Did you know that the median annual salary for
an electrician or a plumber in the United States
is more than $61,000 a year? How about that
both careers can be accessed via non-tradi-
tional training pathways—such as trade school,
apprenticeships, or on-the-job training—rather
than through a four-year college degree
program?
These two career paths fall into the broader
category of “the skilled trades,” an often
misunderstood (and sometimes even stigma-
tized) umbrella of occupations. They are also
representative of what the skilled trades might
have to offer for high school students currently
considering their post-graduation plans. Many
skilled trades careers provide for generous
salaries and considerable opportunity for
growth and advancement—often with fewer
post-secondary schooling requirements than
other jobs.
INTRODUCTION
WHAT ARE THE
SKILLED TRADES
AND WHY DO THEY
MATTER?