My experience kinda dovetails with what other folks have said. I've been a machinist for about 15 years. The early career stuff is low pay, rough conditions. In the middle things get a little better but the hours are long. I'm doing a temp gig to cover for a 60 year old guy who needs some surgery for some work related wear on his joints. Realistically, he's not coming back to work after surgery.

Most of the men in my dad's family were plasterers. Fifty is about the real limit.