Help...

je61

hey everyone, i need some help.
im hoping to be a fireman when im around 24, im 18 right now and thinkin bout taking electrical. when im a fireman im hoping to do sidework on my many days off (shiftwork) ??? and whats an avergae journeyman wage after your 4 years, and what is the avergae salary of someone in teh business for liek 15 years?
thanks

Speedy Petey

When you say fireman do you mean as a job, or volunteer?

To be a J-man electrician will take at least 4-5 years, fulltime.

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je61

full time fireman, but i dont expect to be actually recruited till im about 26.
gives me 8 years of fulltime electrical

Speedy Petey

That will be a big decision as to which route you will want to take in life at 26.
IMO staying in the electrical contracting field will be VERY lucrative and satisfying.
Yes, there is a huge amount of personal satisfaction being a fireman, but I also know the downside of it and it ain't pretty at all.

Starting at 18 in the skilled trades, and sticking with it, you will be in an incredibly advantageous position at an age under 30. There is an unbelievable shortage of GOOD skilled trades people in this country. In 20 years we'll be able to name our price.

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firemike

JE,

First, its great you want to be a "firefighter" (fireman is outdated and not politically correct anymore.) Also, it is great that you are thinking ahead in your life and future more than a week or two, as many young people do. As for wages, like everything else, it will vary from one part of the country to the other, and who you work for.

I have been in the fire service since the late 70's, it's a great career, but don't expect to make a lot of money at it. That is why many full timers have 2nd jobs, they need to. My daughter was a firefighter for 4 years, until she found out how much RN's make. She took the schooling, got her RN license, and makes more than twice as much as she did as a firefighter, and only works three 12 hours shifts a week.

Since you have approx. 8 years until you expect to become a firefighter, I would get into the electrical field ASAP and go for your journeymans licence, then your masters. Then you could even go for your contractors. You should be just about be able to complete that in 8 years with the right company. By then, you might decide that being a firefighter is not what you want to do. But if it is, so much the better. You will have the best of both worlds!

One thing to remember about being a contractor and full time firefighter, you will only be able to work on your contracting jobs generally 2 out of 3 days. If you only do small day or two jobs that's fine, but if you plan on bigger jobs and don't have a crew leader that can take over for you when your on duty, the customer might not be too happy that you don't show up that day.

Plus, if you get your electrical licence first, it will give you something to fall back on should you get laid off as a firefighter.

CE1

FIREMIKE:
Most excellent post!

Attachment 1746

ron schenker

CE1... Where did you get that funny picture of George Burns?

CE1

Ain't tellin


but Right Click and you can have it to.

je61

thanks man, very helpful.
where im from (alberta, canada) it takes 4 years to get your journeymans, but dunno how long it takes in the states wher eu all are from.
and generally, because im from alberta, tradespeople make way more than they do in otehr parts of the world. up in Fort Mac, where all the oil n ******************** is, trades people make 60+ canadian dollars an hour, and thats like minumum. in the city where im from is generally about 25-32.
thanks again guys