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Top 5 Skilled Trades for People Starting Over at 40 or 50 (Real Pay and Timeline)

Zach of All Trades

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Free 5-minute tool that matches you with the right skilled trade based on what you love, what you're good at, where the demand is, and what pays well.

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Access Free Intro Courses by clicking below. You can start with Coura. Coura will give you a good idea what Trade fits you best:
https://coursecareers.com/career-disc...

But if you know what Trade you want to be in then you can click on the specific Trade link below:

HVAC:
https://coursecareers.com/a/ZachofAll...

Plumbing:
https://coursecareers.com/a/ZachofAll...

Electrical:
https://coursecareers.com/a/ZachofAll...

Construction Project Management:
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Construction Estimating:
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Architectural Drafting:
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Supply Chain Coordinator:
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Check out which trade career is best for you and access a FREE course by clicking here:
https://coursecareers.com/a/ZachofAll...

🔧 Start your career in the skilled trades with VA DPOR-approved online licensing and continuing education:
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Need to renew your electrical, contractor, plumbing, or HVAC license?
Complete your continuing education online at your own pace with AYPO:
https://www.tradesmance.com/?ref=otnindf

Starting over at 40 or 50 doesn’t mean starting from zero. In this video, I break down the Top 5 Skilled Trades for people starting a new career later in life, including realistic pay, training timelines, job opportunities, and career growth potential. I’ll show you which trades can offer a practical path to stable, well-paying work without spending years in college, and what you should consider before choosing one. If you’re looking for a skilled trade career, career change at 40 or 50, or a hands-on job with strong earning potential, I hope this gives you a clear place to start.

00:00 Intro
01:22 Honest Filter Before We Start
02:20 Trade 5
03:34 Trade 4
05:31 Trade 3
06:49 Trade 2
09:20 Trade 1

20 Comments

@zachofallskilledtrades Creator 1 month ago Pinned

👋 If you're trying to figure out which trade is right for YOU specifically, I built a free Trade Career Match tool — takes 5 minutes and uses a 4-part framework. Link here:
https://zach-of-all-trades-3.kit.com/83eb0ba2cf

Shane Hummus CGE Content Growth Engine SKOOL Program
Learn how to build INCOME on YouTube (under 4 hrs/week):
https://go.shanehummus.com/zach

CourseCareers Online Trade School
Access Free Intro Courses by clicking below. You can start with Coura. Coura will give you a good idea what Trade fits you best:
https://coursecareers.com/career-discovery-quiz

But if you know what Trade you want to be in then you can click on the specific Trade link below:

HVAC:
https://coursecareers.com/a/ZachofAllTrades?course=hvac

Plumbing:
https://coursecareers.com/a/ZachofAllTrades?course=plumbing

Electrical:
https://coursecareers.com/a/ZachofAllTrades?course=electrical

Construction Project Management:
https://coursecareers.com/a/ZachofAllTrades?course=construction-management

Construction Estimating:
https://coursecareers.com/a/ZachofAllTrades?course=construction-estimating

Architectural Drafting:
https://coursecareers.com/a/ZachofAllTrades?course=construction-drafting

Supply Chain Coordinator:
https://coursecareers.com/a/ZachofAllTrades?course=supply-chain-coordinator

Check out which trade career is best for you and access a FREE course by clicking here:
https://coursecareers.com/a/ZachofAllTrades

🔧 Start your career in the skilled trades with VA DPOR-approved online licensing and continuing education:
https://www.vacontractortraining.com/?ref=otnindfx

Need to renew your electrical, contractor, plumbing, or HVAC license?
Complete your continuing education online at your own pace with AYPO:
https://www.tradesmance.com/?ref=otnindf

@b.t.1632 1 month ago

I’m 47. I did a semester of welding school, then got hired as a full time welder at 46. I love my new career. My only regret is that I didn’t do this much sooner.
Don’t let age, or anything else, stop you.
Life’s too short not to do what you want.

@mattmoncton8719 1 month ago

Just enrolled in an hvac program yesterday and start in October. I'm 39

@fingertoes3767 2 weeks ago

Plumbing and hvac are the best answers without watching the video.

@johncande1 2 weeks ago

Another plus for being an electrician, no cleaning up the site when you finish. 🤣🤣🤣

@romile55 1 month ago

Did 20 years in the Army, retired at 39, started my 5 year Hvac apprenticeship at 39.

@emtac1937 1 month ago

Ok, let’s talk about welding. Here’s what you’re going to need to understand. Combo welders, under water welders are going to be your top earners. Also, WHERE YOU LIVE will DEFINITELY play a part in what your pay is going to be. If underwater isn’t your thing, or you’re too old (yes, there is an age limit) the best way to get more money is to go combination. Not just steel and iron, get yourself some practice on exotic metals too. I almost forgot, if you live in the South.. STRUCTURAL WELDING DOES NOT PAY WORTH A DAMN. Your best bet is to become a pipe welder and focus PRIMARILY on Tig and stick. Thinking about becoming a union welder? Cool, get ready to travel..a LOT. You have to go where the money is. You have to watch some of those unions man, some of those apprentices are relatives of the top brass in those unions so take a wild guess as to who the top shelf jobs go to first.. Yep, you guessed it. You wanna go on the pipeline? SAVE YOUR MONEY IF YOU DO. Some of those pipeline jobs aren’t year round and you’re gonna spend some time at the house so spend wisely. But hey, it’s not THAT bad but don’t expect for anyone to hold your hand a lot. Well, that’s my long ass two cents but from one welder to anyone considering becoming one, go combo and go strictly pipe unless you feel more comfortable staying structural.

@jeffmorrison80 1 month ago

I turn 46 tomorrow. I started in HVAC TAB (Testing, Adjusting, and Balancing) in sheet metal workers union 4 months ago after spending 18 years in the offshore oilfield.

@martin4u2 1 month ago

39 gonna start learning plumbing this year. Wish me luck guys! God bless you all !!!

@benjaminshulman7597 2 days ago

Turn 40 in December and just applied to the resident training program for electricians since I just missed the start of the apprenticeship program. Have a friend who completed it a while ago and is a full journeyman. I was pretty set on electrician but seeing it as number one on this list certainly was encouraging.

@imDerek-_0 1 month ago

I've had 1 job basically and its been about 16 years or so. I turn 40 in about a month and just need something new. Just a little intimidated getting back out there.

@justinburton918 1 month ago (edited)

I like your style. Study flow of info,right from the beginning. Great job.❤

@ilikefire0 1 month ago

Im 35 just started new construction and remodeling, wish me luck!

@GeorgeJefferson-h7w 1 month ago

One of the best trades I made after 40 was trading my hopes of ever making it rich for being happy that I've made it this far. One of the worst trades after 40 was trading my riding mower that I thought was overkill for a push mower.

@27Zangle 1 month ago

While getting my degree, I took some welding classes and was actually good at it. I never graduated or enrolled in welding and I was able to get a job welding for a summer. It was the best job I ever had. I wish that I could get back into welding but I have not welded anything since about 2018 AND I do not have time or money for trade school. I am also mid 40s and my body is a hurting a bit. I do need to figure something out and soon. I thought about applying to a local job known to hire and train welders but I am not sure my body can handle the heat of being outside in the summers, I never liked the sun much, lol.

@someOldBaldguy 3 weeks ago

My guy slipped in 2 different ad plugs in one video. Efficiency.

@briankoenig8923 1 month ago

You should do a similar video for the ladies who are starting over at 40.

@The-Danny-Party 1 month ago

This guy ROCKS

@theshadowhealer11 1 month ago (edited)

I made the transition from corporate law to construction management/owners rep 8 years ago in Washington, DC. Best move EVER. I am currently working on my General Contractor's for residential and lite commercial.

@cframes 1 month ago

I'm 48, I tried the electrical apprenticeship route when I was 42 and even then it was too hard on my body; I had to go back to the machinist trade. Carrying heavy conduit up multiple flights of stairs, cramming your body into very small spaces, sweating in attics and plenums. Not to mention, electricity goes underground these days, guess who gets to dig the ditches. I'm all for giving people advice but the idea that being an electrician is easy for older beginners is simply misguided. Electricians get a stereotype that they hardly do any work but trust me they work just as hard as any other trade.