What Trade Career Should I Choose

Trade Career How-To Guides / What Trade Career Should I Choose

Updated September 2025

Choosing a trade career is an exciting decision that opens the door to hands-on work, financial stability, and long-term growth. With so many options available, from electricians to welders, it’s important to weigh the pros and cons of each career to determine which path aligns best with my interests, skills, and goals.

Electrician

Electricians are responsible for installing, maintaining, and repairing electrical systems in homes, businesses, and industrial settings. This field offers high earning potential and job security.

Pros:

  • High Demand: The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics projects a 6% growth in electrician jobs from 2022 to 2032.
  • Good Pay: Median annual salary of $60,240, with the potential to earn more as a master electrician.
  • Variety of Work: Opportunities to specialize in residential, commercial, or industrial sectors.

Cons:

  • Physically Demanding: Requires working in tight spaces and sometimes at heights.
  • Risk of Injury: Working with electricity always carries safety risks, though training helps mitigate them.

“Electricians are essential to modern life, and their skills will continue to be in demand as new technologies emerge.”
– National Electrical Contractors Association (NECA)

Plumber

Plumbers install and repair piping systems for water, gas, and waste. This career offers excellent job stability and opportunities for entrepreneurship.

Pros:

  • High Earning Potential: Median annual wage of $59,880, with experienced plumbers earning significantly more.
  • Job Stability: Plumbing services are always in demand, regardless of economic conditions.
  • Opportunities for Self-Employment: Many plumbers start their own businesses after gaining experience.

Cons:

  • Physically Intensive: Involves heavy lifting, crawling into tight spaces, and working in various weather conditions.
  • Emergency Calls: Plumbers often need to be available for after-hours emergencies.

“Plumbing is more than fixing leaks—it’s about ensuring the health and safety of communities by maintaining clean water systems.”
– American Society of Plumbing Engineers (ASPE)

HVAC Technician

HVAC (Heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning) technicians install and maintain systems that regulate temperature and air quality in buildings. It’s a rapidly growing field due to increased focus on energy efficiency.

Pros:

  • Growing Demand: Employment expected to grow 5% from 2022 to 2032.
  • Specialization Options: Opportunities to focus on residential, commercial, or green energy systems.
  • Steady Work: Year-round demand due to maintenance and installation needs.

Cons:

  • On-Call Work: Technicians may be required to work evenings, weekends, or holidays.
  • Physical Labor: Involves lifting heavy equipment and working in extreme temperatures.

“The HVAC industry is critical in the move toward energy-efficient homes and businesses.”
– Air Conditioning Contractors of America (ACCA)

Welder

Welders join metal parts together for construction, manufacturing, and infrastructure projects. This career offers flexibility and opportunities to work in diverse industries.

Pros:

  • High Flexibility: Welders can work in industries ranging from automotive to aerospace.
  • Opportunities to Travel: Many welders work on large projects that require travel across the country or internationally.
  • Quick Entry: Training programs are often shorter than other trades, allowing faster entry into the workforce.

Cons:

  • Safety Risks: Exposure to high heat, bright lights, and potentially hazardous materials.
  • Physically Demanding: Requires working in uncomfortable positions for extended periods.

“Welding is the backbone of many industries, creating the infrastructure that supports our daily lives.”
– American Welding Society (AWS)

Carpenter

Carpenters construct, repair, and install building frameworks and structures made from wood and other materials. This trade combines creativity with technical skill.

Pros:

  • Creative Work: Ability to design and build custom projects.
  • Good Pay: Median annual wage of $51,390.
  • Job Variety: Work ranges from residential homes to commercial construction.

Cons:

  • Physical Demands: Long hours on feet, lifting, and repetitive tasks.
  • Exposure: Outdoor work in different weather conditions.

“Carpenters shape the spaces where people live and work, blending function with craftsmanship.”
– United Brotherhood of Carpenters

Automotive Technician

Automotive technicians inspect, repair, and maintain cars and trucks. With the rise of electric vehicles, new opportunities are emerging in this field.

Pros:

  • Consistent Demand: Cars always need maintenance and repair.
  • Good Income: Median pay around $48,800.
  • Future Growth: Growing need for technicians trained in hybrid and electric vehicles.

Cons:

  • Physically Intensive: Requires lifting heavy parts and standing for long periods.
  • Changing Technology: Requires continuous training to stay current with modern vehicle systems.

“Automotive technicians keep the world moving, adapting as technology transforms transportation.”
– National Institute for Automotive Service Excellence (ASE)

Heavy Equipment Operator

Heavy equipment operators control machinery such as bulldozers, excavators, and cranes to build roads, bridges, and other infrastructure.

Pros:

  • Strong Demand: Driven by construction and infrastructure projects nationwide.
  • High Wages: Median annual salary of $54,210.
  • Outdoor Work: Opportunities to work on large-scale, impactful projects.

Cons:

  • Seasonal Work: Construction can slow in winter months depending on region.
  • Safety Risks: Operating large machinery requires constant attention and safety protocols.

“Heavy equipment operators build the backbone of modern infrastructure, shaping cities and communities.”
– Associated General Contractors of America (AGC)

Each trade career offers unique benefits and challenges. For those seeking job stability and high earning potential, becoming an electrician or plumber might be the best fit. If you prefer a field that offers specialization in cutting-edge technologies, HVAC or automotive could be ideal. Meanwhile, welding, carpentry, and heavy equipment operations provide flexibility, creativity, or opportunities to work on major infrastructure projects.

Ultimately, the right trade career depends on personal interests, physical stamina, and long-term goals. Regardless of the path chosen, trades offer rewarding, stable careers that are essential to society and provide opportunities for growth, independence, and financial security.