We’ve all heard of the great “gig economy”! But do you know what it really means?
It means that fewer people are working traditional 9-5 desk jobs than ever before. Instead, they’re choosing jobs where they can work from home and choose their own hours, but it often also means worse pay and fewer benefits as well.
Fewer people are going into the trades but that means the “trades” are having to pay higher wages and provide better benefits in order to attract workers.
Why go into debt for years when you could graduate in two (on average)? There’s nothing wrong with a trade career! They’re reliable, pay well, and give you time to be with your loved ones.
If you are considering a trade career, here are some of the most lucrative ones:
HVAC Technician
To be an HVAC technician, you need to have a good mechanical understanding or the willingness to learn. If your favorite unit in elementary school, science was learning about pulleys and machines, then this is a good career for you. No one wants to be too hot or too cold so every house eventually needs some sort of HVAC work done.
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), “Employment of heating, air conditioning, and refrigeration mechanics and installers is projected to grow 13 percent from 2018 to 2028, much faster than the average for all occupations. Commercial and residential building construction is expected to drive employment growth, and job opportunities for HVACR technicians are expected to be good.”
HVAC technicians only go to school for two years, and according to the BLS, the median annual wage for heating, air conditioning, and refrigeration mechanics and installers was $47,610 in May 2018. Plus rather than racking up college debt you can “earn while you learn” as an apprentice.
This trade career comes with benefits, and excellent pay. Learn more about becoming an HVAC technician today!
Home Inspector
If you’ve always been someone that loves getting to the root of a problem or figuring out if there’s a problem in the first place, consider becoming a home inspector.
Home inspectors look at new builds to make sure everything is up to code and that there aren’t any glaring issues. They also come to existing homes, to make sure the person selling the home isn’t purposefully concealing any issues from the buyer. Construction and building inspectors spend considerable time inspecting worksites, alone or as part of a team. Some inspectors may have to climb ladders or crawl in tight spaces. Most work full time during regular business hours.
Employment of construction and building inspectors is projected to grow 7 percent from 2018 to 2028, faster than the average for all occupations. Public interest in safety and the desire to improve the quality of construction should continue to create demand for inspectors. Certified construction and building inspectors who can perform a variety of inspections should have the best job opportunities.
You have to have a head for remembering lots of details, like the names and content of different rules/regulations, so it’s not a job for the non-detail oriented.
According to the BLS, “The median annual wage for construction and building inspectors was $59,700 in May 2018.”
Ultrasonographer or Ultrasound Technician
People make the assumption that ultrasound techs or ultrasonographers, their official title, only do work with people having babies.
That’s not true! While that’s certainly the most glamour sub-set of the job, ultrasounds can be used to look at everything from tumors to muscular injuries.
If you’re looking for a job in the medical field that has a good employment outlook, doesn’t take as much training as nursing, and doesn’t deal with any blood or guts – becoming an ultrasound technician may be for you.
The BLS classifies it as, “Diagnostic Medical Sonographers and Cardiovascular Technologists and Technicians, Including Vascular Technologists” and says they “operate special imaging equipment to create images or to conduct tests… most diagnostic imaging workers are employed in hospitals, while most of the rest worked in physicians’ offices or medical and diagnostic laboratories… require professional certification.”
The median annual wage for cardiovascular technologists and technicians was $56,850 in May 2018.
The median annual wage for diagnostic medical sonographers was $72,510 in May 2018.
Trade Careers
Colleges get more expensive every year and we see less and less return on that investment. That makes trade school seem all the better – with higher wages, lower costs, and a quicker return on your investment.
If you’re trying to decide if college is for you, don’t rule out trade careers!
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