Seven years in

I have been doing this for over seven years. Im 40. I went to school before I started. I got stuck in installs. Stayed with the same company. Lead in Residential. 2 years in there and switched to commercial. I can do things that, to most of us are pretty simple. Braze, pull proper vacuum, wire up stats and such. I do alot of ductwork, but when I started, I was told we do it all. I've framed for plenums, ran condensate (miles of copper and pvc), made flue penetrations and installed the flashings. That is a small amount of things I have done or know how to do. Again, I understand alot of this is common to most. But in my area of the company, although I am not the fastest, I all around, probably have the widest range of experience. Jack of all trades, master of some.

I'm in a truck and run new construction and remodel jobs. Nothing huge like a factory or school. But, I can read a blueprint and see where things go. I can measure and plan. There are things I don't have alot of experience with but I either ask or figure it out.

I have wanted to move away from this position because I see guys getting stuck in it. They hate it, and there is nothing after. This is it until you retire, get fired, or quit. They want me where I am at to replace the guys who have been doing it 20-25 years when they retire. I get it. But I don't want to be carrying 10ft sticks of 18x18 duct up ladders when I am 55. Or coring out concrete at that age.

Anyway, all that aside, I recently had to take some personal time off due to 2 family emergencies. It was a pretty bad deal. Come back to work and I have a new helper. Long story short, guy let's me know he is making more than me. No prior hvac experience. About 6 months in with the company. Just got his own truck. Also, same day, find out another guy who has been with the company even less time, but with maybe 2 years experience, is making even more than my new helper! What. The. Fuck.

7 years of loyalty. Wanting to learn. Asking to take classes. Then not working on anything from said classes. I started at 12 bucks an hour in 17'. I am up to 24. I thought I was doing alright! Anytime I went in and asked for a raise, they gave it to me. But fuck, I have been playing catchup to stay ahead of the new guys every year it seems.

They say it's inflation and we have to hire people at a higher rate to get good workers and get people in the door. I get it. I don't think we should be paying new guys wages they can't live on. We would never get anyone. That said, I was told I needed to get used to new guys making within a dollar or two of me. Like this is McDonald's.

There should be a bigger gap. By far. I would say at least 5 an hour gap. At least! It's a skilled trade. There is alot to it.

The helper has potential down the road. He can work and he catches on fairly quickly when something is explained to him. That said, he asked me yesterday if 3/4 copper came in soft. He makes more than me.

They called me and offered me a raise to 27. Said they had just noticed that I wasn't being paid for what I was worth. Not sure if they heard I was pissed or they legitimately just noticed. That puts me a dollar, and two dollars ahead of guys that have far, far less experience and responsibilities that I have.

Anyway, is this something normal these days? Leapfrogging with newbies for pay? If it is, my ass is going to college. How do you determine your worth? I've just been basing it off what I hear other guys make. Comparing what I can do to what they can. I don't know any other way. And most guys don't talk pay. So I only hear from my helpers.