Invest in as much of yourself as you can, you are your own biggest asset by far.
An education is the biggest investment you could make in yourself. You’ll carry the skills you learn with you for the rest of your life. No one can take them away. You can’t default on them.
But you can fall behind on student loans. That’s why it’s important to consider the returns on your training investment. How does the cost of trade school stack up against other educational options, the job prospects after graduation and the satisfaction you could find in your career choice?
Cost vs. Career Potential
- 62% of firms are struggling to fill skilled trade positions, including qualified welders, electricians and HVAC/R techniciansii.
- Vocational training can prepare you for them at a fraction of the cost of college.
Average Training Cost Comparison
Bachelor’s Degree from a University 4 Years
$106,372
Associate Degree from a Community College 2 Years
$21,196iii
Certificate from a Trade School 1 Year
$14,500iv
Earning Potential
- 4 years of college is not the only route to a good paying job. In the U.S., there are 30 million jobs with a median yearly salary of $55,000 that don’t require a bachelor’s degreev.
- Supply and Demand: The skilled trade shortage is forcing more companies to raise wages for workers with the right skillsvi.
Earnings Comparison
Bachelor’s Degree from a 4-year College
$60,996 in 2017
Associate Degree from a Community College
$43,472 in 2017
Diploma/Degree from a Trade School
$67,000vii
High School Diploma
$37,024 in 2017viii
Career Satisfaction
- Boredom was the top reason American workers cited for looking for a new job in 2018ix.
- Skilled trades jobs aren’t boring. Welders, electricians and HVAC/R technicians put their skills to work to rebuild and repair America’s infrastructurex.
- Building and fixing thingsxi.
- Active workxii.
- Working with your handsxi.
- Travel opportunities for weldersxiii.
- 80% or more of TWS welding graduates were employed in their field of studyxiv, xv, xvi.
- More than 40 percent of college graduates worked jobs that didn’t require a degree in 2017xvii.
Skilled Trades Training: A Smart Investment
A post-secondary education could be the first major investment you make after high school. It’s a big decision because it could impact how soon you can hit other major milestones in your life:
- Supporting yourself
- Getting Married
- Buying A Home
- Starting a Family
With lower training costs compared to college, healthy job prospects and the potential for career satisfaction, skilled trades training can be the first smart investment of many you makexviii.
Fund Your Investment in Your Future
See if you qualify and map out a plan to fund your investment in your future with the resources and tools below.
Sign Up Today for Skilled Trades Training
Ready to get started with skilled trades training? We can answer any questions you may have and walk you through the admissions, enrollment, and financial aid process. Call us today!
Additional Sources
ihttp://time.com/3968806/warren-buffett-investment-advice/
iihttps://www.adeccousa.com/employers/resources/skilled-trades-in-demand/ iiihttps://nces.ed.gov/fastfacts/display.asp?id=76
ivhttps://www.trade-schools.net/articles/trade-school-cost.asp
vhttps://www.npr.org/sections/ed/2018/04/25/605092520/high-paying-trade-jobs-sitempty-while-high-school-grads-line-up-for-university
vihttps://money.cnn.com/2018/01/17/news/economy/us-worker-shortage/index.html
viihttps://www.payscale.com/research/US/Degree=Trade_School_Diploma/Salary viiihttps://www.bls.gov/careeroutlook/2018/data-on-display/education-pays.htm
vxihttps://www.kornferry.com/insights/articles/job-hunting-2018-boredom
xhttps://www.latimes.com/opinion/op-ed/la-oe-jacoby-combing-infrastructure-plan-and-job-training20170614-story.html
xihttps://www.trade-schools.net/articles/hands-on-jobs.asp
xiihttps://www.trade-schools.net/articles/active-jobs.asp
xiiihttp://gowelding.org/articles/facts-about-career-welding/
xivhttps://www.tws.edu/wp-content/uploads/tws-houston-right-to-know.pdf
xvhttps://www.tws.edu/wp-content/uploads/tws-jacksonville-right-to-know.pdf
xvihttps://www.tws.edu/wp-content/uploads/tws-tulsa-right-to-know.pdf
xviihttps://www.burning-glass.com/wp-content/uploads/permanent_detour_underemployment_report.pdf xviiihttps://money.usnews.com/money/blogs/my-money/articles/2016-04-12/the-financial-case-for-tradeschool-over-college