Learning a trade can provide the knowledge and confidence to undertake home improvement projects, whether it’s a major project like remodeling your kitchen or minor tasks like replacing light fixtures. Trade jobs perform many of the functions necessary to keep society running, providing an extra layer of job security. Taking a class in home renovation offers numerous benefits, including skill development, the opportunity to become an in-demand tradesperson, and the cost-effectiveness of attending vocational schools or community colleges.
Trade schools offer valuable skills and knowledge, making it easier for individuals to pursue a career in home remodeling and repair. Penn Foster’s Home Repair classes cover various home repair services, from basic blueprint layouts and framework to specialized skills. Many students who graduate from trade school go on to build successful home renovation businesses.
At Penn Foster, students can learn essential renovation skills, such as carpentry, electrical, plumbing, and kitchen and bath remodeling. Additionally, there are free or low-cost online programs available to learn theoretical and practical skills in plumbing, electrical, and carpentry.
Studying home renovation basics will teach trainees the essential skills they need to succeed in the trade industry, such as building, repairing, installing structures and molding, measuring, shaping, and cutting materials, and constructing building foundations. By pursuing a trade school, individuals can gain valuable skills and knowledge that can be applied to their home maintenance careers.
📹 What Trade Job Is Right For Me?
Keep watching to find out which trade is the best to start off in, where I chose to make my mark, and if I could do it all again, would I …
What is the shortest trade to learn?
In 2024, the ten fastest-growing trade jobs include electrician, truck driver, welder, emergency medical technician (EMT), medical assistant, dental assistant, surgical technologist, and phlebotomist. These occupations are of particular importance in healthcare settings for the collection of blood.
What is the quickest trade to learn?
In 2024, the fastest-growing occupations in the field of trade are those of electrician, truck driver, welder, emergency medical technician, medical assistant, dental assistant, surgical technologist, and phlebotomist. These positions are of particular importance in the context of healthcare.
What is the most valuable trade to learn?
The demand for skilled individuals in various trades is increasing due to the shift in the employment landscape. Trade jobs, also known as skilled trades, are professions that don’t require higher degrees and offer lower entry barriers compared to positions that require expensive degrees. These positions can be lucrative and offer benefits and salaries that make them stand up against even the most renowned degrees.
There are various methods to get your first job as a construction manager, elevator mechanic, dental hygienist, ultrasonographer, boilermaker, electrician, plumber, and HVAC technician. By understanding these high-paying trade jobs and how to get them, individuals can secure a successful and profitable career.
What trade makes the most money?
The employment landscape is shifting, with a growing demand for skilled individuals in various trades. The entry barrier is lower than for positions requiring expensive degrees, and many of these positions can be lucrative. People are increasingly seeking the highest-paying trade jobs, as they no longer require years of higher education to have a successful career. Some trade jobs offer benefits and salaries that make them stand up against even the most renowned degrees. To find the highest-paying trade jobs, one must have a professional resume and a strong background in the trade they are applying for.
What is the easiest trade to learn that pays most?
Plumbing is a high-paying trade job that requires a high school diploma and no prior experience, offering a median salary of around $60, 000. The projected job growth is around 2, with most growth due to the need to replace retiring plumbers. Plumbing is physically demanding, with many working on weekends or holidays due to emergency situations. The job involves installing, maintaining, and repairing plumbing systems, including pipes and fixtures. The projected job growth is around 2, reflecting the average market conditions.
What’s the highest-paid trade in construction?
The United States is expected to hire an additional one million construction workers over the next two years due to the pandemic. Construction companies are still short of nearly 240, 000 workers compared to pre-pandemic levels. The best-paid construction jobs include elevator technicians, building inspector/surveyor, electricians, plumbers, equipment operators, masonry workers, building and civil engineers, and construction managers. This is an excellent time to change careers or start a new career path in the industry.
Which trading makes the most money?
Day trading is a trading style where individuals buy and sell financial instruments like stocks, currencies, or commodities on the same trading day. Traders do not hold overnight positions but aim to profit from short-term price movements during the trading session. Day trading is considered one of the most profitable trading methods available to investors. It requires quick decision-making based on real-time market data and the ability to analyze information rapidly.
Which trade is best for beginners?
Swing trading represents an optimal entry point for novice investors, offering a synthesis between the strategies of day trading and long-term investing. This approach permits the maintenance of positions for periods of several days to several weeks, thereby allowing for the analysis of market trends and a more relaxed pace than is typical of day trading.
What age is too late to learn a trade?
Skilled trades are a great career choice for people of all ages and experience levels. There is always a demand for workers in this field, regardless of the economy. Skilled trades jobs often come with excellent benefits such as health insurance, retirement savings plans, and paid vacation days. Advancement opportunities are available, with many starting as apprentices or journeymen and eventually moving up to management positions.
Employers often prefer older workers due to their experience and stability. Whether you’re over 40 or not, there’s no need to worry about starting a career in the skilled trades. Start exploring your options today and explore your options.
Is learning a trade worth it?
Trade jobs offer a steady income source, with salaries consistently equal to or higher than the national average. The demand for skilled trade professionals is high throughout the United States, with construction workers, medical technicians, and other trained individuals in various communities worldwide. As Baby Boomers age and retire, there is a need for Millennial and Z generations to fill open positions.
Trade skills like using specialized equipment, interpreting data, and crafting materials are likely to retain their worth for many years. Trade professionals who are willing to pursue continuing education and train in new technology can enjoy consistent job security.
The accelerated job search process is one of the major benefits of pursuing a trade career. Trade school students can use their professional network to find job openings, while individuals looking for apprenticeships or on-the-job training can find potential employers through word-of-mouth or local job advertisements. A certificate from a trade school acts as a guarantee that an individual can carry out specific duties. If a job applicant is certified or has an associate’s degree in a particular trade, potential employers may hire them based on their qualifications after just one or two interviews.
📹 How To Start In The Skilled Trades | Who Makes The Most Money| THE HANDYMAN |
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I have been an Electrician for 41 years and keep going to work because I love the trade 🙂 I am of course biased, but it is a great trade for all of the reasons that you listed, high demand, great pay, future job security protected by licence, but the really big win for me is that there are many many directions that you can go once you have your electrical ticket, as nearly every aspect of how we live today is automated which needs somebody to install and maintain it. EG. I have 4 sub-trades (for want of a better definition) from my initial Electrical trade, being HVAC tech, Data tech, Fire tech, TV tech…all certifications that I have achieved when I want a change of direction in my working life.
This is some really great advice. I was a critical care dietitian (TPN and tube feeds for patients on ventilators) for 7 years. The medical field burned me out and I ended up hating what I did. I ended up as my wife and Is “general contractor” during our reno. I learned how to do electrical, plumbing, drywall work, tiling, flooring, masonry, and carpentry. Hands down, my favorite work has been the electrical and carpentry work. After thinking about it, I think you are right about the number crunching having something to do with it! Thank you for your help with learning to do most of the things listed up there, Jeff!
I like the idea of carpentry the best, even though my experience there is limited to fake walls (stage work). I’m scared of electricity. Sure, you can waste lumber, or accidentally flood someone’s house and be knee deep of crap’s creek, but “oops accidentally touched the hot wire now I’m dead” is a little too risky for me, haha.
If you like being outside but don’t like being on roofs, siding is also very in high demand! Many pros and cons to choosing a path which involves more outside than inside work, but that’s also something to consider with paint and drywall for example. If you need the fresh air and the sun, something like concrete, or siding are worth considering!
I think the biggest question that doesn’t get talked about in the trades enough is Health, my uncles,my dad etc are busted up,so ask yourself are you willing to be possibly a crippled mess by 50?Look not all trades people end up messed up but the majority do at least in my experience. So to all 20 somethings who are thinking about it,have a back up plan just in case you can’t work anymore.
I remember facing this choice many many years ago now. Do I take a trade and if so what trade? I enjoyed working in construction from a young age, whether it was working on a big site or doing a small job in someone’s home but I couldn’t decide what trade I liked the most. I felt limited so I decided to do basic construction and try to learn as much as I could about all the trades rather than specialise in just one. So I spent the next 30 years learning and doing, the only one I didn’t enjoy was lighting work. But like Jeff says, do what makes you happy…
Whichever you like and enjoy doing. #1 rule of EVERY profession, is that the best way to be successful, is to care about what you are doing enough, to continuously educate yourself over your 40+ year career. Whatever you do, if you are always doing your research about how to make it better, what are the new trends, new products, new best practices, then eventually your customers will notice it, realize you provide better quality than others, and wait in line to get an appointment with you. Also you need to show up on the jobsite with the intention to do a GOOD job, and not just good enough to get paid… Yes, it is easy to do barely good enough job, and still get paid. And putting effort to be better doesn’t pay off immediately, it takes several years to establish. But once the rumors take off that you are actually good, it will pay off. But it can only be done if you enjoy your profession. Software development pays really well with low risk, but if you hate sitting in front of a computer all day, you will give up before you become experienced…
I should have been an electrician. went to vocational school back in the seventies my best friend went into the plumbing trade now a master plumber I went into electronics they were teaching me how to be a TV repairman I did not want to be a TV repairman. So I joined the rock and roll band. Now I’m a sound engineer with no gig thanks covid.
Good advice. I have always heard it said, DO WHAT YOU LOVE AND ENJOY. IF YOU DON’T ENJOY WHAT YOU ARE DOING TO MAKE MONEY THEN YOU ARE PROBABLY NOT WHERE YOU BELONG. Like you said, being able to look back at things that you helped to build is a very rewarding. Can you imagine how those men and women felt over the years of the expansion of North America and Canada, perusal society being built-up by their own hands?
I learned pvc work growing up with family. Learned to use a snake to remove roots from the toilet after paying the plumber 3 times I bought my own. Dug a hole to replace the broken pipes under ground found found a sink hole in my yard. Also found concrete pipe which is my sewer line. Unsure how to merge pvc with concrete and I think I have to get a permanent the 2 holes took me 1 hour a piece. I’m stumped family is clueless I’m paying a plumber to deal with the city and the digging machine. 😅😭
Interesting. My son is 17, finished up grade 12 late April and because he had done a construction co-op thru school and had some connections, he’s landed himself a full time job as a first year HVAC apprentice working at a new apartment build. I think there are a lot of great opportunities out there for the young kids interested in working in the trades.
I really dont want to do this but I’m thinking of just getting a cdl like my dad trucking brings in money and my dad has made 75k a year for the past 5 years compared to the 24k he was making while in a car part factory I just want financial stability when I finally go to work even though I’m only 16
I’m 33 years old, got into Automotive in my early 20’s. I’ve been through the grinder and just finally got my license 2 years ago before being laid off last year. I’m currently unemployed and don’t know if I want to get back into Automotive. I have a real passion for carpentry (finish, cabinetry making) and general renovation work (electrical, drywalling). Don’t know where to go, what to do or if I’m too old to learn something new.
Man, I love you! You’re so good at explaining things and at putting them into perspective! You must be such a great dad! Your kid’s lucky! (I only know of one kid of yours, the boy – well lol, a bit too old to be a boy, though you catch my drift! lol) And you do it all with a smile on your face and a joke up your sleeve! 👌😆😆😆
Awesome article! I learned alot! Anyways I choose either Electrician and/or Welding. But ‘coming in’ at number one: Plumbing: Who doesn’t like to fix the pipes and drainage lines of that hopeless, helpless poor woman who’s husband has recently passed, and is now broke and had to sell all his tools to help pay the mortgage? It’s such a rewarding feeling to help those who are unable to help themselves.
Jeff: As a Mechanical Contractor – the best and hardest techs to find are Refrigeration techs. Can’t buy anything for an A/C unit at Home Depot or Lowes – no DIY when it comes to refrigeration. Mostly in Commercial applications – and not a big part of home renovation. But, if you can handle the math – it’s the only protected trade (in Manitoba). High demand, sometimes ugly working conditions but, virtually unlimited earning potential. Too bad I’m near the end of my working days and just run the office now.
7 years in a white collar job, single, undergrad. Pay is fine for a single dude with no responsibilities, got good benefits and physically not as demanding as blue collar work. However, it’s soul killing. I’ve seen people die working their lives in a cubicle, I don’t want or see myself growing old in this kind of life. I’m not a handy man but my father was (I wished I spent more time with him when he was working). I’m looking into risking it all and go into trades, I have nothing to lose but to which one. I don’t understand electricity and wirings, have no idea about tools lol however I am good at following and understanding manuals. Which trade is easy to start with? Or is it too late and just continue in what I do and sit in an office?
I worked in construction for 34 years, the first 18 was in drywall hanging rock and finishing, mostly in commercial. Then i was a project manager for 8 years then construction manager for 4 years and finally owned my own business for 8 years until my lower back got so bad i had to be put on disability. I loved getting things done and being able to help others, I’ve got so much stuff i don’t know if I’ll ever be able to get rid of it all
I am retired. I went to trade school to drive big rigs. Drove a bus for a while then got into a white collar profession. After retirement, I like DIY projects but electrical is my favourite except low receptacles (bad knees). I also enjoy carpentry. Do not like plumbing but have considered taking a basic course for my own piece of mind. Stay safe.
Im 26, From the UK, Work as what would be known in the US as a school maintenance worker, First job was a cleaner but always helped the site manager do things from painting, elec, flooring. you name it. after he left i assume i left a good impression on the head teacher to the point she came up to me asking if i would want to take on the spot as the site manager ( school maintenance worker), So i did. its been 2 years later now and iv learned though nothing but experience about Drywalling, Framing, Elec, Plumbing, Heating, Roofing, Painting pretty much anything that can go wrong in a building. The thing is i was young and dumb and dropped out of school at 16 with no education. Now looking to getting some sort of education to learn a trade. i find it more fun when working with power tools and seeing things i make come to life like wood working and dry walling seem like a fun way to go. still thinking about it but at the same time dont want to waste any more time.
There was a welding program at my highschool. It felt like the first glimpse of hope for a life that my restless, more athletic self could do well at. I didn’t do it. I was busy, it was an hour’s drive away, I am female and I’d be alone. All reasonable concerns, but years later and having dropped out of uni, I can only wonder what opportunity could’ve happened.
This is an unrelated question to the article, but what are the risks to report or do you report kitchen or interior non-structural changes of your home to the City Hall? I just had a call with an agent because I couldn’t find any related permit for the job on the official website, but the agent told me in a weird tone: “eehh.. normally there isn’t a permit, but make your request online tho to approve and analyze your renovation”…. makes me wonder I’d pay for something that I may not need to pay, however I believe that they will rate my house value for more going from HDF to Solid Wood, but it may increase my taxes too. I am really new as a home owner. I would take your non-legal opinions in consideration for sure. Thank you.
Probably a dumb question but I’ve watched just about every article you have on installing tile and waterproofing a shower. I have a bathroom with a cast iron tub (just the tub no shower. it’s attached to the wall not free standing) would I be able to get away with applying a roll on waterproof membrane over the plaster, then tiling? Or should I install cement board, roll on membrane, then tile?
If you want to work on industrial sites like power generation, oil and gas, pulp and paper, mills, etc, take up welding. There’s a bunch of complimentary trades that having your welding ticket will allow you to work towards later while making good money. Boilermaking, pipefitting, ironworking or steel fabricating all become much more approachable and lucrative with a welding ticket in your back pocket!