>high risk of both falling and electrocution
>long brutal work hours, after major storms they can easily work several days straight with maybe some naps in between.
>hard on the body

So yeah I mean if you're tough enough it's a very good job but I doubt anyone here could do it.

>>82485374
everyone needs electricity, it powers almost every other thing.
impossible to get into this industry unless your dad has connections or something, sadly.

>>82485374
$80,000 a year sounds pretty decent pre-covid, but sounds like crap at this point.

So back in 2020, let's say June or july, I was making $40 per hour, as an automotive technician. It's almost exactly 120,000 a year before taxes. As the shop that I work at, went from charging around $150 an hour, now charging $225 an hour, I now make $63.50 per hour. It's all flat rate and I turn about 60 hours per week, on an average of 50 weeks per year. I'm almost making $200,000 per year.

Most of the top guys at dealerships right now are making about $40 an hour. And you don't get overtime on flat rate. I work about 45 hours a week to turn 60 hours. I turned 60 hours a week on average. You also want to work for an independent shop, and I'm a top guy. Like, Automotive work is so easy for me I've been doing it for two decades and I have an IQ of 140. This job only requires an IQ of about 100. So it's a breeze. My pay isn't typical, I've just been able to command it especially after arguing the fact that after the '80s, when technicians got 50% of the door rate, the shop started charging more and more and jipping the mechanics. I don't play that way, I'm too reliable, I'm too good, you have people coming in with crazy electrical issues and it's no problem for me, I better be getting paid correctly. And then when they have all sorts of people having problems, not showing up for work, doing shitty repairs, being slow, generally being unable, and having times where I am solely keeping that shop up and running, I was able to command more and more. And if I were to try and go get a job at a dealership or some other place, there's no way they would pay more than about $35 an hour maybe $40 an hour.

>>82485374
It's a giant pain in the ass of a job
You know when the power goes out and the weather's so horrible every part of your brain is screaming at you to not go outside? That's when you're expected to work the hardest

>>82485578
If the wind is blowing too hard and there's active lightening in the area they can't work due to OHSA regs. That's why the power is out for hours or even days after a major storm, they have to wait for it to pass before they can get to work.

>>82485596
That makes sense but the biggest source of power outages around here is usually freezing rain storms and I see their trucks going around a lot even in the thick of it

>>82485625
In the winter it is much more critical to get power back on, people need heat in their home to live and prevent pipes freezing.

>>82485374
Working with power lines is very dangerous. Sure there are a lot of safety precautions, but there's still a non-negligible chance you get zapped into the next life over your career. Trades in general are also quite hard on the body. Finding a tradie that doesn't have some kind of back or knee problem is like finding a unicorn.

>>82485596
Do they really follow OSHA? I thought workers of every industry openly loathe them and actively skirt regulations

>>82485695
utility companies usually do because of the fines if they get caught. I can't say anything of the individual work crews I would say that most regs are followed.

>>82485652
thanks captain obvious brilliant work as always