Myth 1: Skilled Trades Do Not Pay Well
Traditionally, we have been advised that the best route to take to get a “good paying” job is to attend university.
A career in the skilled trades can earn you a very comfortable living. Wages vary by trade, but take these few as examples:
Skilled Trade Career |
Average Wage in Canada1 |
Average Wage in United States1 |
| Plumber | $27.58 | $19.96 |
| Electrician | $29.13 | $20.57 |
| Boilermaker | $28.50 | $26.79 |
Myth 2: Jobs in the Trades are Seasonal
Not all skilled trades jobs are seasonal. Depending on the trade, work can be available year-round.
Myth 3: Blue Collar > White Collar
The average skilled trades program is about 2 years in a class room, as opposed to a 4-year-ungraduate. That means two less years of school, two more years earning a career that is in demand, with less academic debt. As many of the trades offer earn-while-you-learn opportunities, graduates of the skilled trades programs often have less debt than those who attend university (CBC reports that 60% of university graduates have racked up $27,000 in school-related debt).
Getting into the skilled trades, you can earn a great living and start out with less debt.
1Figures from payscale.com
Comments are closed.