Have you ever worked construction?
By JB_girl
@sol_cee (39077)
Philippines
February 1, 2023 4:18am CST
Some of my neighbors are having their houses renovated, and it feels like everywhere I look these days, all I see are construction workers.
You know - the sweaty guys doing all the heavy lifting and hard labor under the sun.
The other day, two of them came into my shop to buy cigarettes, and I couldn't help overhearing their conversation. They were comparing their wages.
One guy, who looked to be in his twenties, said he earns 500 pesos a day (about $9 USD). The other, a thin teenage boy, earns 300 pesos a day.
Per day.
I was shocked.
Working for hours under the scorching sun, carrying heavy materials, mixing cement, climbing ladders - and that's what they take home at the end of the day.
I know wages vary from country to country, but hearing it firsthand really made me stop and think.
It's a tough way to earn a living.
PS. I remember asking a special someone before why he had very broad shoulders and he said he did construction after high school to save money for college.
19 people like this
20 responses
@RebeccasFarm (91320)
• United States
1 Feb 23
Put it this way, I have worked construction workers
in my youth of course.
in my youth of course.4 people like this
Oh and baseball players. and..
@DaddyEvil (176680)
• United States
1 Feb 23
Yes, when I was a teenager, I did construction, working for my older brother. I didn't make very much, either. Around $3 an hour 45 years ago.2 people like this
@DaddyEvil (176680)
• United States
1 Feb 23
@sol_cee Yes, but I don't live there.
1 person likes this
@moffittjc (129480)
• Gainesville, Florida
5 Feb 23
I was a project manager for a large construction company that built upscale malls all over the US. I made a very high salary doing that job. I loved the job, but it required me to move every 2-3 years to a different part of the country. That was really hard on my wife and I when we finally had a baby.
1 person likes this
@moffittjc (129480)
• Gainesville, Florida
5 Feb 23
@sol_cee I was in the wrong place at the wrong time, and got offered the job right on the spot. I wasn't even looking for a job at the time, but the salary they offered me was double of what I was making at the time. It's a crazy story, but one that worked out in my favor at the time.
1 person likes this
@sol_cee (39077)
• Philippines
6 Feb 23
@moffittjc that job was destined for you I believe
1 person likes this
@dilleo (1077)
• Canada
5 Feb 23
Wow, that seems very low for work like that. I understand it is different in different countries, etc.
I have never worked as a carpenter or anything like that. However, I did do roofing for my father for most of a year, and one summer as well (after school was done for the year). I would say it is a facet of construction.
I was paid by the hour, and I was making at least 3 or 4 dollars more than what minimum wage was here at the time, which was fine by me. It is super tough work, and in the heat, etc. It was a great way to stay in good physical shape, as well.
1 person likes this
@dilleo (1077)
• Canada
6 Feb 23
@sol_cee I made half-decent money. It definitely pays well, over here, that is for sure. I never went back to the work though, since it was a bit too physically demanding. I will say.. I was glad that I had my father as my boss, sometimes that could hinder things when working, I'm sure, but he was a great boss 
1 person likes this
! That means you get a trip to the US and I get a trip to the Phils . . . and when we're all done we can go to Japan 
@andriaperry (118791)
• Anniston, Alabama
3 Feb 23
Yes I do. I can pour cement and build with wood. I never worked by the hour because we were the contractors, we hired others to work , no less than $10 per hour.
1 person likes this
@spiderdust (14756)
• San Jose, California
5 Feb 23
That's such a low salary for such hard work! Around here, construction workers make around $25/hour USD.
1 person likes this
@sol_cee (39077)
• Philippines
8 Feb 23
@spiderdust ahh makes sense. Plus union too, right?
1 person likes this
@spiderdust (14756)
• San Jose, California
5 Feb 23
@sol_cee Possibly, but it depends on the job/company. If someone works as a day laborer, they're just a temporary employee without benefits. Someone who is a full-time employee of a company is more likely to have benefits.
1 person likes this
@astutimeliana723 (4686)
• Indonesia
5 Feb 23
Some my neigbors in here used to work in the building a day and was paid Rp.100,000 - Rp.180,000.
1 person likes this
@sol_cee (39077)
• Philippines
5 Feb 23
@astutimeliana723 in here parents always tell their children if they don’t want to do manual physical hard labor like a construction worker, then they should study hard in school
1 person likes this
@astutimeliana723 (4686)
• Indonesia
5 Feb 23
@sol_cee Well enough, but in accordance with the risk of heavy work.
1 person likes this
@snowy22315 (211780)
• United States
7 Feb 23
Not Me!! I'm allergic to hard work .!
1 person likes this
@allknowing (153526)
• India
2 Feb 23
I designed our home and yes there were loads of them working on the site. Not just at construction site we get labour for different jobs now and then and we pay them on daily basis. Everyone gets the same wage age notwithstanding
1 person likes this
@kurniaadimas (76)
•
1 Feb 23
never do that, but i have a friend that did that, it was physical work but the pay is good when you have good foreman
1 person likes this
