The future of work is changing, and with it, the skilled trades careers that are in demand.
If you’re looking for a career that is interesting, challenging and has plenty of opportunity for growth, then you should consider a skilled trade.
In this blog post, we will discuss 69+ skilled trades careers that are in high demand right now!
So whether you’re just starting out in your career or you’re looking to switch gears, this list has something for everyone!
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What Exactly is a Skilled Trade?
A skilled trade is a type of job that requires a specific set of skills and knowledge.
Skilled trades are often physical jobs that require training and experience to do them well.
Some examples of skilled trades careers include electricians, plumbers, carpenters, welders, and mechanics.
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List Of Skilled Trade Jobs: Best 69+ Careers To Consider
Many of the trades on this list need some training, a technical program, and time as an apprentice to be successful. However, none require a four-year degree.
Agriculture Skilled Trade Careers
There are many agricultural careers to consider if you are passionate about working outdoors and with animals.
- Animal husbandry is a career that involves caring for animals, often on a farm.
- Farmers are responsible for growing crops and raising livestock.
- Farriers care for horses, trimming their hooves and fitting them with shoes as needed.
- Logging workers harvest trees for lumber.
- Professional fishermen catch fish for consumption or sale.
- Ranchers raise cattle for meat or dairy products.
- Tree fallers cut down trees using axes or saws.
- Tree trimmers and pruners climb trees to remove dead branches or shape the tree.
Each of these careers offers a unique opportunity to work in the agricultural industry and make a difference in the world.
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Construction skilled trade careers
If you’re interested in a career in construction, there are many skilled trades you can pursue.
- Boilermakers fabricate, install, and repair boilers, tanks, and vats.
- Carpenters build and repair wooden structures such as floors, walls, stairs, and framing.
- Cement and Concrete finishers smooth and finish surfaces made of concrete.
- Electricians install and maintain electrical power systems.
- Emergency management professionals plan for and coordinate responses to disasters.
- Glaziers install glass in windows, doors, and other spaces.
- HVAC technicians install and maintain heating, ventilation, air conditioning, and refrigeration systems.
- Insulation workers install materials that prevent heat loss or gain.
- Ironworkers erect steel beams and columns to support buildings.
- Masonry workers lay bricks, stones, and other materials to build walls and other structures.
- Painters apply paint, varnish, stain, wallpaper, and other finishes to walls and other surfaces.
- Pipefitters/steamfitters install piping systems that carry liquids or gases.
- Plumbers install plumbing fixtures such as toilets, sinks, faucets, tubs, showers, pipes, and sewers.
- Roofers install shingles, tiles, metal, or other materials to make roofs waterproof.
- Sheet metal workers fabricate and install metal products such as ductwork and roofing.
Food skilled trade careers
Food skilled trade careers are varied and interesting. If you like to work with food in some way, consider a career as a bartender, butcher, cook, food service manager, private chef, or waiter/waitress.
- Bartenders mix drinks and serve them to customers.
- Butchers cut up meat and poultry for sale in grocery stores or meat markets.
- Cooks prepare meals in restaurants or other food service establishments.
- Food service managers plan, organize, and direct the operations of restaurants or other food service establishments.
- Private chefs work in private homes and prepare meals for their employers and their guests.
- Waiters/waitresses take orders and serve food and drinks to customers in restaurants.
These are just a few of the many food-skilled trade careers available.
So if you’re interested in a career that involves working with food, explore the options and find the one that’s right for you.
Maintenance and repair trade careers
Maintenance and repair trade careers are diverse. You may work high in the sky or on the ground fixing or improving the mechanics of different projects.
Here are some careers to consider in the maintenance and repair sector:
- As an aircraft mechanic, you would work on the hydraulics, brakes, and engines of all types of planes.
- Auto mechanics work on repairing cars, trucks, and other vehicles.
- Boat mechanics work on the motors and other parts of boats.
- Diesel mechanics keep engines running smoothly in all types of vehicles, from trains to buses.
- Elevator mechanics fix and maintain elevators.
- Gunsmiths make, fix, and customize firearms.
- Locksmiths make keys and change locks.
- Motorcycle mechanics work on the engines and other parts of motorcycles.
- Solar PV installers put solar panels on homes and businesses.
- Wind turbine technicians help to set up and maintain wind turbines.
All of these careers are important in keeping our machines running smoothly!
Raw materials/ Manufacturing trade careers
There are a variety of careers to consider if you’re interested in working with raw materials and manufacturing new products.
- A CNC programmer, for example, is responsible for creating the code that controls computer numerical machines that cut and shape metal and other materials.
- A fiberglass fabricator works with fiberglass cloth, resin, and other materials to create boat hulls, automobile bodies, or other objects.
- An ironworker erects the framework for buildings, bridges, and other structures.
- Line installers put in place the lines that carry electricity, gas, water, or communication signals.
- Machinists operate machine tools to create or modify parts for machinery or other objects.
- Material moving machine operators move heavy equipment and materials around job sites.
- Metal fabricators work with steel, aluminum, and other metals to create products such as metal signs, pipes, beams, or database gratings.
- Millwrights install and maintain milling machines that grind or polish stone, metal, or wood.
- Welders use heat to join together pieces of metal.
- Tool and die makers design and create molds and dies used in the manufacture of products.
These are just a few of the many careers available in the field of raw materials and manufacturing. With so many options available, there’s sure to be a career that’s right for you.
A career in the service industry
A career in the service industry can be both rewarding and challenging.
- As a dog walker, you will have the opportunity to help people exercise their pets and provide them with companionship.
- Dental hygienists play an important role in oral health care, and exterminators help to protect homes and businesses from pests.
- Flight attendants are responsible for the safety of passengers during flights, and garbage collectors help to keep our communities clean.
- Hazardous materials removal workers play a vital role in protecting the public from dangerous substances.
- Jewelers help customers select and care for their jewelry.
- Landscapers and groundskeepers help to maintain the appearance of our parks and gardens.
- Mailmen deliver letters and packages to homes and businesses.
- Massage therapists provide relaxation and relief from muscle pain.
- Maintenance and repair workers help to keep our homes and businesses in good repair.
- Patrol officers help to keep our communities safe.
- Pet groomers help to keep our pets looking their best.
Whatever career you choose in the service industry, you will find that helping people is your primary focus.
Transportation skilled trade careers
A career in the transportation sector can be very exciting and rewarding.
There are many different types of transportation jobs available, from driving buses and big rigs to operating trains.
- Air traffic controllers are responsible for directing aircraft movements, while aircraft cargo handlers load and unload planes.
- Airfield operations specialists coordinate activities on the ground, and asphalt pavers help to construct and maintain paved surfaces.
- Bus drivers transport passengers, while deckhands work on boats and ships.
- Flight attendants ensure the safety of passengers during flights, while heavy equipment operators operate machineries such as bulldozers and cranes.
- Mates assist the captain on a vessel, and oilers lubricate machinery.
- Sailors work on all types of vessels, from small boats to large ships, and taxi drivers transport passengers within a city or town.
- Train conductors oversee the operation of a train, and truck drivers transport goods over land.
These are just some of the many careers available in the transportation sector. With so many options to choose from, there is sure to be a transportation job that is perfect for you.
More Skill Trade Careers to Pursue
There are many skilled trade careers that are great opportunities. Here are some examples of more skilled trade careers you can pursue:
- Meter readers help to ensure that utilities are properly billed and customers are satisfied.
- Utility markers work to identify underground cables, pipes, and other potential hazards.
- Quality control inspectors help to ensure that products meet safety and quality standards.
These are just a few of the many skilled trade careers out there worth considering!
Why Are Skilled Trades So Important?
The skilled trades are an important part of the economy and society.
Skilled trade jobs are often essential to keeping our infrastructure running smoothly.
For example, electricians keep our lights on, plumbers keep our water flowing, and carpenters build the homes and businesses we live and work in.
Welders fabricate the steel that is used to build bridges and skyscrapers. Mechanics keep our cars and trucks running.
In short, skilled trades careers are essential to our way of life!
What Are the Benefits of a Skilled Trade Career?
There are many benefits to pursuing a career in the skilled trades.
Skilled trade careers offer:
- Good pay: Skilled trades jobs often come with good pay and benefits.
- Job security: The demand for skilled trades workers is always high, so job security is usually very good.
- Flexibility: Many skilled trades jobs offer flexible hours and the ability to work from home.
- Opportunities for advancement: There are often opportunities to advance in skilled trades careers.
The satisfaction of a job well done: Skilled trades workers take pride in their work and the contribution they make to society.
Reasons Why to Consider A Skilled Trade Career in 2024
A college education is not for everyone. In fact, there are many good reasons to consider a skilled trade career instead.
Skilled trade jobs are in high demand and the pay is often very good. With the right training, you can get started in your chosen field quickly and begin earning a good income.
You will also have the opportunity to learn new skills and advance your career over time.
And, unlike many college graduates, you will not be burdened with student loan debt. If you are considering a skilled trade career, there are many good reasons to do so.
Talk to a trade school or apprenticeship program today to learn more about what options are available to you.
How to Get Started In A Trade Career (Step-By-Step)?
A career in the trades can be a great option for those who want to enter the workforce without incurring the debt of a four-year degree.
However, there are a few steps that must be taken in order to get started in a trade career.
- First, most employers require that applicants be over the age of 18.
- Secondly, a high school diploma or GED is typically necessary (not always required).
- Thirdly, most trade careers require some form of classroom and hands-on training, which can be obtained at a trade school or technical college.
- Finally, many trades also require an apprenticeship, during which the apprentice works under the supervision of a more experienced worker.
By taking these steps, you will be well on your way to beginning a successful career in the trades.
FAQ About Trades Careers
Below are some frequently asked questions about skilled trade careers:
Q: What is a skilled trade?
A: A skilled trade is a profession that requires the use of manual labor and/or specialized training.
This type of work often involves the use of tools and machines, as well as physical strength and coordination.
Examples of skilled trades include carpentry, plumbing, welding, and automotive repair.
Q: What is a skilled trade?
A: A skilled trade is a job that requires specialized training and knowledge.Examples of skilled trades include electricians, plumbers, carpenters, welders, mechanics, and more.
Q: How much do skilled trades workers make?
A: Skilled trades workers typically make good wages. In fact, the median hourly wage for skilled trades workers is $17.49, which is higher than the median hourly wage for all occupations ($16.87).
Q: What are the benefits of a career in the skilled trades?
A: There are many benefits to pursuing a career in the skilled trades. Skilled trade careers offer good pay, job security, flexibility, opportunities for advancement, and the satisfaction of a job well done.
Q: How do I get started in a trade career?
A: To get started in a trade career, you typically need to be over the age of 18 and have a high school diploma or GED.
You will also need to obtain some form of classroom and hands-on training, which can be obtained at a trade school or technical college. Many trades also require an apprenticeship.
By taking these steps, you will be well on your way to beginning a successful career in the skilled trades.
Q: What are some common myths about careers in the skilled trades?
A: There are many myths about careers in the skilled trades. Some people believe that trade careers are only for those who are not smart enough to go to college.
Others believe that trade careers are dirty, dangerous, and low-paying. However, these beliefs are simply not true.
Skilled trade workers are in high demand and typically earn good wages. In addition, many trade careers offer great benefits, such as job security, flexibility, and opportunities for advancement.
Q: What are some of the most popular skilled trade careers?
A: Some of the most popular skilled trade careers include electricians, plumbers, carpenters, welders, mechanics, and more.
Q: What are the job outlook and future prospects for careers in the skilled trades?
A: The job outlook for careers in the skilled trades is very good. In fact, the demand for skilled trade workers is expected to grow year after year from 2022 to 2032, which is much faster than the average for all occupations.
Q: What are some of the challenges associated with careers in the skilled trades?
A: While there are many benefits to pursuing a career in the skilled trades, there are also some challenges that you may face.
For example, you may have to work long hours, weekends, and holidays. You may also have to work in difficult and sometimes dangerous conditions.
However, the rewards of a successful career in the skilled trades are well worth the challenges that you may face along the way.
Q: What advice would you give to someone considering a career in the skilled trades?
A: If you are considering a career in the skilled trades, I would advise you to do your research, get some training, and find a good apprenticeship program.
Q: What are some of the most important qualities that you need to succeed in a career in the skilled trades?
A: To succeed in a career in the skilled trades, it is important to be physically fit, able to work long hours, and comfortable working in difficult and sometimes dangerous conditions.
It is also important to have good problem-solving skills, be able to work independently, and be able to follow instructions.
By possessing these qualities, you will be well on your way to a successful career in the skilled trades.
