What jobs do you guys have?

[Dometalican]

Seeing how you guys get all these guitars, I've always wondered what you guys do for a living to afford these moderately-priced beauties? (From a post you guys remember how I told all of you to treasure what you have), I'm currently in a contract working in a tier 1 Help Desk Support job so I'm getting BETTER (thank God!) but still can't get my first Kiesel yet.

[Crownman]

For the daily get up and go to work job I work at a Sherwin Williams Automotive Paint location. I used to be a mechanic full time so I still do repairs on the side. I also work as a sound engineer and do consulting for people building systems to install in clubs or have for their band.

[silvergoat2k6]

Nuclear Power Plant Operator at the Palisades Nuclear Plant just outside South Haven, MI.

[MGE320]

I am an airline pilot turned dog behaviorist.

My wife is an airline pilot whose salary pays all the bills around here so that I can play at being a dog behaviorist and not have to worry about making a living.

[MikeBass]

Working for a company that makes photonic switches for fiber-optic networks. We essentially make bandwidth.

[kmd09]

For the last approx. 30yrs, I've been a Dentist. I'm somewhat semi-retired right now and only work when I want/need to by covering for other Dentists when they are away from their practices. I'll probably do this for a couple more years then become full time retired!

[kennym9898]

I'm an Equipment Manager at a golf course. I work on anything, weedeaters to heavy machinery. The smaller courses don't pay much, fortunately I was able to get the position at a high end golf course where both courses are ranked in the 100 best golf course in the US. So now my job is more paper pushing, teaching, managing the other mechanics in the shop.

[ElfDude]

I'm a temperature metrologist. I calibrate high end thermometers and metal fixed point cells. The only lab in North America that could sell you a calibration with better uncertainties is the national lab at NIST.

[dvdmz]

I work at a projector service center. My Kiesel-to-be was a huge investment for me, and can't wrap my head around people who have 14 of them.

[riff]

I was a welder - fitter for 18 years building robotic conveyors and machines for the big 3 auto companies. The past 14 years working as a Bio-Med technician for a hospice pharmacy.

[gumbynotpokey]

Clinical director of an organization providing self pay residential services treating addiction and co-occurring psychiatric conditions. The majority of my daily focus is on evaluation and treatment of those patients that are in public safety sensitive careers - physicians, pharmacists, dentists, lawyers etc.

[kennym9898]

and can't wrap my head around people who have 14 of them.

When I started my job, they gave me an apartment to live in for a while at the golf course. I had to relocate 250 miles from where I was at. They run an internship program, plus housing for Assistant Superintendents. One just happen to be vacant, so I got to stay for 2 years rent and bill free. Down side is you had to be available at all times on salary. So that's how I was able to get 4 in short period of time.

[Nlelith]

I work as video editor at a TV studio (but in reality, I'm not only editing, but also make graphics, sound engineering, and fix PC-related problems of my co-workers ). We mostly do TV programs, and promotional clips.

[texastoast]

I'm a temperature metrologist. I calibrate high end thermometers and metal fixed point cells. The only lab in North America that could sell you a calibration with better uncertainties is the national lab at NIST.

US military might have something pretty close. As a boiler tech I went to gauge cal. Nothing to the level you do I am sure. I just marveled at how the equipment was so expensive. The brand name I can remember but not spell was King Nutronics. The stuff was self contained really well. Like the old school hair driers of the 50's

I think the other part of the equation for the op is age. I think we average like 40-50 years old here. If you do it right you should be more secure as you start to rot, I mean mature.

[Coda]

I think the other part of the equation for the op is age. I think we average like 40-50 years old here. If you do it right you should be more secure as you start to rot, I mean mature.

I was waiting for someone to bring this up. Its two separate questions. 1) What's your profession, 2) How do people afford guitars. (And then this second question could be broken up by age or what stage of your career you're at.)

Me:
1) Web application developer
2) I never spent more than $1000 on a guitar until in my 40s, and I always tried to put 10% of what i made into savings, and use credit sparingly. It wont seem like it makes a difference at first but now that I'm in my 50s I'm glad I did and actually wish I started younger.

[Koshchei]

I'm a business-process analyst and programmer. I write systems to take advantage of the bandwidth that Mikebass creates.

Texastoast is right about ∆t playing a major part in affording guitars. Once the house is out of the way, there's $12-15k more per year in your pocket (although you should put as much as you can away, particularly if you don't have a pension plan with a decent accrual rate.)

[gpbarnett]

Software developer, currently working on mission control applications for a large constellation of satellites that will be launching over the next few years.

It took me a long time to get to where I can buy pretty much any gear that I want (still can't justify $30K for a Parker archtop, and haven't decided if an AxeFx would be worth the money when I already have a GT-100).

It helps that I've managed to keep my monthly expenses low, so that I can spend more on toys.

[Doctor Doug]

Elementary school teacher.

[FlyingV]

My job now is strictly for the medical insurance and the schedule of one week on, one week off, 10 hour days for 7 days, then 7 off. If a business is open 7 days a week this is the best schedule ever. + one week vacation = 3 weeks off! I would call this job 'customer service". Government.

I also invest in the stock market, doing fair to good there. Currently taking the biggest gamble in my life with way more of my assets than I should be. But I have done my DD and I'm in pretty good company with others who believe as well [billionaires with a fleet of lawyers and researchers etc]

I was a Real Estate Broker for 10 years and still do real estate investing for myself only. I don't drive people around looking at houses anymore etc.

I'm sort of old now too so I will list the favorite jobs [many] I have had...

1. Smuggler - criminal. Say what you will there was more honor among our lot than any group I've ever worked with. That may be because failing to be honorable was a one time mistake. Good times. And compared to our government we were angels.

2. Real Estate Broker. I helped a lot of people form a base of stability and a financial future that would benefit them and their families long term. I felt good about what I did when I went home at night. Unlike job #1 above the business is full of back stabbing, unqualified and lazy people. Also it does not matter how good you do your job there are at least several other people in any transaction that can screw things up.

3. Motorcycle dealership manager, Motorcycle road racing. Just fun fun fun. I love motorcycles every bit as much as guitars/music. There is no drug that can match bending a bike in to a turn at 120mph and have someone doing the same inches from you. Love it.

[Jlaura76]

I actually work for AT&T in business sales. for 15 years (until march) i worked part time for a church as a music director. I lost that job, now I only work for AT&T. it's been really tough. I had hoped my whole life to do music, even went to college (never finished).

life happened, most of my guitars went to the pawn shop. i come to this board as part of my way to grieve. seeing how many of you have the same passions but with different professions is a real boost for me. thanks for doing this. the cloud got a little smaller today!