Which Skilled Trades & Construction Career Is Right for Me?

How it works

Rate how much you’d enjoy each activity, then answer four preference questions. We’ll rank the 55 skilled trades careers we profile by how well they fit you.

Question 1 of 22Fixing or building things with tools

Question 2 of 22Figuring out why something isn’t working

Question 3 of 22Designing, writing or creating things

Question 4 of 22Helping people who are sick, stressed or struggling

Question 5 of 22Taking charge of a group or a crisis

Question 6 of 22Keeping records, schedules or files organized

Question 7 of 22Working outdoors or on a job site

Question 8 of 22Analyzing data or evidence to answer a question

Question 9 of 22Coming up with new ideas or better ways to do things

Question 10 of 22Teaching or explaining things to others

Question 11 of 22Persuading or negotiating with people

Question 12 of 22Following clear procedures and checklists

Question 13 of 22Operating machines, vehicles or heavy equipment

Question 14 of 22Learning how systems work: the body, a network, an engine

Question 15 of 22Working on projects without a fixed routine

Question 16 of 22Working closely as part of a team

Question 17 of 22Setting goals and competing to hit them

Question 18 of 22Working with numbers and details accurately

Question 19 of 22How much more education or training are you willing to do?

A few weeks to a few monthsUp to a year or twoTwo to four yearsWhatever it takes for the right career

Question 20 of 22Where would you rather spend most of your workday?

Indoors: clinic, office, shop or plantOutdoors or on job sitesA mix of bothAt a computer, possibly remote

Question 21 of 22What pace suits you best?

Fast-paced. I like constant actionSteady and predictableNo strong preference

Question 22 of 22What matters most in your next job?

Higher payHelping peoplePlenty of job openings and securityStarting work quickly

Careers included, with fit quizzes and practice tests

Boilermaker: Build and repair boilers, tanks and pressure vessels in power plants and refineries. (fit quiz · practice test)
Brickmason: Build durable walls, chimneys and structures from brick, block and stone. (fit quiz · practice test)
Cabinetmaker: Build cabinets, furniture and custom woodwork. (fit quiz · practice test)
Carpenter: Build and repair frameworks, structures and finish work from wood and other materials. (fit quiz · practice test)
Carpenter Helper: Help carpenters frame, build and finish structures while learning the trade. (fit quiz · practice test)
Carpet Installer: Install carpet in homes and businesses. (fit quiz · practice test)
Commercial Diver: Work underwater to build, inspect and repair docks, pipelines and structures. (fit quiz · practice test)
Concrete Finisher: Place, level and finish concrete for slabs, floors, sidewalks and roads. (fit quiz · practice test)
Construction Foreman: Lead construction crews on the job site day to day. (fit quiz · practice test)
Construction Laborer: Prepare sites, move materials, pour concrete and support every trade on the job. (fit quiz · practice test)
Construction Manager: Plan, budget and run construction projects from groundbreaking to final inspection. (fit quiz · practice test)
Cost Estimator: Figure out what a building project or product will cost before work begins. (fit quiz · practice test)
Drywall Installer: Hang and finish the walls and ceilings inside homes, offices and commercial buildings. (fit quiz · practice test)
Drywall Taper: Tape, mud and sand drywall joints to make walls smooth and ready for paint. (fit quiz · practice test)
Electrical Lineworker: Build and repair the power lines that deliver electricity, on poles, in buckets and underground. (fit quiz · practice test)
Electrician: Install, maintain and repair electrical wiring, panels and equipment safely to code. (fit quiz · practice test)
Electrician Helper: Help electricians pull wire, install conduit and wire buildings. (fit quiz · practice test)
Elevator Technician: Install, maintain and repair elevators, escalators and moving walkways. (fit quiz · practice test)
Fence Installer: Build wood, vinyl, chain-link and metal fences. (fit quiz · practice test)
Flagger: Direct traffic safely through road work zones to protect crews and drivers. (fit quiz · practice test)
Floor Layer: Install vinyl, laminate, wood and resilient floors. (fit quiz · practice test)
Floor Sander: Sand and refinish hardwood floors to make them look new. (fit quiz · practice test)
Furniture Finisher: Stain, finish and restore furniture and cabinetry. (fit quiz · practice test)
Garage Door Technician: Install and repair garage doors, springs and openers. (fit quiz · practice test)
Glazier: Install glass windows, storefronts and curtain walls on buildings. (fit quiz · practice test)
Heavy Equipment Operator: Operate excavators, dozers, loaders and graders to move earth and build infrastructure. (fit quiz · practice test)
Highway Maintenance Worker: Keep highways safe by patching roads, plowing snow and maintaining signs. (fit quiz · practice test)
HVAC Technician: Install, maintain and repair heating, cooling, ventilation and refrigeration systems. (fit quiz · practice test)
Insulation Installer: Install insulation in walls, attics and floors to save energy. (fit quiz · practice test)
Ironworker: Raise the steel frames of buildings, bridges and towers, high above the ground. (fit quiz · practice test)
Locksmith: Install, repair and open locks, safes and access control systems. (fit quiz · practice test)
Manufactured Home Installer: Set up and connect manufactured and modular homes on site. (fit quiz · practice test)
Mason Helper: Mix mortar and supply bricklayers and stonemasons on the job. (fit quiz · practice test)
Mechanical Insulator: Insulate pipes, ducts, boilers and equipment in plants and buildings. (fit quiz · practice test)
Painter: Prepare and paint walls, trim, buildings and structures for protection and a clean finish. (fit quiz · practice test)
Painter Helper: Prep surfaces and assist painters on homes and buildings. (fit quiz · practice test)
Paperhanger: Hang wallpaper and wallcoverings in homes, hotels and offices. (fit quiz · practice test)
Paving Equipment Operator: Run pavers and rollers that build roads, parking lots and runways. (fit quiz · practice test)
Pile Driver Operator: Drive steel, concrete and wood piles that hold up bridges and buildings. (fit quiz · practice test)
Pipelayer: Lay pipe in trenches for water, sewer and storm drain systems. (fit quiz · practice test)
Plasterer: Apply plaster and stucco to walls and ceilings for durable, decorative finishes. (fit quiz · practice test)
Plumber: Install and repair water, drain, gas and heating piping systems to code. (fit quiz · practice test)
Plumber Helper: Help plumbers install pipes, fixtures and water heaters. (fit quiz · practice test)
Rebar Worker: Place and tie the steel bars that reinforce concrete. (fit quiz · practice test)
Rigger: Plan and rig heavy lifts for cranes, machinery moves and construction. (fit quiz · practice test)
Roofer: Install, repair and replace the roofs that keep buildings dry and protected. (fit quiz · practice test)
Roofer Helper: Tear off old roofs, carry materials and help roofers install new roofs. (fit quiz · practice test)
Sheet Metal Worker: Fabricate and install ductwork, roofing, siding and other products made from sheet metal. (fit quiz · practice test)
Solar Panel Installer: Install and maintain rooftop and ground-mounted solar energy systems. (fit quiz · practice test)
Stonemason: Build and repair walls, buildings and features with natural and cut stone. (fit quiz · practice test)
Terrazzo Worker: Pour, grind and polish terrazzo floors in airports, schools and lobbies. (fit quiz · practice test)
Tile Setter: Install tile and stone on floors, walls, showers and backsplashes. (fit quiz · practice test)
Upholsterer: Rebuild and recover furniture, car seats and boat interiors. (fit quiz · practice test)
Welder: Join and cut metal with MIG, TIG and stick welding for construction and manufacturing. (fit quiz · practice test)
Wind Turbine Technician: Climb, inspect, maintain and repair wind turbines that generate clean power. (fit quiz · practice test)

Want to compare across all fields? Take the full Career Match Quiz.