According to Laurie Grove, director of career services at Pennsylvania’s Thaddeus Stevens College of Technology, a two-year technical college, “One of the things that scares people away from a lot of jobs is the amount of education they need to have, but skilled trade jobs allow you to get trained quickly — from a six-week certificate to a two-year associate degree and everything in between.” “And the beauty of a skilled trade is that, given all of the demand, there’s almost a guarantee of a great job on the other end if you’re willing to put in a little time,” ”.
One of the worst worker shortages is occurring in the construction sector. More than four out of five home builders (85%) reported having significant labor challenges in a survey published in May. Another industry seriously short on talent is manufacturing. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, there are more than 300,000 job openings in both industries.
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What are the benefits of learning a trade?
Knowing some of the best reasons to pursue a trade can help you decide if it’s the right career for you if you’re thinking about doing so. The top benefits of learning a trade include:
Lower costs
Trade professionals can frequently start their careers without accruing a lot of student loan debt because the majority of trades do not require a college degree. Trade professionals can save a lot of money compared to people who pursue careers that require college degrees by attending a less expensive trade school or going straight into a career out of high school.
Start earning young
The ability to enter the workforce debt-free isn’t the only financial advantage of not going to college or university. Most trades allow workers to start their careers immediately after high school or following a trade training program, which typically lasts less than two years. This enables tradespeople to start making full-time money while their peers are still in school.
High earning potential
Despite the fact that many trade professions do not require a degree, many still have earning potentials that are on par with or even higher than that of people with higher education, such as a bachelor’s degree. Additionally, many trade industries are supported by unions that fight for competitive wages. When you gain more experience, you might even be able to launch your own business, which could be very profitable.
Careers that are fulfillingMost trades require you to use your hands to build, install, or create something, which makes for a career that many trade professionals find to be very fulfilling. Many professions are also highly respected, allowing those who work in them to take great pride in their work.
Job security
Even though increased automation is being brought about by technology in many industries, the majority of trade jobs anticipate good future prospects. You acquire skills that you can use for the duration of your professional career by becoming an expert in a trade.
What are trades?
Industries known as trades require one or more highly specialized skills. Trade experts frequently enroll in vocational or trade schools where they receive specialized training in their field of choice to learn these skills. Another well-liked strategy for learning a new trade is through apprenticeships and on-the-job training.
Trades exist across a broad range of industries. In order to have a career that is both financially and professionally satisfying, a professional can pursue a trade that they find appealing.
14 skilled residential trades
Choosing a trade skill that is applicable in a residential setting is one of the safest paths to pursuing a career. Residential trades are rated well for prospects because homeowners need professionals to complete the high-quality work their homes require. Residential trades are frequently physically demanding jobs that, when done well, are very satisfying. Click on the national average salary link for each job title below to access the most recent salary data from Indeed.
Top residential trade skills include:
An electrician’s main responsibilities are to install and maintain electrical systems in buildings. A building’s new electrical installations may need to be planned out by an electrician in addition to interpreting technical documents and ensuring that complex electrical systems are accurately created.
Plumbers’ main responsibilities include setting up and maintaining plumbing systems in residences. Plumbers primarily deal with the water-transporting pipes in buildings, but they may also fix the fixtures and outlets in a home’s plumbing system.
Additional skilled residential trades
Consider one of these trades for additional options in residential fields:
11 skilled medical trades
Many of the crucial roles in medical facilities are carried out by trade professionals, despite the fact that the first medical jobs that come to mind for most people all require extensive education in college and graduate school. Since your job is to provide significant medical care that directly impacts the lives of your patients, the medical industry is a great field with career options that can be both financially rewarding and personally fulfilling. Click on the national average salary link for each job title below to access the most recent salary data from Indeed.
Popular medical trade careers include:
An emergency medical technician’s main responsibilities include responding to calls for emergency medical care. An EMT responds to medical emergencies to stabilize patients, provide treatment, and transport patients to a hospital if additional care is necessary.
An occupational therapist’s main responsibilities are treating people with physical limitations. These therapists design and manage treatment programs that involve exercises to help patients improve their motor skills so they can carry out more fundamental daily tasks on their own.
Additional skilled medical trades
Other options if you want to work in the medical field include:
18 skilled energy and industrial trades
Jobs in the energy and industrial sectors may be a great fit for you if you’re looking for a career that involves doing a lot of physical work on your hands and knees. You can work outside doing manual labor for the majority of the day in many of these trades. Energy jobs are still necessary despite the energy industry’s changing structure, making it a safe field to work in. Click on the national average salary link for each job title below to access the most recent salary data from Indeed.
Top energy and industrial jobs include:
A mechanic’s main responsibilities include maintaining automobiles, including cars, trucks, and other vehicles. Mechanics are in charge of inspecting vehicles to spot potential issues and fixing any that they find. Although many mechanics work on a variety of vehicles, some choose to specialize in a particular manufacturer or vehicle type to gain greater proficiency in their field.
A solar installer’s main responsibilities are installing and maintaining solar panel systems. A solar installer may be tasked with meeting with property owners to discuss solar options and making sure that all installations adhere to safety and local zoning regulations in addition to taking care of the panels.
Additional skilled energy and industrial trades
More careers in the energy and industrial sectors are listed below:
8 skilled cosmetic trades
With specialized skill sets, the beauty industry has a long history of trade traditions that enable customers to receive the best styling care. There are numerous paths you can take to enter the cosmetic industry, depending on whether you enjoy working with skin, hair, or nails. Click on the national average salary link for each job title below to access the most recent salary data from Indeed.
Top cosmetic trade skills include:
The main responsibilities of an aesthetician are to assist clients in achieving clearer, cleaner skin with fewer blemishes. In order to maintain healthy skin, aestheticians perform a variety of skincare procedures on their clients, such as using cleansers, unclogging pores, and applying lotions. Additionally, an aesthetician suggests home skincare regimens to clients so they can maintain their skin in between visits.
A hair color specialist’s main responsibilities include assisting clients in getting the hairstyles they want by using bleach and dye. To be successful as a hair color specialist, one must become proficient in a wide variety of coloring techniques to produce a variety of looks, from single-color dyes to gradient-style effects.
Additional skilled cosmetic trades
Here are some additional trades to think about if helping people look and feel their best appeals to you:
8 skilled technology trades
One of the markets with the fastest growth is the technology sector, and trade positions are no exception. Professionals in the technological trades are equipped with abilities that enable them to excel in a range of crucial technology positions. Click on the national average salary link for each job title below to access the most recent salary data from Indeed.
One of the following modern tech trades might be a good fit for you if you enjoy working with contemporary technology:
A graphic designer’s main responsibilities include producing visual content for branding, marketing, and other commercial uses. They frequently employ software to create graphics that appeal to their customers. Designers of graphics may produce publications, advertisements, websites, brochures, and logos.
The main responsibilities of a web developer are to create user-friendly websites and other online platforms using code. A web developer’s duties include working on ongoing projects, learning new online coding languages, and maintaining websites to ensure they function properly.
Additional skilled technology trades
Professionals with a passion for technology may excel in one of these tech trades:
13 additional skilled trades
Because trade abilities are required in so many different fields, the value of learning a trade skill is not limited to a small number of industries. Each of these trade skills calls for proficiency in a particular craft and offers the chance for a fruitful and fulfilling career. Click on the national average salary link for each job title below to access the most recent salary data from Indeed.
Additional skilled trades to consider include:
A locksmith’s main responsibilities include replacing malfunctioning locks and installing new locks. A client may also contact a locksmith if they’ve misplaced the key or the combination to a lock, locked their keys inside a building or vehicle, or other similar scenarios. Without the correct key or code, the locksmith opens locks using specialized tools.
A commercial truck driver’s main responsibilities include moving shipments from one location to another safely. A driver must first master the specialized techniques needed to operate a large truck before obtaining the necessary type of license in order to be hired as a commercial trucker. Truck driving often requires long hours to meet delivery targets.
Additional skilled trades
There are many great trades to think about as a career, such as:
FAQ
What is a good trade to learn?
Elevator mechanic, electric lineman, millwright, boilermaker, and construction inspector are some of the easiest trades to learn because you can learn your skills through apprenticeships and on-the-job training and don’t need a degree. Learning a trade also depends on the person’s skills.
How can I start learning trade?
- Get your high school diploma or GED. It is wise for high school students interested in a trade to begin by enrolling in any relevant classes that are offered, such as industrial arts or cooking classes.
- Get post-secondary training. …
- Complete an apprenticeship.
What is the best trade to learn right now?
- Electrician. …
- Landscape designer. …
- Boilermaker. …
- Respiratory therapist. …
- Construction manager. …
- Dental hygienist. National average salary: $42.12 per hour. …
- Ultrasonographer. National average salary: $36.24 per hour. …
- Radiation therapist. National average salary: $72.64 per hour.
What is the easiest trade job to learn?
It appears that among the skilled trades, plumbing and electrical work are the least physically taxing. But that doesn’t mean those are the best trades, and if carpentry appeals to you, you shouldn’t let its reputation for being physically taxing discourage you from pursuing it.
