Forget the hype. Here’s what it’s actually like switching careers to the trades.
Too Old for the Trades? Here’s the Brutal Truth
So you’re in your 30s, 40s… maybe even older. You’ve spent years sitting behind a desk or bouncing from job to job, and now you’re thinking—“Screw it. I want to work with my hands. I want to get into a trade.” First of all… good on ya. Becoming an electrician 21 years ago was one of the best decisions of my life.
But before you quit your job and start Googling the best trade, let’s talk. Today we’re gonna go over the pros and cons of getting into the trades later in life. No sugar-coating. Just straight talk. Because I hear a lot of people discussing blue-collar life who have never lived it. And after watching this video, you might want to reconsider the jump to blue-collar brotherhood.
The Pros
Life Experience is a Cheat Code
By the time you’re in your 30s or 40s, you’ve usually got your head screwed on compared to a 19-year-old fresh outta high school. You know how to show up on time. You know how to take responsibility. That alone puts you miles ahead of half the apprentices on a job site. You may also have an appreciation for things like working outside in the fresh air, or working with your hands because you’ve spent years chained to a desk. Simply being more “grown up” is a huge benefit.
The Money Can Still be Great
Look, the trades aren’t a get-rich-quick scheme, but you can make real money—especially when you get licensed, start your own business, or go union. It’s not too late. I’ve known guys who became electricians at 40 and were pulling six figures within a few years. A great resource is unionpayscales.com where you can sort by city, state, and trade. You’ll get a good feel for the wage you can expect once you get up to speed in your area and your trade. Because let’s face it, we all go to work to get paid- and the more the better.
Job Security
AI ain’t replacing trades any time soon. People are still gonna need roofs, wiring, and working toilets. If you’re looking for a job that’s not gonna get outsourced or automated—you’re in the right place. That being said, work can dry up unexpectedly, like in 2008 when the housing market collapsed. Thankfully I’ve only been laid off for a total of two weeks in 21 years, because most trades are versatile and can serve many applications.
It’s Satisfying
There’s something really rewarding about standing back at the end of the day and seeing something you built. Not “submitted,” not “emailed”—built. Having been on both sides of construction, its far more rewarding when you see a flowing rack of conduit you built that day, or see people moving into a building you spent two years building.
I still annoy my kids by pointing out buildings I worked on when we’re in the car, but I’ve never proudly held up a spreadsheet.
The Cons
No industry is without its downsides, and this is where I start to get upset with those whom promote the trades and never done the work. And I don’t mean some touristy version, I mean year after year of working in all conditions with people who don’t know your last name and don’t care to learn it. If I hear another nepo-baby talk about the joys of working in the trades I’m gonna puke. Because their experience is much different than the typical one.
It’s Hard on the Body
Let’s be real—trades are physically demanding. Your knees, your back, your shoulders—they’re all gonna have a say in this. The younger guys recover faster and bounce around like Spider-Man. You? You might need ibuprofen just to get out of the truck.
If you’ve lived a sedentary life working behind a desk, the trades might be a shock to your system. However, if you’re in relatively good shape, the daily exercise might be welcome. It’s not just the step count, or lifting things, it’s doing it day after day in all temperatures and conditions.
Of course, not all trades are the same. Equipment operators and general laborers have vastly different levels of physical requirements throughout the day.
You’ll be Taking Orders From People Younger Than Yourself
This one’s tough. If you’ve been in management before, suddenly answering to a 24-year-old foreman can bruise the ol’ ego. But remember—they know more about this job than you do (hopefully). Swallow the pride. Learn the ropes.
As a foreman in my late 20’s, my crew consisted of a dozen young guys who referred to me as OMC or “Old Man Carl”. The difference between 20 and 30 feels much larger than the difference between 30 and 40 and so on.
You’ll be Starting From The Bottom… Again
Apprenticeship isn’t glamorous. You’ll be running wire, hauling plywood, digging holes. It’s grunt work. And you’ll be doing it alongside kids who were in diapers when we were using dial-up internet. What a lot of people miss is that the early days of an apprenticeship are crucial to your career.
Often the bottom rung guys are used as “gophers”, in that they go-for parts. This is a great time to learn the names and nicknames of the stuff you’ll be using in the future. When someone sends you to the conex to grab a Mineralac, you’ll know what that is and where to find it.
Just be wary if they send you for the wire stretcher, left handed screwdriver, or this urban legend I keep hearing about called a broom.
Financial Hit (At First)
There’s usually a pay cut when you start out. If you’re used to a cushy salary, those first few years might sting a little. You might have to tighten the belt. But again—long-term? It can pay off. I always look at career shifts like this just like shifting gears in your truck- you start at a lower RPM but you have the potential to go much faster.
A lot of trade jobs also don’t have any sort of bonus structure like you’ll find in the corporate world. Again, this can vary depending on your company, but most Christmases I got a company sweatshirt and a handshake.
Culture Shift
If you’re coming from the corporate world, be prepared for a major culture shift. This may be a good thing, depending on who you are, but the blue collar world is unique. Good natured ribbing, hazing, and downright bullying are common. Things like parking near the job, or indoor toilets are luxuries. And I’ve never worked for a contractor with an HR department.
I’ve found the best way to deal with these things is to borrow a phrase from the US Marines: embrace the suck.
Is it Worth it?
Honestly—yeah. If you’re sick of the rat race, if you want to build something real, and if you’re okay starting over—it can be one of the best decisions of your life. But it’s not easy. The road is long, the hours are early, and the work is tough. Just like it should be.
You don’t have to be 18 to become a tradesman. You just have to be hungry.
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