Posted On: February 26, 2010

If four years of college doesn’t really sound like your thing, consider going to school for a specific trade career. Schooling for trade careers takes considerably less time than regular schooling. Schooling usually last between six months and two years.

There are several careers that have great pay and excellent job projections. Here is a list of ideal trade careers:

Culinary Arts:

Culinary artists prepare, cook and serve a variety of foods, drinks and desserts to the public. Bakers, chefs and caterers have many different tasks in addition to preparing and serving food. Culinary arts professionals prepare estimates for the cost of food, order supplies and equipment, and must make sure all federal food safety guidelines are followed.

There are many positions and titles within the culinary arts field including: chefs, bakers, caterers, servers, hostesses, food stylists, bar and beverage personnel, etc.

Schooling and salary for culinary arts professionals varies greatly depending on specific job title and location of work. The average schooling is about two years and can be completed at community college, or a specialized culinary arts school or training school.

The average salary for culinary arts professionals is $66,000 annually, with top specialists earning upwards of $90,000 annually.

HVAC:

HVAC technicians work with heating, ventilation, air-conditioning and refrigeration. HVAC technicians install, maintain and repair heating and cooling systems for homeowners and businesses alike. HVAC technicians are in high demand and will are expected to continue to have excellent job prospects.

HVAC technician schooling requirements can be completed at training schools and usually take between six months and two years to complete.

Average salary for HVAC professionals is $61,000 annually, with top specialists earning upwards of $90,000 annually.

Massage Therapy:

Massage therapist work in spas, physical therapy centers and other clinics to assist patients in relaxation and pain alleviation. Massage therapy is a rewarding career that can be done full –time or even on the side as a supplemental income.

Training requirements vary depending on each state, but generally take less than two years to complete. In many states massage therapists must be licensed, which must be obtained after graduating from a training program and before beginning to work with the public.

Average salary for massage therapists is $65,000 annually.