Construction

[PiercedE30]

So, I was thinking about this today at work (yes, I worked on a Sunday - for 13 hours - all double time). I'm curious how many people on here work construction. Mainly, industrial construction and what your craft is.
Right now I am working for SWS (Turner Industries Specialty Welding Services Division) out at DOW in Plaquemine, LA. I am an Ironworker/Rigger (NCCER Certified).
How are the pay rates in your areas? Have you been seeing a pretty steady rise is pay over the last few years like it has been here? Do you mainly do grass roots (new construction) or maintenance? How long have you been working?

[DaveSmed]

Ironworker huh? You guys aren't right in the head. :p

Crane Mechanic myself. Haven't been doing it too long, but have noticed decent pay increases at a fairly steady rate.

[Money$hit]

I knew a guy who worked construction, and got impaled on a 4 foot piece of steel rebar. Went through his asshole and out his abdomen. Sued and won like $5 mil.

[Todd Black 88]

Hvac Tech in Service/maintenance industry. I've been doing this since 1995. Last 5 years pay has gone up $8.00 per hour. Base pay is $32p/h and change i think.

[Jand3rson]

Commercial low voltage electrician/communications tech. I pull and terminate low voltage communications cable, build server rooms, install phone switches, etc. I'm working right now on my second hospital, retrofitting their entire voice and data system. It can get a little irritating sometimes, I weep for x-ray vision. But it's a good job, really interesting, and if you're on a prevailing wage job like I am right now, the pay is pretty damn good.

[Rustyduktape]

i used to do framing and roofing with my dad and next door neighbor. 10 dollars and hour, 13 hour days. very good for a summer job freshman year. cant say i still do that though, haha.

[PiercedE30]

Ironworker huh? You guys aren't right in the head. :p

Crane Mechanic myself. Haven't been doing it too long, but have noticed decent pay increases at a fairly steady rate.

You ain't lyin' about that. You either have to be crazy, stupid, or ignorant to do some of the stuff that we have to do.
Mechanic or oiler? I know quite a few guys that are surprisingly young and are getting into the field.

When I started, my first job as an A class Ironworker (sometime around thanksgiving '05) I was getting 19/hr (time and a half overtime) and either 55 or 65 a day. Now, a mere 3 years later, it is up to 28/hr and (the last two companies I have worked for) double time overtime. Per diem is also up a lot. For hands, it is now in the 85 dollar a day area.

[Danny]

I was thinking of being a building inspector once I graduate.

[Jand3rson]

I was thinking of being a building inspector once I graduate.

Don't make me hate you, Danny.

[Danny]

What would you suggest?

[Jand3rson]

I'm just fucking with you. I just hate building inspectors. Most of them are dicks that get off on telling you all the shit you did wrong, they just love to nitpick.

[Danny]

Well honestly I'd like some opinions, as I have no idea what to do after High School.

[Jand3rson]

I can't really tell you anything that won't sound like a cliche or that you've heard a million times already, but go to college.

[Ral]

or check out the military. Seriously.. there's a lot of on the job training for some really cool shit to do once you get out, and it's all really diverse work. I"ll stick to the service I know best, but if building's your thing, check out the Seabees. computer work, fixing stuff, decoding secret stuff, the list goes on. Give it a chance and at least look into it, you might be surprised by what i can offer you. Oh, and it'll pay for school- they just came out with a new GI bill that kicks ass. For you, and any future family you might have.

/stereotypical, shameless plug

[Nicademus]

I knew a guy who worked construction, and got impaled on a 4 foot piece of steel rebar. Went through his asshole and out his abdomen. Sued and won like $5 mil.

My dad fell off a wall pouring a foundation and got impaled on rebar. It went through his arm, into his chest through a gap in his rib cage under his armpit. It also shoved all of the fabric from his sweatshirt and tshirt inside of him. He should have died and would have if it had been a couple mm in another direction. He went to the doctor and they pulled out the fabric, but my dad said it didn't feel right and that there was still stuff inside him. The doctor said "you're wrong theres no way you could know that". It started getting enflamed and my dad made them open him up. Sure enough more fabric inside.

Anyways, I've done concrete work with my dad since I was around 12 and started helping him.

I'm just fucking with you. I just hate building inspectors. Most of them are dicks that get off on telling you all the shit you did wrong, they just love to nitpick.

Wow, soooo true! Couldn't agree with this more. They're a bunch of losers trying to get back at the highschool bullies or something.