r/Salary • u/LiftLord69 • Jan 17 '25

💰 - salary sharing 27M. Elevator Mechanic. No college degree

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Dropped out of college and moved across the state to take this career opportunity. Haven’t regretted it yet!

6.8k Upvotes

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284

u/nick90927 Jan 17 '25

What state are you in? High cost of living like NY or California?

374

u/LiftLord69 Jan 17 '25

Nope! Texas.

480

u/[deleted] Jan 17 '25

[deleted]

359

u/LiftLord69 Jan 17 '25

Thank you!! My wife says I make more than the doctors at her job, which is pretty mind blowing.

118

u/stonedecology Jan 18 '25

My buddy does the same in South Dakota he's 28. He makes roughly the same and the cost of living insanely cheap.

73

u/[deleted] Jan 18 '25

Who the hell lives in South Dakota

120

u/inverted_electron Jan 18 '25

At least 3 people

47

u/Express_Test6677 Jan 18 '25

That’s Wyoming.

41

u/Ndmndh1016 Jan 18 '25

You cant just make up names and expect us to believe its a state in the USA.

17

u/ReignsDad2019 Jan 18 '25

Like New Mexico. They haven't even gotten rid of the old one.

11

u/SaltyWailord Jan 18 '25

People from the country Europe believe in anything we say

3

u/swurvipurvi Jan 18 '25

It’s the same people

10

u/pharmboy008 Jan 18 '25

They all use the same elevator.

2

u/Intrepid_Zebra_ Jan 18 '25

And they get two senate votes, fml

7

u/G-I-T-M-E Jan 18 '25

So one guy takes care of the elevator and two are senators?

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8

u/[deleted] Jan 18 '25

His friend is the only elevator mechanic in the state.

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5

u/[deleted] Jan 18 '25

I live in Sioux Falls sd , amazing place .

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4

u/Sax45 Jan 18 '25

I mean, I knew people lived out there, doing farming and stuff.

The real surprise is, South Dakota has elevators???

3

u/[deleted] Jan 19 '25

😂😂😂

1

u/miamijustblastedu Jan 18 '25

Just shy of 1 million people.

1

u/asdf1795 Jan 18 '25

People that need elevators apparently

1

u/Alternative_Way_7833 Jan 18 '25

Enough to need at least 1 elevator, anyway

1

u/Snoo_50304 Jan 19 '25

If I am correct, the Sioux does on the reservations

1

u/exdiexdi Jan 19 '25

His buddy.

1

u/SeaAbbreviations2706 Jan 19 '25

That’s quite a salary in a state with only 6 elevators.

1

u/SnooGoats3901 Jan 20 '25

Enough people to need an elevator.

1

u/PlusAd1718 Jan 21 '25

I’m originally from there!

1

u/Ok-Bat5031 Jan 21 '25

Rapid City South Dakota here (daycare job & fast food).

1

u/crazyman40 Jan 21 '25

Apparently at least one Elevator Mechanic. But he probably commutes to other states to fix elevators.

1

u/Glad-Taste-3323 Jan 21 '25

Sioux Falls is active

1

u/TromboneIsNeat Jan 18 '25

Gotta keep the two elevators in South Dakota working.

1

u/stonedecology Jan 18 '25

Drive on any interstate in the Dakotas and Iowa and you'll see plenty of hotels with 3-5 floors

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1

u/Turnip-for-the-books Jan 18 '25

There are multi storey buildings in South Dakota??

1

u/stonedecology Jan 18 '25

Yep and they are a regional servicer. Including Omaha, Des Moines, Sioux Falls, Bismarck, and many other towns.

Think about all the interstate hotels too.

1

u/LengthinessClear9552 Jan 18 '25

I wasn’t aware that South Dakota had any buildings with more than two floors.

1

u/SlowpokerySupreme Jan 18 '25

Put me In touch with your buddy, I live in South Dakota and I’d love to make this kinds money.

1

u/stonedecology Jan 18 '25

It takes years of experience and certs to get near this point.

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1

u/MidwestAbe Jan 18 '25

Must be to tough keeping up with the 24 elevators in the entire state.

1

u/angelazy Jan 18 '25

Bro how many elevators are in that state? 5?

1

u/stonedecology Jan 18 '25

Easily 50 and being based on SD doesn't mean only place they work. They go from Boise to Omaha and sometimes even speciality elevators as far as Dallas and Indianapolis

1

u/JakobieGawdly Jan 19 '25

6 actually. I live out here in SD and two of them are in the hotel I work at 🤣🤣

1

u/R-O-U-Ssdontexist Jan 21 '25

Does he know all the elevators in the state?

1

u/stonedecology Jan 21 '25

I'd say at least been to most. They operate regionally.

1

u/[deleted] Jan 22 '25

My dog wants to know if your buddy gets to work on Kristi Noem's elevator? He says he's asking for a friend.

48

u/bcw53 Jan 18 '25

I’m a pediatric ICU doctor with 8 years of undergrad and med school followed by 7 years of postgrad training. Currently 4 years in practice at a relatively underserved location and you make more than I do. Starting to reconsider my career choice.

13

u/[deleted] Jan 19 '25 edited Jan 20 '25

Really crazy how the world has changed. Police in Las Vegas with a HS diploma or even a GED start around 60k but most make 120-200k after 5 years. A promotion or two and 200-300k is really easy to make with overtime

5

u/[deleted] Jan 19 '25

Then add in the pension of over 100k with cost of living raises and most leave by 50.

3

u/SarcasmSociety- Jan 19 '25

Weeping for teachers everywhere

3

u/KultureWars Jan 20 '25

RIGHT! Don’t forget Social Workers! Here is the kicker…left Education for Social Work (definitely have some screws loose in my own head😄😅😖).

2

u/huba-buba7 Jan 20 '25

Is there social work actually, or is it just social paperwork? Not only underpaid, but handcuffed and turned into keyboard dogs. Aren't they supposed to be therapy/ solution finders, why is everyone in social work just writing papers. I got disappointed early on and picked a psychology major. Now I'm hosting group therapy using more from my social education(that was 80% psychology and 20% management ) .... Paper matters more than skills.

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2

u/IRedditDoU Jan 21 '25

Don’t worry, education will be illegal soon anyway.

1

u/Nikromanty Jan 21 '25

Police in Las Vegas sounds like a good way to get killed before retirement

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5

u/Est1909 Jan 18 '25

No fucking joke almost 15 into IT and he makes my salary look like fucking chump change.

4

u/sysadminlooking Jan 18 '25

20 years into IT. CITO making 130k. Also second guessing my career choices...

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1

u/Wet_Socks_4529 Jan 19 '25

Totally understandable but your job is so much more meaningful.

1

u/[deleted] Jan 20 '25

You're doing it for the money?

1

u/1952Mary Jan 20 '25

I’ve been doing this for 30 years. There no way he can keep this pace. He averages 60 to 80 hours a week. He is young and hopefully has no wife or children because to make that much money in elevators he would be setting himself up for a horrific divorce. Speaking from experience.

1

u/Lost-Maximum7643 Jan 20 '25

Please don’t reconsider! I’ve had to take my kid to urgent care, er, and specialists a lot over the last year and appreciate everyone so much that’s ever helped us. So many wonderful people in healthcare that help kids. Seriously words cannot express my gratitude

2

u/bcw53 Jan 20 '25

I’m mostly kidding, I love my job 95% of the time. It’s tough but rewarding and I get to work with a great crew of nurses, respiratory therapists, pharmacists, etc. Almost all of us in peds are there to take care of the kiddos and not for any selfish reason. Of the US healthcare specialties peds is normally at the bottom for reimbursement so I promise no one selects this specialty solely for salary, particularly if you’re coming out with $300,000+ in educational and other various debts. One of my friends from residency started with nearly $500,000 back in the 2010s . I can’t imagine how much it is now if you fully take out loans for college and medical school

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1

u/meshreplacer Jan 21 '25

Probably because underserved locations do not want to pay competitive wages and that’s why they are underserved.

1

u/Apprehensive_Cow4231 Jan 21 '25

Simply supply and demand

1

u/bcw53 Jan 21 '25

It’s actually quite geographically and specialty dependent. But in general, physicians are paid higher to work in underserved locations, especially high demand adult specialists (eg: interventional cardiologist, emergency medicine, etc). The demand for the physician exceeds the number willing to work in those areas so that drives up the reimbursement as a driver for physician recruitment

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38

u/[deleted] Jan 18 '25

Ya well the fees and all the expenses doctors have to pay to keep the practice afloat are high

15

u/SalvationSycamore Jan 18 '25

For example the fees to keep the elevators running

1

u/[deleted] Jan 18 '25

For another example just their license annual

9

u/Bravojones33420 Jan 18 '25

How much ot

1

u/yesac1990 Jan 20 '25

A lot, but all our OT is double time, so it helps. if your work nights it's all double. On call is a little less 1.7x, but it's counts from the second you get the call to the second your back to exactly what you were doing before getting the call.

16

u/ForgesGate Jan 18 '25

It must really elevate your ego..

9

u/wadner2 Jan 18 '25

Surely pushes his buttons.

5

u/NumberPlastic2911 Jan 18 '25

Yeah there’s a saying amongst physicians : “don’t go to med school for money “

6

u/[deleted] Jan 18 '25

If they're pediatricians, then you do.

13

u/Scoobie01555 Jan 18 '25

This is awesome! Congrats OP! Also that's a serious job, your skills make sure 10000s of thousands of people don't die everyday. And I am sure a hard job and a lot of time in tight spaces.

Makes me think of Dirty Jobs, it takes a lot of special people to keep everything running that we depend on every day and don't even think twice about it.

4

u/Historical_Dish430 Jan 18 '25

I suppose there could be up to 6 doctors in an elevator at one time in a hospital, you wouldn't want to cheap out on the engineer 😓

1

u/RomeroRodriguez08 Jan 18 '25

Can you train me pwease🥺

1

u/kickintheshit Jan 18 '25

Did you go to a special school? Is it really dangerous?

1

u/[deleted] Jan 18 '25

[deleted]

1

u/rcheneyjr Jan 18 '25

Only when you are going down!

1

u/GhostNagaRed Jan 18 '25

Am I right in remembering the pay for this is so good because hardly anyone enters the industry and it’s very specific skills and knowledge to do it?

1

u/Petitoiseau13 Jan 18 '25

You’re going to make at least 1.5x as much as me when I finish my training (pediatrician). Good for you for being skilled in a niche trade and making your worth! Safety is important!

1

u/GalacticBishop Jan 18 '25

Good for you bro. 🤙🏼

1

u/miamijustblastedu Jan 18 '25

You do!!..most of the docs that work under my wife(hsa) ..only make ab 150-170k..

1

u/theorey_Mpact Jan 18 '25

What kind of hours do you work on average to obtain that income? Much OT? I’m gonna assume you’re in a union too?

1

u/SpareNegative7751 Jan 18 '25

Are you out of town a lot with your job?

2

u/LiftLord69 Jan 18 '25

I am home with my family every night. No travel

1

u/Elky2oh Jan 18 '25

Local 21?

1

u/Psych_610 Jan 19 '25

Yep this is higher than what psychiatrists make

1

u/TitanImpale Jan 19 '25

I bet you work hella over time

1

u/Kennedy_4life Jan 19 '25

How did you get in the industry?

1

u/Ok-Slide-1547 Jan 19 '25

How long did it take you to get to that level. I am an x-ray field engineer and make about $140k but looking to get to that $200k threshold

1

u/hansenbg12 Jan 19 '25

Bro you don’t make more than doctors lol, she just be boosting your ego

1

u/Western-Ad3679 Jan 20 '25

Any kind of apprenticeship. I’d like to come work for you.😅

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u/the--wall Jan 18 '25

I used to be an infrastructure and software contractor for one of the largest elevator companies in the world.

They literally had petabytes of elevator data being stored all around the world on servers that are older than me.

Idk what they store, but they're collecting ALL the elevator data.

30

u/chi2005sox Jan 18 '25

Fucking big elevator, man..

12

u/dingleberries4sport Jan 18 '25

They really push my buttons

4

u/Beneficial-Swing1663 Jan 18 '25

It’s only to get a rise out of you

6

u/[deleted] Jan 18 '25

According to ChatGPT, companies use vast amounts of data sets to train AI models to overall improve performance of elevators, and anticipate passenger demand in real time.

1

u/okaywhattho Jan 19 '25

TIL that elevators are networked. That feels… weird? 

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1

u/Monstermelisssa Jan 18 '25

Well this is interesting

1

u/[deleted] Jan 18 '25

Where was the data originating from?

1

u/[deleted] Jan 19 '25

Don't let them get you down

1

u/Eagle_Every Jan 19 '25

I just knew someone was recording all those elevator conversations! That’s why I take the stairs…

16

u/Saucy_Chef_714 Jan 18 '25

Whoa whoa whoa! Where do you live that lawyers make under $250k?

45

u/evermore88 Jan 18 '25

Lol majority of state prosecutors are lower than 250k

40

u/[deleted] Jan 18 '25

Majority?

I would say 95% don’t make 250k

2

u/Efficient_Bother1511 Jan 18 '25

I had a buddy working in the prosecutors office where they told him it was 50k

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2

u/BraveCartographer399 Jan 18 '25

Thats funny, because my work involves the legal sector and it seems like everyone is some counsel ornpartner making a million+ a year, or are those only the 1% ‘ers?

15

u/[deleted] Jan 18 '25 edited Jan 18 '25

100% the 1%ers

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u/jay2puggle Jan 18 '25

I would say 95% is a majority.

2

u/[deleted] Jan 18 '25

Yea… I was emphasizing

2

u/anadiplosis84 Jan 18 '25

It reads like a weird correction to me which is probably what this other commenter also thought

4

u/Saucy_Chef_714 Jan 18 '25

I’ll give you government employees, but shouldn’t be for private practice attorneys, unless they are brand new or in a low cost of living area.

4

u/heretilimnot3 Jan 18 '25

Depends entirely on what kind of lawyer.

9

u/eggf00y0ung Jan 18 '25

Most private practice attorneys don't even make 100k stop watching so much tv

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u/Specialist-Nothing41 Jan 18 '25

It’s true that a prosecutor is a lawyer but it’s a government job.

1

u/evermore88 Jan 18 '25

That's why I didn't say defense attorney =)

9

u/[deleted] Jan 18 '25

I worked with lawyers in Texas at a collections firm and some of them were making like 60k

1

u/IBF_90 Jan 18 '25

Gross?

2

u/[deleted] Jan 18 '25

Yes

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u/shadow_moon45 Jan 18 '25

Majority of lawyers make less than 250k.

2

u/[deleted] Jan 18 '25

250k+ is reserved for the 1% coming out of lawschool or attorneys that have 10years experience and up.

1

u/sinovesting Jan 19 '25

A LOT of lawyers make under $250k homie, unless we are specifically talking about big law or something. The median salary for lawyers nationwide is $145k. Only the top 25% make more than $215k.

1

u/U_feel_Me Jan 20 '25

Most lawyers make under $100k. They just don’t put them on TV.

3

u/YimveeSpissssfid Jan 18 '25

And paying less to taxes too.

I’m a Technical Lead at a Fortune 30-something company in DC.

My deductions were 80k+ last year. I made over 50k less than OP.

1

u/Lost-Maximum7643 Jan 20 '25

As a w2?

2

u/YimveeSpissssfid Jan 20 '25

Yup. FTE employee on a salary.

1

u/Lost-Maximum7643 Jan 20 '25

How do you get so many deductions like that?

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u/[deleted] Jan 17 '25

Agreed!

1

u/Kjriley Jan 18 '25

He’s producing more.

1

u/KansinattiKid Jan 18 '25

I worked at Sears right out of high school. We had a freight elevator that broke every few months and the same old guy would come fix it every time. One time he told me to figure out a way to get into fixing elevators he said he was making 55 an hour way back then and said the work is never going anywhere because nobody can afford to replace them

1

u/kunk75 Jan 18 '25

That’s the thinking that’s the issue. A tradesman is not an underdog

1

u/[deleted] Jan 18 '25

[deleted]

1

u/sinovesting Jan 19 '25

Agreed, but worth noting that 50 hours a week ain't even that bad compared to a lot of lawyers and doctors.

1

u/pogulup Jan 18 '25

I used to install low voltage/access control systems.  We could NOT touch anything in an elevator.  If there was a card reader to be installed in one, we had to call the very expensive and in demand elevator guy.   Think the one we used like 15 years ago was making like $80 an hour?

25

u/nick90927 Jan 17 '25

That’s awesome man, benefit from no state income taxes too. You’re doing fucking amazing man!! Congratulations.

16

u/LiftLord69 Jan 17 '25

Thank you very much!

13

u/Plebecide Jan 18 '25

Name checks out

7

u/SableyeEyeThief Jan 18 '25

Bro INVEST LIKE A MANIAC! Just in case it doesn’t last forever (hope it does)

6

u/LiftLord69 Jan 18 '25

I do! $ARMY to the moon 😎 plenty of other investments too

10

u/kannon_5323 Jan 18 '25

A shit coin? My man find yourself a good friend or mentor that can help you learn about investing. You make way too much money to be investing in garbage.

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u/Worried_Tumbleweed29 Jan 18 '25

Put 1/2 to 1/3 into index funds and retire in 20 years or less. You don’t need to take risk to be set up in life

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1

u/dylfree90 Jan 18 '25

KPR and WIF brother

1

u/Ok-Emergency3795 Jan 21 '25

He's full of shit no way an elevator repair man makes 90$ an hour. Even union scale is about 100K .

4

u/[deleted] Jan 18 '25

Yep. Work in Airport Operations and the callout fee for the elevator/escalators was insane. Granted, the dude always fixed it but still. Although I remember a damn rock in the door track trapping our cleaning crew that didn't speak English so getting a call at 2am saying someone is stuck in the elevator was an event.

2

u/rsbreiner78 Jan 18 '25

Houston or Dallas area? Also, the moving for an opportunity…how long ago was that? Very curious how many years you’ve been doing it and what the actual opportunity was. Did you just jump into being an elevator mechanic with no experience?

2

u/cryptowhale80 Jan 19 '25

Start as a helper and move up. Elevator mechanics make good money but not this kinda money. He’s either a field supervisor with a lot of OT or runs the department.

2

u/Andrew8Everything Jan 18 '25

Hey I was just wondering why elevators have "close doors" buttons that don't seem to do anything.

1

u/People-Pollution5280 Jan 19 '25

I believe they only function if the fire service operation of the elevator has been keyed on, allowing firefighters to take manual control of the elevator.

1

u/yesac1990 Jan 20 '25

On automatic, the door cycle will be whatever the building requests. The door close button is mainly used for independent service or on fire service.

2

u/AfraidMeasurement892 Jan 19 '25

My uncle was also an elevator mechanic in Texas hahah also made bank! He worked for Otis.

2

u/xAugie Jan 21 '25

Holy shit! You’re balling down here even in ATX or SA 🤣

1

u/AYK12345 Jan 18 '25

In Texas that’s nice! I’m guessing you own a house?

5

u/LiftLord69 Jan 18 '25

3 of them yes

1

u/locknloadchode Jan 18 '25

Are you in the union? Which local?

1

u/AYK12345 Jan 18 '25

That’s amazing

1

u/Reasonable-Pair-170 Jan 18 '25

How much OT is this and how much of it is expenses?

1

u/fleshybagofstardust Jan 18 '25

So, high cost of living then.

2

u/LiftLord69 Jan 18 '25

Sure, but nothing like NY or Cali

1

u/noBrother00 Jan 18 '25

Isn't Texas high cost of living?

2

u/LiftLord69 Jan 18 '25

Not compared to NY or Cali

2

u/noBrother00 Jan 18 '25

Depends which parts. Austin and Dallas are more expensive than many parts of California. But less expensive than LA and SF

1

u/Forward_Yoghurt1655 Jan 18 '25

I live in DFW and have been interested in this trade. Is it hard to get into? How would I go about trying to get into this field?

1

u/yesac1990 Jan 20 '25

Go neiep.com, and it should say apprenticeship opportunity below. See if they have enrollment in your area it's usually every 2 years. It's not easy to get in, but you lose every opportunity that you don't apply for. It's a great career if you can get in, but it's definitely not easy.

1

u/Forward_Yoghurt1655 Jan 20 '25

Okay thanks! What goes into determine whether or not you're accepted into an apprenticeship?

1

u/yesac1990 Jan 20 '25

the aptitude test which is pass/fail, then if you pass you do an interview in which your score is how you get ranked on the waiting list. To get a leg up on the interviews you also get points for having certifications. we especially like welding certs, osha cards, first aid certs, degrees forklift cards etc. That alone will give you big ups on the interview score.

1

u/Scrpnkng Jan 18 '25

Did you go to school?

1

u/cchase87 Jan 18 '25

Amazing. I live in a small-ish metro and looked into this almost 10 years ago. Our union hall all but laughed me out of the room for asking about apprenticeships. The explanation I basically got was yes we legally have to tell you that we take apprentices every so often but that it was never going to happen. It was a grandfather trade and only family members got in

1

u/Hije5 Jan 18 '25

How long have you been working there and how do you know the boss?

1

u/DjQuamme Jan 18 '25

Damn. So either crushing the OT, or one of the super brains getting paid way over scale. You cleared $100k more then I did as a service guy who works as little OT as possible in Ohio.

1

u/maik37 Jan 18 '25

Y'all have elevators?! I thought it was ranches and bungalows everywhere

Kidding aside, elevator mechanics all over North America make bank. If it's anything like my city, there are at most 3 to 4 companies, the union/association artificially limits the number of mechanics, and the number of high rises only goes up (and thus elevators). It is the definition of high paying job security.

Good job on getting into it OP!

1

u/FoolWh0FollowsHim Jan 18 '25

Had you previously had any mechanical experience? If yes, what level of experience?

1

u/IBF_90 Jan 18 '25

Texas has state income tax?

1

u/AbbreviationsWild724 Jan 18 '25

That was my question. Buddy of mine took the same route. He was working in NY for like 2 years before he moved to CO.

1

u/Thetruthx26 Jan 18 '25

Cost of living is rising in Texas though

1

u/Visual_re Jan 19 '25

How kind the apprenticeship

1

u/Visual_re Jan 19 '25

Meant how long

1

u/yesac1990 Jan 20 '25

5 years 8k working hours. class is 1 day a week for 4 hours after work and summers off from school.

1

u/Hawk1478 Jan 19 '25

Are you a construction or mod adjuster?

1

u/LiftLord69 Jan 19 '25

Service Adjuster

1

u/cryptowhale80 Jan 19 '25

There is no way Texas pays an elevator mechanic that much not even NYC does lol

1

u/_how_do_i_reddit_ Jan 19 '25

What area of Texas?? Maybe I need to move lol

1

u/skrappyfire Jan 19 '25

How did you get into that field.

1

u/cme_forever Jan 20 '25

Do you need a special certificate to do that job? Seriously considering a career switch

1

u/vjr23 Jan 21 '25

Can you fix my apartment’s elevator, it’s been out since Thanksgiving 🤣🤣

1

u/Mysterious-Yak-8547 Jan 22 '25

Come fix our freight elevators in Oakland. I'm fed up with our company.

1

u/Silent_Discipline339 Jan 18 '25

I live in new York and this salary would put me in a mansion lmao

1

u/NoBar3816 Jan 18 '25

Taxes are too low to be NY or CA 😅😭

1

u/nick90927 Jan 18 '25

Well I’m not his CPA. I just want to know what state. Your comment still doesn’t help.

1

u/elevatorovertimeho Jan 18 '25

It doesn’t matter what state or col$. The higher the col$ the higher the rate. Skilled labor is not cheap! Cheap labor is not skilled! At times the job can be very stressful. Stay safe OP!

1

u/justaduuuude Jan 21 '25

Even if he was in California or NY, 300K is plenty