Originally Posted by Ronjohn7779

In this economy I highly doubt that. Maybe if you owned your company, found a generous employer, or were in a union (the later I'd believe) you'd make similar to account money.

Also, electrical work is back breaking manual labor. I'll be sitting in a desk doing jack shit most of the time. I know many people who have entered in the trades (pipe fitting, ac and heating, and electrical work) and a lot of them are making jack shit. One of my buddies is making 11 bucks an hour...(with a trade degree and fully certified). On the same token I was making 14 bucks an hour this summer for my internship (with no degree).

Also an electrician may make more money in one area and less in another. It just depends on the number of individuals in that field in a given area. I bet if you looked at the total USA mean (average) for what an electrician makes and what an accountant or lawyer makes then you'd see that the account and lawyer makes a fuck load more overall.

Another thing to take into consideration is that in 4-5 years I'd only be a level one or two accountant...you must remember your earning potential exponentially increases with experience. Most accounts that are CPA's top out in the 100-120 k mark after 10 years.

In any case, theres a good chance I won't be an accountant at all (I'd rather go to law school and I have other job leads that are more promising). I have an in at a very good union job that I might take. Now that pays 70 k starting. I might just take that job for a year or two to save up for more schooling, pay my loans off, and buy a home.

Originally Posted by Ronjohn7779

Yes that is true, but a lot of big jobs are drying up. New home and building development is way down. Now, you can't tell me these industries aren't hurting right now. I know they are. My brother-in-law runs a mid size construction company (they do everything, they have carpenters, plumbers, and electricians on staff). Shit's just dried out. I know in at least in my B-I-L's case all he's really doing right now is small time shit they normally wouldn't be doing.