Sometimes, on these forums, there are people suggesting the skilled trades as an alternative to going to college to study for a bachelor’s degree. But the better skilled trades jobs are more selective than often thought.
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Thank you for sharing this, @ucbalumnus.
Additionally, some of the salaries reported are often for people closer to the right tail than not. The 2025 median pay for some of the most commonly mentioned trades are:
- Carpenters: $60,580/year or $29.12 per hour
- Electricians: $63,190/year or $30.38 per hour
- Plumbers: $63,800/year or $30.67 per hour
Info was sourced from the Occupational Outlook Handbook from the feds’ Bureau of Labor Statistics.
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In our area, it is not easy at all to get an apprenticeship. Our high school has been increasing the dual enrollment with a local tech school the last few years to try to help. But it also has felt like if you didnt choose that path in high school (the trade route with dual enrollment), that after hs graduation its about impossible to find a way in. People also need to understand that getting into the skilled trades may require a few years of low salary (often without benefits) and long hours. Sure my son’s buddies are now 4-5 years post hs grad making more money but they are also expected to work 60 plus hours a week. Most of them were making only $16-18/hr for training for a few years. Many of the trades are requiring passing math tests or other academic requirements so kids who were challenged in certain areas may still struggle to get hired.
I’m a huge supporter of the trades but it isn’t easy, it isn’t simple, it’s still a 4 plus year often process with long hours and even perhaps school/classes that isn’t for everyone.
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My S’s bandmate is an electrician, and he is earning a ridiculous amount of money right now. But that’s because he is working on data center construction, working SO MANY hours, SO MANY days in a row. It’s not sustainable, either physically (he’s still in his mid-30’s) or from the standpoint of the jobs continuing in the future (once the place is built, the need for electricians drops). Another friend is in HVAC, and it didn’t take him long to realize that crawling around in ductwork was incredibly hard on his body. He now works servicing ice machines for businesses - less lucrative than the stats for HVAC workers would indicate, but more sustainable for him long term.
Just like the assembly line jobs that our grandparents and parents took because they paid well - especially with the overtime that was once standard - the jobs aren’t all sunshine and roses. They can provide a good living, but they don’t necessarily pay what people think & they can be more difficult as the body ages.
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A close friend of mine owns a company and specializes in underwater salvage and construction. He has been doing this type of work for 40 years, his son works with him.
He cannot find enough qualified workers to fill the positions he needs to take on new contracts. These highly skilled workers make close to $200K per year. They are certified and highly trained in diving, underwater welding, boat and crane operation, etc.
He tells me he has always loved his work but it is hard on the body and family life. So many stories of working in storms, welding underwater at night, working in horrible conditions with crocodiles or contaminated water.
I have such respect for what he has done in his life. He seems to thrive with this type of work and with the responsibility of keeping the job and his workers safe.
Absolutely could not fathom doing this kind of job for any amount of money!
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I don’t think people appreciate how hard some of these jobs are physically…many of them ultimately take a toll on many workers’ bodies. Knees, hips, etc etc. Many people once they are 50+ (some even earlier) can’t physically do the job anymore.
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It’s definitely location dependent too. Right now, where I am located, there is a severe shortage of pipefitters, and so yes I know a number of them that make $200K/yr. But they also work really hard, and the conditions vary a lot. Some of the pipefitter jobs are more computer oriented, others involve driving 2 hours to spend the next 8 hours welding in a crawl space in 90 deg weather. And the apprenticeship is long, and you get stuck with the worst jobs. Access to pipefitting where I live has also been very white. It is changing but older members will admit that non-white applicants were kept out.
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In my area, tradesmen of all types command very high fees. Forget the $150 an hour plumber. It’s easily more like $300 an hour. I feel like anytime I call a tradesman for any job, it will always cost at least $1000.
I have had some students who have learned trades in the summer so that they always have work to rely on. One was an assistant plumber, the other was an apprentice welder. They both wrote interesting essays about their skills. I suspect admissions officers don’t read a lot of essays like that.
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Very good point
A burner went out on my stove (electric). The repair guy quoted me over the phone (apparently it’s a common problem with this particular brand/model so he didn’t need to see it) and we have truly reached the point where it is cheaper to replace the entire stove than get a certified repair person to come out and fix it.
I think back to my parent’s 27 year old stove (when we sold the house the new owner wanted the repair history) which never had a service call…
Ugh.
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Presumably the problem was not just a bad resistance coil that could be replaced in 5 seconds?
Spouse is VERY handy. Anything that does not require an electrician or plumber’s license-- we do in house. But those glass cooktops with the coils enclosed are very hard to fix on your own!!!