TradeAtlas
Navigate Your Trades

Find Your Trade. Get Paid to Train.

The trades are short 349,000 workers and the best-paying jobs don't require a four-year degree. Compare trades, find local training, and discover funding that pays you to learn.

349K
New workers needed in construction alone — 2026
ABC
1 in 5
Construction workers are over 55 — the wave is coming
BLS
$0
Out-of-pocket for a union apprenticeship — you're paid to train
NABTU
+50%
Wind turbine tech growth over the next decade
BLS OOH

What matters most to you?

We'll show you which trades match your priorities.

How do you get in?

The route you pick changes everything: your debt, your starting wage, and how fast you advance.

🏗️Recommended

Registered Apprenticeship

  • Paid from day one (starting ~40–50% of journeyman scale)
  • Wages rise every 1,000–2,000 hours
  • Zero tuition — classroom hours are included
  • 4–5 years → portable national certificate
Find apprenticeships →
🏫Aid-eligible

Community College

  • Pell Grant eligible (up to $7,395/yr)
  • Workforce Pell now covers 8–15 week programs
  • Faster to credential: months to 2 years
  • Good on-ramp to an apprenticeship
Find programs near you →
⚠️Caution

For-Profit Trade School

  • Fastest timeline (8–18 months)
  • Can cost $17K–$55K in loans
  • Covers the same material an apprenticeship teaches for free
  • Good only when an apprenticeship slot isn't available
Compare all pathways →

Find money for your training

From WIOA training vouchers to state grants to national scholarships — answer a few quick questions and we'll show you the programs you likely qualify for, ranked by how good a fit they are for your situation.

Federal WIOA grantsPell + Workforce Pell (2026)GI Bill apprenticeshipsmikeroweWORKS scholarshipsTrade-specific awards
Find your funding →