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time—based on the strength of their portfolios. The median salary
for a web designer is $92,750 per year, compared to about $59,000
for graphic designers.
Hairstylists and beauticians
Hairstylists, barbers, cosmetologists, and other types of beauti-
cians also fall into the service trades category. These workers are
experts in cutting and styling hair, assisting with skincare, applying
cosmetic products, caring for fingernails and toenails, and more.
True to the skilled trades designation, all people who work in this
industry must attend a state-approved cosmetology program
(often referred to as “beauty school”) and get licensed. The median
salary per year is $35,000, per the BLS.
The skilled service trades category is ultimately the most
difficult segment of the skilled trades to define. Countless
different jobs fall into this category, spanning all types of
industries, educational requirements, and pay ranges. This
category also encompasses the jobs in the skilled trades
that the largest number of people would be surprised to
learn are even considered skilled trades, such as nurses
and graphic designers.
If there is a specific service-related career you are inter-
ested in pursuing, it is absolutely worth checking to see
if there is a program related to that career path at your
local career-tech center. It’s also a good idea to research
trade schools, community colleges, vocational programs,
and technical colleges near you to learn more about
the programs they offer—and to find out if one of those
programs is relevant to your career aspirations. Again, you
might be surprised to learn about some of the programs
that are available at these institutions.