When most people think of top-tier careers, professions like medicine, law, and finance come to mind. Such professions are typically portrayed as the “gold standard,” but people are waking up to the notion that there are other worthy career paths.
Trade careers, such as electricians, plumbers, mechanics, welders, and HVAC technicians, not only offer financial security but also benefits that are arguably better than those associated with more “traditional” white-collar jobs.
Here are five reasons why a trade career can be more desirable than a traditional one.
1. Sooner Entry into the Job Market
Pursuing a trade career usually means fast-tracking your entry into the job market. Most professional careers require a four-year degree. It can take even longer if a white-collar job means pursuing grad school, licensure exams, and internships or residencies. All in all, it could take six to 10 years before a full-time job opportunity becomes a reality.
Trades, however, usually only require a vocational school, apprenticeship, or certification program that can be completed within a relatively short period of time. Many tradespeople earn a good income a year or two after high school.
2. Lower Education Expenses and Lower Debt
Attending a school of higher learning can cost a fortune…and not a small one either. In fact, many people who graduate from college spend many years paying off huge piles of student loan debt. Even someone who graduates from medical or law school–one way to earn a considerable salary–may take decades to repay their student loans.
On the other hand, vocational programs and trade schools cost significantly less. Tuition fees are typically a small percentage of what four-year degrees cost. So, trade workers can usually either avoid taking on student loans or apply for loans of lower sums. Graduates will be able to start saving sooner and achieve significant life milestones—like owning a home or starting a family—without the burden of tackling massive student loans.
3. Robust Demand and Job Stability
Consider all those law school graduates who cannot find employment, or the hordes of professionals with MBAs vying for the same positions in corporate America.
The trades, on the other hand, face a scenario of too few skilled tradespeople for the number of positions available. As older tradespeople retire and fewer and fewer young men and women choose to enter the profession, demand for electricians, welders, and mechanics has grown.
This shortage has a direct correlation with job security. Trade workers can rest assured that their jobs will remain in demand for the foreseeable future. White-collar jobs are often at risk during economic downturns or industry changes. But individuals will always need their homes wired, their cars serviced, and their pipes replaced. That makes trades one of the most recession-proof careers one could think of.
4. Great Pay Without Excessive Delays
While the financial payoff for getting a good white-collar job can be substantial, it usually means excessive delays. There’s nothing wrong with delayed gratification, but there is such a thing as waiting too long. Physicians, for instance, may have to study for nearly a decade before cashing in on a lucrative career.
It’s possible to make six figures in a skilled trades job, and leaving trade school and stepping into a job paying $50,000 or more to start is by no means uncommon. You won’t have to spend way too long in school before you can start earning good money.
Getting a job in the trades isn’t just a good backup plan. It’s a live option for anyone looking for a fulfilling career that doesn’t require drowning in student loan debt. When you consider the benefits of a trade job, you might discover that a white-collar job isn’t all it’s cracked up to be.