Free · 2 minutes · No college degree
Pick up a trade. Pick up a bigger paycheck.
Tap the trade that sounds right. You'll see what it pays and how long training takes before you fill out anything. Then we match you with schools near you that teach it.
Don't see yours? Pick "Not sure yet" and we'll show you a few. Pay is the U.S. median with experience; starting pay is lower.
From today to first paycheck
Measure it in weeks, not years.
Today
Five quick questions on this page. Schools near you reach out, usually within a day.
Pick a school
Ask about total cost in writing, class times, and job help after. Apply for grants. Start when the next class opens.
Train
Hands-on in a shop or on a job site. CDL takes about a month. Most trades take 6 to 12 months. Apprentices get paid the whole time.
Work
Start as a helper or installer. Pay climbs as you earn licenses and certifications. Many go out on their own later.
Trades you can train for fast
Read the tag before you buy.
Every trade has its own page: what the work is really like, how long school takes, what it costs, what it pays at each stage.
Pay is the U.S. median for people working in the job (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, May 2025), rounded. Starting pay is lower. Your area may pay more or less.
Your raise
What's the gap between your paycheck and a trade's?
Put in what you make now. Pick a trade. We'll show you the difference over a year, using the typical pay for someone with a few years in. If the gap is small, we'll say so.
This isn't a promise. Starting pay is lower than the number here, and you'll be in training first. It's a way to see whether the move is worth the months.
Do the math
Nothing here is saved or sent anywhere.
What you make now, per hourBased on 2,080 hours a year and BLS national median pay. Overtime, union scale, and location can push it higher.
Paying for it
Here's the bill. Then here's who helps pay it.
This is the part people worry about most. So here's an example, line by line, for a real-sized program.
An example, not a quote. Pell max is $7,395 a year (2026–27) and depends on income. WIOA depends on your state and your job center. Many people pay something; most pay far less than the sticker price. Private schools cost more; apprenticeships cost nothing.
How it works
Three lines on the work order.
Answer five quick questions
Which trade, how far you got in school, when you want to start, where to reach you. No essays, no test scores.
Today · about 2 minutesSchools near you reach out
Schools that teach what you picked call, text, or email. Ask them anything: total cost, class times, how long, job help after. You don't owe them anything.
Usually within a dayPick one, or none
Visit if you can. Get the cost in writing. Apply for grants before you sign. If it feels right, start. If not, walk away.
Your pace
Schools near you
Pick your city.
Each city page shows what's hiring there, where to train, and what your state will help pay.
We don't have a page for that yet. See every state, or fill out the form and we'll match you by ZIP code.
Questions
Things people ask first.
Does this cost anything?
No. Using this site is free. Schools pay us when you ask for information from them. You never pay us, and the school's price is the same as if you walked in the door.
Are the pay numbers real?
They're the U.S. median from the Bureau of Labor Statistics, which means half of people in the job make more and half make less. They're for people with experience. Your first year will be lower. Pay also changes a lot by city; the city pages use local numbers.
Do I need a high school diploma or GED?
Most programs ask for one. Some help you get your GED at the same time. Pick "Some high school" on the form and we'll include those schools.
I'm 40. Is it too late?
No. Trade schools are full of adults switching careers, and a lot of programs run nights and weekends so you can keep your job while you train. Employers like hiring people who show up on time and have worked before.
Will someone pressure me to sign up?
Schools will contact you because you asked them to, and they want you to enroll. Expect a pitch. You can say no, ask for time, or stop answering. If a school pushes too hard, tell us and we'll pull them.
How do I know a school is legit?
Three questions: Is it accredited? Will it show you last year's job placement numbers? Will it put the total cost in writing? If any answer is a dodge, keep looking. Public community colleges are a safe bet almost anywhere.
The clipboard's right here.
Five questions. Two minutes. Schools near you do the rest.