Vocational training, also known as vocational education or trade school, is a program designed to prepare trainees for manual or practical activities. It focuses on teaching practical skills and offers skill-based learning. A vocational school is designed to train people for specific jobs, and it does not require students to take a specific course.
Vocational schools offer more specialized training and can teach industry-specific techniques alongside hands-on learning opportunities. They typically provide training for entry-level positions requiring specialized skills or professions like massage therapy. Examples of vocational schools include electricians, carpenters, plumbing, automotive technology, floral design, cosmetology, culinary, food service, and electronics.
Apex Technical School, a trade school in Long Island City, Queens, offers six programs: electrician, carpentry, plumbing, automotive technology, floral design, cosmetology, culinary, food service, and electronics. These schools typically provide hands-on skills training for entry-level employment, such as electrical, plumbing, welding, and more.
In general, a vocational school trains individuals in a specific skill, such as being a lab tech or an auto mechanic. There will be little to no liberal education. Vocational education or Vocational Education and Training (VET), also called Career and Technical Education (CTE), prepares learners for jobs that require specialized skills and practical knowledge.
In summary, vocational education prepares trainees for manual or practical activities, offering specialized training and practical knowledge.
📹 Trade school vs College – How they compare
In today’s video, we are going to compare trade schools and traditional universities and see how their graduates fare in the real …
What are the vocational courses?
Vocational courses are qualifications that combine theoretical knowledge with practical skills to prepare students for specific professions or trades. They ensure students enter the workplace and industry with the required knowledge. There are various courses, degrees, and qualifications available for international students, and understanding the differences is crucial for decision-making. Vocational courses focus on practical skills and are career-oriented, making them a good option for international students.
Popular vocational courses include vocational subjects, vocational degrees, and subject options. Vocational courses are not to be confused with professional degrees, which are longer to complete, have more academic content, and focus on developing student knowledge rather than employment outcomes. Understanding the differences between vocational courses and professional degrees is essential for making informed decisions about your education and career path.
What is called vocational training?
Vocational training is an instructional program that prepares individuals for specialized occupations like technicians, artisan, or tradespersons. It can involve classroom instruction, hands-on training, or a combination of both. In India, secondary and higher secondary education typically includes one or two vocational subjects. However, real vocational training is often imparted outside the formal education system and often leads to a certification or diploma.
Vocational training is important because it offers specific skills and jobs, can be accessed both within and outside the formal education system, prepares individuals for high-paying jobs or occupations, earns certification from independent organizations, and improves job performance. It also encourages active participation from students, especially those who missed formal education or are unsure whether to attend a school.
Vocational training also allows individuals to learn skills of their choice and make career changes at any point in time, providing employment opportunities in villages and small towns, making them eligible for employment in foreign countries, and providing skilled manpower to the industry.
What are vocational tasks?
Vocational training involves learning skills related to a specific job or career, such as car repair or cooking. Vocational schools train individuals for jobs, which can encompass anything related to working. The term “vocational” comes from the Latin word “vocationem”, meaning “a calling”, which originally meant a spiritual calling but expanded to include employment in the 16th century. Vocational training focuses on providing or undergoing training in special skills related to a vocation or occupation.
What level is a vocational course?
After Year 11, students can choose between academic A levels, which include options for vocational qualifications like BTECs, vocational T Levels, which are technical qualifications at Level 3, and apprenticeships, which are gained through workplace training. A Levels are academic and general qualifications, while vocational qualifications are more practical. T Levels are technical qualifications equivalent to 3 A Levels, offered through colleges and combining classroom study and work placements. Apprenticeships offer training to learn the job as an apprentice employed and trained by a company. To find the best options, check with your school, college, or local training providers.
Is education free in Canada for PR?
Canada is a popular destination for international students seeking a safe and prosperous country to permanently immigrate to. The Canadian government recognizes the unique needs of its population and has implemented initiatives to improve the quality of life. Education is free for all citizens and permanent residents, allowing international students to bring their dependents during their study program. A dependent is a person under 22 years old who cannot financially support themselves due to a mental or physical condition.
If an international student’s application for a study permit includes their dependent, the child will be issued a visa allowing them to stay in Canada for the same period as the primary applicant’s permit. If a dependent at primary or secondary school level requires a study permit, the child will be issued a visa.
What is the meaning of vocational education?
Vocational education, also known as Vocational Education and Training (VET), prepares learners for jobs involving manual or practical activities, traditionally non-academic and related to a specific trade, occupation, or vocation. It can be classified as teaching procedural knowledge, contrasting with declarative knowledge in tertiary education. Vocational education can be secondary or post-secondary and can interact with the apprenticeship system.
Increasingly, vocational education can be recognized for prior learning and partial academic credit towards tertiary education, but it is rarely considered a higher education in its own form. Until the end of the twentieth century, vocational education focused on specific trades, attracting stigma and being associated with the age-old apprenticeship system of learning.
Which country is best in vocational education?
Germany, Switzerland, and Austria are renowned for their successful and stable vocational training systems (VET). Despite the growth in university enrollment rates and the changing world since the first VET appearance, VET remains a common way to attain a vocation and enter the market. Many European countries are implementing VET systems or parts of them into their educational systems. The apprenticeship toolbox project provides information to countries interested in implementing VET systems or their elements.
The “dual system” in German-speaking countries allows participants to learn simultaneously: theoretical knowledge is provided at vocational schools, and practical knowledge is provided directly through work in a specific field. Vocational schools are typically public, and companies participating in VET can range from small to large, even international companies. This project helps decision-makers in these countries successfully implement key features, materials, and programs into their social and economic systems.
What is vocational training in Canada?
Vocational training is a specific type of education that focuses on specific occupations, such as hairstylist, construction electrician, or chef. It is distinct from academic degree programs, which prepare individuals for entry-level positions in various fields. Vocational schools provide occupation-specific training, leading to credentials like associate degrees, diplomas, certificates, or similar.
In Canada, vocational and technical schools offer career training programs, apprenticeships, and more. These schools are characterized by their focus on specific competencies and certifications required for each specific occupation.
What are the activities of vocational training?
Vocational training is essential for various jobs like welding, plumbing, carpentry, electrical repair, automotive repair, culinary arts, hospitality, cosmetology, and health care. These programs focus on practical experience and application, allowing individuals to gain expertise quickly compared to traditional academic programs. Employers in these industries value individuals with the necessary skills to perform their jobs effectively.
How much is vocational school in Canada?
The financial obligations associated with pursuing post-secondary education vary depending on the specific institution and academic program. Tuition costs typically range from $7, 000 to $22, 000 per academic year. The duration of these programs can range from a few months to several years, with many offering work placements or apprenticeships as a source of income. The mean annual expenditure for college students is approximately $15, 000. In order to identify an appropriate college program, it is necessary to calculate the associated costs and to conduct research into the various available options.
What is vocational training in USA?
Vocational training and technical programs in the US equip students with technical and conceptual knowledge, as well as hands-on experience in specific fields of study. Alternative paths like certificate programs, trade schools, and technical training programs can provide firsthand experience and develop necessary skills. Shorelight advisors can provide career advice, guide students through the process of obtaining Optional Practical Training (OPT) for work in the US, and explain the US higher education system. They will be available to support students from day one to graduation, helping them plan their next steps towards studying in the US.
📹 TRADES CAREER Tier List (Trade Jobs Ranked)
———- These videos are for entertainment purposes only and they are just Shane’s opinion based off of his own life experience …
In my opinion, even though I’m going to university, trade school is the superior option. It’s cheaper than traditional college/university and I think it’s a better alternative for most people out there who do not care for studying or even those who like studying but would rather start working and making substantial income earlier than their peers since it’s much time consuming.
Attending trade school this fall for machining /CNC. I will probably attend college later on, but for now, I’m going to learn machining and get into an apprenticeship. Salaries around here range from 18 to 37 an hour. I’ve got nothing against people who go to college. But I know too many people who bitch about the debt they’re in afterwards. The trade school that I’m attending is ran by the state, so tuition is free. I should also be getting free gas per week, a grant every trimester for tools and/or food, and then job connections. Good luck to everyone who is either going to college or trade school. We all need it at some point or another.
Both can be good options, but it is hard to say which will be more in-demand in the future. Trade school is lower risk with more certainty of a job and learning a useful skill that will be valued on the marketplace. I personally went the route of traditional college and don’t regret it; I have two masters degrees in my career field, and work in supply chain contracting. I earn $125k/yr, but still doesn’t make me a believer that college is more valuable than a trade school. I encouraged my wife to go to a trade school and she is much happier for having done that. Also, she was able to finish her license in cosmetology and get a specialization in microblading for only $12,000 combined whereas my total college cost, undergrad and grad school combined, left me with $71,000 in student loan.
I didn’t care for college while in high school. I graduated and went straight to work making pizzas and dealing with the public. I eventually got tired of that and tried the army. I didn’t make it unfortunately. Finally I looked into college and decided to study hvac. 2yrs later I graduated with an associates degree and 3 certifications. I now work as an hvac technician. The pay isn’t the best but I enjoy what I do; however if I could go back and pursue university straight out-of high school I would
Went to trade school, make 6 figures, 40hrs a week. If you go to 4 year college and get a degree in let just say finance and there is no job to be had which is a real possibility you can’t go find financial work outside of a bank or somewhere like that. If my job shut down today I can go use my skills to do work anywhere on my own. I don’t need a company to work for to make money I can always make money.
As someone who has been academically inclined from a young age and loves conducting research, university was (and still is) definitely the right choice for me, as the career paths that I have in mind specifically require a PhD. Additionally, as someone living with epilepsy, working with my hands and undertaking prolonged physical labour is not something that would be good for my health in the long term, both physically and emotionally. That being said, if you are interested and passionate about working in the trades, then that is wonderful! Economically and statistically speaking, you would be more likely to accrue a higher net worth with a trades program than the PhD route once you take several factors and considerations into account (e.g. student loans, time to completion, job demand, etc.). To be brutally honest, unless you are passionate about and interested in conducting research as a career (aka: research is your life), then do not, and I repeat, DO NOT pursue a PHD! It is a time consuming and rigorous commitment that has a low attrition rate (i.e. less than 60% on average), and you may very well be better off working on something elsewhere.
To be honest, universities (or colleges) are so disconnected from reality whereas vocational (trade) schools actually teach you how to do the damn job in the real world. To me, vocational schools are way better than universities when it comes to facing the real world and how to work. Don’t waste your time on university/college. It is not worth it and I say this because I got a university degree and a vocational school degree too.
It’s really a preference towards ones strengths,and weaknesses; not really towards what’s better specifically. Trade schools can cost up to the same amounts as 4 year institutions. The best thing to do is get a scholarship for college and apply for a program that is eligible for the Wioa Act. In conclusion, it’s merely just a job such as a stocker at Walmart per say…trade school or college is not really the ticket to success; and I say that because from my experience I have been canned many times by employers while I have the same or more qualifications and active certifications.
going to college was a complete waste I got my bachelors in business administration (whatever that’s suppose to do ) and literally could not find work in any related field. I lacked experience or had no practical skills. Long story short I thought it was to late for me to go back and do something else but it’s actually common. I’m starting at career focus acedemy to be an aircract mechanic and I’m so excited
I think people forget about community college and that associate degrees exist. There are many CC that offer nursing degrees or computer science for less than ten thousand dollars. If you ask me, nine thousand dollars for an associates in nursing, and a 60k salary right outta school is really nice and well worth it. I personally think if you don’t have a scholarship then go to CC and get your grades up, get an associates, and if thats enough for you to have your foot in the door for your career than great. If not, all schools offer transfer scholarships to students with a 3.0 gpa. Higher the GPA the more tuition the university will cover. So, if you get a 3.5 in CC then University will likely cover over 50% your tuition. It’s literally a no brainer but most people seem to forget about CC.
I think that it is a joke by saying that you’ll miss out on the partying and socializing if you don’t attend a 4 year college. You can party or socialize with your local friends, and it would be cheaper. Also, if you make friends in a 4 year college, you may or may not ever see them again after graduation. Youi will make friends with the people you work with, or still socialize with local people, church members, neighbors, Etc.
I don’t think that graduating a university will make you rich but i am sorry to disappoint you with the fact that examples like Steve Jobs, Mark Zuckerberg etc are not realistic. Those people dropped out from IVY LEAGUES universities which means that they are extremely smart. Do you really have that kind of evidence for yourself or you just romanticising everything?
As a girl who has decided to go to a career & tech high school, for free, this makes makes me so much more confident in my decision even if I have to leave most of my friends after this school year 🙂 – But let’s just hope my grades are good enough to officially get in😭 – also, ps, I passed the entrance exam but it’s not a total guarantee of getting into the school, I still have to pass all my common core classes with A’s and B averages by the end of the school year
Trade school here. Never had debt. Not even for a house because investing surplus cash while young bought me a house outright. Have been able to max my Roth since age 22. Two types of pension. A journeymen license that will always be in demand, we can’t even get enough new apprentices anymore and all the boomers are pretty much retired now. I get to move and work during the day, our body needs to move and face challenges or you will get weak and feel sickly. College folks got ripped off and lied to.
Im a Sophmore in highschool and to put it straight i suck at school my grades are not very great but I have no clue what I wanna do in life but when I look around and see how so many people are in such crippling dept because of college I think is the “college life” worth being in dept for your whole life
I coach tennis. My family would always ask when I was going to get a real job. My wife asked me if that was an actual job when we met. I did it for 25 years. $60/hour for private lessons. $120/hour group lessons. 25% cut from my assistants lessons. $40,000 salary from the club and $20,000 from the pro shop. Plus a few more thousand from hosting events. ZERO OVERHEAD on facilities. $4000 expense for balls and teaching equipment.
College is not a scam, the people who feel as if they were scammed did not have a plan. I’d say go to college if you want a career that requires a college education (doctor, lawyer, software engineer, etc.), and trade school if you know what you want to do doesn’t necessarily require a college education (truck driver, plumber, heavy equipment operator, etc.). However, it’s obvious those with higher college degrees will access jobs that make more than $100k per year.
One reason why college is pushed more than trade schools is simply political indoctrination. One is less likely to deal with the indoctrination of academia in a practical learning environment. In trades you either know your stuff or your not going to make it. In academia one can be dumb as a rock and still, somehow, become a professor or politician. I dropped out of engineering at the university to become a welder-Diesel mechanic. I have no debt, own all my stuff, while others who had gone the college route are still struggling to pay the student loans 20-years later and are in debt to their eyeballs.
I think that it’s funny when I see a peer from high school who went to college. They didn’t even come close to keeping up with my education vs income ratio. Trade school + small business and a little hard work, little tenacity, luck, and good decisions. Trade school will make many more Multi millionaires
Dont forget the military option. Im 27 and joining the Navy at this point in my life has become an offer I can’t refuse. Paid training with an enlisment bonus, paid Healthcare, and paid education bypassing 2 years of grinding basics in a community college with only a 15% graduation rate. And they go the extra mile to help you find a job afterwards not to mention the skills and credentials aquired to help spring board you into a career you want. I was hoping to avoid it, but it beats the alternatives by a long shot.
The biggest problem we have is that trade jobs are heavily stigmatized. Let’s be real, people will say that trades are a great option, and I absolutely believe that too, but many of those people would not want to go into trades themselves or have their children go into them. It is easy for me as a computer science student to say that the trades are good, but honestly, I would not do them myself because there is this overall negative stigma. I still do support getting more people into trades, but that negative stigma needs to be overcome.
It is too basic to calculate salary or wage because those with a trade often have side projects such as working on property they own when work dries up. The value of rise of the property worked on needs to be calculated and since inflation helps property prices rise that is a significant benefit. The other advantages include banks being too willing to fund property transactions including purchases and sales. Trying to fund some strange idea is difficult. In addition it is a tiny proportion of graduates that earn a high salary and they skew the total salary.
I’m 20, I had my sights set on being a commercial pilot right out of high school. Because of a medical condition my application was denied. I’ve been working at a construction job for 2 years, I didn’t see it going anywhere so I quit last week. I’m going to look really hard for an apprenticeship in my area but if not I’ll be going to trade school in September. Thanks for the explanation, I finally feel like I can truly start my adult life.
I graduate in exactly 4 days from a 4 year school. Luckily I had a scholarship that covered most of my costs and I was able to cashflow the rest by working full time during the summer and part-time during the academic year. I’m in a field where going to a 4 year school is worth it because the starting salary is pretty high for new grads. I won’t have any school debt and will be living in a medium cost of living area with a 6 figures job, so I’m really happy about where I am right now. If you’re in a high paying field and you have great grades, I’d say it’s still worth it to go to college if you can get some scholarships to help lessen or kill the debt.
I don’t know if I will get any answers. but let me ask anyway. I just passed my GED exam some time ago,, and I am currently in a tough position to make a decision for myself. Since I was a kid I always liked the IT section, Especially Graphic design and Web development. But at first I think I should mention, I don’t have that much money to afford college or tbh I don’t want to go college and spent/waste that kind of money. And as I said, I do like the IT section very much but I don’t know if I am gonna have a good career if I take web development or graphic design course from a trade school or a college. coz, I heard from people that “they do ask you,, if you have any kind of college degree”? Please help me with your advise
I’m mechanical engineering graduated, and I strongly regrets not choosing trades, unemployment rates are hitting my country people dont care certificates they care practices besides many graduates are turning driver’s uber besides I spent a fortune now I’ll enroll trade diesel in canada,I’m eager to get ouststanding experience.
I’m an Electrician Apprentice IBEW member, 2nd year, I make $24.38 per hour, On May 2023, hourly rate will increase. I went to college 1 year for pre-apprenticeship for free. And never paid any money. Right now I make like 40k to 45k per year. After 5 years I be making 75k to 100k, and side Jobs uncounted. 😁
These comments are pretty biased towards trade schools. It’s all dependent on the life you want to live, i’ve met people making 6 figures easily while working in commercial electrical work and it can be a pretty draining career. Long days, terrible work environments, bad work life balance, health issues etc. It’s obviously dependent on the career but i was waking up at 4am and working till 8pm 5 days a week for 11 years. There is no universal answer to this question, i have been way happier going back to school for a career that lets me take more control over my life.
I would love more people to go to trade school. I don’t begrudge people making a good living, but hiring people to do a trade has gotten unaffordable. I had a leak under my house. Every time I hire a plumber or electrician it’s roughly $125/hr now. I would love to see what those costs would be if we flood the market with more tradesmen competing for jobs. Right now the demand for those skills is so high you’re lucky to even find someone. This is bad for the common man who needs help with repairs.
Student beware! And it is not mention in this article above. Students who decide to go to college understand it is important to maintain a 2.0 GPA or better. Some colleges require students to maintain a 2.60 GPA or better, and if the student’s GPA falls below they are subject to academic probation or disqualification, and there is the possibility that the student will not be reinstated to continue his (her) education after submitting a letter of appeal to the college appeals board. The student may have to attend another college, return to community college, or take an open university course outside the degree program to increase their GPA.
From what I have seen, college has been pushed and praised in order to have a white collar, since you would be more successful. Trade school is looked down upon because it drives you towards a blue collar job, which is viewed as unsuccessful. I’m a high school senior looking into Robotics Engineering, and I love working with my hands, assembly things together, and knowing how it works. Why did I seek interest in this? I always wondered how things worked which my dad took me out to his truck to change the belt, and I was amazed. He then said “You’re doing the brakes all by yourself”, when I was like 14 or 15. He talked me through the process and the ONLY time he helped was moving the wheel, I’m pretty weak 😅. I LOVED it. Learned how to do an oil change and pretty soon we’re changing the water pump. He doesn’t want me to be a mechanic because of low pay and that women are treated poorly. Whoever is doing or going to be a Robotics Engineer, what did you do to get where you are, what is some advice you have for a rookie, and where do I begin?
There is no Bachelors Degree that cost 100K. That’s just straight up BS. I went to the military learned some skills, technically trade type work. Than got went to traditional college, got a 4 year degree, than got a Masters in Clinical Therapy and Psychology. GI Bill paid for my undergrad and half of my Graduate education. I’ll say this most six figure earners are going to be ppl with professional degrees and licenses. There are exceptions to this rule but this is on a general basis. Your average Bachelor Degree holder will get about 50-75k a year in pretty much every industry. Unless they elevate to management. Which typically requires more education. At the end of the day it’s up to you. In the military and my younger years trade and blue collar work didn’t bother me. But a prefer a white collar professional setting nowadays, and the earnings in my current profession exceed anything I would have earned had I stayed the trade route with substantially less physical tax on the body. We need both though. Society needs people to build and maintain the physical infrastructure. It also needs professionals to keep society moving forward. If you prefer hands on work go trade, if you prefer white collar go formal education. But this whole formal education is 100k and you will be unemployed is very disingenuous. That’s simply not true.
My ESE teacher recommended me go to a trade school so I did but I got kick out for not returning in my work the next day I was there for barber. When I went to a four year college for elementary education major they did not kicked me out I completed a semester with 7 credits and i was able to return in my on time they enough time to do my work in 3 days and I am not being rushed to returning in my next day like trade school it was the best decision I made to go for a 4 year college and now I am working as a paraprofessional.
In the long run and overall. A 4 year bachelors degree is better than a 2 year trades diploma. If I were 18 years old again. I would take a 4 year degree not get sucked into the transportation technology trade school diploma. I have a good job within the trade but I’m not doing the trade but I’m assisting the trade as I work in the office.
My electrician friend makes $100/HR. My other good friend is in sheet metal making almost $80/HR. Your liberal arts degree will maybe get you a job as a barista. Just kidding. But in reality, trade jobs are often over looked but have massive upside overall. I wish I had started a skilled trade instead of college at 18.
Actually, a bona-fide apprenticeship in a certain trade is much better than a trade school curriculum… You learn much more on-the-field tried and true practices than what trade schools cover… Problem is that most employers don’t offer them as much anymore because many of the younger crowd don’t take the training seriously and stay with it, OR the company offers no pay incentives as the trainee or apprentice progresses… It’s a two-way street…
You guys literally act like dumb people go to trade school…. If your grades aren’t exceptional…. Mfkr I graduated top of the class and got a 1400 on my SAT and wasted 4 years in college on a useless degree. I switched and became an operating engineer and make 6 figures doing awesome things and traveling the US. Just wish I didn’t have the college debt
The problem with trade schools is articles like this – they’re encouraging people to go if their grades are trash. It means a lot of dumb or unmotivated people end up at trade school and the bright motivated people at trade schools find them annoying and inevitably leave. Trade schools should raise the bar for entrance or just have an IQ test.
I realized things are really diff in Spain cus when you finish high school you can either go to trade school or get a bachelors degree(baccalaureate) and trade school is not looked down here at all since 90% of people go to trade school here. Idek if there are colleges here bcus after you finisch baccalaureate and trade school, you’re going to the university.
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1:08 Welder 2:00 Heavy equipment 2:40 Plumber 3:51 Hv ac technician 5:06 Dental hygienist 6:20 Elevator installer repairer 7:11 Electrican 7:45 Geological and petroleum technician 8:25 Sonographer 9:12 Radiation therapist 9:44 Logger 10:06 Dockworker 10:43 Roffer 11:15 Construction laborer 11:46 Automobile mechanic
Being an electrician or plumber has a really nice additional benefit of giving one the ability to fix their own issues in their home. Electrician is probably one of the more satisfying trades, imo. I’m not one, but have done a good amount of electrical projects around the house, and there are few better feelings out there than finishing wiring, flipping on the switch, and seeing the light come on. You basically feel like Thomas Edison all the time. 🤓🤓
Instead of auto mechanic go into aviation. Hidden gem. Starting pay around 50k caps out around 100k before overtime. Such an awesome job, faa doesn’t let your management rush you. Schooling is around 2 years at a trade school. Once you get that certificate you can literally work any kinda mechanical job.
My father is an electrician, He works his way up until He became an Estimator engineer, and in the year 2016 he resigned from his job and started his own company, quite stressful since he doesn’t have any experience being a sole business contractor/supplier, My respect for the people on Trades is really huge, This is actually my plan B,. Thanks for the article man!
My father was a navy diver for 20+ years. So of the stories he’s told me about his job were crazy. When he got saturation diver qualified in the navy, once he got out, he was offered jobs with 300k plus a year. The only problem is he was in his mid 40s, and wouldn’t have the same structure and regimented protocols he had in the navy with these civilian companies. On top of being away for months at a time (which usually wouldn’t be a deal since he was in the navy, but my brother was just born). Saturation divers make crazy money, but the risk is just too much at that time, and my dad didn’t know if he wanted to keep doing the same thing he has been doing since his 20s. Also ps. There is a chance of exploding. Search byford dolphin accident if you have a good stomach. Given this is a very rare case where a lot of steps were skipped because of greed, laziness, miscommunication, and just pure incompetence, but you never know with a lot of these civilian companies.
A trade everyone always forgets about and really shouldn’t. Lineman. People don’t even pay them any mind unless their power goes out and it’s a very fruitful career. After you go to a training program, you can make over $100k in your first few years. Pay starts at $40k-$50k a year WITHOUT overtime. In my 4th year I made $115,000 and wasn’t even topped out yet. The electrical grid is only growing with the expansion of new businesses and residential areas. Plus you get to be a part of something important. For people not wanting to go to college and aren’t afraid of work, you can prosper. Plus it’s badass having 13,000 volts in your hand. Anyone interested in trade work should at least look into it.
I’m going towards Sonography at the moment but feel like giving up. Though, you putting this career in S tier seemed to push me again. You need to take prereqs at a community college and I just finished mine. Im going to start applying to programs all over America to increase my chances of being accepted. Important note: It’s extremely competitive vs the other trades in my opinion. The acceptance rate to their programs are around 1-2%. It’s 2 years of “nothing but studying” because you’re literally diagnosing patients. It’s a bit scary to hear but I’ll give it a shot! Worse case I don’t get accepted and try again 🤷🏼♀️
I’m an electrician and I gross over 80k a year with 40 hour weeks. It is also more physically demanding than most people think. Not so much for residential work, but commercial and industrial it is. I’m in commercial, and we deal with larger conduit (some weighing over 100 pounds for a 10 foot piece) and larger conductors (some weighing 2 pounds a foot used on 200+ foot runs). I had a bad shoulder that I could have let go, but getting into electrical, it sped up the deterioration of it to where after 8 years in the trade, I had to have it repaired. I made more than the figure given in this article the last 2 years of my apprenticeship also
HVAC gang here. One thing you didn’t mention is the sheer variety of skillsets involved. Sheet metal fabrication, electric, mechanical engineering, welding, basic plumbing and carpentry, hell even a little bit of landscaping. Perfect for someone like me who’s uncomfortable with limiting themselves to just one or two specializations. That being said however, you really do need the brain AND the brawn for it.
Kind of sad what has happened with roofer / construction laborers in the past 20 years. My father was a framer / roofer for 30 years. Union worker most of the time. Back in the late 90s early 2000s he was making 100k+. Now people working at the successor company, non union, making 45-55k. There’s political reasons for this I won’t delve into.. but it’s sad seeing the death of what was a great trade. These articles should be mandatory viewing for juniors and seniors in HS.
As an auto mechanic for 6yrs & running, I would say it’s actually A Tier & I’m a bit offended by this. Some of the reasons are: – Job opportunities across the country – The longer you’re in the industry, the more valuable you become (exp = knowledge) – Not extremely taxing on the body but still physical – Saves you a lot of money in personal auto repairs. – (For shop owners) work is consistent year round.
Are you nuts! Electrician and plumbers are quite physically taxing jobs. They have to get into and out of very confined spaces and are always bending over or squatting down a lot all day long its really bad on your joints and back. I was expecting truck driver to be on the list. Depending on the job it could be very well paying (I make $70k a year) and there is a big demand for truck drivers. It could be physically taxing but there are literally 80 year old truck drivers still driving and its starting to become popular with retired couples to become over the road drivers who never made real good money in their working years and can’t afford to travel as they don’t have any real saving. Now they can travel around the country, not have to pay for housing costs and on top of that be paid.
I wish people were more transparent about what they currently do, most comments are very pro in whatever they’re doing, pick a career that best fits the direction you desire to go and how you wanna live later on in life. There’s money everywhere, when you’ve made enough, you get to a point where other values take priority and if you didn’t choose the right career path, you’ll feel stuck
This summary is good information and helpful service to many. Some of these careers can be good motivators to work harder for better education to escape them for those whose preferences are elsewhere. Hidden health dangers, as long-term exposure to petroleum fumes in industries with lots of heavy equipment, danger from rapidly moving parts and products, and physical tiredness causing carelessness, are constant work companions. Also, mature attitudes toward diverse co-workers are at least as important as for office workers because not all of them had privileges at debutante finishing schools to become brighter bulbs on the tree. (Not pleasant to admit, I’m sorry to say, but realistic.) Thanks for your continuing attention to these valuable articles and improving people’s lives.
Cardiac/vascular sonographer here. I’m confused by what you mean when you say sonographers don’t need an apprenticeship or licensure and can go “straight into their career”. Sonographers have a 2 to 4 year degree (I have a bachelor’s degree). We also have to complete clinical rotations in order to graduate, I rotated for six months total, 40hrs a week. There are multiple exams we have to take to be licensed (one for every modality that you do). I just spent $1000 to do so. I’m licensed in cardiac, vascular and abdomen. In regards to how taxing it is on the body, I’ll just say most sonographers leave their career with a work related injury (shoulder & wrist). And everyone… we scan more than just babies, I’ve done anything from the cranium to the toe and everything in between. I just wanted to clear that up for anyone who may be looking into the profession.
I recently started my journey to become a radiation therapist, and this article has helped me in my resolve. A note about the length of time it takes to become one, though. In my state (NJ), only license-eligible radiologic technologists with a college degree may be admitted into a radiation therapy program, which awards a certificate and not a degree here in NJ. To keep things simple, this means that the two years for a certificate in radiation therapy is on top of another two years pursuing at least an associate’s, so it would take about four years to become a radiation therapist. In my case, I am currently pursuing an AAS in Radiography (aka X-ray), and only after graduating will I be allowed to study radiation therapy. It will actually take me five years to complete my journey; my school requires a year of prerequisites before I can enter their two-year x-ray program. Along with the radiation therapy program, this is about 90 credits total, so it isn’t five years of full-time study, and it’s still less than the 120 credits required for a bachelor’s. To clarify any confusion with the terminology, radiologic technologist (rad tech for short) is an umbrella term referring to healthcare workers that administer radiation for diagnostic or treatment purposes; these are the people who work in MRI, CT, x-ray, and radiation therapy itself. The only exception is sonography, which uses soundwaves. Here’s the official list: arrt.org/pages/earn-arrt-credentials/credential-options.
Plumbing electrical heating and air conditioning apprentice here, I’m quitting. I worked for multiple plumbing, electrical and hvac service companies mostly on a resident scale. I started as laborer at 15yo and jumped to a tech after hs. Sales and commission was an added bonus but it let me develop my customer support and services experience and helped me develop rapport with many business owners/customers who in turn offered me jobs and living. After landing injury more than once my drive isn’t as ambitious as it used to be. I’m turning to a different career field while I go through physical therapy. I’d be able to retire if i worked union in my opinion.. but it’s not my path to speak on. My advice, take care of your body and joints. Health first work second. Stay on top of the books and look for ways to constantly improve.
I imagine we were lumped in with the sparks, but fiber optic and data cabling is it’s own trade as well. I average in the 50’s but cleared 60 last year. You don’t need a license and there’s no real apprenticeship, but you start at the bottom of the totem. The work can be strenuous, we dig trenches, climb ladders, pull cables, and generally just destroy ourselves to get internet to the people. That doesn’t include the tower guys (shouts out the the climbers) who do some incredible stuff themselves. Some of the places I’ve had to shimmy my body into are incredibly unhealthy and potentially dangerous. It can be a satisfying job when done correctly, especially on new builds, but is generally not very exciting. I’d rank it a C tier trade; never had any plans to get into it, recognize the next level but don’t really want to go to school for it.
Now with the advent of ai, it seems that the blue collar jobs are gonna be one of the last few jobs that will survive the ai crisis to the very end. It’s very easy for a machine to do anything that doesn’t have much physical effort, like accounting, coding, diagnosing patients, etc. But for jobs with actual movement, that would be slightly more difficult with ai. Then again, you never know..
No CNC Careers? Highly would recommend. Average Cnc operator $33,000-$39,000 Average Cnc set-up tech $37,000-$49,000 Average Cnc programmer $43,000-$67,000 Average Cnc Field technician(repair man) $48,000-$77,000 (Yes I do work in the field as a programmer I personally make $62,500 a year) (edit) I didn’t mention this but that wages for the rust belt area so keep that in mind.
I’m a Licensed HVAC technician and Electrician. I own an HVAC business but we mainly do appliance repair and commercial refrigeration, ventilation and Air Conditioning. It is very physically taxing but the pay is great, specially when you own your own company, of course I mostly work by myself or with a colleague.
I’m in the sheet metal union. It covers, as the name suggests. Everything to do with sheet metal. 5 year apprenticeship easily making 100k a year in your 4th year and once you become a journeyman about 120k. Plus all the great benefits of being in a union. Really great career. Just make sure to take care of yourself
No masonry or carpentry? I’ll add my numbers as a carpenter I’m a carpenter, 25 years old. 4 year apprenticeship, no licensure. Make over 100k a year, woth full benefits and a pension, member of a union Going into trades? Go union. Those numbers for wages can nearly double if you work in a big city in a strong blue state like washington or illinois
About the heavy equipment operator trade, you don’t need to be licensed for most machines, just experience to get paid well, loader, dozer, moto grader, trencher, dump truck, skid steer, off-road forklift, etc, just get someone got give you a shot. At least in solar installation construction, they give everyone a chance to learn
Electrician really depends on what you’re doing for work. Industrial Electricians are going to be in absurdly high places dealing with very high electricity. The places they work are not remotely clean and usually pretty foul, if you’re replacing lights they’re pretty heavy too. If you’re a commercial or residential electrician you might have an easier time though.
Trades are crazy stressful. I worked HVAC for 5 years and I’ll never go back. I worked long hours I was lucky if I only worked a 9 hour day. The sales men always botched the job and the homeowner are so hard to deal with. I was only making about $50000 a year. Looking back at it I love that I know how to do HVAC. But happy I left now I work at a shop job, less hours, a lot less stress, and I’m getting paid more. And another note the companies where I’m from in all trades starting pay is extremely low I don’t get it. I started at 12 bucks and paid for all my tools. How do you expect guys to want to start a career in the trades. It’s kind of a rip off. Definitely looking back I kind of feel scammed lol but yeah I could’ve left earlier and I didn’t. That’s my fault
HVACR is hard work. Commercial refrigeration work is usually steadier but expect to be called out on weekends. In the south, HVAC companies tend to layoff in the winter since 80% gas furnaces are pretty reliable and just don’t break down as often as the cooling equipment. You won’t find too many high efficiency furnaces in the south but that may change as the green lobby is trying to outlaw lower efficiency furnaces and other gas appliances. I had two uncles that were Union steelworkers. They made good money when they were working but there were long layoffs between jobs. One uncle got fairly wealthy during the 70’s by buying and flipping old, dilapidated homes. He was an early home flipper so the profits were pretty decent in those days.
As an HVAC Technician, I would consider it S Tier. Why? -Commercial HVAC make 6 figures -It’s 3 trades in one. Refrigeration, Electrical and Plumbing -HVAC techs will ALWAYS be needed. Regardless of the Economy -Side jobs you can easily make another 50k if you want to -Seasons don’t affect your base pay unless you’re with a bad company. Overtime is more frequent in the summer Tip: Get with a Union Apprenticeship. Do 5 years and come out making 75k a year plus overtime and benefits like an Annuity, Pension and Health Insurance. Dont be a residential HVAC tech. Go Commercial. Commercial techs can do Residential and Commercial. Residential techs can’t do commercial. Not to mention there is more money in it.
5:06 Dental hygienist (not very hard physically and can make 6 figures with 40 hour work week) 6:20 Elevator Installer/repairer 7:44 S TIER Geological and petroleum Technician (probably have to move but can pay well) 8:25 S TIER Sonographer (ultrasounds and physically easy, and no appreciateship) 9:13 S TIER radiation therapist (help people with cancer can be tough mentally)
When he said being an electrician is less physically taxing I busted out laughing. Commercial electrical running anything between 1 in and 4 in overhead, carrying bundles of conduit, digging ditches, climbing up and down ladders all day, wearing a 20 lb tool pouch(like I do) pulling larger wires😂 should I keep listing the “less physically taxing” things that I do on a daily basis. Almost every old electrician I know has shoulder problems back problems neck problems knee problems etc
I work for a class 1 railroad, I’m 22 years old I am sitting at about 73k for the year as of the right now. Great career but unstable in the sense of where you’ll plant your roots. I’m pretty happy, just wish I could live where I want to live. You go where they need you pretty much. (Plus its union so layoffs are almost non existant in my department).
If i may throw in my humble hat into the ring that i feel like always gets over looked and is resession/pandemic proof. Being a trashman. Or getting your cdl in general. To me it has always kinda felt like a trade job to me. And even within the waste industry you have a decent amount of diversity. You can do commercial/rolloff/residential and in residential you can be side load or rear load. So a nice amount of options out there. Im very new to it but with no experience if my checks keep up at this rate im gonna be making 55-60k my first year. I always recommend it anybody that wants to find a good solid career that dosent take forever to get into. Plus holding a cdl opens up all kinds of doors outside of wastemanagment as well. Like i said im new to it but my dad has been a trashman for 20 years now and ive learned a lot being in it at this point so if anyone has questions id be more then happy to answer.
I have been an ultrasound technologist for over 16 years. Not sure where you did your research but this job is HIGHLY physically taxing due to repetitive motion injury. It’s a great job but at least 75% of techs have chronic shoulder, neck or back injury. I have had to go to physical therapy for neck traction and do have chronic sciatica. It is key to stretch and do regular weight training to avoid career-ending issues. As far as salary I just obtained a job specializing in vascular sonography starting at $88K
My dad was a roofer. His buddies ended up not securing a walkway properly which lead to him falling off the roof and hurting himself pretty bad. Now he has trouble walking and deals with a lot of pain. His coworkers tried to blame each other for the incident and the company ended up going belly up shortly afterwards. I would just be careful who you roof with and who you roof for.
got my a&p and am currently an aircraft technician. i also got my bachelors in operations management. currently 23 years old, planning to do the physical labor to gain experience and i hope to in the future use my degree to obtain some more managerial position within aviation due to being older and body probably begining to hurt
I am an appliance repair tech with 6 years in the field, small trade that not many people know about, but good money, it is not too hard on the body comparing to other trades, mostly work inside. the field will teach you about electricity, water, and refrigeration. Now I work in the commercial field and make 88k per year without counting OT. my advice to the newbies. 1 -just get start somewhere first, don’t think too much about the money for the first year or two, this is where you learn and hone your skill, the money will come once you have the skills. 2 – be willing to start in the small trade… when I first started, some of my peers didn’t really think much of my trade, calling it “small”, they all applied and wait for HVAC and electrician companies to take them in, but it never happened, now I am a journeyman and they are still working in the warehouse whining about things like society didn’t give them a chance.
Hi, hvac tech here, to be honest I don’t make 40k a year. I’ve been doing hvac for roughly 10 years now. The only issue with it is companies want hvac techs that are basically sales men. Sales men that do nothing but scam the customer to buy a new unit. Even if it’s only 5 years old. There are techs in my company making 200k a year doing this. But me I like to fix stuff, help the customer, be the “hero” and in turn I get the crappy calls where I can’t make any money or I’m stuck in a mechanical room all day. My recommendation is go with an hourly pay if you’re gonna go into hvac. Even getting the crappy calls and barely making hourly I am set to make 80k. So really not bad. And I never went to school, I just apprenticed under someone. Hope this helps 👍
I am a concrete finisher, I make 42 an hour as a year 3 apprentice. Hard work, but it pays well. Lots of side job opportunities if you are dedicated. You need to have passion for it though, or you will hate it. Despite what trade you go into, quit doing dru*s and get into a union, specifically for that trade. I know someone that is retired at 56, and collecting 6k a month. GO TRADES💪🏼
Im a journeyman welder went to a welding trades school at 18yrs old it was a 10month program and first welding gig i started out at $28hr first yr I made roughly 85k built a rig truck and started making between 100k to 150k depending on if I wanted to take summer months off for my hobbies been welding for the past 6yrs and within the last couple yrs my work yr is pretty much like a school year I only work threw the fall, winter, and sum of spring then take a summer break pretty much but welding has taken me places I could only dream of p.s. for anyone wondering I travel alot for work and the traveling and being gone life style isn’t for everyone
Plumber here. I recommend industrial work. Did my apprenticeship after tech highschool and got licensed at a construction corporation. Spent 3 years as a journeyman doing industrial work and then got promoted internally to piping design where I’ve been for the last 4 years. Making 115k, hybrid schedule, 40 hr/wk salary. I made $32/hr my first year licensed $36/hr my second year. Probably would have capped out around $50 in New England.
As a union journeyman carpenter, I was interested to see where you placed the other trades I commonly work with. Although I believe your numbers are varied from what I understand. Or at least you should have stipulated that it varies by region. I can say from first hand knowledge that many of these trades clear over 100k easily. And just on a base 40hr week at that. Here in California, carpenters are clearing 100k along with electricians, hvac techs, plumbers, framers etc. I have a friend who is a longshoreman in Long Beach making 150k+ a year. I also spent a few months recently in Alaska working with boilermakers and welders. They were clearing easily 3k a week after taxes(I will iterate that these were after 80 hour weeks) Anyways I just really wanted to emphasize these discrepancies because young men and women might look at these numbers and think that being a trade worker isn’t for them since the pay seems to not warrant the effort. A lot of these trades allow you to complete your 4 year apprenticeship on the job(effectively a bachelors degree time wise) all while getting paid and not having to pay back student loans after completed.
Hi Shane, Wondering where you were able to come up with your data on Longshoreman ? That salary you stated is mind boggling low for yearly wages. To be honest it’s probably the highest paying trade you’ve spoken of never mind the benefits and retirement package with being the strongest union in the US now.
I’m a carpenter in Ireland. It’s a trade that requires an apprenticeship and certification. I love it, although the downsides are that carpenters need the most tools we get paid less than plumbers and electricians but we get wayyy more job satisfaction. Most foremen here are carpenters because most likely the carpenter sees the build from the very foundation to the roof
I have a brother who is an engineer, his wife went to school to teach and is doing something in that field. I have an SIL who has some health related degree. I have a year left in a welding program and my wife is a cosmetologist. Which is a trade as well. We live in the smallest house, drive the cheapest cars and buy cheaper/used. Not my brother, but both of the SILs look down on us “trades people”. But something they don’t realize. My wife makes decent money, and I will be making around 3 times the average wage here when I graduate. Thats already more than what those two are earning. AND we dont owe anyone a dime. Paying my way through without loans. No idea how much they all owe. But it’s a lot, I know the one SIL is maxed out on student loans. Now, tell me. Who is the wealthiest in the end?
Carpenter contractor here. Employee for 5 years and 17 years contractor. It is how it work. Customer check who has cheapest price and chose him. I sow with my aye 20 years old kid would make cheaper bid and take project where I have portfolio with 200 photos and some of my photos are in “Architectural digest” magazine and such. And after crappy job is done same customer would call me if I can fix problem but for cheap because he spent a lot already. Another very popular line of thinking is “I spent loot at this project already I need find someone to trim this for cheap”. I had a guy ask me to do arched stairs trimming for what would be around 12$/hour because he spent a lot already. And yes I did past year crown at cathedral ceiling for 45$/hour. Carpentry is poverty job and it is all about.
As a former Electrician in the Navy, I’m gonna have to disagree when you said Electricians is less physically demanding. Electricians do more work than just pull wires and use multimeters. A lot of times when we have to troubleshoot motors, we’re not only dealing with the motor controllers BUT the actual motors themselves. Motors are freaking heavy and require physical strength to be able to replace a motor. Those shits are freaking heavy.
i’ve spent my entire life playing football and going to school i’m now 21 playing my last year and have changed my major multiple times due to not knowing what i wanted to do and really only going to school to continue playing but ik i can’t play forever currently looking for other options glad i came across this article for more insight
Longshoremen do make way more than $28k unless you’re talking about the non identified or casual status, once you reach B bench or become an A men level and depending on what you do and what skill level it’s easily way over 100k. Most of my family as longshoremen are the highest skill level and highest paying shift and make 15k a month the least
So you did miss a con with elevator technician…It can be VERY DANGEROUS, you have to stay focused, and have a DEEP respect for Safety! You could be working on the center elevator, but the elevators on the left and right are still running, don’t look over the edges, stay focused on what you’re doing, and follow all safety protocols to a T.