What is the best trade to get into for the future?

[Avery123]

I am a highschool graduate and am still confused about which way to go thinking welding or electrician but i dont know yet there is so many options if someone can help me out i would appreciate it. Which trade has the most available jobs and is top grossing for the near future?

[no_more_hacks@hotmail.com]

heating and air conditioning
lots of jobs, tons of gaurenteed service work, people will pay a premiuim to get their heat or AC running when its needed. Its a well protected trade, meaning it has the least amount of handimen or half ars renovators trying to beat the licenced guys out of the work.
Plumbing is second in rates are good and high for service work, I know a few plumbers that make their day ($$$$) sometimes with 2 or 3 service calls in the morning.
Electrical, is ok, but presently proliferated with the idiot handiman and small time renovators taking the work and causing a shortage of smaller jobs for small and starting companies, the pay is about the lowest of the 3 yet the expences and liabilities (government induced) have gone up by over 300%

Welder, the stats are not fully out yet on that one, but there is an industry glutten of them, a massive push by industry and schools for a couple years,,,,, then suddenly a pile of layoffs by some manufacturers,,,,, I think for a basic welder you will have a hard time finding really good pay in any new job, however if you are good enough to do specialty welding you could fetch a good buck

[beendaredundat]

if you can get with an electrical company that does handyman/service work it will be great. Other than that, electricians are used for big projects and then laid off.

HVAC is a great business to be in. Its not too difficult either. Once you get your HVAC ticket, you can easily change careers and get into automations, operations of buildings etc.

Welding is overloaded with people and the jobs are per contract basis. If you do welding focus on Vessels, those companies that hire you for that, usually will keep you for the long haul.

Plumbing all depends on the company. But once you start plumbing, even though the company that you work for is not great, get your ticket or at least until your 3rd year. Not many look for 2nd year and lower.

I know this because I tried all 3 and HVAC is where I am now!

[steve00332]

I'm also a Hvac/r tech. I find the schooling to be quite difficult. The hvac trade is definitely better then any of the other trades specified in this forum.

[jctrd@hotmail.com]

Why not a linesman, or powerline tech as there called. I too was in your shoes. Thought about electrician, and machinest, not so much plumbing. I enjoy the outdoors and figured if I got a job as an electrician I would be wireing in appartment buildings the same layout in each room on each floor....boreing as hell, and indoors. There is a program offered at nscc cumberland campus in springhill. One year utility worker program gets you introduced to the trade. Just sayin you sound like me and thats what I do now and love it. The money is good, and no chance a handyman will end up doing your work. Best of luck John

[Tyreman]

I ran my own HVAC for over 25 years and if you do it today your're crazy
But I will let you tell me all about it.

[fwtrucker]

I say a government job is the way to go

[no_more_hacks@hotmail.com]

[sgbotsford@gmail.com]

A lot depends on your interests. I would find welding deadly dull. You have to do it exactly right every time. Not a job for a creative individual.

I've done a lot of my own plumbing, both in my house, and the irrigation system for my farm. You spend a lot of time on your knees plumbing. I think the only job worse that way is installing flooring.

Electrical and HVAC are easy, at least at the residential level.

Watch out for the positions that are factory/industrial -- tend to be very noisy.

If you like outdoor work, look at surveying, or environmental tech jobs.

If I was starting again, today, I'd look at geology or forestry.

[cprnicus]

I think it depends more on personality type. I did roofing for years when I was young. Liked the outdoors and the money was good, got hurt and got into sales for awhile. Learned lots about how to deal with people and overcome objections. Found I wasn't the office type so I went back to construction with exterior housing ... roof, siding, soffit and fascia installations. Found indoor construction work in the cold months and learned lots about home mechanical ... HVAC, plumbing, wiring, flooring, insulation,drywall, cabinetry etc. All this came in extremely handy when I bought a house. Now I do renovations and find the variety is what I need to keep myself from getting bored as I work.

[pumper1970]

My two cents on your question. Don't pick a trade by the money you'll make. Try to talk to guys who are 40 in a trade you like.Then try a 50 year old. Finally try a long timer. Ask if they hurt every single day, ask if their comrades do too. See if they walk with a limp,stooped over, grossly overweight. I'm 42, working as a foreman in the chain link fence "industry".I make around 60k a year with no dues, but no pension.
find a trade that's safe, no bending over all day, work for a big safe company not a fly by night. Work smart for about 15 years, save all the money you can, treat it like a prison term. Stay off the coke like the losers do. Just because it's friday doesn't mean 20 beers. Work saturdays,sunday if you can. It'll show you're not just a grunt, but possible supervisor. that means company truck and gas($1000 extra a month you wont spend.). it means more time warm in winter, and trust me son, winter is bad every yer you get older.
After 15 years at a trade you like, retire from it. Go back to school, become a jobsite safety officer, do the job you've always wanted to do. Spend the last 25 years of your working career healthy, with a reminder of construction days in case you start hating your new chapter in your working life.
I might sound bitter and angry about construction. I'm sore all the time from countless injuries both big and small. i stick it out because my kids and wife need me to keep on doing it. At 42 it's time tod rastically change diet,exercise,maybe sell all the toys,get smaller house. Then maybe i can do something easier on the body.I Know i'm not alone out there, i hope someone else offers some of the same advice to a young man who asks them how they like their job.

[Lopsy646]

[gogomom]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2Kn-XXNCG8o