In short
There are nine trades on this site, and they fall into three groups: trades you mostly learn through a paid apprenticeship (electrician, plumbing, pipefitter, ironworker), trades that start with school (HVAC, welding, medical assistant, auto and diesel), and truck driving, which starts with a short school program and a commercial driver's license. Middle pay ranges from about $45,690 to about $63,800 a year (BLS OEWS, May 2025). Fill out the form and we'll match you with schools near you.
Start with how you want to learn
Paid apprenticeship: earn while you learn
Electrician, plumbing, pipefitter and ironworker are mostly learned this way. You work for a contractor, get paid, and take classes. It takes three to five years to finish. Apprenticeship Finder lists openings.
School first, then on the job
HVAC, welding, medical assistant, and auto and diesel usually start with a certificate or associate's program, then more learning on the job. Programs run from months to about two years depending on the trade and the school.
Short course, then a license: truck driving
Truck driving starts with entry-level driver training and a commercial driver's license (CDL), then several weeks with a mentor driver. It's the quickest road here, and long-haul work can mean long stretches away from home.
Don't see yours? Not sure yet?
Pick "Not sure yet" on the clipboard. Schools that call can tell you about a few trades.
Questions to ask yourself
Pay matters, but it won't tell you whether you'll like Tuesday. Try these.
- Inside or outside? Medical assistants work in clinics. Ironworkers work outdoors, often in the weather. HVAC technicians do both, and often in cramped spaces.
- Home every night? Plumbers and HVAC technicians go out on service calls and come home. Electricians travel to different job sites. Long-haul truck drivers can be gone for days or weeks.
- Heights? Ironwork can mean working at great heights. Electricians sometimes do too.
- How fast do you need a paycheck? An apprentice is paid from the start, but it's a long road to full pay. A school program costs money up front and gets you started sooner in some trades.
- People or machines? Medical assistants work with patients, and HVAC technicians work with customers. Diesel technicians talk to customers too, but spend more time with engines.
- How do you feel about risk? BLS says truck drivers, HVAC technicians and auto technicians have some of the highest rates of injury and illness of any jobs, and ironwork and electrical work carry serious hazards. Training and safety gear are built around that.
Who runs their own shop
Many people picture themselves working for themselves someday. Here's how common that is in each trade, from BLS.
| Trade | Share who are self-employed | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Reinforcing ironworkers (rebar) | 28% | About 19,400 jobs in all |
| Auto technicians | 14% | |
| Electricians | 8% | Often in residential work |
| Plumbers, pipefitters, steamfitters | 8% | |
| Truck drivers | 7% | Owner-operators buy or lease their trucks |
| Welders | 6% | |
| HVAC technicians | 5% |
Share of workers who were self-employed, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Outlook Handbook, 2024 employment. Most people in every trade work for someone else.
Questions about picking a trade
Which trade pays the most?
At the middle, plumbers, pipefitters and steamfitters ($63,800), electricians ($63,190), ironworkers ($62,780), diesel technicians ($61,770) and HVAC technicians ($61,010) are clustered together. The pay page puts all nine side by side. The spread inside each trade matters as much as the middle.
Which trade is the quickest to start?
Truck driving, if you count only school and a CDL. BLS says school programs run 3 to 6 months. Apprenticeships take years but pay you the whole way.
What if my trade isn't here?
Pick "Not sure yet" on the form and tell the school what you're after. Not every trade has a page yet.
Do I need a degree?
No college degree for any trade on this page. Most want a high school diploma or equivalent. If you don't have one, start here.