One tradie claims he’s doing it tough despite earning as much as $160,000 a year after taxes.
The concrete worker from Brisbane made the candid confession after he was stopped on the street by job app Getahead.
He explained that he earned between $2,500 and $3,000 a week after working ten and a half hours a day, five days a week.
He can earn an extra $200 if he puts in another six to eight hours on Saturdays.
“I’m working to survive right now,” he said.
“I wish I could win the lotto or something. This is OK for now,” he said.
The concrete worker is one of countless Australians struggling to keep up with the cost of living.
Inflation is currently at 2.7 percent, while cash rates are at 4.35 percent – the highest level in twelve years – creating mortgage stress for millions of households.
A tradie has revealed he’s struggling despite earning as much as $160,000 a year after tax
The tradie said working as a concrete layer can sometimes be very physically demanding, but also “one of the easiest jobs in construction.”
During the interview, the tradie gave advice to school leavers to get into the industry.
He suggested that high school graduates should contact the union, use common sense by going to construction sites and “putting feelers there.”
When asked what his most important piece of advice is for someone leaving school, the tradie replied: “Put your phone away at home, don’t use your phone at work and just put all your energy into your work.”
Some social media users were left confused as to how a trader making $160,000 a year could be struggling.
‘Work to survive? 120-150,000 per year after tax?’ wrote one.
The tradie suggested that school leavers who want to work in the sector should contact the union, use common sense by going to construction sites and ‘put out feelers’.
‘3k a week after taxes. and work to survive? My brain isn’t thinking about this,” another added.
“$3,000 a week after taxes is $156,000 a year, that’s a lot of money. I hope he lives below his means, so he still has a lot left to invest in.’
Others were more sympathetic, claiming that a six-figure salary no longer went as far as it used to.
‘Ten years ago, earning 100,000 meant you were doing well. Now 100,000 days is poverty,” one person wrote.
Another added: ‘Stay away from concrete, it bleeds and tortures all aspects of it.’
One blamed high incomes for rising construction costs in Australia.
‘That is why building in this country costs far too much. they take the p*ss,” they wrote.
“That’s about $300,000 before taxes. No wonder the health care system is overcrowded. No one will be a nurse or a doctor anymore.”