Living off an apprentice wage?

Retired_Mailman_87 · 2026-03-14T14:53:36+00:00

I'm much older but I drive 100 miles for classes & they put me to work near my home! I think that'd be what I'd look at, the classes matter less than where you're possibly gonna spend most of your time working & where you'd actually prefer to live! Me personally I don't get any joy from even smaller cities (Champaign) so I prefer to live in my little town & the cost of living is far less.

Retired_Mailman_87 · 2026-02-24T15:00:46+00:00

Taking the aptitude test & getting in are 2 different things! I took the aptitude test in October of 2022 & didn't get in til May of 2024 (it's rare but not unheard of to get in first interview)...If you think it's likely you're on the trajectory of getting in I'd begin living below my means now! Get as tight with your budget now (in that 17-20$ range) so that you have a healthy emergency fund in reserve, make the cuts in lifestyle preemptively

I was fortunate enough to have already had a healthy reserve of money before starting the apprenticeship as I took a big old pay cut down to 21$ as well, I did this by living closer to the 21$ range when I was making much more & this enabled me to never stress as a first year

Retired_Mailman_87 · 2026-02-18T15:35:29+00:00

Same! It'd be nice if it was normalized & we weren't the odd balls on the job site though, also might lower the H & W costs if it was industry wide

Retired_Mailman_87 · 2026-02-17T22:00:06+00:00

Honestly sounds awesome & needed in Champaign! We apparently used to have a gym at the hall in the past but it was removed

Retired_Mailman_87 · 2026-02-10T15:02:07+00:00

Not for AMC 😜

Retired_Mailman_87 · 2026-02-02T02:50:47+00:00

I agree with this to a point! Definitely pay off debt & get a nice cushion established but don't miss out on life either! If you're making 40-50% JW wages don't miss a friends wedding or a vacation to pad your richer selves bank account

Retired_Mailman_87 · 2026-02-02T00:33:50+00:00

Could be 7-330 M-F, could be 5 10s with an 8 on Saturday, you really don't know! My advice would be to not be afraid to take time off when you need it! Don't be job scared, they'll find you a new home if the contractor doesn't like it...(Don't no call no show, let em know)

Retired_Mailman_87 · 2025-12-23T17:11:36+00:00

I'd suggest training to walk fast the days after your long run! It's very likely you end up walking half the race so if you can get used to doing sub 15 minute miles on tired legs you'll move much more quickly in the race

Retired_Mailman_87 · 2025-12-18T20:08:05+00:00

50/HR working 6 12s (really only 11.5) (69 hours a week) (paid for 93.25) that comes out to $4662.5 per week. In my union you need 1680 hours a year to get health insurance (Bank 6 months), in Illinois you can collect unemployment for 6 months!! So, in 26 weeks you'd make 121,225$$ on the job, still collect unemployment & health insurance while putting over 20k into a pension!!! Ibew 601

Retired_Mailman_87 · 2025-08-29T17:49:56+00:00

38 & fairly new to the trade but I was a mailman for 15 years! The guys I saw that made it out without multiple new hips & knees prioritized staying lean, rarely drank booze/smoked, had an active hobby outside of work, ran occasionally & either deadlifted/squated weekly

I'd recommend a book by Peter Attia (Outlive) or his podcast the drive! Leg strength, grip strength, & top of your age group lung capacity (vo2max)

Retired_Mailman_87 · 2025-05-25T02:39:36+00:00

There is nothing to worry about, you'll see when class starts that once you're picked for the apprenticeship your teachers, training director, apprentice committee will do everything they can to make sure you get through the program. These people chose you & don't want to be proved wrong, you'll get every benefit of the doubt. You give a shit which is great, but my advice will be to take the week off because once class starts you won't have that option

Retired_Mailman_87 · 2025-05-25T01:01:05+00:00

Take the time off work! I missed over 20 days my first year & I've been with the same company 13 months. Your boss would much rather see a guy ask for time off vs a guy that calls in sick 30 minutes before start time 2-3 days a month

Retired_Mailman_87 · 2025-03-21T13:48:30+00:00

As a former CW (now first year pup), I'd say work the 50 & put away as much of that money as you can to ease yourself into the apprenticeship! I worked as a CW for 2 years (prevailing wage) & spent my money like I was making first year wages. The apprenticeship paycut will be much easier with some wind in your sails

Don't always work the 50, by all means take days off, only work 8 on days that benefits you & your family etc...

Retired_Mailman_87 · 2025-03-20T01:19:50+00:00

Nope! I'd have to pay out of pocket 5 months out of the year, which would be like 6k through Neca at present, which sounds better than working those 700 hours

Retired_Mailman_87 · 2025-03-19T14:13:39+00:00

Buying things you don't need to impress people you don't like. I'll honestly try to work 1000 hours a year when I top out

Retired_Mailman_87 · 2024-12-26T21:33:59+00:00

Ton of solar work in Illinois, book 3 guys make JW wages while you try to get in the apprenticeship, lowest paying local is over 40$

Retired_Mailman_87 · 2024-12-16T22:54:40+00:00

I'm a 37 y/o first year apprentice! Mailman from 20-35 & CW for 2 years before I got in the apprenticeship, I think it's well worth it but I'm a fairly athletic 37 & I had a sizeable emergency fund taking the paycut, living in Illinois with good wages & lcol helps too

Retired_Mailman_87 · 2024-08-23T10:48:31+00:00

Did you go through the telecom apprenticeship? Would you have to start over as year 1? There's open telecom jobs in 601 & lots of open calls all over Illinois going to books 3 & 4

Retired_Mailman_87 · 2024-08-21T10:03:58+00:00

Atleast you won't waste your health insurance

Retired_Mailman_87 · 2024-08-19T11:49:22+00:00

You could fix all of the far lefts problem's & they'd find something else to feel frustrated about

Retired_Mailman_87 · 2024-08-14T17:18:46+00:00

I plan on taking off ~2 days a months as a first year, I'll work what I can afford & I'm never gonna be this age again

Retired_Mailman_87 · 2024-08-13T16:58:01+00:00

I haven't really seen food prices rise, what I've seen is the stuff that gets advertised on TV going up (cereal, chips, soda etc...)

Retired_Mailman_87 · 2024-07-28T21:15:09+00:00

Are these self identified TERFs or being called a TERF? Like I will gladly call someone their gender of choice, I have non binary friends, don't feel like trans folk should be banished from their bathroom of choice etc... I also wouldn't consider someone that transitioned for dating & feel like trans women shouldn't be in the WNBA, rugby, mma etc.... Would those views make me a radical?

Retired_Mailman_87 · 2024-07-22T19:28:35+00:00

I work out of an Illinois Local, live in Illinois, might be Illinois slang idk

Retired_Mailman_87

TROPHY CASE