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fustiancorduroy
Joined: 12 Jan 2007
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 Posted: Tue Jun 18, 2013 10:50 am Post subject: |
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| Man, how do jobs pay so much in Canada? 100k Canadian dollars a year to work on an oil rig? Are the hours super long (like an average of 60 hours a week over the course of a year)? Or is it because you guys pay, like, 80 percent in taxes? I just don't see why a job not requiring a college degree would pay so much money. I know working on a rig is physically difficult and dangerous, but still, doesn't our information-based society compensate brains better than it does brawn? |
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northway
Joined: 05 Jul 2010
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| Posted: Tue Jun 18, 2013 11:37 am Post subject: |
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| fustiancorduroy wrote: |
| Man, how do jobs pay so much in Canada? 100k Canadian dollars a year to work on an oil rig? Are the hours super long (like an average of 60 hours a week over the course of a year)? Or is it because you guys pay, like, 80 percent in taxes? I just don't see why a job not requiring a college degree would pay so much money. I know working on a rig is physically difficult and dangerous, but still, doesn't our information-based society compensate brains better than it does brawn? |
You can make similar money doing similar work in the Dakotas, if you're American. |
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Ginormousaurus
Joined: 27 Jul 2006
Location: 700 Ft. Pulpit
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| Posted: Tue Jun 18, 2013 11:42 am Post subject: |
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| fustiancorduroy wrote: |
| Man, how do jobs pay so much in Canada? 100k Canadian dollars a year to work on an oil rig? Are the hours super long (like an average of 60 hours a week over the course of a year)? Or is it because you guys pay, like, 80 percent in taxes? I just don't see why a job not requiring a college degree would pay so much money. I know working on a rig is physically difficult and dangerous, but still, doesn't our information-based society compensate brains better than it does brawn? |
Working on a drilling rig is dirty, difficult, and dangerous and the hours are long - 12 hour shifts often for weeks at a time. Add to that you're usually in the middle of nowhere and it may be -30 C.
Basically, every day that you work comprises 8 hours at regular pay plus 4 hours of overtime, often doing a week of day shifts followed by a week of night shifts. I think it's possible that some people also receive a daily living allowance. Add to that you may be living in a camp with all your meals provided.
Don't let the high wages of the rig pigs fool you. Our society does compensate brains over brawn. If you are the engineer/company man on site, you're making a lot more in your cozy trailer than the guys sweating it out on the drilling floor. Of course, you're also responsible for multimillion dollar decisions. |
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northway
Joined: 05 Jul 2010
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| Posted: Tue Jun 18, 2013 2:08 pm Post subject: |
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| Ginormousaurus wrote: |
| fustiancorduroy wrote: |
| Man, how do jobs pay so much in Canada? 100k Canadian dollars a year to work on an oil rig? Are the hours super long (like an average of 60 hours a week over the course of a year)? Or is it because you guys pay, like, 80 percent in taxes? I just don't see why a job not requiring a college degree would pay so much money. I know working on a rig is physically difficult and dangerous, but still, doesn't our information-based society compensate brains better than it does brawn? |
Working on a drilling rig is dirty, difficult, and dangerous and the hours are long - 12 hour shifts often for weeks at a time. Add to that you're usually in the middle of nowhere and it may be -30 C.
Basically, every day that you work comprises 8 hours at regular pay plus 4 hours of overtime, often doing a week of day shifts followed by a week of night shifts. I think it's possible that some people also receive a daily living allowance. Add to that you may be living in a camp with all your meals provided.
Don't let the high wages of the rig pigs fool you. Our society does compensate brains over brawn. If you are the engineer/company man on site, you're making a lot more in your cozy trailer than the guys sweating it out on the drilling floor. Of course, you're also responsible for multimillion dollar decisions. |
And considering where you're living, it still kinda sucks. |
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silkhighway
Joined: 24 Oct 2010
Location: Canada
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| Posted: Tue Jun 18, 2013 2:19 pm Post subject: |
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| Indeed, Alberta appears to have way too much money at times. There is so much waste it's mind-boggling. High school drop-outs peeing away their 100K salaries on monster trucks and toys is one of the many things that make me shake my head. |
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northway
Joined: 05 Jul 2010
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| Posted: Tue Jun 18, 2013 2:22 pm Post subject: |
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| silkhighway wrote: |
| Indeed, Alberta appears to have way too much money at times. There is so much waste it's mind-boggling. High school drop-outs peeing away their 100K salaries on monster trucks and toys is one of the many things that make me shake my head. |
You can't buy class. |
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Weigookin74
Joined: 26 Oct 2009
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| Posted: Tue Jun 18, 2013 8:02 pm Post subject: |
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| fustiancorduroy wrote: |
| Man, how do jobs pay so much in Canada? 100k Canadian dollars a year to work on an oil rig? Are the hours super long (like an average of 60 hours a week over the course of a year)? Or is it because you guys pay, like, 80 percent in taxes? I just don't see why a job not requiring a college degree would pay so much money. I know working on a rig is physically difficult and dangerous, but still, doesn't our information-based society compensate brains better than it does brawn? |
Wikipedia or google search will reveal our competitive tax rates. Lower than many US tax rates. (Canada took a rightward political turn in the late 90's.) Alberta has the lowest tax rates for personal and business in Canada. In Alberta, 100,000 K would be 9,000 K in provincial tax. (First 10 K in income not taxed.) Federal income tax is progressive which would be 17965 in taxes. (First 10 K not taxed). Total tax bill on 100 K in Alberta would be 26965. Add Employment insurance and Canada Pension Plan premiums to that which is a much small amount. I'm guessing you pay less than a third of your income to both governments. Other provinces have higher rates and a progressive tax code. |
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Weigookin74
Joined: 26 Oct 2009
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| Posted: Tue Jun 18, 2013 8:09 pm Post subject: |
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| Ginormousaurus wrote: |
| Weigookin74 wrote: |
| Maybe Trudeau, part II, will come into his own and bring back the "National Energy Program". Deja Vu? Calgary shrinking? Ha ha. |
Oh no you di'int!  |
Not my views, man. Don't shoot the messanger. But keep your eye on Justin Trudeau. I assume he's smart enough not to repeat the mistakes of dear old dad. (BTW, I voted for Harper in 2006 out in the Maritimes before flying over here.) |
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jvalmer
Joined: 06 Jun 2003
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| Posted: Tue Jun 18, 2013 8:52 pm Post subject: |
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| Weigookin74 wrote: |
| fustiancorduroy wrote: |
| Man, how do jobs pay so much in Canada? 100k Canadian dollars a year to work on an oil rig? Are the hours super long (like an average of 60 hours a week over the course of a year)? Or is it because you guys pay, like, 80 percent in taxes? I just don't see why a job not requiring a college degree would pay so much money. I know working on a rig is physically difficult and dangerous, but still, doesn't our information-based society compensate brains better than it does brawn? |
Wikipedia or google search will reveal our competitive tax rates. Lower than many US tax rates. (Canada took a rightward political turn in the late 90's.) Alberta has the lowest tax rates for personal and business in Canada. In Alberta, 100,000 K would be 9,000 K in provincial tax. (First 10 K in income not taxed.) Federal income tax is progressive which would be 17965 in taxes. (First 10 K not taxed). Total tax bill on 100 K in Alberta would be 26965. Add Employment insurance and Canada Pension Plan premiums to that which is a much small amount. I'm guessing you pay less than a third of your income to both governments. Other provinces have higher rates and a progressive tax code. |
Probably closer to 40% on 100k.
| silkhighway wrote: |
| High school drop-outs peeing away their 100K salaries on monster trucks and toys is one of the many things that make me shake my head. |
I read the other day the dropout rate in Alberta is now close to 25%. That just blows me away.
| Ginormousaurus wrote: |
| Long-time players in the oilsands have been around 40+ years and have weathered the cycles even when the highs of the past were way lower than anything we're likely to see again. |
I remember when the price/barrel was under $20 in the 90's. All the oil companies knew about the tar-sands back then, but said it wasn't feasible to extract unless it was closer to $80. How things have changed. |
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Weigookin74
Joined: 26 Oct 2009
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| Posted: Tue Jun 18, 2013 9:25 pm Post subject: |
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| jvalmer wrote: |
| Weigookin74 wrote: |
| fustiancorduroy wrote: |
| Man, how do jobs pay so much in Canada? 100k Canadian dollars a year to work on an oil rig? Are the hours super long (like an average of 60 hours a week over the course of a year)? Or is it because you guys pay, like, 80 percent in taxes? I just don't see why a job not requiring a college degree would pay so much money. I know working on a rig is physically difficult and dangerous, but still, doesn't our information-based society compensate brains better than it does brawn? |
Wikipedia or google search will reveal our competitive tax rates. Lower than many US tax rates. (Canada took a rightward political turn in the late 90's.) Alberta has the lowest tax rates for personal and business in Canada. In Alberta, 100,000 K would be 9,000 K in provincial tax. (First 10 K in income not taxed.) Federal income tax is progressive which would be 17965 in taxes. (First 10 K not taxed). Total tax bill on 100 K in Alberta would be 26965. Add Employment insurance and Canada Pension Plan premiums to that which is a much small amount. I'm guessing you pay less than a third of your income to both governments. Other provinces have higher rates and a progressive tax code. |
Probably closer to 40% on 100k.
| silkhighway wrote: |
| High school drop-outs peeing away their 100K salaries on monster trucks and toys is one of the many things that make me shake my head. |
I read the other day the dropout rate in Alberta is now close to 25%. That just blows me away.
| Ginormousaurus wrote: |
| Long-time players in the oilsands have been around 40+ years and have weathered the cycles even when the highs of the past were way lower than anything we're likely to see again. |
I remember when the price/barrel was under $20 in the 90's. All the oil companies knew about the tar-sands back then, but said it wasn't feasible to extract unless it was closer to $80. How things have changed. |
Didn't factor in health care fees which they charge seperately out there? Also, property taxes and sales taxes? Lower then the rest of Canada, I think. |
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Weigookin74
Joined: 26 Oct 2009
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Weigookin74
Joined: 26 Oct 2009
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Ginormousaurus
Joined: 27 Jul 2006
Location: 700 Ft. Pulpit
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| Posted: Fri Jun 21, 2013 9:27 am Post subject: |
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| fustiancorduroy wrote: |
| Man, how do jobs pay so much in Canada? 100k Canadian dollars a year to work on an oil rig? |
This links to a graph showing the top paying countries for O&G workers:
http://www.albertaoilmagazine.com/2011/06/the-canadian-oil-patch-shells-out-for-staff/
Canada is the 3rd highest paying country with the average annual salary for local workers at $129,800 per year (as of 2011). Though I'm not sure which type of positions were considered for the survey. VPs and CEOs with their several hundred thousand/million dollar per year salaries would heavily skew the results upwards. |
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Threequalseven
Joined: 08 May 2012
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| Posted: Fri Jun 21, 2013 11:24 am Post subject: |
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| Yeah, if you want to be a corporate shill whose never appreciated the outdoors a day in their lives, then the field of oil exploitation is great dude! Plus, who cares that it's a fossil fuel? |
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Ginormousaurus
Joined: 27 Jul 2006
Location: 700 Ft. Pulpit
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| Posted: Fri Jun 21, 2013 11:41 am Post subject: |
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| Threequalseven wrote: |
| Yeah, if you want to be a corporate shill whose never appreciated the outdoors a day in their lives, then the field of oil exploitation is great dude! Plus, who cares that it's a fossil fuel? |
So people who work in O&G are unable to appreciate the outdoors? I don't follow. You do realize that YOU and everyone else exploits oil?
Anyway, let's not turn this thread into an argument for/against hydrocarbons. The OP has asked about working in Calgary, so naturally the O&G industry has some relevance. |
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