USA Edition · Route 03 · Career & technical education
Trades & technical careers
Most skilled trades are learned on a paid apprenticeship or a short technical program, and the state (sometimes the city) decides which trades need a license. Compare the trades below, then open a career page for the detail and its full roadmap.
The route
Community college and the skilled trades
Two-year colleges lead straight to work or transfer into a bachelor's. The skilled trades are mostly learned on paid apprenticeships, and the state (sometimes the city) decides which trades need a license.
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Start
High school diploma
The usual entry point for an apprenticeship or a community college.
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About 2 years
Associate degree (A.A., A.S., A.A.S.)
Normally requires at least 2 but less than 4 years of full-time-equivalent college work (IPEDS).
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Optional
Transfer to a 4-year college
About a third transferred to a four-year college within six years, and just under half of those finished a bachelor's degree in that time. NSC Research Center
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Trades
Apprenticeship → state license
Electricians and plumbers usually train 4–5 years as apprentices, then most states test and license them.
Entry matrix
How each trade is entered
| Trade | Entry & training | License or certification | Median pay | Outlook 2025–35 | Career page |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Electrician | High school diploma or equivalent. Usually a 4- or 5-year apprenticeship. | Most states require electricians to pass a test and be licensed. BLS | $63,190 | +9% | Open: Electrician |
| Plumber, pipefitter, steamfitter | High school diploma or equivalent. Usually a 4- or 5-year apprenticeship. | Most states and some localities require plumbers to be licensed. BLS | $63,800 | +7% | Open: Plumber, pipefitter, steamfitter |
| HVAC technician | Postsecondary nondegree award (certificate). Long on-the-job training after hire. | Some states and localities require a license; the EPA requires nearly all HVAC technicians to be certified in refrigerant handling. BLS | $61,010 | +11% | Open: HVAC technician |
| Welder | High school diploma plus technical and on-the-job training. Technical school courses and on-the-job training. | Licensed only in some states and localities; professional bodies offer general certification. BLS | $53,750 | +2% | Open: Welder |
| Machinist (precision machining) | High school diploma or equivalent. On-the-job training or an apprenticeship. | No license; optional certification (for example CNC operation, CAD/CAM) shows competency. BLS | $59,620 machinists and tool and die makers together |
−1% | Open: Machinist (precision machining) |
| Automotive service technician | Postsecondary nondegree award (certificate). Short-term on-the-job training. | The EPA requires all technicians who buy or work with refrigerants to be certified; other certifications typically need experience and an exam. BLS | $50,620 | +5% | Open: Automotive service technician |
| Carpenter | High school diploma or equivalent. On the job or an apprenticeship. | No license named for workers; carpenters must pass the OSHA 10-hour safety course, and contractors are licensed by the state. BLS | $60,580 | +4% | Open: Carpenter |
| Sheet metal worker | High school diploma or equivalent. 4- or 5-year apprenticeship in construction; on the job or technical school in manufacturing. | Some states require licenses for sheet metal workers. BLS | $61,800 | +3% | Open: Sheet metal worker |
| Ironworker | High school diploma or equivalent. 3- or 4-year apprenticeship or on-the-job training. | No license named; certifications in welding, rigging and crane signaling help with hiring. BLS | $61,910 | +1% | Open: Ironworker |
| Construction laborer and helper | No formal credential (some employers prefer a high school diploma). Learn on the job; some complete apprenticeships. | Employers often require OSHA-based safety certification. BLS | $46,680 | +6% | Open: Construction laborer and helper |
| Heavy equipment operator | High school diploma or equivalent. On the job, a 3- or 4-year apprenticeship, or vocational school. | Often a commercial driver's license; a few states license backhoe, loader and bulldozer operators. BLS | $59,600 construction equipment operators |
+4% | Open: Heavy equipment operator |
| Elevator and escalator installer | High school diploma or equivalent. 4-year apprenticeship. | Most states require elevator and escalator installers and repairers to be licensed. BLS | $109,910 | +6% | Open: Elevator and escalator installer |
| Industrial machinery mechanic and millwright | High school diploma or equivalent. A year or more on the job; millwrights a 3- or 4-year apprenticeship. | No license named. BLS | $64,100 with machinery maintenance workers |
+14% | Open: Industrial machinery mechanic and millwright |
| CNC tool operator | High school diploma. Up to 1 year of on-the-job training. | No license named; certification can show competence. BLS | $47,700 all metal and plastic machine workers |
−7% | Open: CNC tool operator |
| Heavy and tractor-trailer truck driver | Postsecondary nondegree award (truck driving school). Several weeks with a mentor driver. | Commercial driver's license (CDL) from the state, after federal entry-level driver training. BLS | $58,640 | +4% | Open: Heavy and tractor-trailer truck driver |
| Aircraft mechanic (A&P) | Postsecondary nondegree award (FAA-approved school). 18 to 30 months of experience instead of school. | FAA mechanic certificate (Airframe and/or Powerplant). BLS | $80,180 with avionics technicians |
+6% | Open: Aircraft mechanic (A&P) |
| Diesel service technician | High school diploma or equivalent. Long-term on-the-job training. | No license named; certification may be required, and some need a CDL. BLS | $61,770 | +4% | Open: Diesel service technician |
| Electrical power-line installer (lineworker) | High school diploma or equivalent. Apprenticeship; journey level after 3 or 4 years. | Usually a CDL to drive heavy vehicles; other rules vary by state. BLS | $95,320 | +10% | Open: Electrical power-line installer (lineworker) |
| Solar photovoltaic installer | High school diploma or equivalent. 1 month to 1 year on the job. | Some states require a license for PV installers. BLS | $53,140 | +37% | Open: Solar photovoltaic installer |
| Wind turbine technician | Postsecondary nondegree award. Employer or manufacturer training. | No license named; safety certifications are common. BLS | $64,120 | +30% | Open: Wind turbine technician |
| Power plant operator | High school diploma or equivalent. Several years of onsite training. | NRC license for nuclear reactor operators; some states license stationary engineers or boiler operators. BLS | $105,080 with distributors and dispatchers |
−4% | Open: Power plant operator |
"Licensed trade" is not one national rule: each state, and sometimes each city or county, decides which trades need a license and how to get one. Median annual pay, May 2025. For comparison, BLS projects total U.S. employment to grow 3.5% over 2025–35.
Community college first?
Community college, costs & transferAssociate degrees, costs and transfer to a 4-year college.