This year’s job market has been bleak, to say the least. Layoffs hit the highest level in 14 years; job openings are barely budging; and quits figures are plummeting. It’s no wonder people feel stuck and discouraged—especially as many candidates have been on the job hunt for a year.
But some mid-career professionals are working with the cards they’ve been dealt by going back to school. Many are turning to data analytics, cybersecurity, AI-focused courses, health care, MBA programs, or trade certifications for an “immediate impact on their careers,” Metaintro CEO Lacey Kaelani told Fortune.
But while grad school can certainly offer the opportunity to level-up your career once you’ve completed a program, it comes with financial and personal sacrifices, like time. According to the National Center for Education Statistics, one year of grad school, on average, costs about $43,000 in tuition. That’s nearly 70% of the average salary in the U.S.
HVAC, and every other trade, is only really good money if you own the business doing it. Just theres no big HVAC monopoly so you can actually dream of doing that.
Had warranty work done on an HVAC system that blew up shortly after installation which covered parts, but not labor (what a ripoff, by the way). Paid about $1400 for about 3 hours of work by one guy. Asked him what he got paid, about $20-25 same as everyone else who gets their hands dirty without a degree or hazard pay.
Reclamation costs, EPA certs, having to buy full tanks rather than what i need and the cost of insurance all got me out of my own HVAC business. I do miss the early spring days of 200 dollar house calls to just rinse the leaves down and out of a unit though lol