What good trades jobs still have a bright future?

[Phokus]

Hi,

I'm trying to help my nephew out, i don't think college is for him and i think he should think about trades. I was trying to make a list with him with pros/cons... anyone know if i'm wrong or if there are any other jobs i should be thinking about?

Mechanic - he's really good with cars and enjoys them a lot, however, i'm afraid that with electric cars and self driving cars this job doesn't have a good future

Electrician - sounds like a good career, a little dangerous, he's not so good at math though

Plumber - I can't imagine technology ever getting rid of this job and the two times i've had a plumber come over i've felt he bent me over and #$*&ed me from behind . Probably not very pleasant when the toilet is clogged up with $#$* But this sounds like a good prospect

Welder - Probably not as good a paying career as the others? The other reservation is that i heard the shit you breath in when you weld is really bad for you.

Edit: Oh i forgot HVAC technician, that's a still good career, right?

 

[highland145]

Work ethic, drive and knowledge/ability are essential for making the most $$. Being someone else's grunt is never going to pay well.

Bro is a plumber and makes a crap ton.
Nephew does HVAC and makes a crap ton.
Step nephew is an electrician and makes a crap ton.
Welders here make ~$38/hr

 

[Phokus]

Work ethic, drive and knowledge/ability are essential for making the most $$.

Bro is a plumber and makes a crap ton.
Nephew does HVAC and makes a crap ton.
Step nephew is an electrician and makes a crap ton.
Welders here make ~$38/hr

Goes without saying. He spends a lot of time doing shit to his car (and mine too), he's really good with his hands. Shame that i don't think being a mechanic will be a very good career in the future though (someone tell me i'm wrong!)

 

[highland145]

Goes without saying. He spends a lot of time doing shit to his car (and mine too), he's really good with his hands. Shame that i don't think being a mechanic will be a very good career in the future though (someone tell me i'm wrong!)

You're wrong. Happy?


I would think a certified mechanic could do quite well.

 

[Phokus]

You're wrong. Happy?


I would think a certified mechanic could do quite well.

I dunno, self driving cars could destroy that career though. Also electric cars don't need much maintenance/repairs.

 

[BeeBoop]

A former high school classmate became a mechanic after he got his masters in business. With barely any money he opened a shack in the back of his parent's back yard. Ten years later, he owns a 6 bay shop and an apartment complex. This is not the only mechanic that I know is doing well. Like highland145 said, it's mainly work ethic and drive. I know a Walmart mechanic or rather, tire changing technician and he's been doing it for the past 5 years. He doesn't have the drive to advance his career obviously.

 

[blackdogdeek]

Landscaping/Lawn Mowing business
Carpenter/Home contractor

 

[rudder]

I dunno, self driving cars could destroy that career though. Also electric cars don't need much maintenance/repairs.

self driving does not mean self repairing. Plus, there are still a lot of moving mechanical parts on an electric car. As long as there are environmental conditions (pot holes, road salt, etc) that can screw up cars... there will always be a need for mechanics.

 

[Phokus]

self driving does not mean self repairing. Plus, there are still a lot of moving mechanical parts on an electric car. As long as there are environmental conditions (pot holes, road salt, etc) that can screw up cars... there will always be a need for mechanics.

Maybe, i guess, i'm a bit wary. OTOH, maybe americans love their cars so much they'll still buy them. Still a risk to consider.

 

[BeeBoop]

I am in agreement with rudder. I don't see the job of a mechanic going away. From my point of view, its the old cars that always need fixing and not the new ones under warranty. While electric cars are around the corner, they will still break down at some point in their life time. Electric cars might be more efficient and last longer but it isn't the newer cars that need fixing, it's the older affordable electric cars that will require costly mechanical fixes.

 

[BeeBoop]

Also, we are still a long way off from a majority of everyone in the U.S. owning an electrical car. They are priced higher and there's no charge up stations between cities or even in cities. You can't take an electric car for a family vacation because you'll have no where to charge it. You can only charge it in your garage. I doubt any apartment complex has a charge up station. Until someone solves the charge up stations problem between cities and even the inner city, I don't see the electric car being a threat to the traditional motor or mechanic's job, at least not any time in the next 10 years which is plenty of time to have made huge bank and find a new career change.

 

[Eug]

A couple of trades told me that there is good money in trades, but a lot of trades do quite poorly, because it depends on the person. (Obviously.) The good ones often end up owning their own businesses and making a good living, and the bad ones continue to work as grunts for others at low pay.

It's not just about drive and work ethic. You also need some business smarts, etc. and sometimes luck.

BTW, just as a customer I've come across a fair number idiots who are trades. I predict they will always be poorly paid, because they just can't think themselves out of a paper bag. But at least they have a paying job, even if it's low pay.

I've also come across a fair number of people who are trades but who are intelligent and have some business smarts, and can manage people, and they're doing pretty well. Not rich, but comfortable, and slowly expanding their businesses.

 

[mmntech]

Any trades job that cannot be outsourced or replaced with automation is going to have a bright future, and more importantly, pay well. Trades are still stigmatized by the education system, so there always seems to be a shortage of workers. I wish I had followed that career path instead of wasting my time with university.

 

[gorcorps]

Hi,

I'm trying to help my nephew out, i don't think college is for him and i think he should think about trades. I was trying to make a list with him with pros/cons... anyone know if i'm wrong or if there are any other jobs i should be thinking about?

Mechanic - he's really good with cars and enjoys them a lot, however, i'm afraid that with electric cars and self driving cars this job doesn't have a good future

Electrician - sounds like a good career, a little dangerous, he's not so good at math though

Plumber - I can't imagine technology ever getting rid of this job and the two times i've had a plumber come over i've felt he bent me over and #$*&ed me from behind . Probably not very pleasant when the toilet is clogged up with $#$* But this sounds like a good prospect

Welder - Probably not as good a paying career as the others? The other reservation is that i heard the shit you breath in when you weld is really bad for you.

Edit: Oh i forgot HVAC technician, that's a still good career, right?

You don't think a welder would be a good paying career? lol... a proper welder will make a SHIT load of money. They're paying them well because it's hard to do properly, and as time goes on we have more of a need for stainless welding (difficult) and now we're starting to see more aluminum welding (difficult).

However, as is true with a lot of jobs, to do the best you really need to be mobile. The ones that are making a lot moved to the Dakotas where a lot of new oil infrastructure was going up. Lots of hours and a lot of money very quickly.

 

[Hugo Drax]

It does not matter what you do. If you do not have the drive to succeed you really will not go anywhere.

This is why you see so many people who are perpetual college students, racking up 6 digit debts and working a minimum wage job wrapping burgers up to hand out the drive thru window.

 

[techs]

Medical fields like xray, CT scan tech. Others like respiratory therapist require 2 years of college but the courses are not that hard.

Baby boomers medical treatment ftw.

 

[Mixolydian]

Pretty much all of them.

 

[TheSlamma]

Any of those are going to do well.

1/2 of GenX and a bigger portion of Millennials don't know how to do s**t on their own, they call for every service to be done for them. Tiling, plumbing, auto mechanics, HVAC, tuckpointing, bath and kitchen remodel no one knows how to do any of these things anymore. Most of the guys I know that do these professionally have to turn away jobs they are so swamped.

 

[Phokus]

Thanks guys.

I was looking at the military and i see the navy has some job opportunities:

https://www.cool.navy.mil/usn/enlisted/ut.htm

Is that a good way to get certifications/experience for plumbing/Hvac type jobs for the civilian world?

The United Services Military Apprenticeship Program (USMAP) is a formal military training program that provides active duty Navy and Navy Reserve Full Time Support (FTS) service members the opportunity to improve their job skills and to complete their civilian apprenticeship requirements while they are on active duty. The U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) provides the nationally recognized "Certificate of Completion" upon program completion.

USMAP enhances your job skills and shows your motivation for more challenging military assignments. Having a DOL Certificate of Completion is an advantage in getting better civilian jobs since employers know the value of apprenticeships. Also, your DOL Certificates are part of your Learning and Development Roadmaps (LaDR) Paygrade icon: Click to go to NKO and view the LaDR for this rating.— Paygrade icon: Click to go to NKO and view the LaDR for this rating. and these certificates will enhance your opportunity for advancement and retention.

The following USMAP apprenticeship trades are related to the UT-Utilitiesman rating:

Computer Operator
Hydroelectric-Machinery Mechanic (Utilities)
Pipe Coverer And Insulator
Pipe Fitter (Construction)
Plumber
Power-Plant Operator (Utilities)
Refrigeration Mechanic
Refrigeration Mechanic (Any Industry)
Water-Treatment-Plant Operator (Waterworks)

 

[Markbnj]

Programming is a trade, imo, and it will continue to do well for some time to come.

 

[mmntech]

Thanks guys.

I was looking at the military and i see the navy has some job opportunities:

https://www.cool.navy.mil/usn/enlisted/ut.htm

Is that a good way to get certifications/experience for plumbing/Hvac type jobs for the civilian world?

My cousin did this. Went into the army to get some experience. He's an audio engineer Think he does something with surveillance. Just started his second tour. They provide educational opportunities as well. It's a good place to get started if you can handle the stress of it. There's also the risk of getting deployed.

Programming is a trade, imo, and it will continue to do well for some time to come.

My concern with programming is that it can be easily outsourced to China and India.

 

[hanoverphist]

I dunno, self driving cars could destroy that career though. Also electric cars don't need much maintenance/repairs.

flawed logic. self driving cars still need the parts that make it move. whether they are powered by electric motors or by ICE there will still be transmissions, steering components and other systems that will need serviced, replaced and innovated. mechanics may not look the same in 20 years, but they will still me necessary.

besides, no matter how much people want self driving, low maintenance electric cars there will always be gearheads that want an older car with a cable throttle and a loud, smelly V8 powering it. i dont see that going away anytime soon, short of a martial law coup or something drastic (like in demolition man)

 

[Phokus]

My cousin did this. Went into the army to get some experience. He's an audio engineer Think he does something with surveillance. Just started his second tour. They provide educational opportunities as well. It's a good place to get started if you can handle the stress of it. There's also the risk of getting deployed.



My concern with programming is that it can be easily outsourced to China and India.

I guess if you get deployed and you're a plumber for the navy, you wouldn't (hopefully) be on the front lines going door to door hunting down terrorists, right?

 

[purbeast0]

My cousin did this. Went into the army to get some experience. He's an audio engineer Think he does something with surveillance. Just started his second tour. They provide educational opportunities as well. It's a good place to get started if you can handle the stress of it. There's also the risk of getting deployed.



My concern with programming is that it can be easily outsourced to China and India.

any company who is outsourcing programming to china and india is not going to last long. with software dev, you get what you pay for.

 

[mmntech]

I guess if you get deployed and you're a plumber for the navy, you wouldn't (hopefully) be on the front lines going door to door hunting down terrorists, right?

While naval vessels are less likely to come under direct attack, there's still inherent dangers associated with the job. Look at the USS Cole. However, I'd say it's more being away from home and family for long stints of time.

any company who is outsourcing programming to china and india is not going to last long. with software dev, you get what you pay for.

Keep thinking that. I'm sure they said the same thing about a lot of stuff.