This is a guide for any person who is interested in pursuing a career in skilled trades. Continue reading to gain knowledge about the trades that are in demand, how to start your career as a tradesperson, the qualifications that are required for some trades, and how much you can expect to earn per year.
Skilled trades in demand
The economic crisis that originated in 2020 due to the pandemic of Covid-19 created a crisis in almost every job market in the world. However, it was not the case for skilled trades.
Skilled trade jobs were booming during the pandemic in the United States and continue to be on the rise during the present day. This is why so many people switched career paths and jobs these past few years.
Many decided to do a career shift and go into whichever industry or job is in high demand. Others realized that what they were doing wasn't fulfilling and desired to change into something they would love to do.
However, professionals tend to be hesitant about changing career paths because starting from scratch is always scary, especially for any career that'll require years in school and thousands of dollars of investment in their education.
This is why some might be better off searching for trade schools, apprenticeships, programs, or certifications to gain experience in a specific skilled trade. The advantage is that to find these opportunities all most people need is their high school diploma.
Trade schools offer practical instruction, and the courses can be finished in as little as eight months.
Below is a list of the trade jobs that are in demand in the United States:
- Welders - tradesperson who specializes in fusing materials together —welding metals is the most common one. To become a welder all you need is a high school diploma and attendance in a program or an apprenticeship.
- Construction workers/laborers
- Machinists - tradesperson or trained professional who not only operates machine tools but also has the knowledge of tooling and materials required to create setups on machine tools.
- Electricians - tradespersons specializing in electrical wiring of buildings, transmission lines, stationary machines, and related equipment.
- Plumbers - tradesperson who specializes in installing and maintaining systems used for potable (drinking) water, sewage, and drainage.
- HVAC - a tradesperson specializing in heating, ventilation, and air conditioning, is the use of various technologies to control the temperature, humidity, and purity of the air.
If you need more guidance with your field of interest, you can always hire a private tutor to guide you and figure out the intricacies of the job or to guide you to build a career filled with opportunities.
How can I start a skilled trade?
Getting started is probably the hardest step in the process of learning or training for a skilled trade. There are so many paths you can take to start building your path as an industrial worker, a welding engineer, an automotive mechanic, or a technician.
Keep in mind that the paths and opportunities for welders are different than for technicians. Each industry will have different requirements for each employee. This is why it is important you understand and learn everything that is needed of you so you can enroll in an adequate program or apprenticeship.
Once you identify and decide whether you want to go into the industrial, construction, or service fields, you can start searching for places where you can master the trade.
If you continue to have trouble deciding the type of employment you're interested in, you can get started by going to college advisors. If you don't know how to jumpstart your career or you're having a hard time deciding whether you want to get a college degree, then you need guidance and support.
College advisors can help you understand everything you can gain from different careers, your strengths, challenges, and so on.
You can also hire a private tutor to guide you through any application process you have to undergo. There are plenty of tutors on Superprof offering students guidance and support.
Private tutors usually charge per hour, however, some might offer a weekly or monthly packet. This is why it is essential for you to have a conversation with any tutor you're interested in hiring and make sure that you ask all the questions you have.
Some tutors offer the first lesson for free to give students an opportunity to see what their classes are like. This first free lesson is a great opportunity to see if you like the tutor, to ask any questions you might have, and to understand their teaching methods and see if they are compatible with your learning skills.
Qualifications needed for certain trades
To become a tradesperson you first need to know what exactly it is you're going to do to make an informed decision as to what degrees or careers to pursue.
For instance, technicians need manufacturing knowledge and could benefit from a bachelor's degree in the field of technology. On the other hand, a welder is constantly doing hands-on work and they would benefit from apprenticeships or programs where they can master the job.
The qualifications of each job depend on the path you want to take and how much you want to grow in the field. If you start to work right after high school, then you probably don't want to do any job that requires a college degree.
However, if you want to become the manager of a building in construction, or you want to be a superintendent, these jobs require special skills, training, and education.
Electricians need a couple of diplomas to do their job. But they can get anything from services engineering to electrical installation. However, you can also search for apprenticeships in installation or maintenance.
To become a mechanic you first need to decide on the branch of mechanics you are interested in. For example, if you want to have a job in manufacturing, you want to become a technician, or you're only interested in cars, then your options and opportunities will vary.
Another field of common interest is welding. You can become a welder at an oil rig, underwater, in industrial pipelines, aerospace, inspector, or go into the nuclear industry.
Once you decide what job you want to do, you can search for the qualifications you'll need, and then decide what path to take. If you are lost, you can always ask for external guidance and advice from another tradesperson.
Following the tips and advice of someone who has the same career path that you desire can give you ques on how to manage certain things or the options that are better than others.
How much can I expect to earn with certain skilled trades?
The salary of skilled trades tends to vary depending on the field, the industry, the type of job, the amount of experience the employee has, the service they provide, and many other factors.
Below you'll find a list of the five highest-paying skilled trades in the United States. You can check out our article about skilled trades and salaries to find more information and a complete list.
- Construction Manager - $97,180
- Elevator and Escalator Installers and Repairers - $88,540
- Radiation Therapists - $86,850
- Nuclear Medicine Technologists - $79,590
- Dental Hygienists - $77,090
Many skilled trade students tend to decide on a path depending on how much a job pays and how much those workers make every year. However, we recommend you don't only consider the salary before you make a decision.
If it only depended on the salary, everyone would major in the highest-paying jobs in the world but that is not the case because workers don't want to spend their lives doing something they don't love.
This is why, when you are seeking employment, considering a shift, or deciding the trade you want to learn, you should first look into the field that you are most interested in.
For instance, if you are fascinated by the manufacturing process of automotive vehicles, then you should search for an apprenticeship or other opportunities to build a professional career in this industry.
If you decide to become a construction manager because it pays well, after a while you might start feeling unfulfilled, frustrated, or burnt out.
That's why everyone should go into an industry they love and feel passionate about! Keep in mind that loving something doesn't mean it will make it easy.
To make things easier you can study with a private tutor from Superprof. Tutors are trained to help, guide, and support their students through their education process. You can work with a tutor for a year to pass hard classes, or you can stay with them for a longer period and use their guidance throughout your career.
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