Top Four Trades for Entrepreneurs or Job Seekers

Photo of actor Jason Statham for the movie A Working Man, a perfect title to describe many who will read this.

Four years of college isn’t for every man, but luckily there are plenty of high-paying trades for men who want to skip a four-year degree. Even better is, many of these trades can be done independently, meaning you can create your own business around them. As a side note, don’t forget to check out some of the links.

1. Locksmith

Becoming a locksmith in many states is as easy as taking a 20-hour basic training course and completing an exam, as covered in this step-by-step guide on WorkWiz.com. Depending on your state, the course may cost $400 — 1,000. Obtaining the license from your state can be an additional $150 — 300. You may also have to submit to a background check, and this can cost $30 — 150, depending on your location. Those might seem like an excessive amount of fees, but for less than $2,000, you can become a licensed locksmith. Also, you won’t have to depend on an employer, since you can work for yourself.

Locksmiths in America make $45,000 — 65,500 a year, according to ZupRecruiter.com, but locksmiths in larger cities such as Chicago, Los Angeles and New York tend to make 20 — 60 percent more. Locksmiths can specialize in automotive, commercial or emergency locksmithing. You can also specialize in commercial areas. Many master locksmiths earn over $120,000 employees, and some earn over $200,000 a year.

There is an increasing demand for locksmiths, especially considering the number of properties that exist and are under construction. Technology is more advanced than it’s ever been, and some of that technology has touched locks. As this continues, companies will demand locksmiths skilled in working with highly technologically advanced locking systems.

2. Forklift Operator

If you want to get a quick trade, you can earn your forklift operator certification in 6 — 8 hours. The course and certificate cost less than $60 total in most places. Some organizations provide the course and license for free. This is a welcoming area for men, and unlike many other trades, you don’t need a high school diploma or any other previous formal education. This allows you to make the most of this certification quicker and without unnecessary barriers. However, you do have to take the forklift operator course, do hands-on training, pass a forklift operating exam and undergo an operating evaluation.

ZipRecuiter.com saysForklift operators can earn $35,948 — 41,668 a year. Those working for larger companies or in bigger cities can earn more. Considering there are no educational barriers, this is a fair pay but could be higher.

3. IT Technician

You can complete Google’s IT Support course to learn the skills to become an IT technician, tech support specialist or help desk technician. The course is free for the first seven days and costs $49 a month after that. It takes between three and six months to complete the certificate and usually costs $234 on average.

IT technicians are in demand and make about $60,000 a year starting off. Depending on skills, location and other factors, some in IT earn over $100,000 a year.

Also, you can work independently as an IT technician. As a tech support business owner, you can earn over $1.6 million a year.

4. Elevator and Escalator Installer and Repairer

With the construction and maintenance of property comes the need for elevator and escalator installers and repairers. To get into this field, you start off as an apprentice. You get paid for training. The apprenticeship program can last up to four years. Training is done in the classroom and in the field. The process differs state to state.

The median annual salary is over $106,000. If you work for a large company taking on important projects, you’d make even more money. Also, as a licensed elevator and escalator installer and repairer, you’d be in the perfect position to take the next step and open your own company.

The Takeaway

As a locksmith or IT technician, you can work for someone else, or you can work for yourself. You can do the same as a licensed elevator and escalator installer and repairer. With these trades, you gain the skills necessary to become a business owner or well-paid employee. If you’re wondering what to do if you skip or have skipped college, get a trade, and become a wealthier you.

This article was written by Jermaine Reed, MFA, an educator and the Editor-in-Chief of The Reeders Block. Join the email list to get notifications on new blog posts and books. This article is 100% human-written. And remember, if you see an error, that’s what makes us human.