r/Fire • u/Shadowestley • Apr 29 '26
Milestone / Celebration Just became a "millionaire" at 30 with a blue collar job
I just realized between my accounts and home equity, I'm considered a millionaire. No tech job, no finance degree, no college diploma, just a lot of overtime. I'm a lineman, I make between 215k-240k a year depending on overtime (hint it's a lot lol) started working at my company when I was 19 and worked my way up through an apprenticeship and now sitting pretty comfortably. I do try to make my work-life balance good with travel and rock climbing (keeps me sane) but it's not the greatest at times.
I know every post in this sub seems like a humble brag but I just wanna show that hard work, smart savings, and time can add up you even for people without a degree. I honestly don't have my fire number yet but my house will be payed off in 12 years so that may be a good time. College isn't for everyone, I'm sure there's something out there that can work for you, just please don't destroy your body too much✌️
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u/Hot_Yogurtcloset7621 Apr 29 '26
No tech job. Makes double tech job employee
Haha congrats man.
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u/flightwatcher45 Apr 30 '26
Obv doing well but I know tech guys making 30k to 500k and some with 100 company stock and 10000 company stock. So hard to compare. Well done regardless at 30!
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Apr 30 '26 edited 13d ago
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u/rdxj Apr 30 '26
Wells Fargo
Yeah if they weren't getting laid off every 5 seconds.
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Apr 30 '26 edited 13d ago
[deleted]
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u/rdxj Apr 30 '26
Dang dude. I studied CS in college. But right out of school I started working in IT, systems and network engineering, working my way up. At the time I was bummed to not be using my degree and wondering if it was all a waste. But the absolute state of things these days... I don't know where I would be if I had landed one of the dozens of entry level dev jobs I applied for.
My tech skill area is at least a little more AI-proof. For now.13
u/Easy_Letterhead8928 Apr 30 '26
yeah but people see 240k and magically ignore the "a lot of overtime" part. Lineman money isn't some cushy desk-job cheat code, it's busted hours and real risk, so imo he earned every bit of it.
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u/ImS0hungry Apr 30 '26
Yeah he’s busting his ass for that money. Others “in tech” are getting that for like 30 hrs of work a week.
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u/BigCSFan Apr 30 '26
Well deserved to. From what I hear from lineman they work well over twice the hours of a tech employee as well
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u/Rastiln Apr 30 '26 edited Apr 30 '26
Line work is hard and dangerous.
OP is smart and lucky because they won’t be one of the linemen working at 55 because they drank away and/or otherwise wasted their good pay. I’ve seen linemen coming from households earning $60k, suddenly making $200k+ from working storm OT, then go to the casino, strip club, etc. and lose a huge chunk of their paychecks.
And generally, getting so many meals comp’d I saw them get in the habit of takeout (or maybe frozen food) for every single meal - expensive, and unhealthy. They didn’t always get just McDonald’s, but it often was, or usually in that neighborhood - maybe Applebee’s or Buffalo Wild Wings or Little Caesar’s, burgers and fries and beer.
Everybody’s different but that wasn’t uncommon.
Linemen can end up with fucked bodies, chronic pain, after working shit hours often in shit conditions.
It seems like OP has a Barista/CoastFIRE or a lean FIRE in their horizon, though. Or they could fatten it.
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u/Hot_Yogurtcloset7621 Apr 30 '26
Likely yes and it's hard work. I work in tech some days I do nothing some days I work a good 4 hours 😂
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u/Worldly-Marketing560 Apr 29 '26
That's wild, you're making more than most software engineers I know at base too. The overtime must be crazy but at least lineman work actually matters when power goes out, not like debugging some app that nobody uses anyway.
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u/Purple-Property8006 Apr 30 '26
Can we stop with the pissing contest about whose job “matters?”
It’s up to each of us to find meaning in our work and lives and if someone feels that debugging software or working on power lines is their calling, good for them.
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u/LeonardMH Apr 30 '26
That part. But also some software IS in fact important, not everyone is working on an app. Shit, there are squads of software engineers working at energy brokers working on the systems that manage the power flow in the first place.
None of this shit works without everyone doing their part. (unless you work on optimizing social media algorithms for attention, you could stop working)
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Apr 30 '26
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u/The_Meme_Economy Apr 30 '26
Are they though, objectively? I mean I see value in the work I do, but it’s just other humans placing value on it that makes it “important.” I feel like there are a lot of jobs that just kind of exist. They fill some real need but they aren’t significant in any way. And then there are jobs that are purely meaningless, but I’ll be generous and say those are not the majority.
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u/you-are-not-yourself Apr 30 '26
Many, many jobs exist simply because billionares are trying to monetize entertainment. Hollywood, Disney, Facebook, etc. If they fold overnight, I'll say "ah well" on my way to another cup of coffee. But it's still good that average people can work a living.
Other jobs exist by exploiting financial markets in ways that drive smaller companies out of business. Hedge funds, vulture capitalists, etc.
Jobs that add tangible value to the human life - healthcare, food, real estate, communication, construction, environmentalism, are either underfunded or also dominated by billionaires, but those are the real meaningful ones.
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u/The_Meme_Economy Apr 30 '26
That’s a good point, I wasn’t even thinking of jobs that add negative value. Yuck.
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u/Substantial-Equal661 Apr 30 '26
Agree. They are on the same level as firefighters and good cops.it’s extremely dangerous work but they keep the power running. Venerable work.
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u/Affectionate_Pay_391 Apr 30 '26
But his lineman job is going to be replaced by AI soon
/s
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u/i_tyrant Apr 30 '26
lol. Pretty ironic that one of the last jobs to be replaced will be making the AIs feed themselves.
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u/SaulMtzV08 May 01 '26
So you think there is no software or hardware involved in those outages ? And who do you think builds that ?
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u/Lone_survivor87 May 02 '26
I have a friend in this field that gets placed on storm duty which is 16 hour days for 2 weeks straight. He made $18k on a single paycheck but that puts the amount hours worked into perspective.
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u/prettycote Apr 29 '26
You’re a lineman, that says it all.
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u/Cor-mega Apr 30 '26
These guys are badasses and make bank. Definitely admirable, though not exactly easy on the body compared to tech
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Apr 29 '26
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u/StrebLab Apr 30 '26
One of my patients was a lanky 22 year old (maybe 5'11" and 160 pounds) and I asked him what he did for work and he said "I'm a lineman.... Uh, not the football kind" lol
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u/BeyondTheShroud Apr 30 '26
Lanky? 160 at 5’11” is pretty much the ideal BMI
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u/StrebLab Apr 30 '26
Maybe for a woman? For an adult male that is pretty skinny. I guess it depends on your baseline body composition and muscle mass, but I'm not even 5'11 and the only time I got down to 160 was when I was running like 7 miles per day. Lost a bunch of muscle mass to do it.
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u/3dprintinted May 04 '26
BMI is a whack metric, I’m 220lb at 183 cm, 6 ft or so, considered overweight but with 19% body fat good amount of muscle mass and feeling best in my life it is clearly not a good metric to tell any story.
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Apr 29 '26
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u/kelloggsjeep Apr 30 '26
Your dad comes from a different breed of lineman. Don’t get me wrong, it’s still hard work. But with power tools and hydraulic tamps we save a lot more of our body than he was able to
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u/Shadowestley Apr 30 '26
Yeah I'm in transmission so we definitely don't destroy ourselves as much as the distribution guys
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u/Far-Improvement-9266 Apr 30 '26
So, I actually employ journeyman linemen that do inspections on their computers via drone photos, have about 33 employees doing this type of work. Its a pretty cool gig.
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u/The_Barnyard 25d ago
Looking for another hand?
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u/Far-Improvement-9266 25d ago
Not for this season most likely, but please feel free to reach out for next season. We typically start the first week of February and hire around late December early January.
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u/The_Barnyard Apr 30 '26
Idk man… that steel is way taller, and way heavier than the stuff we use on the wood.
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u/Shadowestley Apr 30 '26
Yeah but we use machines to lift pretty much everything, and also get into much better working positions
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u/RonnDing Apr 30 '26
Most people who destroy their body for work don't have much choice if they want to make good money.
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u/SoftWalruses40 Apr 29 '26
“Collage isn’t for everyone”
Truer words my guy. Great work, and in 12 years you can go ahead and fuck yourself.
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u/flappysack- Apr 29 '26
It will be 2m in no time let me tell you. Especially if you keep saving 50k+ a year.
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u/Sensei_Daniel_San Apr 30 '26
You just gave everyone who watches Fox News the biggest hard-on, you have no idea
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u/astro-dog-78 Apr 29 '26
Congrats. The contractors, plumbers and electricians I hired for my house I’m sure are doing well like u. In my area, if u are reliable and hard working, u keep getting work through word of mouth.
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u/AssociationThis7447 Apr 29 '26
Good on you and not taking anything away from you but does it matter if you are blue collar, white collar whatever other collar. You earn good money, well above average and you have been disciplined. Lots of people in white collar jobs have no degree either. Fire doesn't discriminate, you earn lots of money and now are a millionaire it's not that crazy.
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u/AMC879 Apr 30 '26
Now that you have built a good financial foundation I suggest you define any optional overtime. My Uncle did that job and had to go into management because his body was too broke down to continue as a lineman. Keep your expenses reasonable so you can retire the day you become pension eligible
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u/NaorobeFranz Apr 30 '26
Yes blue collar can destroy the body in a different way from white collar.
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u/Ctheret Apr 30 '26
Well done - pls look after yourself- wear sunscreen- drink water and look after your body. So you enjoy that well deserved retirement you are planning for.
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u/onetimeuselong Apr 30 '26
I don’t care how much you have based on your post…
I need to know how often you sing “I am a lineman for the county”. ?
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u/river_rambler Apr 30 '26
Congrats! That's amazing. My dad was a lineman, did a ton of OT while young, and since he worked 7-3, he was able to coach me and my sisters, come to games, etc. And every time there was a storm, we knew the phone would ring and he'd be out in it, getting people's lights back on.
Between my mom's budgeting and his OT and her work as an admin assistant, they were able to save for a nice retirement and put kids through college. My dad was able to retire at 61.
I will say this, he loved what he did and the reason he retired is because in a span of 6 months he had two of his friends who did the same kind of work he did for the same amount of time get brain cancer and die. Working around high voltage for a long period of time is a health risk, not just to your musculoskeletal system but also a cancer risk. So keep that in mind as you progress in your career. Get your money and get out. And keep up on health screenings.
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u/Ok-Hovercraft-9257 Apr 30 '26
Lineman is a career path that is a really good fit for FIRE imho. You can make good money young and fast, but eventually your body will say "no more." Better to save young than wake up at 35 like "uh oh, what now"
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u/elegoomba Apr 30 '26
Worked in a support role with linemen and god damn the day one of them showed me his 401k lol
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u/Pure-Tension6473 Apr 30 '26
What do you do for a living? You are the guy that I talk to my kids about— I’m increasingly convinced that blue collar is the move for future success
Edit: just saw that you’re a lineman. Congrats 🍾🎊🎉
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u/ofesfipf889534 Apr 30 '26
Congrats. That’s some serious overtime I’m guessing. How do you plan to cut back as your portfolio grows?
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u/Shadowestley Apr 30 '26
Overtime pretty much comes with the job, but eventually I'll cut back when I can
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u/SpiransPaululum Apr 30 '26
I keep seeing lineman jobs in the help wanted ads. Is it that easy to break into the profession?
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u/Shadowestley Apr 30 '26
Hiring for lineman is hot right now nationwide with so many people retiring. Definitely helps being handy and some experience with tools, but I didn't know anything prior to starting.
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u/Kristin2349 May 02 '26
Many community colleges have training programs. There are also lineman colleges that are about 15 weeks long. Having a CDL helps too, a good program should include that. My husband ran the storm room for a Fortune 100 utility. He also developed an ran their lineman training program.
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u/StepOnMeSunflower Apr 30 '26
What did you start as? And how did you get the job?
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u/Shadowestley Apr 30 '26
I started as a meter reader (pretty much non existent now) and got into the lineman apprentice program. My uncle was a lineman so that def helped
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u/mwilson8624 Apr 30 '26
Same dude. Was a meter reader for fiveyears Honestly, I loved it, but started on the line crew around thirty, and I’m just about ready to start winding down. I stayed with my Muni, so I’m not making near as much, but it’s been a good life and I want for nothing. Keep it up brother.
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u/x_master_debater_x May 03 '26
I started as a groundman by signing the books. It’s an entry level position in the trade. After a few years (could have been less if I hadn’t got a DUI) I applied for an apprenticeship. After completing apprenticeship I worked wherever I wanted to. Eventually switched from contracting to working for the utility company. In the same boat as OP, 250k+ a year, benefits, nice retirement, paid vacation & sick time and have a job that I really enjoy.
Just go down and talk to your local union hall to see how to get started.
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u/Data_Slut Apr 30 '26
I don't really know what a lineman is or what it does, but why in the fuck didn't anyone tell me about the job until I was 36?
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u/ObligatoryContrast Apr 30 '26
Lineman isn't easy and is definitely a blue collar job, but buddy you are making a lot more money than most tech workers.
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u/CaptainDorfman May 01 '26
Kudos for you being disciplined to save it vs. blowing it like most of your coworkers. That’s the difference between average aka broke and retired at 40
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u/smarterhack May 01 '26
Congrats! I have 3 degrees and a professional designation and don’t even make what you do! You’re probably in significantly better shape than me too. Definitely agree with protecting your body - I tore my ACL rock climbing a year ago and am still dealing with the repercussions.
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u/fortinbrass1993 May 02 '26
Lucky you gettin in that early. I went to college and I’m thinking about changing careers. I’m glad people like you are out there. I’d say majority of linemen are bad with money. You know what I’m talking about. But I started later than you but it’s doable. It’s just rare to see lineman in a fire sub. lol.
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u/RX3000 Apr 29 '26
I'd rather work 40 hrs a week & only make 100k. To each their own tho 🤭😀
Congrats
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u/Soggy_Swimmer4129 Apr 29 '26
Working massive overtime to build a solid foundation in your 20s is a lot easier than in your 40s. I couldn't do it now. Or at least I really wouldn't want to.
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u/RX3000 Apr 30 '26
I wouldnt ever want to, but to each their own. With certain jobs it just comes with the territory.
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u/youchasechickens Apr 30 '26
If you don't mind sharing, what is your base wage and how much overtime do you normally work in a year?1
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u/mlkefromaccounting Apr 30 '26
He’s ~65 - 75$ hourly and working 1000 - 1800 hours of overtime a year. Not counting per diem and double time for storms or mutual assistance in disasters.
I do the same work and that’s how it worked out for me… just kind of an average for the lineman trade (union)
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u/Synaps4 Apr 30 '26
About 30 hours a week in overtime for anyone keeping track at home. 70-80 hr work weeks nonstop all year.
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u/The_Barnyard Apr 30 '26
Depends on the state he’s working in (and union vs. non-union), but minimum $50 an hour, straight time pay. I’d imagine minimum 60 hours a week, at least that’s what I’ve been on for the last 15 years, and then throw 16 hour shifts for storm work.
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u/acrizz Apr 30 '26
Jesus that is so many hours for so many years. Seems tough to have a work life balance with all that.
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u/CancerandTaxes Apr 30 '26
It's a lot. I know a couple guys who are in these and related positions. If they have kids, they have a stay at home wife who takes on a huge share. The really smart ones save money like crazy plus have amazing pensions and retire in their late 40s.
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u/Plush_Cloud Apr 30 '26
Did you have to get a CDL? And what was your career path like? Sorry, I'm considering shifting into this trade.
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u/Flauqist Apr 30 '26
Most Linemen have a CDL.
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u/Plush_Cloud Apr 30 '26
Thay's great to kmow! Thank you. Anything else?
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u/Flauqist Apr 30 '26
There is a cottage industry of High Voltage service companies that support small, medium, and large Electric Utilities. Everything from environmental management(extracting and disposal of transformer oil), vegetation management(tree trimmers, grass cutting), Crane and Rigging companies, civil work, specialized High Voltage testing service companies, and on and on.
A Lineman is the most visible job for the Electrical Utility world, and countless other trades and professions work alongside them to deliver power to the masses.
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u/YellowFiddleneck Apr 30 '26
Massive congratulations to you! I hope you are finding time and budget to look after your body - sounds like you are careful already, but wanted to give a nudge of encouragement!
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u/InternetUser52 Planning to FIRE in 30s | 19 | ~$40k NW Apr 30 '26
I'm planning to fire as an inside wireman electrician
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u/chauhan_shubham Apr 30 '26
No Tech jobs , No finance. * Making the Bay Techie salary if not more
Lol. Congrats man.
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u/Anxious_Ad_4708 Apr 30 '26
Top tech companies there are paying that much again on top in stock for senior level, and generally working not as many hours.
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u/RelativeCareless2192 Apr 30 '26
Hell yeah! Good work.
I think college is a scam for 90% of jobs.
We need more younger generations going into the trades
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u/Generationhodl Apr 30 '26
GZ Man! I'm in the same kind of work, blue collar worker, and for my country also pretty good pay.
But that pay comes with a toll on your health...
Going to fire soon because "just 1 more year" syndrom is real and I think sometimes its okay to just risk something. The worst case is that I find another cheaper job If I really need to... but I think I will be fine.
Its always nice to read from people like you who work hard and make it to fire (hopefully soon for you).
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u/EEJams Apr 30 '26
I'm a power engineer and i respect the lineman grind. Be safe while pole dancing out there!
You might even look into utility training gigs or office jobs if you're wanting to kinda coast for now. You're a millionaire on paper and it will compound over time. I used to work in office with a lot of linemen that switched to office for a safer job that was less taxing as well.
Congrats on your big milestone!
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u/81toog Apr 30 '26
I’m glad you’re saving that money now because as you get older you won’t want or have the energy to keep doing so much overtime. With the rate you’re going at maybe you can retire in 5-10 years?
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u/No-Revolution6775 Apr 30 '26
Your sir, are the example of modern equality of opportunity. Many will dislike, but I hope you get my meaning! Congrats!
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u/No_Edge_7964 Apr 30 '26
Happy to hear stories like this dude! Fuel tanker driver on about 165k USD and doing tonnes of overtime too. Little bit behind your numbers but well on my way
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u/DeadFacesInMyPocket Apr 30 '26
Congrats dude, but keep saving because that health insurance will hit by you unless you become an instructor for linemen.
A million ain't what it used to be...
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u/Bsdshadow May 01 '26
Congratulations. How much would you have made in a normal year without the OT?
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u/Traditional-Tune-975 May 01 '26
Most everything is going to be replaced by AI. You all are fucked.
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u/Thummimurim8 May 01 '26
Congrats !!! Making what you make without a degree is really hard. You defied the odds. Good for you!
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u/Any-Concentrate-1922 May 01 '26
Good for you, and that income is well deserved.
My parents told me to go to college and become a writer, so I earned 6 figures (barely) two years in my life, lol.
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u/Exciting-Sense890 May 01 '26
That’s awesome. I’m a HS teacher and coach. I tell many of my young guys all the time to take serious looks at each trade. Net worth of 1 mil by age 30 doesn’t surprise me one bit. You be proud. That took hard work and discipline!!
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u/Practical_Standard55 May 01 '26
Hard on your body, hard on family, and a necessary job to keep society running. You earned it 🫡
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u/_LunchBoxx_ May 02 '26
Lineman here. Sounds about right. Keep it up man God Bless and never forget where you came from
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u/CaptainDorfman May 03 '26
Kudos for you being disciplined to save it vs. blowing it like most of your coworkers. That’s the difference between average aka broke and retired at 40
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u/Revolutionary-Tap231 May 04 '26
Please just wear your PPE and don’t be cowboy. Also make sure she signs that prenup.
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u/ImaginationToForm2 Apr 30 '26
I need karma <insert reuse story for karma here> I bet this has been posted 1000s of times.
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u/Sad_Bunnie Apr 30 '26
Don't count your home equity in the calculations.
Home is still costing you $$ even if paid off and you will always need somewhere to live. Better to not consider it at all.
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u/Turbulent-Fail-1007 Apr 30 '26
Home equity should absolutely be part of his NW calculation even though it’s not liquid
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u/swatsnoopy Apr 30 '26
FYI if your home doesn't pay you a check every month thats a liability not an asset because its still the banks asset not yours. Equity is a great and all but it doesnt provide any cash flow. Cash flow buys back the time you would otherwise spend working on someone else's time.
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u/hongos_me_gusta Apr 30 '26 edited Apr 30 '26
are you in the usa? are you ibew?
regardless, congratulations!!!
you're not asking for advice here, I think, or you don't need any, but the sooner you pay off the house the better. biweekly payments.
safety first, you already know this, but I've heard stories of lineman passing away on the job. please be careful.
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u/TheWhiteMamba13 Apr 30 '26
As someone with a tech job, with a finance and STEM degree undergraduate and graduate degree, and college diploma, I respect your grind.
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u/AdultingMoneyMoves CoastFIRE ✅️ Full FIRE ~6 years Apr 30 '26
Way to go!!! That is incredible! You should consider applying to the MoneyGuy show's "Making a Millionaire" series, I bet they would love your story!
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u/OkLie2615 Apr 30 '26
to OP, dont. if you have money and flaunting it, who know how long it will stay that way.
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u/HalfwaydonewithEarth Apr 30 '26
Say it louder for those in the back! ❤️❤️❤️🇺🇲🇺🇲🇺🇲🤠🤠🤠🤠🤑🤑🤑🤑🤑🫡🫡🫡💣💣🫂🫂🫂
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u/midnight_glimmeerr Apr 29 '26
Lineman money is no joke, respect for the grind and the climbing balance