Forget College, Working For UPS is Where It's At!

[Singuy]

My wife was chatting with the UPS guy today and our mind was blown.

His pay as a UPS drive is 47/hr! They also get a pension too! Apparently it's somewhere around 70% of their pay. He is geared for retirement at 51 getting a pension of 71k/year. This is FL we are talking about, a LCOLA!

Of course he moved on up to be a driver since it's the most desirable job. Worked 8 years at near min wage at his UPS before getting the gig. But still!

Start when you are 16..you are set for life by 24 and beyond!

I had no idea there are so many jobs out there that makes massive amount of money but require no college education.

[creditcardfree]

My wife was chatting with the UPS guy today and our mind was blown.

His pay as a UPS drive is 47/hr! They also get a pension too! Apparently it's somewhere around 70% of their pay. He is geared for retirement at 51 getting a pension of 71k/year. This is FL we are talking about, a LCOLA!

Of course he moved on up to be a driver since it's the most desirable job. Worked 8 years at near min wage at his UPS before getting the gig. But still!

Start when you are 16..you are set for life by 24 and beyond!

I had no idea there are so many jobs out there that makes massive amount of money but require no college education.

UPS jobs are super competitive! Because yes they do pay really well for all that lifting and driving (and sorting). I suppose FedEx and others pay similarly.

[sv2007]

It's hard work. Some of the stuff is real heavy and chances of injury is significant. Plus UPS wouldn't be in business long if market forces aren't balanced.

Now, for something that's completely non-market driven: public sector employee pay. Here, you've got a lot of folks who can't get jobs in the private sector and are now (only a recent thing) paid just as well as private. The difference between here and UPS is that public sector has no real competition so wage is kind of unchecked and a bit out of whack.

[Joan.of.the.Arch]

That sounds remarkably high. I wonder how long the driver has been a driver.
I beleive UPS drivers are unionized-- Teamsters.

[pflyers85]

There are a number of jobs/vocations that pay decently that do not require college. Now some of them require technical schooling and certifications like plumbers, electricians, HVAC techs, etc. But many people can cash flow this training without falling into the debt trap that so many undergraduate and graduate students find themselves in upon graduation.

I wouldn't say forget college so much as I would recommend prospective students to fully weigh their options and legitimately consider alternatives like tech/trade schools, community college, and the military. I feel that many get pushed into the traditional 4 year college because that is what their parents and everyone else in their life expects them to do. College has long been seen as this one sized fits all solution to ensuring future financial security, but for many that is no longer the case.

[dawnwes]

Definitely not "where its at" as in the end all be all.

I can't lift 75 pound boxes and carry them to a front porch. And honestly, that job would bore me to tears.

I do have a friend whose husband works for UPS. He has worked there for over 25 years now. He is just now getting the higher pay.

And I have a friend whose husband drives UPS part time. He can't get on full time, too competitive.

So, SG, you are saying you wish you didn't make $400K per year and you wish you hadn't gone to college, so you could make less and drive, pick up boxes, drive, pick up boxes, drive, pick up boxes?????

[Fishindude77]

Yep, it's a good job. I've got a buddy retired as a UPS driver at 55 with a pension equal to approx. 60% of his pay rate, plus insurance coverage at no charge till medicare age. Lot's of good jobs out there like that for folks willing to work, be drug free, smart, reliable, etc. College is pushed way to hard in our school systems and many would be much better served pursuing jobs like this.

[Nutria]

That sounds remarkably high. I wonder how long the driver has been a driver.
I beleive UPS drivers are unionized-- Teamsters.

That's correct. The Division serves more than 250,000 members throughout the United States who work at UPS and UPS Freight. UPS is the single largest employer in the Teamsters Union.

[rennigade]

Drivers do not get paid hourly...they are salaried employees. If they were hourly you may not receive your package until 9pm...some would work from 6am to 10pm just to get more hours/OT.

Ask anyone who works for UPS...its tough work. Long long hours. If you break down their hourly rate its not even close to $47/hr.

I had friends who worked in the sorting line when they were younger. Not good. You do get free healthcare I believe but working the 2am to 8am/ish shift and being completely exhausted when you're done isnt worth it to me.

Its certainly not a bad job if you choose not to go to college and would rather start working right off the bat. Nothing wrong with it and you can make a nice salary.

I also think its hilarious that drivers can have no facial hair other than a mustache. Dafuq!?

[TexasHusker]

College is not a vocational school.

[97guns]

my ups driver is the biggest cry baby ive ever seen. no problem and a really nice guy when theres a light package but any delivery with heft to it and he turns into a little girl. i had tires delivered last week and he comes up to my door without anything and says i got tires for you, i could use a little help! i end up making my own delivery, same with the wheels 2 days later, rings my doorbell and says now i got your wheels, i delivered them too

i am as anti college as there is, i think its the biggest scam of our time, start your carreer with $200k in debt, i have no idea what the driver is crying about, maybe hes putting a kid through college

[msomnipotent]

I used to date a UPS driver. I hope that they have changed their work schedules by now, because he had absolutely no social life. He was scheduled to work 10-12 hours per day with a 2 hour lunch break. By the time he got home, it was practically time for him to go to bed. I would see him maybe once a week for lunch and maybe a day or two during the week. It didn't last long. Add in getting bit by dogs twice and chased countless times by dogs and people. Drivers are also targets for robberies.

I had several people in my family work for FedEX loading trucks. Grueling job. I wouldn't do it unless I had no choice.

[Joan.of.the.Arch]

. i had tires delivered last week and he comes up to my door without anything and says i got tires for you, i could use a little help!

Just trying to understand what this delivery was like. Were the tires packaged? Singly? Two together? Four together? Was it an awkward balance of the package size and weight? Did it not fit on a handtruck? Hope the guy wasn't in pain or something.

[97guns]

Just trying to understand what this delivery was like. Were the tires packaged? Singly? Two together? Four together? Was it an awkward balance of the package size and weight? Did it not fit on a handtruck? Hope the guy wasn't in pain or something.

2 strapped together, 2 packages wieghing around 60 pounds each. the rims came in 4 separate boxes each around 31 pounds. i have worked with guys that do nothing but complain, it doesnt help the day move along, it makes it miserable, theres no sense in being a grouch at work

[tripods68]

I worked for UPS after college part time briefly. They paid for my Health benefit 100% hourly wasn't too bad. When they told me, I can be a driver in 10 years. Great. They listed me 356 potential driver candidate (assuming I stayed with them as my career). It's hard labor, moving those boxes, from assembly to the truck aint' ez especially at 100 degree. Hard work!