When you were in grade school and your teacher asked you what you wanted to be when you grew up, the last thing you probably said was a plumber or electrician. Typical answers to that question include things like a fairy or firefighter… But, of course, as you grew older, determining what you wanted to do in life wasn’t as easy as simply making the decision and doing it. Sometimes the career choice we make is intentional but in most cases, we kind of stumble upon it.

A trade job is a great career choice, especially if you enjoy working with your hands and challenging work. Typically with trade jobs, you’re not required to have a bachelor’s degree but you sometimes do need to have completed high school or the equivalent. Now, most trade jobs do require vocational schooling or training to obtain the specialized skill set you’ll receive, and they pay incredibly well. In fact, most trade jobs pay considerably better than certain jobs that require specific degrees!

Imagine that… Making more money without student loan debt!

In this article, we’re going to take an in-depth look at some of the highest-paying trade jobs to consider in 2021.

Trade Jobs Worth Your Consideration in 2021

Plumber

Plumbers do the work that most people don’t want to do, so that’s why people have no problem shelling out top-dollar to professionals to do the “dirty work” for them.

The main responsibilities of a plumber include repairing and installing gas and water lines as well as appliance installation involving connections to water and gas lines like toilets, bathtubs, and refrigerators. To be a successful plumber, you have to be able to critically think and solve difficult plumbing issues. You also must be able to lift heavy tools and equipment. And that’s the hard stuff.

More common job duties of a plumber include testing water pressure, clearing obstructions from pipes and drains, and accurately estimating repair or installations costs as well as effectively communicating with clients on what their plumbing issues are, why they have those issues, and what the plan is to solve their plumbing issue.

Construction Manager

Construction managers are licensed contractors that work with architects and engineers on commercial, residential, and various other construction projects. As a construction manager, you’ll need analytical and problem-solving skills to not only assess blueprints but you’ll need these skills to also give accurate project completion estimates.

You’ll be hiring construction workers and outside contractors to assist on various projects, you’ll be the one to obtain the necessary building permits, and you’ll be the point of contact to ensure all work and practices comply with all building codes and regulations.

To become a construction manager, especially if you’re in states like Virginia, you’ll be required to obtain your Virginia contractor’s license before you can work as a private contractor, let alone oversee any major residential, commercial, or federal projects.

Electrician

An electrician installs and maintains electrical systems in all types of buildings. As an electrician, you must possess critical thinking skills in order to solve various electrical system problems. You must be able to read blueprints, be in compliance with local regulations and building codes, and also must obtain the necessary licenses to work in the state you’re in.

One of the best aspects of trade jobs is that they’re jobs you can do well into your golden years. How many times have you seen silver-haired electricians and mechanics? You see them all the time because they’ve learned a trade that will forever be in demand no matter how old you get.

Sure, you can prepare yourself on how to nail an interview when you’re over 50, but why even go through the hassle of it when you can simply stick to what you know?

Age truly is but a number, and if you don’t feel or act your age, there shouldn’t be anything stopping you from crawling under a house to unclog a drain or popping open an electrical box to repair faulty wires when you’ve done it your entire life.