Contradicting the advice of grandmas and guidance counselors everywhere, a recent NPR feature reports that there are tons of high-paying jobs out there — 30m, in fact — that don’t require a college degree.
But, many young workers opt (and take on debt) for 4-year college instead of taking lucrative trade jobs — creating 68% more job openings in infrastructure than there will be bodies to fill them over the next 5 years.
According to the Associated General Contractors of America, 70% of construction companies nationwide are having trouble hiring — and these aren’t your minimum wage, just-scraping-by kinda jobs.
The US Department of Education reports that 30m jobs (which don’t require a bachelor’s degree) pay an average of $55k — almost a full $10k higher than 2017 average median personal income.
In the matchup between college degrees and high school diplomas, college is the clear victor — by about $1m in lifetime earnings. But between bachelor’s and trade school degrees, the winner is less clear.
Lifetime earnings for bachelor’s degrees vary widely by major — 2-year vocational degrees earn more than some 4 year degrees (arts, education) but less than others (biology, chemical engineering).
Plus, trade school grads typically pay off debt 1 to 3 years earlier — and almost always start off with higher salaries than their peers with liberal arts degrees.
So, to all the electricians out there — buy those poor theater majors a beer already, will ya?