High school students across the country are locking in skilled trade jobs before even walking across the graduation stage, with starting salaries often exceeding $50,000 and some reaching six figures within a few years. As schools shift away from the “college-for-all” mindset, trades like welding, automotive repair, and HVAC are regaining prominence—and employers are taking notice.
In Philadelphia, 17-year-old Elijah Rios, a junior at the Catholic high school Father Judge, already has a job offer in hand. He’ll earn $68,000 a year with Global Affinity, a manufacturing firm in Bristol, Pennsylvania, after completing the school’s welding program. “It honestly feels like I’m an athlete getting all this attention from all these pro teams,” Rios said.
Father Judge High School is among many schools nationwide working directly with employers to funnel students into critical trade roles. The welding program there has attracted interest from major employers, including defense contractors and transit systems. Instructor Joe Williams confirmed all 24 seniors in the 2025 class have job offers starting at $50,000.
One of those seniors, Aiden Holland, is set to become a nuclear submarine welder, earning $75,000 annually. “It feels good knowing we’re very, very much in demand,” he said.
Programs like the Heavy Metal Summer Experience, founded by former mechanical contractor CEO Angie Simon, are helping drive this shift. Her nonprofit summer camp introduces high schoolers to careers in the trades and will reach 900 students across 51 U.S. locations this summer—all free of charge. “Why don’t you do something about it?” Simon said of solving the skilled labor shortage.
In Connecticut, Roxanne Amiot of Bullard-Havens Technical School says demand is through the roof. “Don’t call me for students when they graduate, grab them now when they’re 16 or 17,” she said. Her fall open house drew 1,000 visitors, and her classes now have waitlists.
Employers like Dan Schnaufer at D’Addario Automotive Group say the strategy is paying off. “Growing your own talent has gotten more critical in recent years,” he said. Fresh high school grads entering his shop earn around $50,000 per year and often reach six-figure salaries within five years.
As baby boomers retire and the college debt crisis grows, America’s trade jobs are no longer a fallback—they’re becoming a first choice.
