What good trades jobs still have a bright future?

[Squeetard]

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

You're still wrong.

 

[skull]

All trades are good. Generally plumbers are paid the most because who wants to play in crap, HVAC guys are next and electricians are 3rd of the higher skilled construction trades. All are paid fairly well of course working for yourself is the only way to make real money.

If I was a kid ready to go to trade school again. I would go for industrial controls and PLCS. Good money highly technical and just sounds like a blast to work in factories on all sorts of cool stuff. From what I understand these guys don't have to work very hard and you get to play with giant electric motors. Plus I believe these guys are in high demand.

Mechanic is definitely a good trade thats not going away any time soon. There is so much to cars they're are many options from lowly parts changers to very skilled highly paid troubleshooters.

 

[purbeast0]

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.



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

you keep thinking that china and india will take over dev jobs. i'm sure all of the top software companies out there strictly outsource...

 

[Thump553]

Of the suggestions listed by OP, all are good except maybe mechanic. From what I have observed, auto mechanic is an overcrowded field and will never pay as well as the others. Diesel/truck mechanic is still strong and steady demand but strong odds of always being a wage slave.

Keep an eye on the future as well. If you asked me this question 5-10 years ago, I would have listed CNC operator well above any of the ones listed. Highly paid skilled craft, steady demand, interesting and satisfying job if you have intelligence and some math skills. Now I'd be worried about the effects of 3D industrial printers on that field.

That holds true for a lot of jobs. Being a butcher/meat cutter was a great job with good pay until 15 years ago or so, now it's poorly paid, sweat shop conditions and mostly done by immigrants. And like several others have pointed out, the golden days of programming may already be behind us.

People skills, ability to run a business and drive are always paramount.

 

[Phokus]

Of the suggestions listed by OP, all are good except maybe mechanic. From what I have observed, auto mechanic is an overcrowded field and will never pay as well as the others. Diesel/truck mechanic is still strong and steady demand but strong odds of always being a wage slave.

Keep an eye on the future as well. If you asked me this question 5-10 years ago, I would have listed CNC operator well above any of the ones listed. Highly paid skilled craft, steady demand, interesting and satisfying job if you have intelligence and some math skills. Now I'd be worried about the effects of 3D industrial printers on that field.

That holds true for a lot of jobs. Being a butcher/meat cutter was a great job with good pay until 15 years ago or so, now it's poorly paid, sweat shop conditions and mostly done by immigrants. And like several others have pointed out, the golden days of programming may already be behind us.

People skills, ability to run a business and drive are always paramount.

Yeah that's why i think plumbing is the best one on that list. Can't be outsourced, and i don't see any technological changes coming that would change the plumbing profession much. It's all pipes! I'm still getting buttfvcked by plumbers today like i was 10 years ago too

 

[skull]

Of the suggestions listed by OP, all are good except maybe mechanic. From what I have observed, auto mechanic is an overcrowded field and will never pay as well as the others. Diesel/truck mechanic is still strong and steady demand but strong odds of always being a wage slave.

Thats true of your average half wit mechanic. Very good mechanics that can figure out difficult electrical problems and fix anything fast are in high demand and highly paid. A lot of dealership mechanics are paid on commission so if you can troubleshoot/fix fast you can pull down 6 figures even here in the midwest. Of course you have to be really good and it takes years of experience to get to that level. Certainly not your average mechanic.

 

[notposting]

I went through the apprenticeship for Limited Energy Installer/Tech, through the IBEW JATC. Most of the trades around here (Detroit area) have their own similar training setups.

Granted, I went into it thinking it was going to lead to being an electrician, but nope. That was the Electrical program. Anyway, you work during the apprenticeship, getting paid and moving up.

Depending on your nephews age and status, the trades would be great. The real key (especially if you get into the union side - which is where you really learn the trade and really make the big bucks, for the most part) is being free to travel after the apprenticeship.

Re union vs non-union trades - around here at least, the union side, despite the much smaller overall marketshare, builds anything of value. On time and on budget. You don't get people hanging around on a union (construction) job site if they can't pull their own weight.

Example for the training, here the electricians (Journeyman Inside Wireman) get their electrical license in year 4. It's a 5 year program. For us half-watts, it's a 3 year program (4800 OJT, plus classroom time, 1 day every 2 weeks), you get another bump after another 6000 hours to Tech I status.

Also, don't forget there is a huge difference between residential and commercial/industrial, service and installation. You won't see a pipefitter plunging toilets at a house (unless his wife makes him).

Also agree with the others regarding electric vehicles - tons of standard components still there, plus more complexities (power regen brakes?) axle/shaft/suspension/drivetrain problems, etc etc. But also not a field where you can get up and go with just yourself and some hand tools.

Pay wise as an example, here the sparky's start at $14 as a 1st punch apprentice, and top out over $35, NOT including benefits, which include both a national and local union pension plan, annuity (aka 401k), medical/dental/vision, supplemental unemployment (SUB pay) - total package is ~$58/hr. But you better be prepared for some long vacations or be moving around the country looking for work. (Low voltage starts at $12+ and tops out at 24, Tech I over $30.

Welding is usually a specialty within one of the other trades - an electrician or pipefitter WITH welding certificate AND experience.

Another one that hasn't seen any mention is iron worker. Those mofo's are crazy, and if you want to get started in that game, you better get started young because once you are old enough to have any sense it would be a HELL NO.

Boilermakers make a shit-ton as well. Carpenter is pretty portable, but they are also easily replaceable and have to run their asses off (even though the good ones are WAY better than the "dudes with a hammer").

Operators end up like BoomerD. Sheet metal workers (tin-knockers) do the ventilation systems. Get a specialty within a field and you can be set. Fire protection as a sub category is usually pretty regulated.

Pros:
see the world and not swab the decks
make some good cash and not pay off student loans
work with a wide variety of people
work at a wide variety of locations
long vacations

Cons:
see the above
limited on the high end for pay, though a good project with a bunch of OT = $$$

Anyway, enough rambling for now.

 

[Phokus]

I went through the apprenticeship for Limited Energy Installer/Tech, through the IBEW JATC. Most of the trades around here (Detroit area) have their own similar training setups.

Granted, I went into it thinking it was going to lead to being an electrician, but nope. That was the Electrical program. Anyway, you work during the apprenticeship, getting paid and moving up.

Depending on your nephews age and status, the trades would be great. The real key (especially if you get into the union side - which is where you really learn the trade and really make the big bucks, for the most part) is being free to travel after the apprenticeship.

Re union vs non-union trades - around here at least, the union side, despite the much smaller overall marketshare, builds anything of value. On time and on budget. You don't get people hanging around on a union (construction) job site if they can't pull their own weight.

Example for the training, here the electricians (Journeyman Inside Wireman) get their electrical license in year 4. It's a 5 year program. For us half-watts, it's a 3 year program (4800 OJT, plus classroom time, 1 day every 2 weeks), you get another bump after another 6000 hours to Tech I status.

Also, don't forget there is a huge difference between residential and commercial/industrial, service and installation. You won't see a pipefitter plunging toilets at a house (unless his wife makes him).

Also agree with the others regarding electric vehicles - tons of standard components still there, plus more complexities (power regen brakes?) axle/shaft/suspension/drivetrain problems, etc etc. But also not a field where you can get up and go with just yourself and some hand tools.

Pay wise as an example, here the sparky's start at $14 as a 1st punch apprentice, and top out over $35, NOT including benefits, which include both a national and local union pension plan, annuity (aka 401k), medical/dental/vision, supplemental unemployment (SUB pay) - total package is ~$58/hr. But you better be prepared for some long vacations or be moving around the country looking for work. (Low voltage starts at $12+ and tops out at 24, Tech I over $30.

Welding is usually a specialty within one of the other trades - an electrician or pipefitter WITH welding certificate AND experience.

Another one that hasn't seen any mention is iron worker. Those mofo's are crazy, and if you want to get started in that game, you better get started young because once you are old enough to have any sense it would be a HELL NO.

Boilermakers make a shit-ton as well. Carpenter is pretty portable, but they are also easily replaceable and have to run their asses off (even though the good ones are WAY better than the "dudes with a hammer").

Operators end up like BoomerD. Sheet metal workers (tin-knockers) do the ventilation systems. Get a specialty within a field and you can be set. Fire protection as a sub category is usually pretty regulated.

Pros:
see the world and not swab the decks
make some good cash and not pay off student loans
work with a wide variety of people
work at a wide variety of locations
long vacations

Cons:
see the above
limited on the high end for pay, though a good project with a bunch of OT = $$$

Anyway, enough rambling for now.

Great stuff, thanks!

 

[Howard]

Industrial programmer/integrator is in high demand most places. When you get rid of labour in the factories, you need someone to maintain/upgrade the automation.

 

[skull]

Industrial programmer/integrator is in high demand most places. When you get rid of labour in the factories, you need someone to maintain/upgrade the automation.

Thats where PLCs controls comes in. You can pick your path in it. Run around and program controls or troubleshoot controls/motors.

 

[Imp]

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?

If something needs fixing in a forward/satellite base or they need to set up plumbing for an Ebola hospital, guess who might have to go...

Yeah that's why i think plumbing is the best one on that list. Can't be outsourced, and i don't see any technological changes coming that would change the plumbing profession much. It's all pipes! I'm still getting buttfvcked by plumbers today like i was 10 years ago too

That's what in-sourcing is for: bring in "temporary" workers.

Honestly, I wouldn't try to think too hard. Just don't pick something with very shitty prospects that is known to be completely saturated or with low pay prospects -- where I am, saturated means teacher, tenured university professor, etc. Things might change by the time you start working after training/schooling.

P.S. You definitely need work ethic and drive, but luck also comes in handy. You can blow half of Hollywood, but you probably still won't be the next Jennifer Lawrence if you get shitty roles or your movie flops despite winning an Oscar.

 

[rh71]

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.

Hard work also means long hours including weekends especially in trades. It takes many many years to get to a stage where you can hire people to do everything for you. While you own your own business and make good money, you have very little time to your family. Is it worth it while you have only 1 life to live, and only a limited amount of years your kids are young? It's not for everybody. Your stay-at-home wife with 3 kids often alone may not think it's ideal either.

 

[DrPizza]

I don't think that most auto mechanics really do as well as some of the other trades - it's a lot harder to own your own business and generate enough business. HVAC - I don't think it's hard to own your own business; ditto plumbing, particularly residential. But, it also depends a lot on what region you're in.

 

[feralkid]

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

Why would you think that?

 

[highland145]

Hard work also means long hours including weekends especially in trades. It takes many many years to get to a stage where you can hire people to do everything for you. While you own your own business and make good money, you have very little time to your family. Is it worth it while you have only 1 life to live, and only a limited amount of years your kids are young? It's not for everybody. Your stay-at-home wife with 3 kids often alone may not think it's ideal either.

This too. My bro works ~14 hrs/day because he's busy and .....he loves it. He is divorced twice, the last was 25 years ago. Work, doing the best job, excellence, code knowledge are what validates him. My sister too, 2 jewelry stores, a gift store, photo business.....WTH is wrong with them?

I don't have that problem, hence my post count. I know you guys are appreciative....

 

[Red Squirrel]

I'd say most trades are good. At least till they start doing prefab houses/buildings more then most trades will be in trouble, but I imagine with so many trades affected a lot of unions will put up a pretty big fight against making that a standard.

Electrician and plumbing are probably the easiest trades as far as physical and knowledge demand. Not saying they're easy, they're still lot of work, but probably some other trades are much harder like hvac, having to size AC units properly etc... Lot of math. Getting electrical papers might be hard as the courses will have lot of math, but the actual job, not so much. It's more about knowing the codes. You need #12 wire if carrying 20 amps up to a certain distance for example. Yeah, there is math behind that, but if you just go by the codes you don't really have to actually calculate it yourself. Some situations may require math but I don't imagine it would get into the super complicated stuff.

 

[highland145]

snip

Bro only does repair work. New want "hit it and get it" work. Watching him work and the results are artful.

 

[notposting]

This too. My bro works ~14 hrs/day because he's busy and .....he loves it. He is divorced twice, the last was 25 years ago. Work, doing the best job, excellence, code knowledge are what validates him. My sister too, 2 jewelry stores, a gift store, photo business.....WTH is wrong with them?

I don't have that problem, hence my post count. I know you guys are appreciative....

Depends on the ambitions - I think owning your business goes beyond "getting in the trades".

Otherwise, if he can get into one of the construction trade unions he will learn a trade inside and out, if things ever got desperate he could certainly work non-union (ie, "scab", but I'm not gonna fault someone for supporting themselves and their family). Go the other way, and he won't have locals across the country to sign up at and be notified when work comes up.

One thing it took a while for me to learn was taking my time and doing the job right. Not rushrushrushrush and then it all sucks and gets done again. Take the time to look around and use your brain first. Take your break and your lunch, but you show up on time (whatever that is for the particular job) and leave on time (usually 5-10 minutes early accounting for cleanup and time out to the lot).

8 for 8: 8 hours pay for 8 hours work.

Work to live, not live to work. OT/weekend/holiday pay rates are such that the employers really really really need the work to use them, so getting your weekends free is great. Regular construction hours around here are 7-3:30, so you're off early, get the weekends free, and occasionally get a big check full of OT.

If your nephew is really smart he'll find a girl with potential for a good steady income though.

 

[highland145]

If your nephew is really smart he'll find a girl with potential for a good steady income though.

Like a nurse.....

 

[bbhaag]

Have him look into pipefitting. It's a trade that seems to be in high demand and pays well. There's a shortage of young people going into the trade so there's always work to be found and there are many different aspects too it.
Keep in mind that pipefitters ARE NOT plumbers.
http://www.nccer.org/pipefitting

 

[Blanky]

I could see welding getting taken out by machines. Hell they already do a ton of it. A smart robot could be taught to do a lot.

Plumbing is pretty good, as is just general construction, because in the latter you can do many things in the field, and I think it's one of those things where if we figured out a way to get a guy to build a house in 6 weeks by himself instead of multiple men, we'd just end up all living in much larger houses, so we'd still need the same amount of labor anyway to live in our palaces.

 

[Blanky]

I could see welding getting taken out by machines. Hell they already do a ton of it. A smart robot could be taught to do a lot.

Plumbing is pretty good, as is just general construction, because in the latter you can do many things in the field, and I think it's one of those things where if we figured out a way to get a guy to build a house in 6 weeks by himself instead of multiple men, we'd just end up all living in much larger houses, so we'd still need the same amount of labor anyway to live in our palaces.

 

[rcpratt]

Maybe this is just what I see at my job, but I'd say welder, pipefitter, or boilermaker. The real money is in the industrial applications.

 

[highland145]

Machinists?

 

[Phokus]

Why would you think that?

A big selling point of the tesla as far less maintenance... electric cars have thousands of fewer parts than gas cars, from what i've read. Kinda hard to fuckup not changing your oil and ruining your car when there's no oil to change too.