Electricians install, maintain, and repair electrical wiring, equipment, and fixtures in buildings. They connect wires to circuit breakers, outlets, and lighting systems, and use test instruments to troubleshoot power issues.
Key Duties:
- Install wiring and electrical panels
- Identify and repair faulty components
- Replace outlets, switches, and fixtures
Training & Certification:
- Trade school or apprenticeship program (optional)
- Informal apprenticeship is also acceptable as long as you keep track of hours
- Pass a licensing exam to become a journeyman electrician after 4-5 years of experience
- Check state requirements for details
Apprenticeship:
- Widely available through labor unions (e.g. IBEW/NECA) or trade associations (IEC,ABC). Apprenticeships combine paid on-the-job training and ~576–1,000 classroom hours per year (8,000–10,000 total job hours). Apprentices earn a wage while learning and graduate debt-free.
Salary Range:
- About $50k–$80k per year (median ~$60k).
- However other sites, like Glassdoor, say that the median is $112k.
Job Outlook:
- +11% growth (2023–33), much faster than average, driven by new construction and wiring upgrades.
Work Environment:
- Work indoors and outdoors in homes, offices, factories, and on construction sites. Work is often full-time with overtime; requires climbing ladders, bending into crawl spaces, and use of safety. Electricians face shock and burn hazards and must follow strict safety precautions.
Pros & Cons:
- Pros: High demand and good pay; learn a portable, valuable skill; apprenticeships pay as you learn; opportunities to join a union or start your own business.
- Cons: Physically demanding (lifting, climbing); risk of injury (electrical shock, falls); irregular hours (on-call for emergencies); must keep up with changing building codes.
Path to Entry:
- Finish high school (focus on math, physics, shop classes).
- Optional: Complete a pre-apprenticeship program or trade school courses in electrical
- Apply for an electrician apprenticeship (union or contractor program).
- Work 4–5 years as an apprentice (paid OJT + classroom training).
- Pass the journeyman electrician exam (state licensing exam).
- Work as a licensed electrician; after 2–3 years, take the master electrician exam for full.
Career Advancement:
- Become a master electrician (Self-employed master electricians can earn a wider range of salaries, with some earning over $120,000 annually) or contractor; specialize (e.g. industrial controls, solar PV, fiber optics); move into supervisory roles, electrical estimating, or teaching; own an electrical contracting business.
Recommended Resources:
- IBEW/NECA Apprenticeship: Joint training centers (e.g. IBEW Local 743) offer 4–5 year paid
- Independent Electrical Contractors (IEC): Industry group providing DOL-approved apprenticeships (“Earn While You Learn”).
- ABC (Associated Builders & Contractors): Non-union apprenticeship and training
- NCCER: Standardized electrical curriculum and
Video Resource: “How to Become an Electrician” (Mike’s Tool Shed on YouTube).
Carpenters build and repair building frameworks and structures made of wood and other materials. They work on projects from commercial buildings to houses, installing walls, floors, and roofs.
Key Duties:
- Build frameworks such as walls and roofs and install the essentials from windows to cabinets or even custom wood beams.
- Plan out the houses or buildings before framing
- Repair or replace broken furniture and old features. (aka remolding)
Training & Certification:
- Carpentry courses at a trade school or community college(optional)
- Complete a formal carpenter’s apprenticeship
- Informal apprenticeship is usually the way to go
Apprenticeship:
- The United Brotherhood of Carpenters and Joiners and various JATCs offer paid 3–4 year apprenticeships combining classroom and on-the-job training. Apprentices earn money while learning safety, tool use, and framing techniques.
Salary Range:
- About $40k–$70k per year (median ~$59k).
- However other sites, like Glassdoor, say that the median is $76k.
Job Outlook:
- +4% growth (2023–33) (about as fast as average). Demand comes from residential/ commercial construction and repairs.
Work Environment:
- Mostly on construction sites (indoors or outdoors), or remodeling jobs. Carpenters often work at heights (on roofs or scaffolds) anduse power tools and nail Work is physically active; overtime may be required to meet project deadlines.
Pros & Cons:
- Pros: Tangible results (build and see structures take shape); a variety of projects; opportunities in remodeling or specialized carpentry; a straightforward path to becoming a contractor.
- Cons: Hard physical labor (lifting lumber, bending, climbing); weather exposure on outdoor sites; safety risks (nails, saws, heights); cyclical demand (slowdowns in bad economy).
Path to Entry:
- Finish high school (focus on math, physics, shop classes).
- Optional: Complete a pre-apprenticeship program or trade school courses in carpentry
- Work 3–5 years as an apprentice
Career Advancement:
- When your boss sees you ready, get promoted to a leadership position
- Eventually might start ones own business
Recommended Resources:
- United Brotherhood of Carpenters (UBC): International union training centers (Carpenters International Training Fund).
- NCCER Carpentry Curriculum: Standardized training
- Trade Schools: Technical colleges offering carpentry programs (many have union ties).
Video Resource: “A Day in the Life of a Carpenter” (trade school channels on YouTube).
Plumbers install and repair pipes and fixtures that carry water, sewage, and gas in homes and businesses. They connect plumbing to appliances (water heaters, dishwashers) and work on drainage and waste systems.
Key Duties:
- Install plumbing fixtures, appliances, and pipe connections
- Lay out pipe systems from blueprints
- Repair or clean out old pipes
Training & Certification:
- Vocational plumbing courses (optional)
- Complete a plumber’s apprenticeship (informal and formal)
- Obtain a state plumber’s license or certification (required in most states)
Apprenticeship:
- Offered by plumbing unions (United Association of Plumbers & Pipefitters) and trade groups. Apprenticeships are paid (2,000+ OJT hours/year plus ~216 classroom hours/year) and tuition-free. They teach plumbing codes, safety, math, and hands-on pipe work.
Salary Range:
- About $50k–$80k per year (median ~$60k).
- However other sites, like Glassdoor, say that the median is $92k.
Job Outlook:
- +6% growth (2023–33), about as fast as average, driven by construction and infrastructure.
Work Environment:
- Work inside and outside; job sites include homes, restaurants, factories, and utilities. Tasks involve heavy lifting, working in tight or dirty spaces, and exposure to water and waste. Often on call for emergency repairs (e.g., burst pipes).
Pros & Cons:
- Pros: Reliable demand (everyone needs plumbing); well-paid skilled trade; apprenticeship pays on- the-job; many plumbers start their own business.
- Cons: Physically hard work (heavy tools and pipes); wet/messy conditions (sewer lines, drains); irregular hours (emergencies, on-call); work in cramped or awkward positions.
Path to Entry:
- Finish high school (focus on math, physics, shop classes).
- Optional: Complete a pre-apprenticeship program or trade school courses in electrical
- Apply for a plumbing apprenticeship (formal or informal)
- Work 4–5 years as an apprentice
- Pass the journeyman plumber’s exam (state licensing exam).
Career Advancement:
- Master plumber or plumbing contractor; specialties like steam fitting or sprinkler systems; supervisor or inspector (plumbing code enforcement); vocational instructor.
Recommended Resources:
- United Association (UA) Apprenticeship: Union program with paid training and free college
- NCCER Plumbing Training: Industry-standard
- Local Trade Schools & Community Colleges: Certificate/degree plumbing
Video Resource: “How to Become a Plumber” guides on
HVAC (Heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning) technicians install and service heating and cooling systems in homes and buildings. Theyset up furnaces, air conditioners, heat pumps, and refrigeration units, then test and adjust them for proper performance.
Key Duties:
- Install HVAC units and ductwork
- Wire controls and thermostats
- Replace and repair any problems with HVAC units and appliances
Training & Certification:
- Complete an HVAC or refrigeration program
- Informal apprenticeship is also acceptable as long as you keep track of hours
- Obtain EPA Section 608 certification (required for handling refrigerants)
- Some states require HVAC contractors to be licensed
Apprenticeship:
- Many enter through 3–5 year apprenticeships (often with the Sheet Metal Workers or HVAC unions) that include paid OJT and classroom instruction. Apprenticeships cover safety, codes, tool use, and plumbing/electricalbasics. Manufacturers (e.g. HVAC companies) also offer training programs.
Salary Range:
- About $45k–$75k per year (median ~$59,810).
- Service Titan gives a great table for HVAC salaries in each state
Job Outlook:
- +9% growth (2023–33) , much faster than average, as new buildings and energy- efficient systems drive demand.
Work Environment:
- Work in homes, commercial buildings, and industrial settings (often indoors). Tasks involve heavy equipment (lifting units),working in tight spaces (attics, crawlspaces), and on Installations may expose technicians to hot or cold environments; safetygear (gloves, goggles) is required. Shifts are typically full-time; emergencies (broken AC in summer) can mean overtime.
Pros & Cons:
- Pros: Strong demand (climate control is essential); good pay and benefits (often unionized); mix of indoor and outdoor work; advancement to systems design or engineering
- Cons: Physically strenuous (lifting heavy units, overhead work on roofs); work in confined or dirty areas; exposure to refrigerants (requires EPA certification); must adapt to rapidly changing technologies (green energy, smart thermostats).
Path to Entry:
- Complete high school (study physics, algebra, electronics if available).
- Attend a technical HVACR program or apprenticeship
- Earn EPA Section 608 Certification (required by federal law). Consider other credentials (e.g. NATE certification, HVAC Excellence).
- Get on-the-job training (many employers combine new hires with manufacturer training).
- Pass any state HVAC licensing exam (if required in your region).
Career Advancement:
- HVAC contractor or business owner; specialize in systems (industrial HVAC, green technology); become a service manager, HVAC designer, or energy auditor; teach HVAC
Recommended Resources:
- EPA Section 608 Certification: Federal requirement for refrigerant handling.
- North American Technician Excellence (NATE): Industry certification for HVAC
- HVAC Trade Schools: g. Lincoln Tech, HVAC Excellence-accredited colleges.
- Sheet Metal Workers Union: Offers HVAC apprenticeships (e.g. SM Local 104).
Video Resource: “HVAC Technician Career Overview” (technical school channels on YouTube).