[Sylvanfan]

In Calgary with the EPC's there are some decent oppurtunities. If you can speak English and have an outgoing personality it's a plus. Seems like in Edmonton there are a lot of ESL types and often they do lack the self confidence to get into managerial type positions. Piping is certainly a good option, from what I hear lucrative, and usually a lot of work.

Had I went to Calgary out of school it probably would have worked out far better for me. I hear stories of detailers being hired in Calgary for $60 an hour to work at structural firms to help the engineers design things better.

I mean, if it was that bad I'd get right out of it. Nationally I make a decent wage but inside Alberta it's pretty weak. At my age and life situation it's tough to drop it and change jobs. I'm actually moving into a management position here over the next while, so will see how that goes. Maybe one day I'll end up with that mythical 75 an hour job at a EPC.

I think who you work for has a big influence on things. Where I screwed up was that at 6 years into the job, I should have tried to make a move. Instead things stagnated and I wasted 5 years going nowhere with a company who screwed me over anyways years later. So make sure you always have a chance to move up, and do new things if you do get into it.

I graduated in 96, have worked as a steel detailer ever since, and I doubt I make half what a couple others in this thread speak of. With some OT, bonuses and 5% RRSP matching I come in well short of the 100k standard that most working Alberta males earn.