Trade schools are often ignored because they don’t fit into the typical college route most young people are encouraged to take. These individuals are usually unaware of the other options for their educative experience.
Attending a trade school is a completely viable option, but this choice is often overlooked because a typical university is considered the gateway to higher earnings and greater opportunities when that’s not necessarily the case.
A trade school can give you equally lucrative options for earning as well as growth opportunities, just in a different manner than a university. So, it’s important to explore all your options when looking at continuing or just beginning your career, whether in work or education.
Reasons to Pursue a Skilled Trade Career and Education
1. Price
Typically, trade schools are cheaper than regular colleges or universities.
In Indiana, trade schools generally cost around $5,000 to $15,000 for an entire program.¹ College tuition, however, is around $18,000 for just one year.² It would be in your best interests to avoid potential student debt by choosing a more financially feasible option.
While starting salaries for college graduates are usually higher than those who attended a trade school, trade school graduates finish with much less debt, which in turn creates a higher return on the investment in your education. You can quickly work your way up after finishing your trade school education and potentially end up making more money than your college graduate counterparts.
2. Salary
A person with a trade school degree will have an average entry-level salary of around $48,000 on average after completing their education.³ There are also several trade careers that can pay over $70,000 without a degree.
A person with an traditional undergraduate degree would have an entry-level salary averaging around $40,000. Of course, depending on the field, you could always make more or less than average. While no educational path can guarantee the average starting salary for that field, a career in a skilled trade can offer a similar starting salary to a college graduate with significantly less debt.
3. Opportunity
There is a huge variety of job opportunities branching from a trade school education, from being a Diagnostic Medical Sonographer to an Elevator Installer.
These various job salaries range from around $50,000 to almost $90,000 a year.⁴ While some of these working opportunities are contract work, they still offer many chances for financial success. It’s important to find a job that pays well and is in high demand.
For example, you could be a software developer. While this position typically does require a collegiate degree in computer science or another related field, it is possible for you to get this job from a trade school as well. So, it’s not an option to be ignored. You could also be a construction manager, making you almost $100,000 annually.⁵ There are so many options for you to find work in virtually any field, as long as you put in the work to get there after completing a trade school education.
4. Security & Value
A professional tradesman will always be in high-demand. With a trade school education, there is lasting job security and satisfaction.
Because many programs include apprenticeships within the curriculum, you’ve basically guaranteed yourself a job after you’re finished with school. With an apprenticeship, you can avoid the daunting and tedious job hunt after you’ve completed your education.
Also, there is currently a shortage of skilled jobs and many employers are looking for manual laborers or skilled workers. If you pursue a skilled trade, you can secure a position quickly and easily due to the educative programs themselves and the high demand for workers.
Not only this, a trades education and career give individuals enriching value because of the positive job satisfaction and work-life balance it offers.
With all these benefits in mind, how might one start?
Trade school is a completely viable option, but you can also still find work with just a high school diploma. There are also community college options, associate degrees, or certifications available in your desired field.
The point is—a typical university education is not your only option for gaining the skills needed to work. You can also find an apprenticeship, which is usually included in a trade school education but can be found separately. Apprenticeships help you gain invaluable work experience, but what exactly do they entail?
The Progression of a Tradesman
An apprenticeship is to a trade school as an internship is to a university. If you’re also enrolled in a trade school, you can gain work experience while taking classes to fully enrich your understanding of the work you want to get into. Of course, you can find an apprenticeship without being enrolled in school; you should ask around and see what’s available around you.
There are different levels of an apprenticeship, from beginner to mastery, and the more experience and knowledge you gain, the more money you will make.
Apprentice
The first phase of an apprenticeship is beginner-level. You start by working under a master in your desired field and learn all the basics of your craft. One learns best by imitation after all, regardless of the field of work.
To be an apprentice, it’s important to find someone who knows the ins-and-outs of their work, you feel you can learn from, and can solve problems quickly and easily. This master may also be certified and educated in their field and once worked as an apprentice themself.
Journeyman
After you’ve worked as an apprentice, you can become a journeyman, which is equivalent to an intermediate level. By this point, you will have had substantial knowledge gained in your field of work and can function without the help of a master. However, you may not be completely fluent in every niche of your work and may still have some secrets of the trade to learn.
Master
The final stage of your work experience is when you become a master of your craft. This means that you are a certified professional, know every detail of your trade, and can complete any job with ease. By this point, you will most likely have received one of the various certificates to prove your worthiness as a tradesman.
With a lot of hard work, time, and effort, you too can become certified, knowledgeable, and skilled in your desired field. So, knowing that regular college is not the only option, considering entering a trade through a trade school or other means may be the choice for you.
Did you know that Maintenance Management is always on the lookout for talented Maintenance Technicians to join our team?
What makes working at Maintenance Management different is we offer apprenticeships and the valuable guidance you need to succeed in an enriching trade career. With some of our technicians being in the industry for 10+ years, Maintenance Management offers credible training and mentorship opportunities.
Visit our Careers page to learn more about available positions, or email us at [email protected] to find out how we can help you with a rewarding trade career full of exciting opportunities.
