11 minute read
Flooring Covering Line Workers Painters Architecture Pile Drivers HVAC Plumbing
As a Career — Flooring’s Got You Covered
TRAINING:
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OR & SW-WA FLOOR COVERING JATC ADDRESS
11105 NE SANDY BLVD PORTLAND, OR 97220 503-255-8444 WEBSITE: www.iupatdc5.org
Being a flooring installer might be one of the most interesting trades there is. There is a wide variety of flooring types, styles, colors, and products. New, innovative products are developed all the time, so it’s never boring.
Flooring installers typically demolish existing flooring, then level flooring surfaces, measure the square footage of a room, and cut and lay the carpet, tile, laminate, or hardwood. Then they apply finishes, like stains and sealers.
But the best part? Most flooring installers enter through an apprenticeship program. This means they develop their skills mostly through on-the-job training… and what does that mean? It means you get paid to train!
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the median pay is $42,050, with the highest 10 percent earning more than $74,630. ■
Why Do Line Workers Make So Much Money???
Are you wondering what a line worker even is? Among the trades, line workers are some of the most highly trained — and highly paid — professionals. They install and repair electrical distribution and transmission systems: overhead powerlines and underground cables. This can be a high-stress job but it’s exciting and rewarding. During an average workday, a line worker might be required to climb poles, install and inspect power lines, repair meters, and work on telecommunications equipment.
To become a line worker, you need to start by obtaining your high school diploma or GED. Once you’re hired as a line worker, you’ll undergo on-the-job training or an apprenticeship. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the median annual wage for electrical powerline installers and repairers was $72,520 in May 2019. And, wait for it… the highest 10 percent earned more than $103,500. No college degree required. ■
Adding Another Coat: What’s a Career as a Painter Like?
Painters do more than just make the interior and exterior of buildings look attractive. They work closely with contractors and designers in every kind of setting. They use a variety of materials, colors, and equipment, making it fun and interesting. Painting is a detail-oriented occupation that requires patience, skill, and knowledge. So if you think you have what it takes, then painting is a great career choice.
Most companies don’t require painters to have previous work experience, making it an entrylevel position for someone looking to break into the field. Learning the skills to become a professional painter is definitely a handson process, which is why most painters learn on-the-job through apprenticeship programs.
And, hey… apprentices get paid while they learn, so it’s a win-win for the company and the apprentice. Not to mention it’s a great-paying job with advancement potential. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the median wage for painters was $40,280, but the highest 10 percent earned more than $67,560. ■
The Who, What, Where, and Why of Becoming an Architect
Who Should Become an Architect?
Architecture is an exciting, creative, and technical field. There’s no getting around the fact that being an architect can be challenging and requires hard work. But architects get to flex their creative muscles, put their individual stamp on projects, and work with a team of professionals to achieve a common goal. If you want a challenging and rewarding career then architecture could be right up your alley.
What Do Architects Actually Do?
Architects plan and design everything from office buildings to residential houses. They consider how a space will be used, what the zoning laws are, site specifications, environmental impact, and accessibility. Then they prepare and draw-up detailed blueprints for contractors to follow. Often the architect will oversee construction to ensure everything is built according to the plans.
Where Do Architects Get Their Education?
dedication, and hard work, but, it is attainable.
First, you’ll need your bachelor’s degree from a university accredited by the National Architectural Accrediting Board (NAAB), which can take up to five years to complete. Courses cover design, drafting blueprints, the history of architecture, construction methods, building materials, and technology.
Next, you will need to complete an internship to gain on-the-job experience. Lastly, you need to pass the Architectural Registration Exam (ARE) and apply for your license.
Why Become an Architect?
If you love working with the built environment, a career in architecture could be just what you’re looking for. Not only is architecture a rewarding career, but it’s also a high-paying one. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, in 2019 the median pay for architects was $80,750, while the top 10% raked in an impressive $137,620 or more.
So, thinking about architecture as a career? Yeah, me too... ■
4 Steps to Becoming an Architect
1. Get your degree from a NAAB accredited university.
2. Complete your internship — do this while in school through the
IPAL program.
3. Pass the Architecture Registration Exam.
4. Apply for your license.
University of Oregon School of Architecture & Environment
www.archenvironment.uoregon.edu/ academics/portland
Portland Community College
www.pcc.edu/programs/ architectural-design
For more information and resources, contact the AIA Oregon
www.aiaoregon.org
What Are Pile Drivers?
“IN OREGON, A UNION PILE DRIVER APPRENTICE INITIALLY EARNS 60% OF WHAT A JOURNEY-LEVEL UNION PILE DRIVER IS PAID. THEIR STARTING WAGE IS OVER $25 PER HOUR AND THEY WILL EARN MORE AS THEY ACQUIRE MORE SKILLS DURING THEIR FOURYEAR PROGRAM. UNION PILE DRIVERS CURRENTLY EARN OVER $42 PER HOUR IN OREGON AND SW WASHINGTON.”
Monica Gauthier a Journeyman Pile Driver & Welder grinding the weld on a pile splice
By Meg Kilmer, Desi Wright & Shane Stacy
Piles are large underground columns that help support structures, retaining walls, and bridges. Pile drivers use heavy machinery to drive the piles into the ground. They also work on repairing and maintaining existing piles. A pile driver apprenticeship includes paid, on-the-job training (OJT) plus core classes on safety, welding and cutting, concrete, rigging, and elective classes like Anatomy of a Bridge.
Some pile drivers work underwater on pilings for oil rigs, wharves, docks, and other marine structures. A pile driver diver can do everything a pile driver does, including welding and cutting, but their workplace is underwater. Most union pile driver divers were certified divers before joining their apprenticeship program.
Shane Stacy, apprenticeship instructor at the Pacific Northwest Carpenters Institute and Local 196 member, explains, “Pile drivers are the first on the construction site. We build the foundations and the substructures that other trades will build up from. You don’t usually see our work because the pilings are underground or underwater. Bridges are an exception — notice what’s holding up the bridge you’re driving over and thank a pile driver.”
“I went to college and got some good debt,” jokes Desi Wright, Local 196 member and NW Carpenters Union Representative. “I was working hard and not making any money before following my dad and grandfather into the Pile Drivers.” When asked what they loved about the work, this third-generation union member pointed to the range of skills piledrivers use in a variety of situations. “One week you could be drilling and be in mud up to your knees and the next week you could be working on a bridge, playing 100 feet up in the air! Maybe your next job is on a river working out of a boat or you could be welding on some tie backs.” Fun fact? Pile driving is an ancient construction technique. Italy’s famed city of Venice, founded in the year 421, was built on millions of pilings made from sharpened poles of alder wood brought in from Slovenia and Croatia. ■
Ask Yourself
Were you the kid who loved to play outside in the mud?
Do you love feeling strong after a hard workout or physical task?
Always wanted to run big, heavy machinery?
Want to learn how to weld?
Looking for a job that offers a sense of accomplishment?
For more information on a registered apprenticeship and becoming Pile Driver in Oregon or SW Washington, visit the Pacific Northwest Carpenters Institute (PNCI) at http://www.pnci.org.
Breathe Fresh Air into Your Career as an HVAC Technician
What would happen if we couldn’t heat or cool our buildings? Thankfully Heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning (HVAC) technicians are here to help keep us comfortable.
If your home or business is too hot or too cold, the first person you’ll call is an HVAC technician. These professionals install, repair, and maintain all kinds of heating, air conditioning, air circulation, and refrigeration systems. They understand how heat and cold move through a system, and how best to build that system.
Do You Want to Get Paid While You Learn?
Becoming an HVAC technician doesn’t require experience, but it does require you to go through an apprenticeship program. This means on-the-job training and a starting wage while you learn.
So do you enjoy using your knowledge and expertise to solve complex problems? A rewarding career in HVAC could be what you’re looking for. And there’s good news! According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, HVAC technicians are projected to have 4% growth through 2029. ■ “BEND HEATING IS ONE OF THE MOST ESTABLISHED HVAC BUSINESSES IN CENTRAL OREGON. OUR EMPLOYEES DESERVE ALL THE CREDIT FOR THAT SUCCESS! WE HAVE MANY LONG-TIME EMPLOYEES WHO HAVE BEEN AN INTEGRAL PART OF OUR FAMILY. PLUS WE ARE ALWAYS LOOKING FOR NEW TEAM MEMBERS, BOTH MEN AND WOMEN!”
— Scott Zettle, Bend Heating
Choose the PLUMBING and MECHANICAL industry for a
GREAT SALARIES
NO COLLEGE DEBT
LIMITLESS OPPORTUNITIES
BIGGER
FUTURE.
The Oregon Laborers Apprenticeship program has been participating in the BOLI/ODOT Highway Workforce Development grant program since 2010.
Over the years, the program has given many construction craft laborer apprentices the resources they need to accept highway-related jobs. These jobs are often far from metro areas and come with related costs like work gear, clothing, tools, transportation, lodging, meals, and childcare.
The program provides apprentices living in metro areas opportunities to travel and learn the scope of work on highway projects. The BOLI/ ODOT Grant has been an amazing resource for retaining apprentices and diversifying the workforce. It is a solid model for expanding access and equity for women and BIPOC, and sharing opportunities to gain skills for highway construction careers.
The Oregon Laborers apprenticeship has recently partnered with AKANA to provide resources through the BOLI/ODOT Grant.
Shaylla Casarez
Gregg Richardson There are many personal stories of what the BOLI/ODOT Grant means for our apprentices, here’s just one:
“The ODOT program helped me so much as a single mom to make ends meet and a little bit more! … Once I knew I could reach out to get this support I did so and used it for work supplies such as new work shoes, clothing, and rain gear. Things I could not have afforded before. I still remember coming back from my first day on the job drenched in rain. I finally was able to get the proper gear I needed for work”. —Shaylla Casarez, Journey worker, 2020 Graduate
Michele Chavez
TRAINING & APPRENTICESHIP www.oregonlaborers.com
Plumbing is Flowing With Opportunity
Plumbing today is a lot more than unclogging drains and toilets. Plumbers install and repair pipes, plumbing systems, natural gas systems, water and drainage systems, and heating fixtures in homes, commercial buildings, and factories. In the process they use a variety of materials and techniques, making plumbing a surprisingly interesting career choice.
In fact, some plumbers even help develop blueprints by assisting in the layout and placement of pipes and fixtures. This ensures that a building’s plumbing and septic systems comply with local codes and don’t interfere with electrical wiring.
Most plumbers learn their trade through an apprenticeship program, which can take four or five years to complete. The good news? An apprentice is paid to train. A combination of on-the-job training and technical instruction includes blueprint reading, safety, and local plumbing codes and regulations.
Wages?
Entry-level: $31K to $34K Median: $85K to $94K Master: $99K to $143K
Sources: Plumbing and Mechanical Contractors Association, see www.pmcaoregon.com/ wp-content/uploads/2020/03/2020_Wage_ Sheets.pdf. Please note, wages vary based on hours worked and market sector. ■
