The 6 Best Jobs for Trade School Graduates - CET

If you’re searching for a new career, finding training or education can be crucial to your success. 

Over the past few years, the job market has changed dramatically, requiring many to find some kind of certification or secondary degree to find gainful employment in a position that pays over $35,000 annually. These jobs are fewer and farther between. 

But not everyone is interested in attending a four-year university or managing the debt that comes with a pricey college education.

The solution? A quality, affordable trade school education, where many programs are completed in around six to nine months. But which of these jobs have the most promise? Let’s take a look:

1. Electrician

Electricians inspect, test, repair, install and modify electrical components and systems in homes, businesses, and construction sites. As more aging electricians retire, the job outlook is not only very promising but also makes for a high paycheck as well. 

The National Electrical Contractors Association says that 7,000 electricians join the industry each year, but 10,000 or more retire, making for a shortage that benefits job seekers.

To work as an electrician, there is a long apprenticeship—four years—followed by a licensure exam, but the good news is this training time still comes with a paycheck.

• Average anual pay: $56,180 in 2019.
• Job outlook, 2019 to 2029: 8% expected growth, which is much faster than average.

2. Plumber

Plumbers install and repair pipes that supply water and gas to homes and businesses and carry waste away from these structures. Plumbers are also responsible for installing plumbing fixtures like bathtubs, showers, sinks, toilets, and appliances like dishwashers and washing machines. 

Over half of America’s skilled tradespeople are nearing retirement, including plumbers. However, the need for plumbers is not something that will go away. After completing a trade program in plumbing, new plumbers complete an apprenticeship alongside more experienced plumbers. 

• Average annual pay: $55,160 in 2019.
• Job outlook, 2019 to 2029: 14% expected growth, which is much faster than average.

3. HVAC Technician

Again, as baby boomers age into retirement, the HVAC industry is set to see quite a few job openings. In fact, it’s expected that we will see 100,000 HVAC technician jobs open up by 2023. HVAC technicians install, maintain and repair heating, ventilation, air conditioning, and refrigeration systems that control both interior temperature and air quality.

As an added bonus? HVAC technicians who are trained in green HVAC technology are seeing an increase in job demand as well, thanks to a push for eco-friendly building practices. 

• Average annual pay: $48,730 in 2019.
• Job outlook, 2019 to 2029: 13% expected growth, which is much faster than average.

4. Computer Support Specialist

Computer support specialists help technology users who have issues with software, computers, or other devices like printers and scanners. Some computer support specialists may work by assisting a company’s customers, and others provide in-house assistance to a particular organization’s employees. They may also test and evaluate existing network systems and don’t always have to work a traditional 9-to-5 schedule. 

In the computer support field, specialists may work in a variety of industries, sometimes working from home and sometimes traveling to clients’ offices. As more and more companies and individuals opt to work from home, this is an increasingly appealing consideration. 

• Average annual pay: $54,760 in 2018.
• Job outlook, 2018 to 2028: 10% expected growth, which is much faster than average.

5. Physical Therapy Assistants

Physical therapists are often supported by the work of physical therapy assistants, who work with patients who have difficulties with movement that are caused by injury, disease, or age. Physical therapy assistants help with therapies that are tailored to each patient to improve mobility, relieve pain, and prevent or limit permanent physical disability. Physical therapy assistants also help patients by promoting overall wellness. 

Job growth in this field results from an aging population and medical advancements. As baby boomers enter the age range in which their mobility can start to be affected, they’ll seek help from physical therapists and their assistants to stay physically active. 

• Average annual pay: $57,430 in 2017.
• Job outlook, between now and 2026: 29-31% expected growth, which is much faster than average.

6. Solar Photovoltaic Panel Installers

Solar photovoltaic installers assemble, set up, and maintain rooftop solar panels and other solar panel systems that convert sunlight into energy for electricity. Many pair their training to install solar panels with other green building construction skills to round out their education.

With a boom in clean energy really beginning to take off plus an increasing number of tax credits and other incentives and the decline in cost for solar panels, it’s clear that solar panel installers are set to see a major rise in job demand. 

• Average annual pay: $44,890 in 2019.
• Job outlook, 2019 and 2029: 51% expected growth, which is much faster than average.

Interested in any of these careers or others from our long list of program offerings? The Center for Employment Training is proud to support our students in their journey to a bright future in a fulfilling career. 

Want to learn more about these or other programs? Contact us today!