If you're getting out and thinking about the trades, you've probably already heard the pitch: "Six-figure income, no student debt, always in demand." Some of that is true. Some of it is oversold. And the difference between a veteran who lands a solid trade career and one who drifts through three apprenticeships in two years usually comes down to picking the right path before you separate — not after.

I'm Brad Tachi. Navy Diver veteran, federal hiring manager, and founder of BMR. When I separated, I spent 1.5 years applying for government jobs with zero callbacks. A lot of the guys I served with went straight into the trades and were out-earning me by year two while I was still rewriting my resume. The trades work. But you have to know which trade, which path into it, and what paperwork to file before your DD-214 hits your hand.

This guide covers the four trades veterans move into most often — welding, HVAC, electrical, and plumbing — plus a quick look at CDL/trucking and aviation maintenance. For each one, you'll get the military skills that actually transfer, how to use your GI Bill and apprenticeship programs, realistic salary ranges based on BLS data, and the union versus non-union question most recruiters won't answer honestly.

Why the trades hire veterans fast

Most trade employers and union halls don't need you to "translate" your military experience the way a corporate recruiter does. They care about three things: can you show up on time, can you follow a process, can you learn a skill without complaining, and can you not quit when it gets hard. That's literally the job description for E-3 through E-6 in any branch.

That's why programs like Helmets to Hardhats and union Joint Apprenticeship Training Committees (JATCs) actively recruit from TAP classes. They know the retention rate on veteran apprentices is higher than civilian hires. What they don't always tell you: the first 18 months are still going to suck. Apprentice wages are real wages, not military base pay plus BAH. Plan for the pay cut, or you'll quit early like half the guys who didn't plan.

How the four main trades stack up for veterans

The four trades below are the ones with the clearest paths for separating servicemembers. Each has a recognized apprenticeship structure, real GI Bill coverage through approved programs, and enough open positions across the country that you aren't locked into one region. Pay ranges cited are BLS median figures for 2024 — your actual pay will vary by state, union status, and overtime availability.

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Welding: fastest entry, certification-driven

Welding is the trade with the fastest entry point. You can earn basic certifications in 6-9 months through a community college program covered by the GI Bill and be working commercial jobs inside a year. The ceiling depends entirely on what you specialize in — structural welders make a solid middle-class wage, pipeline welders on the road can clear $100K+ during pipeline season, and underwater welders (which dovetails with my Navy Diver background) sit in a completely different income bracket.

Military skills that transfer to welding

If you were a Navy Hull Maintenance Technician (HT), Army 91E Allied Trades Specialist, Marine 1371 Combat Engineer, or Air Force Aircraft Structural Maintenance (2A7X3), you've already done some form of welding, cutting, or metal fab. Hull Technicians and 91Es in particular are often a few certifications away from being employable on day one. You won't have AWS (American Welding Society) certs — you need to test for those civilian-side — but the hands-on hours count for most community college programs, which means a shorter program and cheaper tuition.

Getting certified — the AWS and community college path

The gatekeeper certification is AWS D1.1 (structural steel). After that, the specialty certifications (D1.5 for bridges, D15.1 for rail, API 1104 for pipeline, and 6G pipe for process piping) are what unlock higher pay. Most veterans I have talked to do this one of two ways: a community college welding program covered by the GI Bill (VA Form 22-1995 to transfer your Chapter 33 benefits to the school), or a private welding school approved for GI Bill. Check the program is on the VA GI Bill comparison tool before you enroll or you will eat the tuition.

For a deeper dive on welding paths specifically, see our guide on military to welding certifications.

HVAC: steady year-round work, EPA 608 is the gate

HVAC (heating, ventilation, and air conditioning) is the least glamorous of the four, which is exactly why it is a good veteran career. The work is steady all year — commercial HVAC systems do not care about weather — and demand is growing as older technicians retire faster than new ones come in. Per BLS, median pay lands around $57K, with commercial HVAC mechanics and refrigeration specialists earning more.

Military skills that transfer to HVAC

Navy Machinist Mates (MM), Army 91C Utilities Equipment Repairer, Marine 1141 Electrician and 1171 Water Support Tech, and Air Force 3E1X1 Heating, Ventilation, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration — all of these are close enough to civilian HVAC that you are really just learning the civilian-side equipment, codes, and customer interaction. The Air Force 3E1X1 rating is the closest match I have seen; those airmen often walk into apprenticeships at the journeyman pay level.

EPA 608 certification and the apprenticeship path

You cannot legally handle refrigerants without EPA Section 608 certification. Period. Get this done before you separate if you can — it is a short exam, and many bases offer it free through MWR or vocational education. After that, the two main paths are a non-union HVAC apprenticeship through a local contractor (1-2 years to journeyman level) or a union apprenticeship through SMART (Sheet Metal, Air, Rail, Transportation) or UA Local (United Association of Plumbers and Pipefitters). Union programs run 4-5 years but pay you more each year and come with healthcare.

Our military to HVAC technician guide goes deeper on certifications, pay scales, and state-by-state licensing.

Electrical: highest ceiling, IBEW is the gold path

Electrical work has the highest long-term earning potential of the four trades. Per BLS, median electrician pay is roughly $62K, but that number hides a wide range. First-year union apprentices start lower; journeyman electricians in major metros regularly clear $90K-$110K with overtime, and industrial/high-voltage specialists go higher.

Military skills that transfer to electrical

Navy Electrician Mate (EM) and Electronics Technician (ET), Army 91L Construction Equipment Repairer and 12R Interior Electrician, Marine 1141 Electrician, and Air Force 3E0X1 Electrical Systems — all are direct analogs. Navy EMs in particular often test out of the first year of a civilian apprenticeship. Bring your training records (your service record book or AF Form 623) to the apprenticeship interview.

IBEW vs non-union — which path makes sense

This is where veterans get bad advice from both sides. Here is the honest version:

If you are in or moving to a strong union state (California, New York, Illinois, Washington, Massachusetts), IBEW is usually the smarter play. In right-to-work states, the non-union path is often faster to a decent paycheck, and a lot of veterans go that route and open their own shop at year 7-10.

Plumbing: recession-resistant, master plumber is the money

Plumbing has similar median pay to electrical (~$62K per BLS) and the same apprenticeship length (4-5 years), but the path to six figures looks different. Journeyman plumbers make solid money, but the real income jump comes with a master plumber license, which unlocks contracting work and the ability to run your own crews.

Military skills that transfer to plumbing

Navy Utilitiesman (UT) and Hull Technician (HT), Army 12K Plumber, Marine 1171 Water Support Technician, and Air Force 3E4X1 Water and Fuel Systems Maintenance — all feed directly into civilian plumbing. Seabees with UT rating and Army 12Ks often walk into apprenticeships at the second- or third-year apprentice pay level because the training is that close.

UA Local and Helmets to Hardhats

The United Association (UA) runs the dominant union apprenticeship for plumbing and pipefitting in most of the country. Their Veterans in Piping (VIP) program is specifically designed for transitioning servicemembers and partners with SkillBridge. You do an 18-week training pipeline, then enter the apprenticeship at a higher pay step than civilian entrants. It is one of the cleanest transition-to-trade paths I have seen.

Helmets to Hardhats also feeds into UA apprenticeships directly. For a deeper dive, see military to plumbing apprenticeships.

How Helmets to Hardhats and JATCs actually work

Two terms you will hear over and over: Helmets to Hardhats and JATCs. Here is what they actually are, in plain English.

Helmets to Hardhats (H2H) is a non-profit that matches transitioning servicemembers, guard, reserves, and veterans with union construction apprenticeships. You create a profile on their site, list the trades you are interested in, and local apprenticeships contact you directly. It is free. The union pays for the program. It does not replace the apprenticeship application — you still have to apply and test in — but it shortcuts the "how do I even find these programs" phase.

Joint Apprenticeship Training Committees (JATCs) are the local bodies that run union apprenticeships. Each trade has its own JATC in each region — IBEW Local 3 in NYC runs the electrical JATC, UA Local 1 in Queens runs the plumbing/pipefitting JATC, and so on. When you apply to a JATC, you are applying to a specific local in a specific region. Some locals have waiting lists. Some are actively recruiting. It is worth calling the local hall directly — they will tell you exactly where you stand.

Using your GI Bill for trade apprenticeships (the part most vets miss)

Here is what a lot of veterans do not realize: Registered Apprenticeship Programs (RAPs) are approved for GI Bill benefits. That means while you are earning apprentice wages, you can also draw Chapter 33 Monthly Housing Allowance (MHA) — prorated as a percentage of the E-5 BAH rate for the apprenticeship zip code. You file VA Form 22-1990 (first-time) or 22-1995 (change of program).

The MHA percentage starts at 100% in the first 6 months and steps down every 6 months as your apprentice wage increases. By the time you hit journeyman, the MHA is gone — but by then, you are on full trade wages. This is how a lot of veterans bridge the pay cut in year one.

Our full guide on using the GI Bill for trade school programs walks through the VA forms and the approval process. If you want the broader list of certifications covered, see GI Bill certifications.

What about CDL, trucking, and aviation maintenance?

Three other trades come up often enough that they deserve a mention here even though each has its own guide.

CDL and trucking. Fastest entry of any trade — 4-8 weeks for Class A CDL training, many schools GI Bill-approved. BLS median for heavy truck drivers is around $55K, but owner-operators and specialty hauling (tanker, hazmat, oversized loads, flatbed) pay significantly more. Downsides: time away from home, and the business is consolidating hard as fleets grow. If you are set on trucking, target companies with veteran hiring programs and look at dedicated routes over over-the-road.

Aviation maintenance. If you were an aviation mechanic in any branch (Air Force 2A5X, Navy AD/AM/AE/AT, Army 15-series, Marine aviation MOSes), the FAA A&P (Airframe and Powerplant) certification is your transition. FAA has an experience pathway that lets military aviation maintainers bypass the school requirement. See our guide on aircraft mechanic civilian aviation for military maintainers. Median pay is higher than the core trades — BLS puts aircraft mechanics around $75K median.

Heavy equipment operators. Another solid veteran path, especially for Army 12N Horizontal Construction Engineer and Seabee Equipment Operators (EO). IUOE Local apprenticeships run 3-4 years. Pay is comparable to electrical/plumbing.

The resume side — yes, you still need one for trades

A lot of veterans assume trade jobs do not require a resume. That is half right. You do not need a 2-page polished document for most apprenticeship applications — but you do need a clean one-page resume when you apply direct to non-union contractors, for Helmets to Hardhats profiles, and for specialty welding, industrial maintenance, or federal trade positions (yes, the VA, DoD civilian, and Army Corps of Engineers all hire civilian tradesmen).

The mistake I see constantly: veterans list their MOS/rating in military language, assume the trades shop will figure it out, and get passed over. A hiring foreman will spend less than 10 seconds on your resume. If it does not say "MIG/TIG welding, blueprint reading, confined space, OSHA 10, 4 years shipboard welding experience" in words he recognizes, you are out. See our guide on military skills translation for resumes for how to handle this.

BMR resume builder handles the military-to-civilian translation automatically and is free for your first two tailored resumes — enough to land an apprenticeship application and a couple of direct contractor applications without paying anything. Start at the military resume builder.

What to do next

If you are 6-12 months from separation and the trades are on your list, here is the short version of what works:

1. Pick ONE trade. Shadow it. Do not drift.
2. Get the gatekeeper cert (EPA 608, AWS D1.1, OSHA 10) while still active — free or cheap.
3. Create a Helmets to Hardhats profile 3-6 months out.
4. File your VA Form 22-1990 before separation so GI Bill benefits are ready on day one.
5. Apply directly to the JATC in the region you want to live. Call the hall.
6. Plan for the year-one pay cut. Budget accordingly. Do not quit early.

For the broader transition timeline, our 12-month ETS transition timeline breaks down exactly when to file each piece. If you are weighing trades against other veteran career paths, compare against our list of highest-paying civilian careers for veterans.

The trades are a real path. Not the easy path, not the six-figure-in-a-year path the recruiting flyers sell. But a real, repeatable path that thousands of veterans have walked and are walking right now. Pick one, lock in, and treat the apprenticeship like your next enlistment — finish what you start.