# decided to get an education(sorta) **URL:** \ **Category:** NYSpeed Off Topic\ **Created:** [September 12, 2007, 9:09am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/decided-to-get-an-education-sorta/35242 "2007-09-12T09:09:06Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 18\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![snowracer101](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/258eb7/32.png) [@snowracer101](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/snowracer101)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2007, 9:09am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/decided-to-get-an-education-sorta/35242/1 "2007-09-12T09:09:06Z")
I’ve actually made up my mind for what I want to do in life…(hopfully) I’m going to attend ATS heavy equipment opperator school down in south carolina. It’s a 12 week program 5 days a week and after you finish you get your construction certification and are pretty much garrenteed a job anywhere in the U.S I’m going to attend the 1st stage of 3 weeks next month, then finish the rest up in spring. I’m really excited because I’ll be able to work spring-fall and still race in the winter… Comments welcome… ---
**Author:** ![Boomin99GT](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/boomin99gt/32/7306_2.png) [@Boomin99GT](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/Boomin99GT)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2007, 9:11am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/decided-to-get-an-education-sorta/35242/2 "2007-09-12T09:11:20Z")
My buddy just did that, the pay is decent and he got a job right away. Goodluck to you! ---
**Author:** ![93dx\_hatch](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/9/90ced4/32.png) [@93dx\_hatch](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/93dx_hatch)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2007, 9:21am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/decided-to-get-an-education-sorta/35242/3 "2007-09-12T09:21:26Z")
^ what do you consider decent pay, this sounds like something I should tell my cousin about ---
**Author:** ![snowracer101](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/258eb7/32.png) [@snowracer101](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/snowracer101)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2007, 9:28am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/decided-to-get-an-education-sorta/35242/4 "2007-09-12T09:28:48Z")
I think starting pay for an operator is around $30/hr… But if you get in the union or work for a private company that pay rises a ton ---
**Author:** ![Boomin99GT](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/boomin99gt/32/7306_2.png) [@Boomin99GT](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/Boomin99GT)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2007, 10:01am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/decided-to-get-an-education-sorta/35242/5 "2007-09-12T10:01:24Z")
Yeah he’s at a private company making $36/hour. I consider that pretty decent for the short amount of schooling but he also had experience in the field before. ---
**Author:** ![Onyx\_Z32](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/onyx_z32/32/7581_2.png) [@Onyx\_Z32](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/Onyx_Z32)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2007, 10:09am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/decided-to-get-an-education-sorta/35242/6 "2007-09-12T10:09:22Z")
You’ve got to do something you enjoy doing, and if this still gives you time to race, :tup: ---
**Author:** ![newman](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/newman/32/7569_2.png) [@newman](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/newman)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2007, 10:28am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/decided-to-get-an-education-sorta/35242/7 "2007-09-12T10:28:26Z")
good call. ---
**Author:** ![POOPRA](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/poopra/32/7188_2.png) [@POOPRA](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/POOPRA)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2007, 10:53am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/decided-to-get-an-education-sorta/35242/8 "2007-09-12T10:53:29Z")
The only way your going to get decent pay as a equipment operator in this area is if you become a member of the local international union of operating engineers. Pay would be based upon the work you are performing, and experience. Local 17 has their own apprentice program which I can bet is not easy to get into unless you know someone. Operators on our jobsite make which is 31.72/hr which is a class A rate with a hazardous work premium. As a apprentice you would probably make much less, say 20/hr. If you were a nonunion apprentice I would say you would make maybe 10/hr. I would try to get some information from Local 17 if you looking to come back to this area and work. ---
**Author:** ![93dx\_hatch](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/9/90ced4/32.png) [@93dx\_hatch](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/93dx_hatch)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2007, 11:41am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/decided-to-get-an-education-sorta/35242/9 "2007-09-12T11:41:10Z")
^ I know the president of that union very well and it would be hard for even myself to get in; ---
**Author:** ![Fry](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/fry/32/7284_2.png) [@Fry](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/Fry)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2007, 11:48am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/decided-to-get-an-education-sorta/35242/10 "2007-09-12T11:48:04Z")
You might want to check your assumptions. 3 months of school being the only requirement for a career with a $60k starting salary doesn’t really sound reasonable does it? There has to be a catch. I think one of your false assumptions is ever being guaranteed a job anywhere. The good news is that I think Poopra pretty much spelled it out for you. That doesn’t mean don’t do it, just be prepared that it might take a lot longer and require a lot more work to get there. Good luck! ---
**Author:** ![Boomin99GT](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/boomin99gt/32/7306_2.png) [@Boomin99GT](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/Boomin99GT)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2007, 11:54am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/decided-to-get-an-education-sorta/35242/11 "2007-09-12T11:54:53Z")
Like I said my buddy had experience in the field for I think about 5 years so when he went to school he already knew the business. He moved to NC from Rochester for his job but the pay is good. ---
**Author:** ![jabbu](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/jabbu/32/7446_2.png) [@jabbu](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/jabbu)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2007, 2:44pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/decided-to-get-an-education-sorta/35242/12 "2007-09-12T14:44:08Z")
Q. What kind of wages can a heavy equipment operator make? A. Wages will vary between companies and location. Associated Training Services’s job placement department has an average of $15.00 an hour for entry level employment. Job placement through Associated Training Services is at 80% and running strong. Potential wages for a heavy equipment operator on average are $25.00 to $30.00 an hour. This industry is in high demand and an excellent career opportunity for those looking into the heavy equipment operation. ---
**Author:** ![ly555is](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/3bc359/32.png) [@ly555is](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/ly555is)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2007, 3:26pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/decided-to-get-an-education-sorta/35242/13 "2007-09-12T15:26:39Z")
hrm. update this, i work with lots of rural HS students in the south that might find this appealing :tup: ---
**Author:** ![Pauly](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/pauly/32/7493_2.png) [@Pauly](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/Pauly)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2007, 3:42pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/decided-to-get-an-education-sorta/35242/14 "2007-09-12T15:42:53Z")
Here’s the down side- I’ve heard (no expert by any means) that its pretty rough on your kidneys. so the dialyasis at age 45 might kinda suck. I thought about this line of work back in the learly 90’s and was warned off it. Might be something to at least check into ---
**Author:** ![ryanbgb22](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/7feea3/32.png) [@ryanbgb22](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/ryanbgb22)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2007, 5:38pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/decided-to-get-an-education-sorta/35242/15 "2007-09-12T17:38:18Z")
[quote=“Pauly,post:14,topic:35242"”] Here’s the down side- I’ve heard (no expert by any means) that its pretty rough on your kidneys. so the dialyasis at age 45 might kinda suck. I thought about this line of work back in the learly 90’s and was warned off it. Might be something to at least check into [/quote] from the vibration, or from having to hold it all day? ---
**Author:** ![Jam](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/jam/32/7235_2.png) [@Jam](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/Jam)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2007, 7:40pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/decided-to-get-an-education-sorta/35242/16 "2007-09-12T19:40:07Z")
[quote=“ryanbgb22,post:15,topic:35242"”] from the vibration, or from having to hold it all day? [/quote] pretty sure its from breathing exhaust fumes all day… ---
**Author:** ![Pauly](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/pauly/32/7493_2.png) [@Pauly](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/Pauly)\ **Post date:** [September 13, 2007, 4:18am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/decided-to-get-an-education-sorta/35242/17 "2007-09-13T04:18:57Z")
Vibrations ---
**Author:** ![POOPRA](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/poopra/32/7188_2.png) [@POOPRA](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/POOPRA)\ **Post date:** [September 13, 2007, 4:51am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/decided-to-get-an-education-sorta/35242/18 "2007-09-13T04:51:16Z")
[quote=“Pauly,post:14,topic:35242"”] Here’s the down side- I’ve heard (no expert by any means) that its pretty rough on your kidneys. so the dialyasis at age 45 might kinda suck. I thought about this line of work back in the learly 90’s and was warned off it. Might be something to at least check into [/quote] I guess that would depend on what kind of equipment your operating. If you operating a vibratory roller for 30 years I think it would definately put a hurtin on your body. I doubt you will be operating the same piece of equipment for your employment.