What jobs need climbers?

Hey fellow climbers,

There have been many threads over the years about what are good jobs for being a climber. But what about jobs that actually need the personality, mental framework and physical experience of climbing? Where is the demand for employees that climbers can fill?

I realize that a lot of these jobs involve physical labor at height.  I’m happy to hear about those.  I work in that category.  But also, what are the other categories?  How does the climbing skillset segue into an office or interpersonal role?  What else is out there?

IATSE rigger.

Arborist.

Ski Lift Mechanic.

Cell tower work. High beam steel work.

Alpine geologist. Alpine geologist's assistant

All the stuff associated with climbing gyms.

More interesting, lots of rigging associated with entertainment. Live shows, stunts, actual aerialists, getting lights and such rigged, etc. Stunt double! 

Swift water rescue/recovery/towing. High angle response teams of many sorts (fire, sheriff, a few paid SAR). 

Guide, seems obvious.

Lately? Hotshot jumpers/crews. Soooo many fires. 

Helen

I met an Alaskan fishing captain that said he loved hiring climbers (as deckhands) for the marathon salmon runs they get up there.

Rock O'Clock wrote:

Alpine geologist. Alpine geologist's assistant

You lookin for an alpine geologist assistant by any chance?

High voltage linesmen? Gotta be up high with a bunch of specialized gear, good body awareness, and your wits about you.

Christmas light installer. Bozeman. pays really well. Good crew of other alpinists/climbers. Dm if interested.

Lake wrote:

You lookin for an alpine geologist assistant by any chance?

If you're in the sea to sky area, look up the junior exploration companies in the Stewart area. Find their exploration geologists or VP of exploration on LinkedIn and send them a message saying you are looking for work. Lots of companies work closely up there so even if they don't need anyone they probably know someone who does. August is late season but there's still about a month or two left of work before the snow comes. If you are okay with 10-12 hour days 20 days in a row, can comfortably navigate chossy do-not-fall terrain all day with a 40 lb backpack, don't mind doing whatever manual labor you get assigned, and don't have a drug or drinking problem you could be a good fit. Like most jobs attitude is as important as skills. Tree planting, framing,  and other outdoor manual labor are good experience but not necessary.

Every job needs climbers. 

Elevator Repair. $150K plus field. Not as many stepping into field. No sunscreen needed.

Antenna repair. lots of travel outdoors, wear sunscreen.

Formsetting: concrete foundations. Did this for a decade, perfect training for aid climbing, especially in Fisher Towers: physically arduous, lots of hammering, long, uncertain hours, job site chaos, hundreds of ways to get hurt, dicey ladder placements, endless dust and dirt. A need to both rely on others and to not screw up so others around know they can rely on you. The owner loved hiring climbers, though most did not stay long enough to get beyond the grunt work phase. 

cieneguita wrote:

Elevator Repair. $150K plus field. Not as many stepping into field. No sunscreen needed.

Antenna repair. lots of travel outdoors, wear sunscreen.

I looked up the elevator repair thing and for anyone job hunting, the “review period” is coming up in just a few months here in Colorado.  $50k starting as an apprentice ain’t too shabby.

Steve Bartlett wrote:

Formsetting: concrete foundations. Did this for a decade, perfect training for aid climbing, especially in Fisher Towers: physically arduous, lots of hammering, long, uncertain hours, job site chaos, hundreds of ways to get hurt, dicey ladder placements, endless dust and dirt. A need to both rely on others and to not screw up so others around know they can rely on you. The owner loved hiring climbers, though most did not stay long enough to get beyond the grunt work phase. 

Construction in general. This younger generation is pretty weak! Climbers are a different bread. We need more of them on sight earning a pay check to pay for there dreams. If your in the wasatch back and need a job, hit me up.. the company i work for is in need of some climbers..

High rise window cleaning was a fun one that paid well back in the 90's

Bosun chair, great exposure, physical work and 

Great for training.

Construction laborer. I can't find anyone to help me, I pay very well too. North Conway New Hampshire. $30/hr 

Tree work is great. You are climbing. It pays well. There are tons of trees and they grow back. Residential work requires working around structures and power lines so your rigging has to be sharp. Forest logger these days requires cutting down dead or fire damaged trees which is plenty dangerous. That is why they pay you. 

As a note most of these jobs require many years of training and education and are not the kind you can just drop onto and expect to be paid well. Some are seasonal and you could have time off to travel if you are able to save enough to make it possible. 

I’m starting entry level tree climbers at $30.00+.

Experienced climbers at $40.00+.

We’re hiring.

Seattle

Tree work is my current career and it’s a fair living.  It is a skilled trade so you do have to climb the ladder, but it moves faster than the formal Apprentice-Journeyman-Master structure found in a lot of the trades.  

I was thinking about Redpointing as a work skill the other day.  The ability to repeatedly attempt something and learn through failure has to be applicable beyond labor and rope access jobs.