10 Skilled Trades Every Kid Should Know About

Ask a classroom of kids what they want to be when they grow up, and you'll hear doctor, astronaut, firefighter, maybe a pro athlete. Rarely do you hear welder, electrician, or crane operator — even though these are the people who build the hospitals, launch pads, and stadiums those other dreams depend on.

Here are 10 skilled trades worth introducing to the young readers in your life:

1. Welder — Joins metal together to build everything from bridges to skyscrapers.
2. Electrician — Wires homes, schools, and businesses so the lights (and everything else) turn on.
3. Crane Operator — Lifts massive materials high into the air to build towering structures.
4. Lineman — Climbs power poles to keep electricity running to entire towns.
5. Plumber — Makes sure clean water comes in and wastewater goes out, safely.
6. Carpenter — Builds the frames, floors, and roofs of the places we live and work.
7. HVAC Technician — Keeps buildings warm in winter and cool in summer.
8. Heavy Equipment Operator — Drives the bulldozers and excavators that shape construction sites.
9. Machinist — Uses precision tools to create parts for machines, cars, and more.
10. Mechanic — Diagnoses and fixes the vehicles and equipment that keep everything moving.

These jobs don't always get the spotlight in books or classrooms, but they keep the world running — and they're facing a real shortage of young people training to fill them as experienced tradespeople retire.

That's exactly why we wrote Amazing Trades: Heroes Who Build Our World — to help kids ages 4–7 discover these careers early, with colorful illustrations and stories that make trades work feel exciting and heroic (because it is).