Trade Careers are Still Going Strong!
Affordable education. Small class sizes. Hands on training. Low drop-out rate. $41,755 median salary for entry level positions. These are just some of the things a trades education and career can offer. Work in the trades is wide open to women and men, young and old, and people of all races and income. Women and people of color are especially encouraged to consider these careers.
How do I get into the trades
One of the best parts about joining the trades is the apprenticeship. With over 2,000 hours of on-the-job training and 144 hours of related classroom instruction, being an apprentice offers great opportunities! You can earn the Journeyman credential (which is nationally recognized). Start with the basics and learn your job from the ground up. Work on an “earn as you learn” pay scale. The opportunity to learn hands-on with an expert right beside you, teaching you, is one not offered in traditional education. It is the most effective way to learn and is why an apprenticeship is the key part to getting into the trades.
Show me the money
Cost of Education
Apprenticeship: $0
Trade School 1-2 years: $5,000-10,000
4 year degree: $37,000
Average Starting wage
No Training After High School: $14/hour
Apprenticeship: $15-$19/hour + Benefits
Trade School: $19/hour
4 year degree: $22/hour
Job Placement
Apprenticeship: Guaranteed
Trade School: Virtually Guaranteed
4 year degree: No Guarantees
Myth-Conceptions
Stories about the trades that were true 50 years ago are no longer relevant. Others have always been myths, shared by people outside the trades world. Whatever the case, we want to set the record straight for this generation.
Myth: “I don’t have
the skills to enter the trades.”
Truth: One of the best things about the trades is the apprenticeship training. With over 2,000 hours of on-the-job training and 144 hours of classroom instruction, you will have plenty of time and opportunity to develop your skills! You do not need any skills to start – you just have to come willing to learn!
Myth: “The trades are a
fall back job after you
go to a 4 year college.”
Truth: The trades are one of the best starter jobs out there. Students get to begin their careers 2 to 4 years sooner than those with a 4-year degree. This means that their student loans are very minimal, and they have at least a 2-year head start in their career. They have a VERY high job placement rate and make a starting median salary of $41,000.
