Been painting most of my life, and looking for a change. What are some other career options that will lead to a good living, and allow me to provide for my family?
I’m leaning towards another trade, ideally in a union, as blue collar work is mostly all I know, so I feel this would be the most feasible switch for me. I’m open to other suggestions, but at 36 with a wife and 3 young kids, time isn’t really on my side
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HVAC, electrical, plumbing. Any of those pay well once you have some experience
If it were me, l’d get into the building automation side of hvac. You’re going to need to learn new information regardless of where you go from here, might as well future proof yourself and get into a trade like automation that takes less of a toll on the bod.
What kinda painting ?
All for HVAC etc, but if you did creative painting and live anywhere near a soundstage you could see if there’s any need for locals in art department for television/film/media production.
Also maybe look into decorative concrete painting,
As you want something fast, a shift sideways might be better than a complete shift, at least to start.
Kitchen cabinets are worth big money and tidy profits, these days they’re almost all MDF boxes that any moron could build with doors picked up from local CNC or mills.
The beautiful thing with a paint background is that custom work is worth a huge bump, and companies like Easel have low cost software to layout kitchens after a free trial if you’re uncomfortable visualizing.
Electrician .100% use your brain and not a broom !
You probably have a lot of experience correct? What about becoming a foreman/supervisor for a painting company, run the field guys? Or you can go inside and estimate/project management and use your years of experience for this? Just an idea to capitalize on your experience.
My recommendation:
Bonus:
Wierd I was just looking into learning the painting trade and trying to make a living out of it as a solo painter. Why you wanna be done?
Look into building maintenence, I’ve been doing it for almost 3 years and I’m 35, with just mechanical experience (from the Air Force) but I had no building maintenence skills, except some painting. The industry pays pretty well if you find the right place
So I transitioned to transport by getting my CDL. Which most opportunities for general driving didn’t pay that much.
Then I specialized and began transporting vehicles, 9 at a time.
It’s dangerous , rigorous and monotonous. But it pays me a healthy 6 figure salary and I’m home by 2pm at the latest. So I’m home every night.
Total time is estimate between enrolling to learn and getting to where I am, I’d say about 2 years.
Sheet metal got a nice setup.. so do steamfitters and others.. depends what ya wanna mess around with lol
I can’t give you specifics, but I have an uncle who has worked as a painter for decades until he branched into doing the fullblown renovations and maintenance. He does very well for himself, having secured contracts with several businesses, since he was able to bring his reputation from painting into the new work.
Logistics.
City government work. Take civil services exams.