Real BLS data ยท no college brochure math
They told you college was the only way.
Here's the math they skipped.
The average grad leaves school $37,850 in debt. An apprentice gets paid from week one. Pick a trade and a state, and watch the two paths race for 10 years.
Built by a third-generation carpenter with 20+ years on the tools, not a marketing department.
Electrical at yr 10
$888k
College at yr 10
$321k
Head start
$566k
$566,376 head start after 10 years. Assumptions and sources on the methodology page.
National medians
Seven trades, ranked by pay
| Trade | Median pay | Per hour | Top 10% |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elevator Installer | $109,910 | $52.84/hr | $158,890 |
| Plumber | $63,800 | $30.67/hr | $108,420 |
| Electrician | $63,190 | $30.38/hr | $108,510 |
| Diesel Mechanic | $61,770 | $29.70/hr | $88,740 |
| HVAC Technician | $61,010 | $29.33/hr | $95,210 |
| Carpenter | $60,580 | $29.13/hr | $99,910 |
| Welder | $53,750 | $25.84/hr | $77,530 |
BLS OEWS May 2025 national medians. State pay varies a lot; click a trade to see all 50 states ranked.
$0
What many union apprenticeships cost out of pocket. You are an employee from day one, not a customer.
$37,850
Average student debt at bachelor's graduation. Add 6.39% interest and four years of missed paychecks.
42%
Share of Gen Z saying they are heading for blue-collar work. The smart money noticed something.
Get the trade pay report for your state
One email a week: real wage numbers, apprenticeship openings, and free training money (WIOA) most people never hear about. No spam, written by a real tradesman.
Unsubscribe anytime. Your email never gets sold.