According to the United States Census, 55.6 percent of Americans completed some college in 2009, with 38.5 percent holding associate degrees or bachelor’s degrees. This means that more than 60 percent of Americans do not have a college degree, but most of them still have jobs and careers. Although they don’t require a college degree, these jobs are known as trades and they are important drivers of the American economy. Trades are not learned through traditional universities, but still require a thorough education and training -often even an apprenticeship- to master.
* Aircraft/Avionics
* Automotive/Machinery Mechanics
* Construction Trades, General
* Carpentry
* Electrical and Power Transmission Installation
* Health and Physical Education/Fitness
* Personal Awareness and Self-Improvement
* Plumbing
Trades and careers degree programs teach students invaluable skills that are essential to on-the-job work. Many of the following skills acquired through training are also helpful outside of the workplace, serving individuals well in other areas of life:
* Ability to use logic and reasoning to navigate dilemmas
* Ability to work with your hands, sometimes leveraging technical skills
* Communication methods to deliver your message to customers or peers
* Practical skills that can be applied to many different scenarios
Students who earn a trades and careers degree have Aa Depending on their focus, a variety of professions are available to students who earn a trade and careers degree., for them depending on their majors. The major they choose determines what career they will have, as the training is strictly geared towards the topic of study chosen.
Fortunately, individuals who go down this career path have some high-paying job options available. The following represents a few of the most lucrative areas of study: avionics/aircraft, boiler making, construction management, and large machinery operation.
The below figures, provided by tradeschools.net, illustrates the earning potential for the trades.
* Aircraft Mechanic – $30.07
* Avionics Technician – $30.60
* Boilermaker – $30.30
* Construction Manager – $48.56
* Electrician – $27.84
* Automotive Mechanic – $20.51
* Diesel Mechanic – $23.08
* Industry Machinery/Mobile-Heavy Equipment Mechanic – $25.55/$25.18
* Pile-driver Operator – $30.66
* Plumber – $27.44
Brick Masonry, HVAC work, commercial driving, and more are also high-paying trades. Earning potential aside, trade careers are rewarding because they focus on helping other individuals and businesses. Choosing a trade should come down to finding work that brings you a lifetime of satisfaction.