Ketchum, Idaho – September 23, 2026 -- Skilled trades workers reach financial break-even by age 19, nearly seven years faster than bachelor's degree holders who hit that mark at 26, according to new commissioned research from truck-storage manufacturer DECKED. The findings, drawn from an economic trajectory study and a proprietary survey of 500 tradespeople, anchor the company's new Built for Those Who Build campaign, launching with a Builder's Day event on Sept. 30 at DECKED's manufacturing facility in Defiance, Ohio.
Trade careers close the lifetime earnings gap despite far lower entry costs
The total real cost of entering a trade ranges from $13,151 for HVAC workers to $15,417 for electricians, compared with $220,081 for a bachelor's degree including interest, DECKED's economic analysis found. Average trade school debt at graduation runs between $1,716 (plumbing) and $2,558 (HVAC), versus $30,364 for four-year graduates, and only 22-27% of trade students borrow at all compared with 85% of bachelor's grads. Despite the cost disparity, lifetime earnings land within 12% of each other: $3,121,166 on average for skilled trades workers versus $3,538,284 for bachelor's degree holders.
Union pensions for tradespeople outpace typical 401(k) balances
Union skilled-trades pensions average $788,749 at retirement age 62, exceeding the $572,563 average employer 401(k) contributions accumulated by bachelor's degree holders. Skilled trades employment is projected to grow 7% from 2024 to 2034, more than double the 3% average growth rate across all U.S. occupations, a gap DECKED says is critical given that more than two million trade jobs are projected to remain unfilled by 2030.
Survey finds 94% job satisfaction among tradespeople, but pay perception lags
DECKED's survey of 500 workers across construction, HVAC, plumbing, and electrical fields found 94% report job satisfaction, yet 78% believe Americans undervalue the trades. Median hourly wages have risen 89% since respondents entered the workforce, reaching $34 per hour, while salaries climbed 95% to $75,000. Nearly three in four tradespeople (73%) graduate debt-free, and among those who borrowed, 83% paid off trade school loans within three years.
Workers say AI poses little threat, but physical strain remains a top concern
83% of surveyed tradespeople said their jobs cannot be replaced by AI. Physical strain (51%) and fear that an injury could halt their ability to work (50%) ranked as the leading challenges of a trades career, outpacing concerns over earning potential. Separately, 44% of respondents said they could not have achieved financial milestones such as homeownership or debt-free living had they pursued a traditional college path instead.
DECKED ties research to new campaign and Ohio factory event
"Built for Those Who Build isn't just a campaign. It's who we are. Tradespeople built DECKED, and nearly every other blue-collar brand out there," said Bill Banta, CEO of DECKED. "Their work has gone undervalued for too long. We're changing that with this campaign." The campaign includes a video series honoring trade professions, outreach to local schools, and the Sept. 30 Builder's Day event at DECKED's Defiance, Ohio manufacturing facility. Full survey and economic comparison results are set for publication later this month.