The $100K jobs no one wants

[bearishgurl]

[quote=ucodegen]Oilfield pay is a different equation all together.. the good paying jobs on the oilfield are also very dangerous and physical.[/quote]

It also can be boring at times, from what I hear. And reading on the job is supposedly not allowed. Sometimes they can play with their iphones, but quite often there is no cell reception until they retire back to their rooms at night.

It’s still an incredible opportunity for a young person to be able to earn $500K or more with nowhere in sight (and no need) to spend it. Many crewmembers undoubtedly can afford to come “back home” after a few years and get married, settle down and have a family … with little financial worry.

If the entry-level crew member decides to stay with Halliburton, they will pay most or all of their college tuition to major in a field which the co offers a career path in. For example, see:

http://www.ou.edu/mcee

The company offers many lateral and upward career possibilities and a LARGE employer of residents of those “dreaded” flyover states. They always have lots of job openings.

[ucodegen]

[quote=flu]There’s a misconception about why some car repair bills are so high.. Beyond just the labor, these days it’s parts. Most problems are in the electronics…Mechanics don’t repair electronics… they swap boards….[/quote]Part of the problem is the way the cars are ‘built’. Recent problem: Older Mustang, S.O. took it to JiffyLube. Person there packed the terminal protector with lithium grease because there was a little corrosion. This only makes the problem worse because it traps the acid against the connectors. Went to Ford to get the positive terminal wire fixed. Price would be about $700. The wire is built into the engine bay wiring loom that traverses under the engine… even though battery terminals are highly likely to corrode. They only do the repair by replacing the entire lower engine wiring loom. Guess one of my long weekends is going to be pulling the loom apart and pulling out and replacing the positive terminal wires.. Other problems I have come across:

[Coronita]

[quote=bearishgurl][quote=flu]Cool…

Hey, I’m not complaining about auto mechanics. I wouldn’t mind doubling up as one occasionally…

There’s a misconception about why some car repair bills are so high.. Beyond just the labor, these days it’s parts. Most problems are in the electronics…Mechanics don’t repair electronics… they swap boards….

And frankly, anyone reasonably mechanically inclined can do this.. all they need is the factory shop manual and access to sometimes specialized tools and scanners…

People who can debug these cars and repair electronics (rather then sending them to the factory for a swap) probably can make a lot of money. BUT, most people who are mechanics don’t have the skills for that.

There’s also the other angle… Labor jobs are great when you’re young and healthy…Not so great when you get old and have health issues…That becomes apparent when you’re working on a car day in and day out.[/quote]

flu, even if you spend $50 to $100 for your vehicle’s shop manual, these “specialized tools and scanners” you speak of here can run up to $80K apiece (for the European models).

Joe6p “car enthusiast” doesn’t usually keep one of these in his garage (next to his old frig with a keg inside).[/quote]

Not true.

I have one for VW/Audi/Soaka:

$300… Does pretty much everything…

http://store.ross-tech.com/shop/cat/IC.html

Also, there are many many “sharing” lists on the forum.. Here’s just one..

http://newbeetle.org/forums/technical-how/533-vag-com-sharing-thread.html

BMW Kit done by this company:

http://www.bavariantechnic.com/?gclid=CLPUpfrL3LMCFQhyQgodgmgA2w

I haven’t ordered one yet, because I’m still under warranty for both bimmers.

There’s similar kits for Mercedes and Porsche too…

And there’s also general OBD2 scan tools that can read fault codes for most cars, since OBD2 is standard.

[Bitter Renter]

Perhaps I could contribute a unique perspective on this topic. I dropped out of college and worked at a few refineries in NorCal in the 90’s as a union laborer. All the older workers (in their 50’s) told me to go back to college…that even though I was making $40K+, it wasn’t worth it. As union carpenters/iron workers they were pulling in over $50K at the time plus full pensions (brand new 2000 sq ft homes in the area at the time were selling for ~$180K). These guys looked like they were in their 60’s so I considered the cost/benefit analysis and realized that I should listen to them. So I did, and obtained a Bachelors in Chemistry, then a Masters. Now, 20 years later I am finally making what they made then. So, I ask what did I do wrong? I believe I should have stayed as a blue collar worker (and wore sunblock). Indeed, I would be in a much more financially stable position now.

[Coronita]

You know. It’s not always about how much you make folks, but what you do with it…

[spdrun]

I’ve currently got three young nephews (25 yrs and under) working on “frac crews” in those dreaded “flyover states.”

The pay is good, but can they live with themselves considering that they’re making a nice contribution to environmental destruction?

Oil should have been left in the 20th century — we should be 95% renewable, hydro, and nuclear energy at this point, using hydrogen for high-density storage. Really not a science problem at this point, just engineering and infrastructure. Ah well. Hoping for trouble in the M.E. and $7/gal gas will finally wake America up and force them to wean off of petroleum.

Me, I’m happily doing I.T. and (more and more) back-end web design and app design on a freelance basis, and this pays the bills quite nicely. Corp-to-corp, no middleman involved of course 🙂

I have to say that mechanic isn’t a bad trade to be in, though. At least on the East Coast, it needs a business license and auto inspection license, but it’s not like plumbing or electrical where years of experience being someone’s b*tch is required by law to be licensed.

[flyer]

BG–Very interesting info on your family–good stuff. With what those kids are making, and the lower cost of living where they reside, they should be able to retire early, and transition into something that is less physical as they grow older. It could easily be a win-win for them, if they plan well.

Perhaps they could invest in property, and franchises, etc., along the way. At least they amount to SOMETHING, and are taking responsibility for their own lives.

As I know I’ve mentioned before, I can’t tell you how many friends we have with kids in their 20’s and close to 30, (college-educated or otherwise) who are completely incapable of supporting themselves, and don’t want to do anything because they couldn’t achieve their “dreams.” Sadly, I think this scenario may only become more prevalent going forward.

[scaredyclassic]

i copied this thread and emailed it to my kid.

[bearishgurl]

[quote=spdrun]The pay is good, but can they live with themselves considering that they’re making a nice contribution to environmental destruction?

Oil should have been left in the 20th century — we should be 95% renewable, hydro, and nuclear energy at this point, using hydrogen for high-density storage….[/quote]

I understand what you’re saying, spdrun.

Except … we’re not. Thus, we have these lucrative Halliburton jobs, right here in our own country! Why wouldn’t a 6’3″ fmr HS football center NOT want to take one of these positions for a few years in order to “launch” their adult lives … in lieu of college … to take time to figure out what they want to major in first … OR to see if college is really right for them?

Not EVERY parent has $1000 per month lying around to spend on a college dorm and mealplan, even given they will only pay in-state tuition. And college freshman in OK and TX public universities are required to live on campus for their first year. If already married, there are apts available on campus for them.

And what about the family has two or more kids in college at the same time?

This is an awesome opportunity for these young men, IMHO.

[bearishgurl]

[quote=flyer]BG–Very interesting info on your family–good stuff. With what those kids are making, and the lower cost of living where they reside, they should be able to retire early, and transition into something that is less physical as they grow older. It could easily be a win-win for them, if they plan well.

Perhaps they could invest in property, and franchises, etc., along the way. At least they amount to SOMETHING, and are taking responsibility for their own lives.

As I know I’ve mentioned before, I can’t tell you how many friends we have with kids in their 20’s and close to 30, (college-educated or otherwise) who are completely incapable of supporting themselves, and don’t want to do anything because they couldn’t achieve their “dreams.” Sadly, I think this scenario may only become more prevalent going forward.[/quote]

Yes, flyer, long-haul trucking is BIG in this region. As you may be aware, I-20 and I-40 (coast to coast) are MAJOR truck routes (I-40 being the busiest in the nation with I-80 a close second).

There are SO MANY jobs in rural “flyover” America that pay well. And these states are heavily populated by very tired boomers, WWII Gen and the remaining remnants of the Greatest Gen (sr citizens). Why? Because hundreds of thousands of Gen X/Y have migrated to colleges on the coasts, become established and NEVER CAME BACK HOME! Surprisingly, a large percentage of the “seniors” in “flyover country” are still working and would like to “retire” but there is no one in the pipeline for miles around to take their places! They paid their houses (and rental properties) off at least 20 years ago!

I’ve had SEVERAL relatives who worked FT in their 70’s until they suddenly felt too sick …. and then died within hours or days or being admitted to the hospital … including my own workaholic dad …

Where ARE all of these strapping 20-somethings? If they are racking up student loan debt while battling the “system” (ex. CA UC/CSU) to get needed classes to “graduate,” they may be wasting their time and (needlessly) mortgaging away their young lives with student loan debt in order to remain in their coastal CA “college town of choice” for as long as it takes to graduate.

Folks, the “flyover states” are beckoning your presence. Contrary to the belief of “flyover state residents” that Cali will eventually be an island in the Pacific, take it from me, the Golden State is truly not going anywhere. It will all be here when you come back 🙂

As a young Cali native, you can always return after making your “requisite $500K.” Last time I looked, it was a “free country.” :=]

[flyer]

And more food for thought regarding college. . .

http://www.dailyfinance.com/2012/11/19/middle-class-parents-are-losing-their-faith-in-college-education/

[spdrun]

Except … we’re not. Thus, we have these lucrative Halliburton jobs, right here in our own country! Why wouldn’t a 6’3″ fmr HS football center NOT want to take one of these positions for a few years in order to “launch” their adult lives … in lieu of college … to take time to figure out what they want to major in first … OR to see if college is really right for them?

I’m sure careers in the Nazi party were also lucrative and carried the possibility of promotion ca. 1938. 🙂

[scaredyclassic]

whenever the nazi party is invoked, it should be a rule on the internet that the next response is “ov vey is mir!”

[spdrun]

Same goes for the Soviet communist party 😉

This being said, I’d still not stop to take a leak if I saw an oil worker on fire. Unless I could leak kerosene that is.

[scaredyclassic]

the older i get the more difficult it is for me to blame a guy for responding to incentives.

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