our opinions: ADVICE FROM AN EXPERT
In The
Comfort
Zone
At The Crossroads
A
74
s the end of May approaches many high school
students and those surrounded by high school
students are thinking about what comes next. There is a
fork in the road and it has several different tines on it that
can lead to a new career, college or technical educa-
tion. According to research from the National Center for
Educational Research, over a 30-year career a college
graduate earns $500,000 more than a high school gradu-
ate who goes directly into the workforce.
That same research says that a technical school gradu-
ate is estimated to earn more than $450,000 over a high
school graduate over the same 30-year career. That’s why
for many this third option of trade school is becoming
more attractive as the cost of higher education spirals out
of control. Trade schools are cost-effective, efficient and
can almost guarantee that a job will be available upon
certification.
The proof is in the numbers. The cost of attending
a four-year public university in Texas is averaging over
$30,000 per year. That’s $120,000, which is more than
most parents can pay. This incredible cost is being paid
for by loans that students are taking out to cover the cost;
so many graduates get not only a shiny diploma upon
graduation, but also the heavy burden of debt. Mike Rowe
of television’s Dirty Jobs calls this the “diploma dilemma,”
which, he says, is lending money we don’t have to kids to
train them for jobs that don’t exist, who have no hope of
paying it back.
Trade and technical school have graduates who can
be working in their chosen field in only two years. A two-
year trade school costs between $10,000 and $30,000,
less than one-third of a four-year degree. Students can
have their certification in a variety of industries and be
out in the workforce with an estimated 70 percent less
debt load, qualifying for jobs that are in great demand.
Right now there are over 6,000 job openings for HVAC
technicians alone in Texas. Employment of heating, air
conditioning, and refrigeration mechanics and installers is
By Brett Hobson
CEO Comfort Experts
projected to grow 14 percent from 2014 to 2024*, much
faster than the average for all occupations.
Here’s a chart of what a variety of professions earned
in 2015 along with the education required for each of
them*:
Teacher 4-year degree $54,450
Loan officer 4-year degree $64,430
Police officer 2/4 year program $60,270
Journalist 4-year degree $37,720
AC/Heating 2-year certification $45,110
LVN 2-year certification $43,170
While AC/heating technician is at the lower end of the
earning scale starting out, they are out of school earning
sooner while not racking up student debt.
If you decide that you don’t want to attend four more
years of school, be saddled with debt and really like to
work with your hands, trade school might just be for
you. But remember that all trade schools are not created
equal. Many are in trouble because they are churning out
students who aren’t qualified to work.
Because of that, we decided to open our own school
called the Perfect Technician Academy several years ago.
We were not getting the qualified, trained and job ready
applicants that we needed to best serve our customers.
Now our school is turning out candidates that are coveted
employees with the skills and knowledge to succeed in
their chosen field. Make sure if you choose a trade school
it is one that will help you get the job you want. Talk to
graduates, talk to potential employers. Find out from them
which schools are supplying the students that are job
ready.
The trade school option is not only attractive for
18-year-old high school graduates, but for anyone looking
to retrain and re-enter the workforce. It’s never too late to
make a change that can change your life.
*Bureau of Labor Statistics