As school debt continues to be an increasing issue in the US, many people are looking for alternate routes to success. There’s a belief that American society has held that college is the sure-fire path to the American Dream, but is it really?
While a college degree does open up many doors to great opportunities, it’s not the only key. Tradesmen played a huge role in building this country and continue to live comfortable lives even with today’s high cost of living. Skilled tradespeople offer services that will always be in demand and hold high value. Continue reading to learn about some trades that it pays to enter.
Something You Should Know About Skilled Trade
When working a skilled trade, you often have to endure long hours, strenuous conditions, hard labor, and dangerous situations. There is great money in many skilled trades. The biggest reason is that skilled trades offer essential, high-value services. But full disclosure, for some trades, part of the reason is the danger involved.
If you work in a field where there is a high risk of injury or fatality, then you need to protect your family in case the worse happens—you need life insurance. Compare life insurance companies and policies to get the ideal plan for you and your beneficiaries.
Construction Manager
If you have a passion for construction work, then pursue it. You certainly have to put in your dues in the construction industry, but you don’t have to spend your whole career in the trenches. Many construction workers start out as debris removers and get certified or work their way up to become construction managers.
Construction managers are responsible for overseeing entire construction projects from beginning to end. They handle everything from managing project budgets to handling on-site problems.
HVAC Technician
HVAC technicians have job stability like few other career fields. HVAC stands for heating, ventilation, and air conditioning. No matter what time of the year it is, people always need at least one of the three. It usually takes less than a year of trade school to get an HVAC certification and two years to get an associate’s degree.
Forklift Mechanic
Forklift mechanics will never have to worry about their jobs phasing out. Not just anyone with basic forklift knowledge can perform forklift engine maintenance. They simply have too many moving parts. Certifications in this field typically take a year or less.
Web Developer
Not all trades require a hardhat and steel toe shoes. Web development is an excellent field to go into if you love computers and want to jumpstart your career in that field quickly. You can learn the skills of the trade and gain certification in as little as six months.
Respiratory Therapist
You may be surprised to learn that you can become a respiratory therapist with an associate’s degree. That means you can have the necessary degree to enter this field in as little as two years.
Respiratory therapists perform tests and provide treatments to patients of all ages with respiratory conditions. Like many jobs in the medical field, it’s one that’s growing and is expecting to continue to grow.
Once again, remember that many skilled trades are dangerous, so it’s imperative that you protect your family financially if something happens to you. You can often find term policies of anywhere from 5 to 30 years for much less than you’d think. You have a lot of options so find the best insurance with iSelect. They allow you to compare companies and policies from the comfort of your home. In a perfect world, your life insurance policy would never be necessary, but this world is imperfect and you can never be too prepared.
As you can see, there are plenty of lucrative opportunities that don’t involve you mortgaging away your future disposable income. If you’re looking to start a satisfying career without going to college, then there’s a trade for you.
