Don’t Cross Out Trades!

As students scramble to submit their college applications, praying they’re admitted into the schools they’ve been grinding for, they often gloss over other postsecondary options. Trade school, for one, is a reasonable alternative to college. It’s more affordable and gets you high-paying jobs quicker than the traditional four-year college path.

Here’s a chart that illustrates the average tuition cost of a trade school vs a Four-Year Degree:

 

(This compares the sticker prices, not accounting for the cost of buying textbooks, staying in dorms, and studying for more than four years at college.)

Another advantage of trade is their speed in getting people into the workforce. Trade school lasts about 3-12 months, and the median wage is about $43,000 (according to the US Labor Bureau of Statistics), corroborated by Talent.com’s average trade salary in Pennsylvania. These are not just any jobs either, these are jobs that are in demand. In fact, according to WorkingNation.com 646,000 job openings are projected each year.

Trade careers vary from adventurous to grounded. Hyperbaric welders scuba dive every day to fix ships, pipelines, and oil platforms. This is an exciting but risky path for people who don’t like the conventional college path and frequently yearn for change and adventure. A more common trade position is being an HVAC (Heat, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning) technician. They maintain temperature regulation systems in buildings and homes with the bonus of being able to be more self-sufficient in maintaining their own homes. Overall, there are many specialists that you can check out here.

All in all, if you like to work with your hands and do not want to grind for four years at the possibility of getting a job with the guarantee you’ll be in debt, consider trades.

Here are trade schools in Philadelphia to check out:

Lincoln Tech
Auguste Escoffier School of Culinary Arts – Online
Williamson College of the Trades

Story Written By: Willis Osorio