Wages here as bad as Florida? (Tucson, Yuma: real estate, home, construction jobs)

[discontented lot owner]

Hello Westerners,
I have been living in the swamp (florida) for too long (19years) , and my lady and I would like to try Tucson or Sierra Vista. One of our main concerns is the wages. I understand that Arizona is now a right to work state the same as Florida, (Florida is the right to bend over state) After spending 16 years in West Palm Beach I got my self employed home repair wages up from $12 per hr to$24.per hr (exactly what I made in S Calif in 1985) After experiencing too many hurricanes we purchaced a doublewind on an acre in Ocala Fl. Nice horse country ,but the wages are horse ##%%. (From $8 per hr to $10. per hr and be thankfull you have a job. ) I made these wages back in 1975. Is it possible that an experienced reliable, competent self employed home repair man that really knows what he is doing can make say $20 to $30. per hr around the Tucson or Sierra Vista area? Is there an overabundance surplus of trademen in the Tucson or Sierra Vista area that would make the wages go down the same as Florida? I really find it hard to believe that wages could be worse than Florida

[Tony1790]

First you got to understand what's holding wages down, wage arbitage.

First any good paying job that can be shipped overseas has, manufacturing, etc.

Secondly, wages in formerly good paying jobs (and often times still are) like construction have been held in place by illegal labor.

The last jobs that are harder to outsource are service industry (govt, walmart, etc)

So I'd ask myself, would it make sense that home repair/remodel/construction jobs are higher or lower in a border state? I think you can guess which one, also many parts of AZ are having a real estate meltdown, not good for your line of work.

Good luck with the move.

Tony

[tucsondesertdweller]

As a result of the horrible workmanship of the builders out here, people in the trades have job security. Also what do you mean by a handman/person?
Lot of the people here are either retired, working, wealthy, etc so for diferent reasons are looking for really good, honest, reliable workers.
In fact in my neighborhood, we ask each other, when I need an xyz I put out an email for recommendations. People will respond also with geez, do't have an x but I have a really good yz if you need one.
We glady give a good reference to a good worker, and also will tell about the bad ones.
Have heard that some of the big retirment communities actually have some type of list of contractors, trade people that the residents are happy with.
If you are skilled I don't see a problem with you making 25-30 an hour at all

[discontented lot owner]

Thank you Tucsondesertdweller for your response. I have been stuck in North Florida with the countrys worst wages for over a year. It is really nice to know about a place with a warm climate that might have some opportunity
to go along with the package. I have enough money to get out of Florida, but my mom is old in a nursing home here in ocala. Either I have to wait until her passing or take 6 dozen diapers along on the trip cross country which would really be a hell trip. Thanks again for the encouragement.

[MAB]

Originally Posted by discontented lot owner

Thank you Tucsondesertdweller for your response. I have been stuck in North Florida with the countrys worst wages for over a year. It is really nice to know about a place with a warm climate that might have some opportunity
to go along with the package. I have enough money to get out of Florida, but my mom is old in a nursing home here in ocala. Either I have to wait until her passing or take 6 dozen diapers along on the trip cross country which would really be a hell trip. Thanks again for the encouragement.

hey owner,Im not into your trade.
But I am a heavy equipment mechanic who moved from soCal almost 3 years ago.
Im skilled and know what im doing.
I dont live Tucson,I live in Yuma and make mid20s an hour plus bonus.
Here mid 20s is the equivalent of mid 30s in CA.So im doing ok.

I think you should have no problems making between 20-30 in Tucson.
While there lots of laborers,few are skilled.

[discontented lot owner]

Thanks MAB for your response. I remenber when I moved to Orlando, Florida from So Cal in 1987, the main reason I chose Orlando was because the City of Orlando was advertising nation wide (on TV) that Orlando had more jobs than people. They forgot to mention the pay was only $5.00 per hr that time for construction. The reason Florida loves to have waves of people to come down and live is obviously to ensure cheap labor. I was fortunate enough to quit drinking over 18 yrs ago and bought real estate (when it was cheap) with the money I saved from boozin Now I can ell these Cheap Rich Simon Lagree Plantation owners to keep their $8 to $10 Per Hr. I tell them, "you need the money more than I do."