Construction

[CincinnatiKid]

I graduated in the spring with a degree in const mgmnt, since then I've been a field engineer with a large company being the GC on clean air/powerplant projects, business is steady and growing despite the downturning economy.

[mrsleeve]

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?

Shit man sunday the 22ed I had 18 hours, the sunday before that I had 15, the sunday before that I had 12 I am averaging 14 hours a day 7 days a week the last day I had off was sept 2ed the day I flew back in to work from 3 days at home for the holiday week end. I am a industrial radiographer (X-ray hand) (used to be a laborer) working a $1.2B dollar 30in natural gas line in southern NY state. Do not whine to me about hours, the least amount of hours I have had save for labor day weekend in the last 2 months has been 92 its a great time to be in the oil and gas construction fields. I

As a union laborer, pipe layer in MI pay was 21.xx plus benifits total package like 29 an hour (not much OT 130 hours a year ave) on the check raises went to cover rise in heath care. Now as a radiographer I am at 18.xx plus better bennies around 32 total package with out the perdiem on top of that (still union) (more OT than I can stand) our new contract is pushing a 7 dollar on the check raise to get people into the filed once. I get my level 2 certs thats another 7 bucks too Plus I make 125 a day perdiem 10 hour paid rain days all that good shit.

edit: been in construction my whole life, water/sewer/road crew for 12+ years with a couple of years as a pipe liner, this is my 1st year as an x-ray hand, but back out as a pipe liner again
ANY ONE IN CONSTRUCTION JOIN YOUR TRADE UNION

[Turf1600]

I was a maintenance guy at an apt complex once when I was between jobs. I was there for like 6 months. I got a free 1400 sq foot apartment that retailed for $1250 and like 10 bucks an hour on top. Then I got bit by a rabid bat on the job and they fucked up my workers comp shit. My insurance denied my claim and now I owe $1200 to the state for rabies shots. Anyways, I quit there and started work at the hospital where I get paid pretty nice money to do statistical analysis and financial work. I actually miss working maintenance though. It was pretty fun and I lost alot of weight.

[Jonathan M3]

I'm an engineer for a large general contractor. I'll also act as a superintendent, when needed, to run crews. We mainly do heavy highway, light rail, and water treatment plants in Texas, but anything from skyscrapers to bridges nationwide. Been here for over 2 years now. The job I'm currently on is a $500 million addition to the DART rail system. It has it's moments.

[808BMW]

I've tiled for about $20/hr. Grunt work, just scraping, moving heavy stuff, changing out water buckets, etc. Independant side jobs.
Drywalled for $20/hr. It's drywall, not much to explain there :P Side jobs again.

Last and most fun: Punch list for $15/hr. Finished houses with A/C, carpet, running water, electricity, everything. Nobody in the house on your back, you just knock out a punch list and jam your radio. Bring a fat cooler and just munch on the porch like 5x a day, cruise around and talk to all the guys on the jobsite. Ended up getting my cousin hired and we got to team up in houses and cruise all day, much more fun than zoning out solo all day.
Ended up leaving because my boss promised $17 after 6 months, and then didn't deliver. It was pretty cruise but only because I'm badass and could jam my shit out easily and have time to chill. They can never keep workers, I hired my own solid crew and was basically running everything (and taking all the shit from above that comes with it) without the pay scale coming up, so I walked.

[Borat]

I'm graduating in a couple of months and off to work for a large construction firm as a site engineer. Can't wait, pretty much over school by now. Did the design bit over summer and found I'd much rather be running around outside. Salaries would have gone up around $10K NZ in the 4 years I've been at uni.

Out of interest, what could a site engineer make in the states a couple of years after uni? Gonna hit europe first but would mind spending several months in the states

[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.

[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

[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.

[Danny]

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

[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]

What would you suggest?

[Jand3rson]

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

Don't make me hate you, Danny.

[Danny]

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

[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.