There are dozens of high-quality, good-paying career paths in the trades that do not require a four-year degree. Explore our career profiles to learn more about the pathways to success in the trades.
Construct, assemble, maintain, and repair stationary steam boilers and boiler house auxiliaries, and align structures or plate sections to assemble boiler frame tanks or vats, following blueprints.
Carpenters build, install, and repair frameworks/structures and fixtures of wood, plywood, and wallboard, using hand tools and power tools.
Welders use hand-welding or flame-cutting equipment to weld or join metal components or to fill holes, indentations, or seams of fabricated metal products.
Heavy Equipment operators operate one or more types of power construction equipment, such as motor graders, bulldozers, dump trucks and scrapers.
Road builders operate equipment used for applying concrete, asphalt, or other materials to road beds and other transportation infrastructure.
Professions in the trades include home builders, electricians, welders, road builders, carpenters, plumbers, linemen, sheet metal workers and boilermakers, to name a few.
A career in construction is one of the best decisions you will ever make. You can make a great living, the jobs are in high demand, it’s safe and there is little to no debt compared to a traditional 4-year degree.
Whether you are wanting to change careers, explore new opportunities, follow a passion, re-enter the workforce after time away, or anything in between, the trades allow Tennesseans from all backgrounds to have exciting career opportunities.
As a parent, you have a significant influence in helping your child explore their interests. Talk with your child about their passions, encourage them to skill up for a skilled trades career.
Assisting the growth and development of our future workforce is critical to the success of Tennessee's thriving economy, and it requires the collective effort of educators, counselors, contractors and industry partners.
In Tennessee, we are leading the way with more than 100 training programs for the trades including at our 24 Tennessee Colleges of Applied Technology (TCATs), 13 Community Colleges, the Associated Builders and Contractors of Greater Tennessee have two Construction Trades Academies – with one location in Nashville and one in Knoxville that offer training for electrical, carpentry, plumbing, HVAC and masonry trades – and many other opportunities for apprenticeships and on the job training.