Learn a Trade. Build a Career. Build a Life.
Helping the next generation explore skilled-trade careers, understand their options, and build a future.
Explore Skilled Trades
Explore hands-on careers, compare career paths, and learn about the training and opportunities available in today’s skilled trades.
Build & Install
Explore careers focused on construction, installation, fabrication, piping, electrical systems, and hands-on work.
Service & Troubleshoot
Explore careers focused on diagnosing problems, maintaining equipment, repairing systems, and technical service.
Protect & Connect
Explore careers involving fire protection, life safety, electronic systems, controls, security, and building technology.
Electrical
Build, install, test, and troubleshoot the electrical systems that power homes, businesses, and industrial facilities. Electrical careers combine hands-on work, technical knowledge, problem-solving, and a strong understanding of safety.
What You’ll Do
Install wiring, conduit, panels, lighting, controls, motors, and electrical equipment. Read plans, test circuits, locate problems, and make repairs.
Career Paths
Explore careers such as Electrician, Commercial Electrician, Industrial Electrician, Maintenance Electrician, and Electrical Technician.
Training & Growth
Learn through apprenticeships, technical programs, certifications, and hands-on training. Experienced electricians have paths into supervision, estimating, project management, and contracting.
Mechanical & HVAC
Install, maintain, and troubleshoot heating, cooling, ventilation, refrigeration, controls, and mechanical systems. Mechanical and HVAC careers combine hands-on technical work with problem-solving, diagnostics, equipment service, and a strong understanding of safety.
What You’ll Do
Install, service, test, and repair HVAC equipment, refrigeration systems, ductwork, controls, motors, pumps, and mechanical components. Diagnose problems and keep building systems operating safely and efficiently.
Career Paths
Explore careers such as HVAC Service Technician, HVAC Installer, Commercial HVAC Technician, Refrigeration Technician, Building Controls Technician, and Mechanical Service Technician.
Training & Growth
Learn through apprenticeships, technical programs, certifications, and hands-on training. Experienced technicians have paths into controls, commissioning, supervision, estimating, project management, and contracting.
Plumbing, Sprinkler & Fire Protection
Install, test, service, and troubleshoot piping, water systems, fire sprinklers, and suppression systems. These careers combine hands-on installation with technical knowledge, system testing, problem-solving, and life-safety work.
What You’ll Do
Install piping, fittings, valves, pumps, fixtures, fire sprinklers, standpipes, and related equipment. Read plans, test systems, troubleshoot problems, and perform service and repairs.
Career Paths
Explore careers such as Plumber, Commercial Plumber, Fire Sprinkler Fitter, Fire Sprinkler Technician, Fire Protection Service Technician, and Backflow Technician.
Training & Growth
Learn through apprenticeships, technical programs, certifications, and hands-on training. Experienced professionals have paths into inspection, estimating, design, supervision, project management, and contracting.
Welding & Fabrication
Cut, fit, weld, and fabricate metal components used in construction, industrial facilities, equipment, piping systems, and structural applications. These careers combine hands-on skill, precision, technical knowledge, and blueprint reading.
What You’ll Do
Measure, cut, fit, and weld metal using specialized tools and equipment. Read drawings, prepare materials, assemble components, inspect welds, and complete repairs and fabrication work.
Career Paths
Explore careers such as Welder, Pipe Welder, Structural Welder, Fabricator, Welding Technician, and Welding Inspector.
Training & Growth
Learn through apprenticeships, technical programs, certifications, and hands-on training. Experienced welders have paths into inspection, supervision, estimating, fabrication management, and specialized welding.
Low Voltage, Fire Alarm & Electronic Systems
Install, test, troubleshoot, and maintain fire alarms, security systems, access control, cameras, communications, networks, and other electronic systems. These careers combine electrical knowledge, technology, troubleshooting, and life-safety systems.
What You’ll Do
Install wiring, devices, control panels, detectors, notification appliances, cameras, access control equipment, and network components. Test systems, diagnose problems, program equipment, and perform service and repairs.
Career Paths
Explore careers such as Fire Alarm Technician, Low Voltage Technician, Security Systems Technician, Access Control Technician, Communications Technician, and Electronic Systems Technician.
Training & Growth
Learn through apprenticeships, technical programs, manufacturer training, certifications, and field experience. Experienced technicians have paths into programming, inspection, system design, estimating, supervision, project management, and sales.
General Construction
Build, install, repair, and coordinate the materials and systems that turn construction plans into finished structures. These careers combine hands-on work, problem-solving, teamwork, blueprint reading, and knowledge of multiple construction trades.
What You’ll Do
Read plans, measure and install materials, use construction tools and equipment, perform repairs, and work alongside multiple trades. Projects range from new commercial buildings to renovations and infrastructure work.
Career Paths
Explore careers such as Carpenter, Construction Laborer, Equipment Operator, Concrete Worker, Construction Technician, and Construction Supervisor.
Training & Growth
Learn through apprenticeships, technical programs, employer training, certifications, and field experience. Experienced workers have paths into foreman roles, supervision, estimating, project management, and construction management.
Automotive & Diesel Technology
Diagnose, service, and repair cars, trucks, diesel engines, drivetrains, electrical systems, and mobile equipment. Automotive and diesel careers combine hands-on repair, computerized diagnostics, precision, safety, and continuous learning as vehicle technology changes.
What You’ll Do
Inspect vehicles and equipment, use scan tools and test instruments, perform preventive maintenance, diagnose faults, and repair engines, brakes, steering, suspension, fuel, emissions, electrical, and drivetrain systems. Technicians also document repairs and explain recommended service.
Career Paths
Explore careers such as Automotive Service Technician, Diesel Technician, Fleet Maintenance Technician, Heavy Equipment Service Technician, Collision Repair Technician, and Field Service Technician.
Training & Growth
Learn through technical programs, employer training, apprenticeships, manufacturer training, certifications, and supervised shop experience. Experienced technicians can advance into diagnostic specialties, master-technician roles, shop leadership, service management, training, and business ownership.
Heavy Equipment & Field Operations
Operate excavators, loaders, dozers, graders, cranes, and other heavy machinery used in construction, utilities, roadwork, infrastructure, and site development. These careers combine coordination, situational awareness, equipment knowledge, teamwork, and a strong commitment to safety.
What You’ll Do
Move earth and materials, excavate and trench, grade sites, lift and place loads, load trucks, complete pre-operation inspections, perform routine equipment care, read plans and grade information, and communicate closely with ground crews and supervisors.
Career Paths
Explore careers such as Heavy Equipment Operator, Excavator Operator, Dozer Operator, Loader Operator, Grader Operator, Crane Operator, Paving Equipment Operator, and Utility or Sitework Operator.
Training & Growth
Learn through apprenticeships, union or employer training, equipment-specific instruction, supervised field experience, and required safety or operator credentials. Commercial-driver qualifications may help in some roles. Experienced operators can advance into lead-operator, foreman, superintendent, trainer, and equipment-management positions.
Find Training & Apprenticeships
Ready to start building your skills? Explore apprenticeship programs, technical schools, community colleges, employer-sponsored training, and other pathways into the skilled trades.
Apprenticeships
Earn while you learn through structured training that combines paid on-the-job experience with classroom instruction.
Technical & Trade Schools
Explore hands-on programs focused on the skills, certifications, and technical knowledge employers need.
Community Colleges & Employer Training
Find certificate programs, workforce training, and employer-sponsored opportunities designed to prepare you for skilled-trade careers.
Featured Training Partners
AYPOTech
Online training and continuing education for trade professionals, including licensing and certification-related coursework.
TradesmanCE
Continuing education for HVAC, electrical, plumbing, and contracting professionals who need to renew and stay compliant.
Virginia Contractor Training
Virginia contractor licensing and continuing-education resources for current and future trade professionals.
Michigan Contractor Training
Michigan contractor licensing and continuing-education resources for construction professionals.
CCB License
Oregon contractor licensing and continuing-education resources for construction professionals.
HVACTrainPro
AI-powered HVAC training, exam preparation, calculators, and career guidance. Use code SHEAR10 for a 14-day free trial.
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Skill Pays may earn a commission when you use certain partner links or codes, at no additional cost to you. We recommend resources based on relevance; always verify program requirements, costs, licensing, and suitability directly with the provider.
Pay & Career Outlook
See what skilled-trade careers pay, how many jobs are available, and where future opportunities are expected. Compare earnings and employment outlook across the eight Skill Pays trade categories.
Compare Pay
See typical earnings across skilled-trade careers and compare opportunities within each trade.
Job Opportunities
Explore employment levels and the number of jobs available across skilled-trade occupations.
Future Outlook
See projected job growth and which skilled-trade careers are expected to need workers in the years ahead.
Recommended Tools & Resources
Explore trusted tools, training, and career resources selected to help you take the next step in your skilled-trades career.
Training & Education
Explore courses, certification preparation, continuing education, and other training resources for the skilled trades.
Tools & Equipment
Find trade-specific tools, equipment, and gear from trusted suppliers to help you learn, work, and build your skills.
Career Resources
Access helpful resources for career planning, certifications, job preparation, and taking the next step into the skilled trades.