Benefits of a Skilled Trade Career

When you’re a teenager, especially in the last two years of high school, it seems as if life’s milestones have already been set for you. Graduate from high school and get into a decent college. Graduate from there and get a job. While this little to-do list might work for some people, it might not always work for others. Our lives and careers don’t always go according to the plans of our high school counselors or college advisors—and that’s okay.

There are other options to consider besides traditional colleges, because there are many other practical ways to create a career for yourself. One option that is increasingly being considered is trade school (or a trade career) due to the inflated costs of college and the job-specific educational format of trade schools. While you might have heard about the benefits of college, people rarely tell you about the benefits of skilled trade career. Don’t worry about that though, because the experts at Mattioni are here to tell you a thing or two.

1. Hands on Training

Whether you’re attending trade school or working your way up in a trade business, you are bound to receive hands-on training from the get-go. Many people perform well in environments where they can learn on the job or learn through real-life experience. If you’re someone who has been itching to get past the classrooms that spend more time on theories and concepts, a trade career or school might be a feasible option for you. You get training and information based on the skills and techniques currently being used in the field, which gives you the experience you need.

2. You Save Money (and Time)

There is varying information on the costs of college. The College Board has done some research on this; the average estimated undergraduate budgets for 2018-2019 show that students at a public 4-year college will pay $25,890 for the whole year. The estimate includes tuition and fees, boarding, supplies, transportation as well as miscellaneous expenses.  It’s a lot more expensive for out-of-state universities and private colleges. Add student loan debt and the struggles of finding a job to that statistic and you have an extremely stressed out college graduate.

Now let’s look at trade school. Here, you spend 2 years (maybe even less) as opposed to 4 years in college. This allows you to get a head start in the workforce and gain years of training and experience. Several two-year community colleges offer technical degrees, the yearly cost of which is $17,930 including boarding, supplies and transportation—far less than a year of college.

For many people, saving money and time is vital and one of the most important benefits of a skilled trade career. To get an even earlier start, you can skip trade school altogether and invest your time in an apprenticeship. To start an apprenticeship, you usually need a high school diploma and a fundamental understanding of the industry you would like an apprenticeship in. Many employers are looking to offer apprenticeships to skilled, enthusiastic individuals!

3. Opportunities to Make A Good Living

A lot of people assume that a skilled trade career does not offer opportunities to make a good living. This could not be farther from the truth. Working in the skilled trades allows you to access well-paying jobs that are also fulfilling. To give you an idea, here are some great jobs you can have by entering a trade career. Keep in mind, that while a 4-year college education can grant you well-paying jobs as well, you might have to get past the barriers of loans, low-paying (or unpaid) internships, and even a couple more years of a getting a graduate degree.

• Dental Hygienist

The median annual income of a dental hygienist is $72,910 with a job growth of 20 percent.  Many 2-year colleges offer associates degrees for students looking to become dental hygienists.

• Solar Photovoltaic Installers

This job entails installing and assembling solar panel systems on rooftops and other structures. While it’s median pay is $42,680, it is the fastest growing occupation in the United States, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.

• Wind Turbine Technicians

Wind turbine technicians earn a median annual income of $54,370. The employment of these technicians is projected to grow 96 percent between 2016 and 2026, making it the second fastest growing occupation in the United States.

• Electrician

Electricians make an annual median income of $52,720. To become an electrician, you can get your start with an apprenticeship, an associate’s degree or trade school.

• Plumber

Plumbers earn a median of $51,450 and can also get their start through training courses and trade school. Those looking to become plumbers (or electricians) must be okay with being on-call and working odd hours.

4. Job Security

This is one of the lesser known benefits of a skilled trade career. There’s always a need for skilled trade workers such as plumbers and electricians, even in tough economic times. Due to this consistent demand, a trade career will offer you job security. In addition, the older generation is retiring from these skilled trade jobs, offering new high school graduates many job openings.

Get in Touch With Mattioni!

At Mattioni, we put our customers’ happiness first as well our employees’. We believe that happy and fulfilled technicians will provide the best services. To learn more about our great team and our services, call us today at 610-400-8510!