America's new millionaire class: Plumbers and HVAC entrepreneurs

Original Article ↗ Hacker News Discussion ↗

Tech Jobs vs Skilled Trades

  • Many commenters contrast tech workers’ complaints (e.g., RTO, office “stress”) with physically dangerous or disgusting work in trades (plumbing in sewage, chemical plants, construction heights).
  • Others counter that mental stress from high-stakes tech work can be severe, and some find manual labor (e.g., farm work) better for mental health.
  • Several note tech workers are often unaware how good their working conditions are, but also acknowledge office stress is “real, but different.”

Private Equity & Consolidation

  • Strong concern that PE rollups of HVAC/plumbing/electrical firms will:
    • Create local monopolies/monopsonies.
    • Raise prices, cut quality, and overwork employees.
    • Pursue regulatory capture via “safety” certifications that small shops can’t meet.
  • Examples cited from vets, dentists, dermatology, car dealers, and HVAC where PE ownership is perceived to worsen service and increase prices.
  • Some argue this PE “cycle” eventually opens space for new small firms; others fear regulation and search/marketing advantages will block new entrants.

Earnings, Wealth, and “Millionaire Tradespeople”

  • Repeated clarification: big money is usually in owning a trades business, not being an employee.
  • BLS numbers shared show median wages for plumbers/electricians roughly in line with national medians; software developers earn roughly double.
  • Counterpoints:
    • Self‑employed tradespeople can under‑report income, split income with spouses, barter with other trades, and expense vehicles/tools, making official stats understate true benefit.
    • In some regions and niches (union industrial work, data center construction, mining FIFO roles), electricians and similar can clear high six figures, often via overtime.
    • Early homeownership in HCOL areas can make long‑time tradespeople “millionaires” on paper via home equity; how typical this is remains disputed.

Pricing, Overhead, and Small Jobs

  • Sticker shocks (e.g., $500–$700 to run a short thermostat cable or replace a capacitor) spark debate.
  • Tradespeople and some commenters argue:
    • Quotes reflect travel time, scheduling inefficiency, paperwork, licensing, insurance, and opportunity cost of giving up a full‑day, high‑value job.
    • High quotes can be a deliberate way to decline small jobs; if accepted, they at least cover overhead.

Service Quality, DIY, and Information Asymmetry

  • Multiple stories of:
    • Unnecessary full‑system replacements pitched instead of cheap fixes (e.g., capacitors, sensors, wiring).
    • Shoddy installs (miswired stages, misconfigured equipment, unsafe connections).
  • Commenters note HVAC/plumbing are ripe for grift because customers are dependent and lack knowledge.
  • Some advocate moderate DIY (especially for common HVAC failures) and getting certified to reduce vulnerability.

Barriers, Regulation, and Tech “Democratization”

  • Many say trades are already “democratized”: community college programs exist and most firms are hiring; the real barrier is hard, dirty work.
  • Others warn future regulation and licensing (e.g., long apprenticeships, tool standards like SawStop) may be used to restrict supply.
  • Tech’s role seen mostly as back‑office (dispatch, scheduling, AR for planning) rather than “Uber for plumbers,” which many distrust.

Lifestyle and Career Trade‑offs

  • Pros of trades highlighted: defined paths, union pay/benefits, less offshoring risk, camaraderie, possibility of owning a business, lower student debt.
  • Cons: physical wear, risk of injury, outdoor/extreme conditions, and regional/boom‑bust patterns.
  • Some ex‑tech workers report better blood pressure and well‑being after moving into hands‑on work, even with lower income.