Solution: Learn a Trade, Build a Future

Learning the exciting trade of repairing and maintaining airplanes or helicopters can be accomplished through an aviation school's short, FAA-approved aircraft maintenance training.

• Median pay: $75,020
• Top pay: $114,750 or more

Training at an electrician trade school and a short apprenticeship are usually enough to enter this trade, letting you wire buildings for electrical power and communications.

• Median pay: $61,590
• Top pay: $104,180 or more

With a short amount of formal plumbing trade school or apprenticeship training, you can specialize in installing and repairing pipes and related equipment.

• Median pay: $61,550
• Top pay: $103,140 or more

These tradespeople install, maintain, and repair the systems that heat and cool our homes, businesses, and other buildings. A short program at an HVAC trade school can prepare you to become an HVAC technician in 8 to 24 months.

• Median pay: $57,300
• Top pay: $84,250 or more

This skilled trade involves controlling large construction machinery to build roads or major structures. Businesses are often willing to train workers on the job, but formal heavy equipment training could give you an edge in securing a good job.

• Median pay: $55,270
• Top pay: $94,800 or more

Manufacturing, construction, and fabrication usually require welding. Most welders work in the manufacturing sector but are also employed in various other industries. The typical way to enter the welding trade is by completing formal welding training, getting certified, and continuing to learn while on the job. By combining classroom education and on-the-job training, employers and unions sometimes offer the opportunity to earn money while learning through a welding apprenticeship.

• Median pay: $48,940
• Top pay: $72,970 or more

In this automotive trade, the focus is on inspecting, repairing, or overhauling large vehicles with diesel engines such as trucks, buses, and rolling machinery used in mining or construction. Diesel mechanic training is offered at vocational and trade schools, and usually nine to 24 months to complete.

• Median pay: $58,970
• Top pay: $82,430 or more

Formal automotive training can prepare you to become a respected technician in an exciting and challenging field. You must complete an apprenticeship or a post-secondary program to become a mechanic. Many vocational schools offer auto mechanic programs, and some offer apprenticeships and externships.

• Median pay: $47,770
• Top pay: $77,630 or more

To understand which skilled trades careers are gaining momentum, check out our comprehensive list of the top skilled trades for 2025.

Dental hygienists' primary duties include cleaning teeth, inspecting mouths for signs of disease, and educating patients about proper oral care. This is a popular option for quick degrees that pay well. Dental hygienist training can be completed in as little as two years.

• Median pay: $87,530
• Top pay: $118,400 or more

These healthcare technicians use special ultrasound technology to capture images that help doctors correctly diagnose and treat their patients. Most ultrasound techs have an associate degree in diagnostic medical sonography.

• Median pay: $84,470
• Top pay: $116,300 or more

With an associate degree in nursing, you could be providing essential patient care in hospitals, nursing facilities, and other healthcare settings. In the future, you could expand your career potential and enhance your job satisfaction through an RN to BSN bridge program.

• Median pay: $86,070
• Top pay: $132,680 or more

Respiratory therapists help patients breathe effectively, whether they are helping with rehabilitation in a private clinic or placing someone on a ventilator to save their life. The pandemic highlighted the critical role of respiratory therapists in hospitals, especially in treating patients with severe respiratory illnesses, including lingering lung damage from COVID-19. The demand for respiratory therapists is high and expected to stay high for some time. Respiratory therapist school can be completed in two years or less.

• Median pay: $77,960
• Top pay: $104,480 or more

An X-ray technologist operates radiologic medical imaging equipment to produce images and media for diagnostic purposes. These professionals assist patients before and after imaging and then process and review the results to ensure they are clear enough for diagnosis and evaluation by a doctor. Completing a diploma or certificate program in basic X-Ray or radiologic technology can help you prepare for any required licensing exams.

• Median pay: $73,410
• Top pay: $102,380 or more

These specialists perform tests, take ultrasound images, or provide assistance during surgery for heart-related conditions. Cardiovascular technologist training can typically be completed in one to two years.

• Median pay: $66,170
• Top pay: $105,140 or more

Preparing operating rooms, organizing surgical equipment, and assisting surgeons during operations are a few of the main roles of this kind of healthcare technician. A certificate or diploma in surgical technology can be completed in 9 to 15 months.

• Median pay: $60,610
• Top pay: $83,150 or more

You do not need a degree to get into this level of nursing, which lets you work alongside doctors and other health professionals after a quick (typically one year) LPN training program. This training teaches basic patient care skills and prepares you for the National Council Licensure Examination (NCLEX-PN).

• Median pay: $59,730
• Top pay: $77,870 or more
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Although many developers have bachelor's degrees, other successful people in this field begin their careers with under two years of formal training in software development. Practical experience and hands-on skills can be incredibly valuable, often more so than traditional degrees, in building a successful career.

• Median pay: $132,270
• Top pay: $208,620 or more

This technology-based vocation involves managing an organization's data communications systems. Networking training ranges from short certificate and diploma programs to degrees and specific vendor certifications.

• Median pay: $95,360
• Top pay: $148,710 or more

Building attractive and functional websites requires plenty of technical skill but not necessarily much schooling, especially if you already enjoy teaching yourself new tricks. This could be one of the quickest careers you can get into in tech. While not required, a formal web development or design education can give you an edge.

• Median pay: $84,960
• Top pay: $157,280 or more

An electrical or electronics engineering technician helps engineers develop and test equipment and devices related to computers, health monitoring, communications, or navigation. Electronics training can take anywhere from four months to two years. Certificate or diploma programs can take as little as four months, and associate degree programs are typically 18 to 24 months long.

• Median pay: $72,800
• Top pay: $105,320 or more

With an associate degree in mechanical engineering, you can begin assisting mechanical engineers in developing, testing, and manufacturing industrial machines, engines, and tools with moving parts.

• Median pay: $64,020
• Top pay: $96,740 or more
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You don't need a college degree to fly charters or to get paid for jobs like aerial photography or firefighting missions. But you do need certification from the Federal Aviation Administration. You can prepare for certification at an aviation school offering short pilot training.

• Median pay: $113,080
• Top pay: $239,200 or more

Requirements vary from agency to agency. In some cases, being in good physical shape and having some criminal justice education can make you a viable candidate for police academy training. Short career training in law enforcement can be a requirement or an asset.

• Median pay: $74,910
• Top pay: $117,100 or more

These well-paid professionals are trained to support lawyers by handling responsibilities like legal research, administrative tasks, or document drafting. An associate degree in legal assisting or paralegal studies can be completed in two years.

• Median pay: $60,970
• Top pay: $98,830 or more