Tricks of the Trade
by Robyn Tellefsen
There's never been a better time to learn a trade, now that employers are increasingly demanding specialization from their employees. And with education from trade schools, you won't need any tricks up your sleeve to succeed. See for yourself with the following trade career tidbits, complete with salary and employment figures from the Bureau of Labor Statistics 2006-2007 Occupational Outlook Handbook.
Consider a career in electricity. In this trade, you'll install, connect, test, and maintain electrical systems for purposes such as climate control, security, and communications. To install and maintain electrical systems, you'll need knowledge acquired at trade schools along with manual skill. Electricians held about 656,000 jobs in 2004, with nearly two-thirds employed in the construction industry. Median hourly earnings in these trade careers were $20.33, with the highest 10 percent of electricians earning more than $33.63.
Is HVAC up your alley? In these trade careers, you'll install, maintain, and repair heating, ventilation, and air conditioning systems. Training from trade schools is essential, since you'll be the one controlling the temperature, humidity, and total air quality in buildings. HVAC technicians held about 270,000 trade jobs in 2004, with median hourly earnings of $17.43, and the top 10 percent over $27.11.
Auto body technology is another way to go. With training from trade schools, you'll acquire skills to work on large trucks, buses, and tractor trailers, or cars and small trucks. This trade involves straightening bent auto bodies, removing dents, and replacing crumpled parts. Professionals with these trade careers held about 223,000 jobs in 2004, with median hourly earnings of $16.68, and the highest 10 percent earning more than $28.45.
You might also consider trade careers in welding. In the welding trade, you'll learn to apply heat to metal pieces, melting and fusing them to form a permanent bond for manufacturing activities such as shipbuilding, car manufacturing and repair, and construction. These graduates of trade schools held about 429,000 jobs in 2004, with median hourly earnings of $14.72, and the top 10 percent over $22.20.
Does electrical engineering spark your interest? In this skilled trade, you'll design, develop, test, and manufacture electrical equipment; radar, industrial, and medical monitoring or control devices; navigational equipment; and computers. Don't worry -- trade schools will teach you everything you need to know to succeed. Electrical engineering technicians held 182,000 jobs in 2004; median annual earnings in these trade careers were $46,310, and the highest 10 percent earned more than $67,900.
Take charge of your career in trade today.
Consider a career in electricity. In this trade, you'll install, connect, test, and maintain electrical systems for purposes such as climate control, security, and communications. To install and maintain electrical systems, you'll need knowledge acquired at trade schools along with manual skill. Electricians held about 656,000 jobs in 2004, with nearly two-thirds employed in the construction industry. Median hourly earnings in these trade careers were $20.33, with the highest 10 percent of electricians earning more than $33.63.
Is HVAC up your alley? In these trade careers, you'll install, maintain, and repair heating, ventilation, and air conditioning systems. Training from trade schools is essential, since you'll be the one controlling the temperature, humidity, and total air quality in buildings. HVAC technicians held about 270,000 trade jobs in 2004, with median hourly earnings of $17.43, and the top 10 percent over $27.11.
Auto body technology is another way to go. With training from trade schools, you'll acquire skills to work on large trucks, buses, and tractor trailers, or cars and small trucks. This trade involves straightening bent auto bodies, removing dents, and replacing crumpled parts. Professionals with these trade careers held about 223,000 jobs in 2004, with median hourly earnings of $16.68, and the highest 10 percent earning more than $28.45.
You might also consider trade careers in welding. In the welding trade, you'll learn to apply heat to metal pieces, melting and fusing them to form a permanent bond for manufacturing activities such as shipbuilding, car manufacturing and repair, and construction. These graduates of trade schools held about 429,000 jobs in 2004, with median hourly earnings of $14.72, and the top 10 percent over $22.20.
Does electrical engineering spark your interest? In this skilled trade, you'll design, develop, test, and manufacture electrical equipment; radar, industrial, and medical monitoring or control devices; navigational equipment; and computers. Don't worry -- trade schools will teach you everything you need to know to succeed. Electrical engineering technicians held 182,000 jobs in 2004; median annual earnings in these trade careers were $46,310, and the highest 10 percent earned more than $67,900.
Take charge of your career in trade today.
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