Career Pathway:

Skilled Trades

Learn about jobs in the skilled trades industry and explore opportunities for career growth. Scroll down to see which top skilled trade employers in the Metro Atlanta area are currently hiring entry-level talent.

The skilled trades industry by the numbers:

Employs

178,990

people in the Metro Atlanta area

Accounts for

7%

of all jobs in the Metro Atlanta area

1,000

entry-level job postings in the past 12 months

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Employment Statistics, 4/14/2021 [www.bls.gov/oes/]

Skilled Trades Career Pathway Downloadable PDF

Industry Overview

Skilled Trades is one of the largest industries in the US and construction in Metro Atlanta is projected to grow more than the national average.
Many growth factors for Skilled Trades industry in Atlanta include the increase of commercial and residential building projects, as well as huge sports stadiums for the Falcons and the Braves.

Essential Skills

Skilled trade jobs come with a wide range of responsibilities and working environments, such as navigating tight spaces to operating heavy equipment in inclement weather. However, the rewards and fast pace of this career can be rewarding for many skilled trade professionals.

Budgeting
Organizational Skills
Problem Solving
Communication
Quality Assurance
Project Management
Detail Oriented
Planning
Repair
Microsoft Office
Physical Abilities
Scheduling

Common Career Pathway

Find more information on occupations within the skilled trades industry based on education level below.

High school or less

Occupation

Construction Laborers

Median Annual Wage

$32,700

Diploma (1 year)

Occupation

Electricians

Median Annual Wage

$53,700

Occupation

Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters

Median Annual Wage

$49,600

Occupation

Sheet Metal Workers

Median Annual Wage

$40,600

Occupation

Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators

Median Annual Wage

$39,900

Bachelors Degree (4 years)

Occupation

Construction Managers

Median Annual Wage

$97,600

How do I start my career in Advanced Manufacturing?

Do Some Research

Assess your interests, aptitudes, skills, personality and preferences.
Getting to know yourself helps you match your interest and skills to different careers.
Use ONETonline.org to learn about various careers.

Expand Your Network

Join a professional organization, take advantage of social media like LinkedIn, or visit the Georgia Building Trades Academy to learn about skilled trade apprenticeships.
Use your network to help you learn about career pathways, educational opportunities, and job responsibilities and expectations.

Get Training

Many skilled trade jobs don’t require a bachelor’s degree.
Check out WorksourceGAportal.com for a list of eligible training providers to get started in your skilled trade career.

Where can I work?

Residential Construction

Residential construction is the business of building and selling individual and multi-family dwellings. Residential construction is overseen by individual landowners, specialty home builders, property developers, general contractors, or providers of public housing.

Commercial Construction

Commercial construction involves the designing, renovating and building of commercial structures. Projects use heavy equipment funded by developers, as well as local and national governments.

Road Construction & Maintenance

Road Construction and Maintenance projects create, preserve and maintain federal, state, and local road and highway systems. Construction of roads involves the paving, rehabilitation, and/or reclamation of degraded pavements in order to achieve a state of good repair and increase road traffic safety.

Infrastructure Construction

Infrastructure construction projects include power generation and transmission. These projects can include the construction of the power generation plant. It also will include the facilities and structures necessary to store the power and transmit power.