing the pipe can involve excavating and concrete removal. Gets expensive fast. We’re doing a job that involves excavating 8’ down to the main drain, replacing 20’ of pipe and then covering it back up, demoing concrete to replace the basement line, and repairing concrete. $15k and the tech gets 8% of the sale and 10% if they do the work for a total of 18%. $2,700 gross isn’t bad for a hard day or 2 days work.
I’m a 3 trade branch manager and the overwhelming commonality that drives motivation is telling the apprentices how much they can make a year consistently.
I had a guy who wouldn’t touch drains (plumbers mostly are above that for some reason) until he found out that he could make $150K/year as a drain tech (no license needed generally). Proved it with one of his peers and he literally switched his tune immediately.
Average HVAC service techs should be at $100K. Good electricians are at $200K+.
Yeah, they make a lot more than most people. That’s what they should be telling young people. Like working with your hands or you’re a visual learner? Trades is where you should be. You’ll be happy, well paid, and have an amazing sense of accomplishment every day. It’s a great living.
Tell me more about this drain tech please.
Basically, drain techs unclog drains with drain snakes or augers. They can also scope the drain with a 100’ inspection camera to see what is causing a clog. Could be roots ingressing a drain or a clay pipe that’s cracking. That’s where the big money is because replacing the pipe is the only long lasting solution. Some companies do pipe lining but that’s a bandaid for more year instead of decades. Replacing the pipe can involve excavating and concrete removal. Gets expensive fast. We’re doing a job that involves excavating 8’ down to the main drain, replacing 20’ of pipe and then covering it back up, demoing concrete to replace the basement line, and repairing concrete. $15k and the tech gets 8% of the sale and 10% if they do the work for a total of 18%. $2,700 gross isn’t bad for a hard day or 2 days work.