A trade can look attractive on salary alone and still be a poor fit for your life. Our comparison method keeps the decision wider than one number.
For each career, we look at the usual route to paid work, training time, plausible transition cost, state and local licensing, pay at different experience levels, physical demands, schedule, travel, and the possibility of independent work. We also ask which skills from a previous career may transfer.
Numbers come from public sources whenever possible. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics and O*NET help describe occupations and pay. The U.S. Department of Labor and Apprenticeship.gov help document registered apprenticeship routes. Licensing details come from the relevant state or local agency.
A date on the page tells you when we last checked the supporting information. It does not mean that every local rule or employer practice is identical. Use the guide to frame better questions before enrolling, quitting, or borrowing money.