I think I'm going to switch careers!

[DWW]

Some background info: I live in Ontario Canada. I took programming at college and will be in CS or CE at university come this fall. My friend makes $45,000 as a full time programmer with 5 years experience and his college diploma. I expect around $40,000-$50,000 to start when I'm done school I guess (I think thats reasonable)

So I'm over at my neighbors house fixing his comp this evening, somehow he fubar'd it and windows was corrupted. (Short story is that he had nothing of value so to save his time and mine I reinstalled.)

While fixing his machine I noticed his income tax forms and T4 on the table and couldn't help but notice his income for the year of 2002. He made $118,000 and change that year alone at his job! Nuts! He works for hydro and is a lineman. Dangerous job yes, overtime and called out during the night and winter storms etc. But still....DAMN!

There are so many jobs that pay well like plumbers probably could make a hefty sum I'd think ? Because no one wants those "dirty" and non-white collar jobs much anymore. He didn't even go to college or university, just did some training by the company and an apprenticeship I believe.

Geeze it makes you think about your career

 

[bradruth]

It's not all about money. My future profession is sorely underpaid, but that isn't going to make me change my mind. Until I'm in the poor house that is.

 

[DWW]

Originally posted by: bradruth
It's not all about money. My future profession is sorely underpaid, but that isn't going to make me change my mind. Until I'm in the poor house that is.

Agreed. I love programming and will always pursue it as a hobby though but I don't know if its worth the stress at a job with deadlines and problems and this and that. Most programmers I know who do it for a job end up disliking it or at least not coding at home for hobby because they use their "creativeness" while at work and don't want to come home and code more.

Sometimes I think I should keep programming as a hobby and do another, better paid profession.

 

[bradruth]

Originally posted by: DWW

Originally posted by: bradruth
It's not all about money. My future profession is sorely underpaid, but that isn't going to make me change my mind. Until I'm in the poor house that is.

Agreed. I love programming and will always pursue it as a hobby though but I don't know if its worth the stress at a job with deadlines and problems and this and that. Most programmers I know who do it for a job end up disliking it or at least not coding at home for hobby because they use their "creativeness" while at work and don't want to come home and code more.

Sometimes I think I should keep programming as a hobby and do another, better paid profession.

Well, whatever you think will make you the happiest you can be.

 

[DWW]

I always think that you can have the worst day job but as long as it pays the bills and you don't get stressed your doing okay. I mean you always have your spare time to pursue what you enjoy. That was always what I was taught when I was young because my parents worked the jobs they were told to and didn't have much choice heh.

Of course its even better if you -love- your job and wouldn't want any other. I could only imagine that if I was an astronaut or something but the likelihood of that won't happen

 

[DWW]

Originally posted by: DWW
I always think that you can have the worst day job but as long as it pays the bills and you don't get stressed your doing okay. I mean you always have your spare time to pursue what you enjoy. That was always what I was taught when I was young because my parents worked the jobs they were told to and didn't have much choice heh.

Of course its even better if you -love- your job and wouldn't want any other. I could only imagine that if I was an astronaut or something but the likelihood of that won't happen

Which is not to say that I don't love programming, I just don't love programming for others