25 articles found · Page 1 of 2
A step-by-step guide to becoming a welder — comparing trade school, community college, and apprenticeship paths, the AWS certification structure including D1.1 structural, and what welders earn from first-year helper to pipeline and specialty rates.
A step-by-step guide to becoming an HVAC technician — covering school vs apprenticeship, the EPA Section 608 certification, NATE credentials, state licensure, and what you earn from apprentice to senior tech across the first five years.
A step-by-step guide to becoming a licensed electrician — how the 4–5 year apprenticeship works, how to choose between IBEW/NECA union and non-union paths, what it takes to earn journeyman and master licenses, and what you earn at each stage.
Boilermakers earn a median $73,340/year building and maintaining the pressure vessels, tanks, and industrial systems that keep power plants, refineries, and LNG terminals running. Here's what the career actually looks like — pay, training, outlook, and how to get started.
Michigan has $16.6B committed in EV and battery investment, Ford's Marshall battery plant starts production in 2026, and the UAW's 2023 Big Three contract locked in EV work for union shops. Here's the realistic picture for auto technicians, industrial electricians, and the next generation of Michigan trade workers.
Northern Virginia hosts the world's largest data center cluster — 112,000 Virginia jobs, $40B in economic impact, and Dominion Energy forecasting 9 GW of new data-center demand. Here's what it means for electricians, HVAC techs, fiber installers, and anyone training for the trades.
TSMC is pouring $165 billion into Phoenix fabs. Data centers from Google, Meta, and Microsoft are reshaping the East Valley. And Maricopa County keeps adding tens of thousands of new residents every year. Here's what it all means for trade careers in Arizona.
Georgia's construction industry employs 229,200 workers and contributed $45 billion to state GDP — while Atlanta leads the nation in data center construction and the ports of Savannah and Brunswick sustain 651,000 jobs statewide. Here's what electricians, HVAC techs, plumbers, and welders need to know.
Ohio's $137.9 billion manufacturing sector — home to Intel's $28B semiconductor campus, Honda's $4.4B EV battery plant, and 687,000 manufacturing jobs — is creating urgent demand for welders, CNC machinists, industrial electricians, and millwrights. Here's what the data says and how to get started.
Toyota's $14B battery plant, Scout Motors' EV factory, Oracle's Nashville campus, and billions in data center construction are creating an acute skilled trades shortage across North Carolina, South Carolina, and Tennessee. Here's who's hiring and what they're paying.
Washington's skilled trades are among the highest-paid in the nation — electricians earn a median $96,530, data centers are doubling in Central WA, and Boeing's 33,000-worker Puget Sound workforce is raising wages. Here's the full picture.
New York has 148 trade schools across 82 cities — from CUNY community colleges at $4,800/year to specialized private schools in NYC. See which schools top the rankings and why NY trade wages run well above national averages.
California has 374 trade schools — more than any other state. Here are the specific top-ranked schools by overall quality, best value, and trade specialty, with what sets each one apart.
Colorado just crossed 6 million residents, its climate workforce plan calls for thousands of new electricians and wind techs by 2030, and trade school enrollment is up 28% since 2019. Here are the top-ranked Colorado trade schools and what's driving demand.
Texas is the #2 state for trade education with 239 schools, no state income tax, and booming demand from DFW data centers, Permian oil fields, and 1,500 new residents a day. See the top-ranked Texas trade schools.
Florida's construction industry contributed $62.4 billion to state GDP with 492,300 workers — and the demand for electricians, plumbers, HVAC techs, and welders is only accelerating. Here's what you need to know.
California leads every US state with 374 trade schools, 652 programs, and billions in state funding. See the top-ranked schools, salary data, apprenticeship programs, and what's driving massive demand.
The White House talks up trade careers, but what's actually changed? From Workforce Pell Grants and the 1-million apprenticeship push to Job Corps closures and $1.6 billion in cuts, here's the full picture for prospective trade students.
A data-driven look at how trade salaries grow over time — from apprentice wages through journeyman pay to master-level earnings for electricians, plumbers, HVAC techs, and welders.
Already working in one trade but thinking about a change? Here's how to leverage your existing skills, handle credentials, pay for retraining, and make the switch without starting from scratch.