Imagine a career that pays well from day one, offers real-life skills you can use anywhere, and can eventually lead to launching your own business. That’s exactly what working in the trades can do for you. In 10 Reasons to Get into the Trades in 2023, we’re looking at why so many ambitious individuals are choosing paths like plumbing, electrical work, HVAC, carpentry, and more, instead of the traditional college route. With baby boomers retiring in large numbers and fewer young people entering manual professions, there’s never been a better time to step up and build America—literally.
1. Unprecedented Demand and Shortage of Skilled Workers
There is a massive shortage of skilled tradespeople. Across the United States, people who spent decades in their craft are retiring, leaving gaping holes in the workforce. Construction and service companies are competing for a limited pool of qualified employees, pushing wages upward.
If you become proficient in your chosen trade—whether it’s plumbing, electrical, or another field—you’ll find endless job opportunities. Many companies don’t just want to hire you; they’re actively expanding, bidding on new projects, and needing solid crews to deliver on those contracts. For anyone deciding on a career, that high demand alone can provide job security rarely found in other sectors.
2. A Trade for Every Personality
Trades extend far beyond plumbing and electrical. You can specialize in carpentry, welding, roofing, HVAC, masonry, elevator installation, or even niche areas like high-rise crane operation. No matter your interests—working with wood, metal, water, or wiring—there’s a specialty that fits your personality.
Rather than forcing yourself into a college major that you’re half-hearted about, you can pick a trade that resonates with how you like to work. Some people love heights and big machinery (ironworkers, for example), while others thrive indoors, handling delicate wiring or piping. You might be physically active, or you could use a blend of mechanical and creative skills. The trades are incredibly diverse.
3. Multiple Career Paths and Advancement Options
It’s a myth that the trades leave you stuck in an entry-level position forever. In reality, you can move up quickly if you’re motivated. Starting as an apprentice, it’s not uncommon to be making a comfortable wage—enough to pay bills and possibly start saving. Within a few years, you could become a licensed journeyman, and not long after, a foreman, superintendent, or even project manager.
Success in the trades hinges on skill, dedication, and problem-solving abilities. You’re not just twisting a wrench or running wires; you’re learning geometry, physics, code requirements, and troubleshooting techniques. A hardworking apprentice can climb the ladder faster than many realize, often surpassing the pay grade of some friends who went to college for four years.
4. Plenty of Openings for Skilled Applicants
Because retirements are happening faster than new entrants join, your chances of landing a good position are high. Large commercial firms, residential service companies, and industrial maintenance teams all need fresh talent. If you can prove you’re reliable, willing to learn, and interested in doing quality work, you’ll likely see multiple job offers.
In some states, there’s such a shortage that companies pay for your training and still give you an above-average starting rate. This is much different from many white-collar fields where you need a degree—and still might face intense competition for entry-level jobs.
5. Semi-Flexible Scheduling
While the trades do require you to be available for projects or service calls, there’s often more scheduling flexibility than people realize. For instance, a 24-hour plumbing company might have a night crew. An HVAC shop could have shifts that allow employees to come in later if they prefer. Many skilled trades professionals balance family life by negotiating workable schedules that still fulfill client needs.
Of course, not every trade job offers complete freedom over your hours. You might start earlier than office employees to meet construction deadlines. Still, if you compare it to a typical nine-to-five behind a desk, you often have more variety—some projects might run four 10-hour days instead of five 8-hour days, giving you three-day weekends.
6. No Need for a Traditional College Degree
One of the biggest perks: skip the four-year college route and the crippling student debt that often comes with it. In the trades, your education is primarily on-the-job or through paid apprenticeships. These structured programs help you earn money as you learn. Instead of spending thousands on tuition, you’ll be bringing in paychecks while building real-world skills.
College is a fine path for many, but it’s not the only route to success. Trades training sets you up for immediate, tangible work. And if you want to pursue higher education later, that door is still open. But you won’t be forced into it just to start your career.
7. Skill Development and Practical Know-How
Beyond the paycheck, you’ll gain mastery over tools and techniques that can help you for life. Being able to fix a leaking sink, replace a water heater, install a new fixture, wire a circuit, or build a custom cabinet are valuable abilities that set you apart. You’ll also troubleshoot mechanical systems, read blueprints, handle specialized equipment, and interpret local codes.
These skills translate into daily confidence—you won’t need to hire a repair person for every small home issue, and you’ll have more independence. Imagine being the family member or friend everyone calls when they need quality advice or practical assistance. That’s a good reputation to have.
8. Camaraderie and Respect Among Tradespeople
The trades thrive on teamwork and shared accomplishment. Building a house, installing a sprinkler system, or rewiring an office building demands a group effort. You’ll collaborate with people from different backgrounds but a common goal: do the job right. Over time, the job site can feel like a second family, with good-natured banter and mutual respect.
There’s also the camaraderie of being a “builder” of America. Whether you’re hooking up a shower valve, wiring a new high-rise, or maintaining essential mechanical systems, you’re literally part of society’s backbone. Tradespeople often speak of a pride that desk jobs rarely match—seeing your finished project rising from the ground or hearing that a system you installed saved a client thousands on utility bills.
9. Potential to Start Your Own Business
One of the strongest incentives for learning a trade is that you can become your own boss. Once you gain enough experience and obtain the necessary licenses, you might open a small plumbing shop, an HVAC company, or a general contracting firm. Where else can you build a thriving business that often requires minimal overhead or specialized advanced degrees?
If you’re an entrepreneur at heart, the trades offer a direct route to building your own client base. You can expand, hire apprentices, and pass on your knowledge. Many thriving family-owned trade businesses started with one skilled person and a solid work ethic.
10. Honor and Satisfaction in Building and Repairing
Working with your hands and seeing immediate results is extremely rewarding. Each day, you solve real problems—no guesswork about whether your job matters. If you’re a plumber, you keep water flowing safely in homes. If you’re an electrician, you power up new buildings or fix dangerous wiring. If you’re a carpenter, you craft frames, floors, or fine cabinets that become part of someone’s daily life.
Besides enjoying a tangible sense of accomplishment, you’re upholding a tradition of craftsmanship that goes back centuries. The next time you walk past a building you helped construct or see someone enjoying a new kitchen you wired or plumbed, you’ll feel an undeniable sense of pride.
Which Trade Pays the Most?
The highest-paying job for employees (based on 2022-2023 data) is elevator/escalator installation and repair. Those specialists easily make near six figures, and in certain markets, over $100,000 a year is very achievable. The field is often unionized, providing strong benefits. However, it can be one of the more challenging trades to break into because of a small labor pool and rigorous apprenticeship requirements.
Still, many trades—from plumbing to electrical to HVAC—can surpass the $100,000 mark once you gain enough experience, overtime opportunities, or higher-level responsibilities like supervising a crew.
