Why Drown In College Debt When You Could Thrive In A Trade?

Over the past two decades, student loan debt has nearly quadrupled and now surpasses auto loans and credit cards debt in the U.S. According According to the Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis. The Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis.

It is a common misconception that college degrees are the only way to a career. Although a four-year college education is great for many Americans, it may not be right for everyone. Many recent college graduates find themselves stuck with student loans and thousands of dollars of debt after they search for a job that pays well. High school and middle school students need to think about their futures and consider all options. An example: A pipefitter makes $68,000 an average salary, but that figure can rise to six figures for certain trades.

More than half (50%) of America’s higher education students are now in debt. And it takes them a while to pay it off. The 2022 budget will be $1 trillion. Average Federal student loan debt was $37 358. According to the Education Data Initiative, the federal student loan interest rates in 2023 averaged 6.36 percent. The interest rate among all federal student loans increased 24 percent — up from 4.12 percent — between the 2020-2021 and 2021-2022 academic years. The Median According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the U.S. annual salary for full-time workers between 20-24 years old is $35,568 and for 25-34 year-olds it’s $50,700. Utilizing Nerd Wallet’s Calculator for discretionary income. A salary of $37,358 per year would give you 20% of your discretionary income, at $366 per month. Dave Ramsey’s Calculator for student loan repayment It is estimated that a student will need to earn that amount in order to pay off student loans.   

Our nation must be competitive by preparing its citizens to meet the workforce needs, including those in the trade sectors. My state of Tennessee continues to experience population growth due to inbound moves, as do many other states in the nation. This has led to a boom in construction which means there are great job opportunities for trades like home building, commercial building, road building and many more.

Get Hired Now

These jobs are not all very heavy-duty, contrary to popular belief. You can find design jobs and drone operator positions, among many others. Karriere pathways. Road builders, equipment operators, surveyors, carpenters, boilermakers, electricians, plumbers, welders, and cement and brick masons — the career paths in the trades are varied and companies are hiring for these positions now.

One of the best things about the trades, is the fact that you can earn an income right away. Many businesses offer apprenticeships and training programs to students. In Tennessee,

*As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases