Wino Posted October 15, 2009 Report Share Posted October 15, 2009 I sometimes here college graduates say that their expensive education was a waste of time and money because a common laborer makes more than a college graduate. That probably isn't true although plumber's seem to make a lot of money. Here is an interesting article. "Blue-collar jobs are typically classified as involving manual labor and compensation by an hourly wage. Some fields that fall into this category include construction, manufacturing, maintenance and mining." The Top 10 List 1. Elevator Installer and Repairer Average salary: $87,518 Average hourly wage: $42.08 Average work week: 40 hours 2. Electrical and Electronics Repairer -- Powerhouse, Substation and Relay Average salary: $68,084 Average hourly wage: $32.75 Average work week: 40 hours 3. Power Plant Operator, Distributor and Dispatcher Average salary: $65,846 Average hourly wage: $31.50 Average work week: 40 hours 4. Gas Plant Operator Average salary: $63,872 Average hourly wage: $30.71 Average work week: 40 hours 5. Locomotive Engineer Average salary: $63,125 Average hourly wage: $28.27 Average work week: 42.5 hours 6. Electrical Power Line Installer and Repairer Average salary: $60,354 Average hourly wage: $29.02 Average work week: 40 hours 7. Structural Iron and Steel Worker Average salary: $59,224 Average hourly wage: $28.55 Average work week: 39.9 hours 8. Construction and Building Inspector Average salary: $59,144 Average hourly wage: $28.31 Average work week: 40.2 hours 9. Ship and Boat Captain and Operator Average salary: $57,910 Average hourly wage: $24.86 Average work week: 51.8 hours 10. Radio and Telecommunications Equipment Installer Average salary: $57,149 Average hourly wage: $27.48 Average work week: 39.9 hours http://finance.yahoo.com/career-work/article/107958/highest-paying-blue-collar-jobs?mod=career-salary_negotiation Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Beer Chang Posted October 15, 2009 Report Share Posted October 15, 2009 These wages seem fair to me. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wino Posted October 16, 2009 Author Report Share Posted October 16, 2009 These wages seem fair to me.They are way overpriced if you are Thai. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Beer Chang Posted October 17, 2009 Report Share Posted October 17, 2009 To give you an idea of what Thais make some Thai massage girls are going to Malaysia to earn a guranteed salary of 18,000 baht a month plus free food and free shared housing. Thais love thailand so this amount is needed to entice them to leave. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WannaGo Posted October 18, 2009 Report Share Posted October 18, 2009 1. Elevator Installer and Repairer Average salary: $87,518 Average hourly wage: $42.08 Average work week: 40 hours You know, these guys make more than I ever will...but I'm ok with that. I sure as hell wouldn't want to take an elevator designed and maintained by some buy making $10 an hour. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Beer Chang Posted October 19, 2009 Report Share Posted October 19, 2009 You know, these guys make more than I ever will...but I'm ok with that. I sure as hell wouldn't want to take an elevator designed and maintained by some buy making $10 an hour. You might be surprised how little first officers on commuter aircraft earn. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lvdkeyes Posted October 19, 2009 Report Share Posted October 19, 2009 I knew a Thai guy who was a university graduate, completed military service, and was working as hotel receptionist six days a week for 6200 baht a month. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wino Posted October 19, 2009 Author Report Share Posted October 19, 2009 I knew a Thai guy who was a university graduate, completed military service, and was working as hotel receptionist six days a week for 6200 baht a month.That is almost slave wages. Based on a 48 hour week, that is about 130 baht an hour. An unskilled laborer, I am told, will make about 150 baht a day. Now, that IS really slave wages. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lvdkeyes Posted October 19, 2009 Report Share Posted October 19, 2009 I saw his pay stub, so I know he wasn't bullshitting me. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wino Posted October 20, 2009 Author Report Share Posted October 20, 2009 I saw his pay stub, so I know he wasn't bullshitting me.Seems like cheap wages for a college graduate, but I guess he figured, he need experience and had to start somewhere. He was probably thankful he had a job. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lvdkeyes Posted October 20, 2009 Report Share Posted October 20, 2009 I have been told that all the people who work in currency exchanges are university graduates too. I am not sure what their salaries are, but I feel sure they are low. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wino Posted October 20, 2009 Author Report Share Posted October 20, 2009 In Bangkok, I met a college graduate that was working in a DVD rental store. I did not ask but I don't think he was making much money, even though he was in management. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WannaGo Posted October 21, 2009 Report Share Posted October 21, 2009 You might be surprised how little first officers on commuter aircraft earn.Chesley Sullenberger, the pilot who landed his plane in the Hudson River after a bird strike, was on the Daily Show last week, and he talked about the abysmal pay for pilots. And it seems like I remember after that commuter crash in Buffalo -- this year, last year? -- there were some articles showing that the co-pilot was making low to mid-20s. You'd think someone in a skilled profession who is responsible for that many lives would make more than a cabbie. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wino Posted October 21, 2009 Author Report Share Posted October 21, 2009 Shall we start a campaign to start tipping the cabin crew as we leave the plane? Don't know if it is gospel truth, but I heard of a pilot retiree for United that was making six figures when he hung up his wings. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lvdkeyes Posted October 21, 2009 Report Share Posted October 21, 2009 Tipping has gotten way out of hand. Even self service restaurants have tip jars on the counter. For what is the tip supposed to be? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wino Posted October 21, 2009 Author Report Share Posted October 21, 2009 Tipping has gotten way out of hand. Even self service restaurants have tip jars on the counter. For what is the tip supposed to be? Maybe it is to supplement a person’s wages because the employer is too cheap to pay a decent wage? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lvdkeyes Posted October 21, 2009 Report Share Posted October 21, 2009 Of course it is, but it is not what a tip is supposed to be, IMHO. I think a tip is for good service provided. There is no service if I have to go to the counter, order my food, pay for it and wait for it to be ready and then carry it to a table. And then, be expected to dump the refuse in the trash afterward. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wino Posted October 22, 2009 Author Report Share Posted October 22, 2009 I think a tip is for good service provided. Maybe that is why most Thais and French do not tip very much. I guess they ask why they would want to tip a service provider for doing their job. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lvdkeyes Posted October 22, 2009 Report Share Posted October 22, 2009 I agree with that concept. In Japan tipping is not customary and service people get confused when a tip is offered. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Beer Chang Posted October 22, 2009 Report Share Posted October 22, 2009 That is almost slave wages. Based on a 48 hour week, that is about 130 baht an hour. I wouldn't mind earning 130 baht/hour id there was no commute. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wino Posted October 22, 2009 Author Report Share Posted October 22, 2009 I agree with that concept. In Japan tipping is not customary and service people get confused when a tip is offered. I guess Japan is similar to Thailand. In Thailand, I had a waiter come running after me to return the money I left on the table. Why is it hard for some nationalities to abide by nations customs? When in Rome, do as the Romans. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lvdkeyes Posted October 22, 2009 Report Share Posted October 22, 2009 I have lived in Thailand for 5 years and came here as a tourist for 10 years before that and I have never had a waiter/waitress come after me to return tip money. On the other hand, in Narita airport, I witnessed a waitress chasing after an American with change from his table. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WannaGo Posted October 23, 2009 Report Share Posted October 23, 2009 but I heard of a pilot retiree for United that was making six figures when he hung up his wings. That's for large jets with major airlines. Not for commuter plane pilots on smaller carriers. This was in the Baltimore Sun: "My daughter is Captain on a regional jet...She is a graduate of Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University...It took my daughter five years to get promoted to Captain. This doubled her wages. After five years as a First Officer, she was making about $28K." Tipping has gotten way out of hand. Even self service restaurants have tip jars on the counter. For what is the tip supposed to be? I would laugh my ass off if I saw a tip jar in a McDonald's. There's a little convenience store down the street from my house. Because it's right on the beach and gets a lot of tourist business, the prices are through the roof. I was too lazy to go to the grocery store yesterday, so I ran down there for a loaf of bread and a bag of pretzels. Cost me almost $7. And there on the counter at the register is a tip jar. I pay, and promptly stick my change right back in my pocket, with the guy at the register eye-fucking me the whole time. But these guys don't pump gas, they don't help you shop. All they do is ring up your purchases and only put them in bag if you ask...so why the hell should they get tipped? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bob Posted October 23, 2009 Report Share Posted October 23, 2009 I would laugh my ass off if I saw a tip jar in a McDonald's. I still chuckle a bit every time I see the giant plastic Ronald doing the ol' "wai" at the entrance. Pretty silly in my view. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Beer Chang Posted October 23, 2009 Report Share Posted October 23, 2009 I like the wai from Ronnie McD. In Bali he's on a surfboard! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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