Trades Guide
Which Trade is the right one for you? Use this table to learn more about types of skilled trade apprenticeships.
| Trade | Tradeswomen Job Duties & Skills | Journeyworker Pay Level $ — $$$ |
Minimum Qualifications | Apprenticeship Length 🕓 — 🕓 🕓 🕓 |
| Electrical Lineworker | Electrical lineworkers construct and maintain electric transmission anddistribution facilities that deliver electricity to buildings. | $$$ | HS Diploma/GED + math requirements | 🕓 🕓 |
| Carpenter | Carpenters construct and remodel almost every kind of structure, including houses, commercial buildings, bridges, churches, factories, and highways. | $ — $$ | HS Diploma/GED + math requirements | 🕓 🕓 |
| Electrician – Limited Energy, Restricted Energy | Limited energy electricians install and repair electrical systems and equipment of 100 VA or less including sound, public address, nurse call and other systems. | $$ | HS Diploma/GED + math requirements | 🕓 — 🕓 🕓 |
| Exterior / Interior Specialist – Drywall | An exterior/interior specialist constructs and insulates interior and exterior building surfaces. | $$ | HS Diploma/GED | 🕓 🕓 🕓 |
| Floor Coverer | Resilient floor and decorative coverings workers install, replace and repair all types of carpets, plastic laminates and other decorative coverings in all types of structures. | $ | HS Diploma/GED | 🕓 🕓 — 🕓 🕓 🕓 |
| Glazier – Glass Installer | Glaziers prepare and install various types of glass, mirrors, windows and aluminum doors. | $$ | HS Diploma/GED | 🕓 🕓 🕓 |
| HVAC | Heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) is a combination of sheet metal and electrical work. | $$ | HS Diploma/GED + math requirements | 🕓 🕓 🕓 |
| Heat & Frost Insulator and Asbestos Worker | Workers in this trade apply insulation materials to pipes, tanks, boilers, ducts, refrigeration equipment and other surfaces requiring temperature control. | $$$ | HS Diploma/GED | 🕓 🕓 |
| Ironworker | Ironworkers erect the structural framework for high rise buildings, bridges, power plants and towers, place reinforcing steel in concrete forms for roadways, foundations and structures. | $$ | HS Diploma/GED/Physically Capable | 🕓 🕓 |
| Laborer – Construction | Construction laborers are generalists who perform many different tasks during all stages of construction. They operate a variety of equipment including pavement breakers, jackhammers, earth tampers, concrete, mortar, and plaster mixers, electric and hydraulic boring machines, torches, small mechanical hoists, laser beam equipment, and surveying and measuring equipment. They may use computers and other high-tech input devices to control robotic pipe cutters and cleaners. To perform their jobs effectively, construction laborers must be familiar with the duties of other craft workers and with the materials, tools, and machinery they use. Construction laborers often work as part of a team with other skilled craft workers, jointly carrying out assigned construction tasks. At other times, construction laborers may work alone, reading and interpreting instructions, plans, and specifications with little or no supervision. At heavy and highway construction sites, construction laborers clear and prepare highway work zones and rights of way; install traffic barricades, cones, and markers; and control traffic passing near, in, and around work zones. They also install sewer, water, and storm drain pipes, and place concrete and asphalt on roads. | $ | HS Diploma/GED/Physically Capable | 🕓 |
| Line Repairer | Utility electrical workers construct and maintain overhead and underground electric lines and facilities that distribute electricity. | |||
| Mason | (Also known as Bricklayer, Bricklayer Restoration, Cement Mason, Marble Setter, Terrazzo Worker and Tilesetter) Masons construct walls, fireplaces, chimneys, industrial furnaces and many other brick structures. |
$ — $$ | HS Diploma/GED | 🕓 🕓 |
| Machinist | Machinists use machine tools, such as lathes, milling machines, and grinders, to produce precision metal parts. Many machinists must be able to use both manual and CNC machinery. CNC machines control the cutting tool speed and do all necessary cuts to create a part. | $$$ | HS Diploma/GED | 🕓 🕓 🕓 |
| Millwright | Millwrights install and assemble precision machines using sophisticated measuring instruments. | $$ | HS Diploma/GED | 🕓 🕓 🕓 |
| Operating Engineer | Operating engineers operate cranes, bulldozers, pavers, trench excavators and other heavy construction equipment used for the construction of buildings, etc. | $$ | HS Diploma/GED | 🕓 🕓 |
| Painter | Painters prepare surfaces ranging from wood to metal and masonry and apply paint and other types of wall coverings including vinyl, fabric and aluminum. | $ | No Diploma/GED Requirements | 🕓 🕓 |
| Piledriver | Piledrivers drive wood, steel and concrete pilings on docks, bridges and ferry landings. | $$ | No Diploma/GED Requirements | 🕓 🕓 🕓 |
| Plasterer | Plasterers finish interior walls and ceilings of buildings. | $ | HS Diploma/GED | 🕓 🕓 |
| Plumbers | Plumbers install pipes and fixtures such as sinks, toilets, water heaters and more on commercial and residential sites. | $$-$$$ | HS Diploma /GED/1 Year of Algebra or Math Placement Test | 🕓 🕓 🕓 |
| Power Line Clearance Tree Trimmer | Power line clearance tree trimmers trim trees away from high voltage power lines. | $ | HS Diploma/GED, First Aid/CPR | 🕓 |
| Roofer | Work is done outdoors in all types of weather, at heights and on varying roof structures. | $ | HS Diploma/GED | 🕓 |
| Sheet Metal Worker | Sheet metal workers fabricate and install fittings and duct work used for heating ventilation and air-conditioning systems in building structures. | $$ | HS Diploma/GED, 1 year Algebra or Placement Test | 🕓🕓🕓 |
| Sign Fabricator / Erector | Sign fabricators and erectors craft and install signs. | $$ | HS Diploma/GED | 🕓🕓 |
| Sprinkler Fitter | Sprinkler Fitters install, test, inspect, and certifying of automatic fire suppression systems in all types of structures. | $$ | HS Diploma/GED | 🕓🕓🕓 |
| Steamfitter | Steamfitters install piping and tubing made of carbon steel, copper, plastic, glass or other metals. | $$$ | HS Diploma/GED, 1 year Algebra or Placement Test | 🕓 |
| Welder | A welder may weld or join metal parts on bridges, construction or power-plants, refineries or pipelines. They may work in aerospace applications, shipbuilding, automobile manufacturing, and other areas where welding is necessary.Welding is unique, because many trades including welding, such as carpenter, ironworker, sheetmetal worker, piledriver, sprinkler fitter, pipefitter, and steamfitter | $$$ | HS Diploma/GED + math requirements | 🕓 🕓 🕓 |
