Article language: English
Why Choosing a Trade Over College Can Be a Smart Move
Paid training, useful skills, and a path to good pay. A practical look at choosing a trade, with electrician, plumbing, and cable technician wage figures.
College gets talked about like its the next step for everybody. Finish high school, pick a degree, figure the rest out later. But spending years and a lot of money on a path you aren't sure about is a big decision.
I work in aerial maintenance. Skilled work means something to me, and I think more young people should hear about it before deciding what comes next. Learning a trade can give you a paycheck, useful skills, and a way to build a good life.
You can earn while you learn
Registered apprenticeships pay you while you train, with raises as you build your skills. You still have classes and plenty to learn. But you can start earning before you've finished your training. [1]
That can mean less borrowing, depending on the program. Ask about tuition, tools, travel, and starting pay before signing up. Trade school and an employer-paid apprenticeship can have very different costs.
People need the work done
A broken water line needs a plumber. Damaged wiring needs an electrician. Cable and fiber networks need technicians who can find a fault and fix it. A lot of that work requires someone to show up with tools and know what they're doing.
The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics projects electrician jobs to grow 9% and plumbing and pipefitting jobs 7% from 2025 to 2035. Telecom jobs are projected to fall 3%, though about 20,300 replacement openings are expected each year. Essential work still changes with technology. [2–4]
A degree does not guarantee a secure job
Some degree-based jobs are shrinking. Computer programmer jobs, for example, are projected to fall 7% by 2035, partly because of automation. That doesn't mean every computer career is disappearing. The broader computer occupations group is projected to grow. [5]
Look at the actual career you're considering, what it costs to enter, and the jobs near you. College can be the right choice. A trade deserves the same serious look.
What you can earn as your skills grow
These are U.S. annual wages from May 2025. Median means half earned more and half earned less. All amounts are in U.S. dollars. [2–4]
| Trade | Median pay | Top 10% earned above |
|---|---|---|
| Electricians | $63,190 | $108,510 |
| Plumbers, pipefitters, and steamfitters | $63,800 | $108,420 |
| Telecommunications technicians | $66,200 | $100,730 |
Those figures cover different experience levels. They aren't a promise of what you'll make after getting licensed, or a separate salary survey of journeymen.
For a real journeyman example, Buffalo's IBEW Local 41 lists $47.50 an hour plus employer-paid benefits. That works out to $98,800 before taxes at 40 hours a week for 52 weeks. That's assuming steady work all year, with no overtime. [6]
Electricians and plumbers can earn more as they complete training and take on harder work. The route to a license depends on where you live. Cable and fiber technicians often advance through employer training and specialized skills instead. Check local pay rates and requirements. [2–4]
Be honest about the hard parts
Early starts. Bad weather. Work that leaves you tired. Some jobs bring real injury risks, and construction can have slow periods. Ask workers what an ordinary week is like, how steady the hours are, and what benefits they get. A big hourly rate only tells you part of the story.
You may want your own business one day
Once you know the work, running a business may be an option. You'll need to learn pricing, handle customers, and meet the rules for your trade. Being good with tools is a start. Running the business takes practice too.
That's where Shookio fits. It helps small service businesses organize booking requests, jobs, schedules, and their team. So when the work grows, you've got a place to keep it organized.
Before you commit to a school or program, call a local apprenticeship office and a few employers. Ask what they pay beginners and fully trained workers. Ask what training costs. Theres a lot you can learn from one honest conversation with somebody doing the job.
Sources
U.S. figures. Sources checked September 30, 2026.
