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Tradesperson

A tradesperson or tradesman/woman is a skilled worker that specialises in a particular trade. Tradespeople (tradesmen/women) usually gain their skills through work experience, on-the-job training, an apprenticeship program or formal education.

This article is about the "skilled manual worker" meaning of the term. For other uses, see Tradesperson (disambiguation).

As opposed to a craftsperson or an artisan, a tradesperson (tradesman/woman) is not necessarily restricted to manual work.

from laborers such as bus drivers, truck drivers, cleaning laborers, and landscapers in that the laborers "rely heavily on physical exertion" while those in the skilled trades rely on and are known for "specific knowledge, skills, and abilities." Both types of work, however, are considered blue-collar.[4]

[4]

from in that the professionals require more education and have a higher duty of care[5] and routinely make decisions "on the basis of expertise and ability in complex situations where there may be no, or little, previous history."[6]

professionals

Earnings and social standing[edit]

A British study found that, after taking student loan repayments into account, a higher apprenticeship (at level 5 in the national qualifications frameworks) delivered higher lifetime median earnings than a degree from a university outside the Russell Group. Despite this, polling for the report found that apprenticeships have a lower perceived value than bachelor's degrees.[9]


Data from the United States shows that vocational education can provide a respectable income at a lesser cost in time and money for training. Even ten years after graduation, there are many people with a certificate or associate degree who earn more money than those with a B.A.[10][11][12][13]


The average taxable income for the top trades in Australia can be up to $100,000, while the average for all Australians is $85,800.[14]