What are trade school jobs?
Trade school jobs are skilled careers you prepare for with focused, job-specific training instead of a four-year degree. Depending on the field, that training is a certificate from a technical school or community college, an associate’s degree, or a paid apprenticeship that mixes work with classes.
The list below covers three groups: construction and mechanical trades, repair technicians, and healthcare jobs that typically need a certificate or associate’s degree.
18 trade school jobs and how long training takes
| # | Trade career | Median pay (May 2025) | Typical entry-level education | Typical training path and length |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Elevator and escalator installers and repairers | $109,910 | High school diploma | 4-year apprenticeship; most states require a license |
| 2 | Radiation therapists | $105,310 | Associate’s degree | Associate’s or bachelor’s in radiation therapy (some certificate programs); most states require a license or certification |
| 3 | Dental hygienists | $98,100 | Associate’s degree | Programs usually take 3 years; every state requires a license |
| 4 | Diagnostic medical sonographers | $96,590 | Associate’s degree | Associate’s degree or postsecondary certificate; some need a license or certification |
| 5 | Electrical power-line installers and repairers | $95,320 | High school diploma | Apprenticeship or employer program of up to 3 years; 1-year certificates and 2-year associate’s degrees also exist |
| 6 | Aircraft and avionics equipment mechanics and technicians | $80,180 | Postsecondary nondegree award | FAA-approved aviation maintenance program, then FAA certification |
| 7 | Boilermakers | $76,410 | High school diploma | Apprenticeship, typically 4 years |
| 8 | Surgical assistants and technologists | $64,700 | Postsecondary nondegree award | Certificate or associate’s degree from an accredited program |
| 9 | Licensed practical and licensed vocational nurses | $64,400 | Postsecondary nondegree award | State-approved program of about 1 year, then a licensing exam |
| 10 | Wind turbine technicians | $64,120 | Postsecondary nondegree award | Certificate or associate’s in wind energy, then more than 12 months of on-the-job training |
| 11 | Industrial machinery mechanics and millwrights | $64,100 | High school diploma | Millwrights: 3- or 4-year apprenticeship; mechanics: more than a year of on-the-job training |
| 12 | Plumbers, pipefitters and steamfitters | $63,800 | High school diploma | 4- or 5-year apprenticeship; most states license plumbers |
| 13 | Electricians | $63,190 | High school diploma | 4- or 5-year apprenticeship, sometimes after technical school; most states require a license |
| 14 | Diesel service technicians and mechanics | $61,770 | High school diploma | Some employers prefer a diesel certificate; more than 12 months of on-the-job training |
| 15 | HVAC mechanics and installers | $61,010 | Postsecondary nondegree award | Programs of 6 months to 2 years; EPA refrigerant certification |
| 16 | Carpenters | $60,580 | High school diploma | Apprenticeship or on-the-job training; program requirements vary by region |
| 17 | Welders, cutters, solderers and brazers | $53,750 | High school diploma | Technical training plus several months of on-the-job training |
| 18 | Automotive service technicians and mechanics | $50,620 | Postsecondary nondegree award | Certificate or associate’s program, then short-term on-the-job training |
About this data: Pay figures are BLS median annual wages for May 2025, taken from the Occupational Outlook Handbook (OOH). Median means half the workers earned more and half earned less, so apprentices and new graduates usually start lower. For comparison, the median for all U.S. occupations was $50,980. To turn an hourly rate into an annual figure, use our hourly salary calculators.
Which trade school jobs pay the most?
The top five on this list all had median pay above $95,000 in May 2025:
- Elevator and escalator installers and repairers: $109,910, through a 4-year apprenticeship.
- Radiation therapists: $105,310, typically with an associate’s degree.
- Dental hygienists: $98,100, after a program that usually takes 3 years.
- Diagnostic medical sonographers: $96,590, with an associate’s degree or certificate.
- Electrical power-line installers and repairers: $95,320, through an apprenticeship or employer training of up to 3 years.
Some higher-paying jobs, such as power plant operators, are usually learned through on-the-job training instead. They are covered in our list of high paying jobs without a degree.
Which trade school job fits you?
- You want to earn while you train: elevator installers, boilermakers, plumbers, electricians, millwrights and power-line installers, which commonly train through apprenticeships.
- You want the shortest school path: HVAC programs (6 months to 2 years) and practical nursing programs (about 1 year).
- You like patient care: radiation therapists, dental hygienists, sonographers, surgical technologists and licensed practical nurses.
- You like engines and diagnostics: aircraft mechanics, diesel technicians and automotive service technicians.
- You do not mind heights or outdoor work: power-line installers and wind turbine technicians. Check the Work Environment tab in the OOH for physical demands before you enroll.
- You want a federal credential: aircraft mechanics are typically certified by the FAA, and the EPA requires nearly all HVAC technicians to be certified in refrigerant handling.
How long is trade school?
It depends on the path, not just the school.
- Short certificate programs: HVAC programs generally last 6 months to 2 years, and practical nursing programs typically take about 1 year, according to BLS.
- Associate’s degree programs: common for radiation therapists, sonographers and dental hygienists. Dental hygiene programs usually take 3 years.
- Apprenticeships: about 3 to 5 years for the apprenticeable trades on this list. Plumbers and electricians typically complete 4 or 5 years, and elevator installers and boilermakers about 4.
- On-the-job training after school: BLS classifies training as short-term (1 month or less), moderate-term (more than 1 month and up to 12 months) or long-term (more than 12 months). Wind turbine and diesel technicians get long-term training even after they are hired.
How do registered apprenticeships work?
A Registered Apprenticeship is a job, not a class. According to the Department of Labor’s Apprenticeship.gov, every registered program includes:
- A paid job, with progressive wage increases as your skills grow.
- Structured on-the-job learning with an experienced mentor.
- Supplemental classroom education tied to the job.
- A portable, nationally recognized credential when you finish.
Programs are approved by the Department of Labor or a State Apprenticeship Agency. Unions, contractor associations and employers sponsor many of them. Electrician and plumber apprentices typically log about 2,000 hours of paid on-the-job training each year plus technical instruction, according to BLS.
Apprenticeship.gov reports that 90% of apprentices continue employment after completing an apprenticeship.
How to apply: search the Apprenticeship Job Finder on Apprenticeship.gov and apply directly with the employer or program sponsor. Some programs set entry requirements. For example, BLS lists a minimum age of 18, a high school diploma and the physical ability to do the work as basic qualifications for millwright apprenticeships. If you want guidance, a local American Job Center can help.
Trade school vs apprenticeship: which should you choose?
| Factor | Trade school or community college program | Registered apprenticeship |
|---|---|---|
| Pay during training | Usually unpaid, and tuition applies | Paid from day one, with raises as you progress |
| Typical length | About 6 months to 3 years | Often 3 to 5 years |
| Credential | Certificate or associate’s degree | Nationally recognized credential |
| Getting in | Apply to the school | Apply to an employer or sponsor; check each program’s application window |
| Best for | Healthcare and technician jobs that require school | Construction trades and other apprenticeable jobs |
The two can work together. BLS notes that electricians who graduate from technical school programs usually receive credit toward their apprenticeship.
How to choose a trade school program
- Start with the job, not the school. Pick a target career, then check its “How to Become One” tab in the OOH so you know which credential employers expect.
- Check your state’s license rules. Many trades and healthcare jobs require a license. Confirm the program prepares you for it before you pay.
- Look for accreditation or approval. Practical nursing programs must be state-approved, aircraft mechanic programs should be FAA-approved, and surgical technology programs should be accredited.
- Ask about results. Ask for completion rates, licensing exam pass rates and where recent graduates work.
- Compare total cost and time, including tools, uniforms and exam fees.
- Ask about financial aid. Federal student aid requires enrollment in an eligible degree or certificate program, and it applies to career schools as well as colleges.
- Match the work to your interests. Most of these jobs are hands-on. If you are not sure that suits you, read about the Realistic personality type in the Holland Code model.
Changing fields as an adult? Our guide to a career change at 30 covers financial runway and retraining while you work.
How to get hired after trade school
- List licenses and certifications first. Employers scan for them, so follow our tips on how to list certifications on a resume.
- Name the equipment and systems you know, such as refrigerant handling, diagnostic software or specific engine types.
- Quantify your training. Clinical hours, lab hours and apprenticeship hours all count.
Example bullet: “Completed 1,500 hours of hands-on HVAC lab and field training, including EPA refrigerant certification, with zero safety incidents.”
- Apply before you graduate. Ask instructors and program coordinators which employers hire from the program.
Licensing and program rules vary by state. Contact your state licensing board or a school advisor if your situation is unusual.