Operators union in Il 40 an hour on their check ,laborers union 37 bucks a hour . my carpenters union 38 bucks a hour . my girl friend works for the state and watches the mentally insane and makes over 60 thousend a year , thats how we met .lol plumbers are going on strike on monday 46 bucks a hour . these are what they take home on their checks not benifits. So if i hire a company to do electric for his company is charging me 65 to 70 bucks a hour per man plus pipe and wire . Most guys in the trades if they are good are making well over 100.000 a year. I think 50 is a middle number. I am a boss in the company and i am a firm believer in hiring the best people we can find ,it just saves you money in the long run . For that kind of a job what kind of people you think you are going to hire for 10.000 or 20.000 a year. I never finished my second year in high school and 50.000 is less than i would work for. joe