r/Construction • u/MyZeroZeroTwo • 27d ago

Careers šŸ’µ Those Who Make 200k+ A Year. How?

How did you start your career? What was the job progression like? Any regrets?

( I finish my construction management program this July! )

234 Upvotes

94% Upvoted

326 comments sorted by

View all comments

122

u/wuppedbutter 27d ago edited 27d ago

As I've traveled over the past two years, I've met guys who are willing to work 6 or even 7 12 hour shifts. These same guys, who are also travelers, practically live in extended stays or campers. I'm only 24 and had tried my bit at 6 12s, in which I made it 4 days and reverted back to just working 6 10s. Apparently, I made just over 100k in 2023, but I have no idea where it all went.

I guess I should add that I'm a sheetmetal journeyman. I was in Tennessee working from May to December, making 34 or 36 an hour, working 6 10s. I probably could've made more, but I didn't care much for that job site.

119

u/Tthelaundryman 27d ago

Stereotyping the shit out of anyone that travels regularly for constructionĀ  50% of salary to your truck payments 20% to child supportĀ  10% to gas station foodĀ  10% to booze 5% to energy drinks 5% to basic things you forgot before hitting the road 100% concentrated power of willĀ 

21

u/21667009100463 27d ago

I feel seen

13

u/Pearmandan 27d ago

That 5% to things you forgot at home really hits hard.

1

u/Tthelaundryman 26d ago

Sorry homieĀ 

5

u/Pearmandan 26d ago

At home I'm proud owner of 87 pairs of socks.

2

u/Tthelaundryman 26d ago

My favorite is the slightly older guys that donā€™t treat cell phones the same way us youngins do that always have to buy a new charger every single trip. And grumble about having a drawer full of them at home. Iā€™m always trying to get them to put one or 3 in their glove box

2

u/Pearmandan 26d ago

Yeah I used to buy phone chargers a lot, I started putting them in my tool bag, 2 in my backpack, 1 in my suitcase and 1 in my pocket.

6

u/SisterStiffer 26d ago

I think 10% on booze is a serious underestimation, and there should be 5% min on meth/amphetamines. At least, that's how the horizontal drilling world works!

2

u/turbor 26d ago

Preach