For years, young people in western Pennsylvania and eastern Ohio were told the same thing: get a four-year degree, or risk getting left behind. The skilled trades, the message went, were a backup plan at best.

Mike Rowe, the television host of Dirty Jobs fame and one of the country’s most outspoken advocates for skilled trades training, has a different phrase for that attitude. He calls it the “vocational consolation prize” mentality — a belief that took hold in the 1970s and 80s when schools stripped out their shop programs and pushed virtually every student down the college track.

At BlackRock’s 2026 Infrastructure Summit, Rowe described what that philosophy has actually cost us. He told the audience about a visit to a data center in Plano, Texas, where he met three electricians, all under 30, all free of student loan debt, all earning between $240,000 and $280,000 a year. More striking still: each of them had been recruited away by competing employers three times in the prior 18 months.

“It’s like the draft in the major leagues,” Rowe told Fox Business.

That story is making national headlines. But here’s what makes it especially relevant if you live in the New Castle, Pittsburgh, or Youngstown area: the same forces driving that demand are landing right in your backyard.

What You’ll Learn in This Article

• Pennsylvania Just Became a Data Center Destination — Why $90 billion in new investment is creating a once-in-a-generation demand for electricians right here in the Keystone State
• Western PA and the Youngstown Corridor Are Ready to Grow — How New Castle’s geography puts graduates in reach of multiple booming labor markets
• What the Numbers Look Like — Regional salary data, growth projections, and how trade training compares to the cost of a four-year degree
• Gen Z Is Doing the Math — Why younger workers are choosing the trades in record numbers, and what the experts say about where hiring is headed
• Two Paths into a High-Demand Field, Right Here in New Castle — A breakdown of NCST’s Electrical Technology and Industrial Electro-Mechanical Technology programs and what each one prepares you for
• The Consolation Prize Story Is Over — The bottom line on where the trades stand today and what it means for your career

Pennsylvania Just Became a Data Center Destination

In July 2025, Senator Dave McCormick and President Trump convened the Pennsylvania Energy and Innovation Summit in Pittsburgh, where companies announced more than $90 billion in planned investments in data centers, power infrastructure, and AI development across the state. The commitments included tens of thousands of construction jobs along with thousands of permanent positions.

Blackstone alone announced a $25 billion investment in data center and energy infrastructure development in Pennsylvania, with projections of 6,000 construction jobs and 3,000 new permanent positions. Amazon, Google, and other major tech players have made their own multi-billion-dollar commitments to build out the physical infrastructure needed to run artificial intelligence at scale.

All of that infrastructure needs electricians to wire it, maintain it, and keep it running around the clock.

The PJM Interconnection, the regional grid operator that covers Pennsylvania and Ohio, projects load growth of 32 gigawatts between 2025 and 2030. Roughly 90 percent of that growth is attributed to data centers alone. Someone has to build, power, and maintain the facilities driving that demand. The trades that do that work are going to be in short supply for a long time.

Western PA and the Youngstown Corridor Are Ready to Grow

The New Castle, PA area sits at a natural crossroads. You’re less than an hour from Pittsburgh to the south, and roughly 90 minutes from Cleveland to the west, with the Youngstown-Warren metro sitting right in between. That geography matters, because all three of those labor markets are experiencing growing demand for skilled electrical workers.

Pittsburgh’s construction and industrial sectors have been active for years — hospitals, universities, energy infrastructure, and now data center development. UPMC, one of the region’s largest employers, actively recruits electricians. The broader Allegheny County market has seen consistent demand across commercial, industrial, and institutional projects.

The Youngstown-Warren area in northeastern Ohio has its own industrial and manufacturing base that has historically relied on skilled tradespeople, and the regional push toward energy and tech infrastructure is reopening opportunities that had stalled for a generation. Lawrence County, where New Castle sits, connects directly to both markets.

For students in this region, that combination creates real choices: you don’t have to relocate to chase opportunity. The opportunity is here.

What the Numbers Look Like

The national conversation has focused on headline figures like the $260,000 electricians Rowe described. Those salaries represent specialized, high-demand roles in places where data center construction is most concentrated.

But the baseline numbers for the region are also strong and climbing. According to ZipRecruiter, the average hourly pay for electricians in Pennsylvania currently sits at roughly $29.59, with experienced workers and those in commercial and industrial sectors earning considerably more. Entry-level electricians in the Pittsburgh market have been starting around $38,000 as apprentices, with salary progression tied to experience, certifications, and specialization.

Critically, demand for electricians in Pennsylvania is projected to grow nearly three times faster than overall job growth in the coming years, driven by the state’s energy infrastructure transition and the data center boom. That means people entering the field today are walking into a market that favors them, not the employer.

And unlike a four-year college degree, an electrician training program at 91影视 means you start building that career without the weight of $40,000 or more in student loan debt before you’ve earned your first paycheck.

Gen Z Is Doing the Math

Something has shifted among younger workers in particular. A recent survey by Resume Templates found that six in ten Gen Z respondents plan to pursue careers in the skilled trades. Notably, about half of Gen Zers who already hold a bachelor’s degree say they’re likely to pursue a trade in 2026. For many of them, the math isn’t complicated: years of debt for a credential that may or may not lead to a job, versus focused hands-on training and a career path with demonstrated demand.

McKinsey research has found that annual hiring for skilled trades such as electricians, welders, and diesel technicians “could be more than 20 times the projected annual increase in net new jobs from 2022 to 2032.” The labor supply is not keeping up. For every 100 workers entering the trades nationally, 102 are exiting — many of them retiring. That gap is widening every year.

At Mike Rowe’s own foundation, which supports trade training nationally, scholarship applications have jumped tenfold over the past year. Interest is finally catching up with opportunity.

Two Paths into a High-Demand Field, Right Here in New Castle

91影视 has been preparing skilled tradespeople in western Pennsylvania since 1945. Two programs in particular put graduates directly in line for the opportunities described above.

Electrical Technology is NCST’s core electrician training program, available in both day and evening formats at the New Castle campus. The program covers residential and commercial wiring, machine control, programmable logic controllers, telecommunications, solid-state electronics, and electronic control systems. Graduates earn an Associate in Specialized Technology degree and leave with the entry-level skills employers are actively looking to hire.

Industrial Electro-Mechanical Technology is designed for students who want a broader skill set across the full range of systems that keep industrial facilities and large buildings running. The 60-week program covers commercial and industrial electricity, HVAC, welding, pneumatics, hydraulics, pumps, plumbing, equipment maintenance, forklift operation, wind power, and solar energy systems. In a regional economy that includes manufacturing, data centers, hospitals, and industrial facilities, that range of skills makes graduates exceptionally versatile and employable.

Both programs are built around hands-on training. Both are eligible for federal financial aid, including Workforce Pell Grants for qualifying students. NCST is also a VA-approved institution, making both programs accessible to veterans looking to build a civilian career.

The Consolation Prize Story Is Over

The narrative around the trades has changed, and the labor market in western Pennsylvania and northeastern Ohio reflects it. The opportunity Mike Rowe described — young workers earning serious income, carrying no student debt, and getting recruited like athletes — is not limited to Texas data centers. It is coming to this region, and in many ways it is already here.

91影视 has been putting students to work in these fields for 80 years. The next chapter is going to be one of the best the industry has seen.

• Explore our Electrical Technology program
• Explore our Industrial Electro-Mechanical Technology program
• Request information and talk to an advisor

Sources: Moneywise, Fortune, Benzinga, Pennsylvania Municipal League, McCormick.senate.gov, ZipRecruiter, Randstad USA, Education Data Initiative, McKinsey and Company, Resume Templates

The post The Trades Are Having a Moment. Western PA Is at the Center of It. appeared first on 91影视.

Benjamin Soto graduated from New Castle Senior High School not entirely sure what came next. The classroom had been a struggle: family pressures, shaky grades, a math class that never quite clicked. But whenever he got home, he built things. That habit turned out to be more than a hobby. It was a sign.

Today, Benjamin is a Building Technology graduate of 91影视, with real skills, a network, and a sense of where he’s headed.

WATCH: Benjamin shares what led him to NCST

Getting Through High School

Freshman and sophomore year were rough for Benjamin. Credits slipped, family issues made it hard to focus, and subjects like math felt like a wall he couldn’t get past.

“Some I understood, some I didn’t,” he said. “Some just didn’t make sense. But I got through it.”

With the help of friends who held him accountable, he pulled his grades up and graduated on time. What he still hadn’t figured out was what came after.

A Pattern He Noticed at Home

During those uncertain years, Benjamin kept coming home and building. It wasn’t a plan; it was just something he did. But somewhere in that routine, the direction started to take shape.

At one point I was lost on what I wanted to do. I would get home and build, and that’s how I kind of saw where my future was heading, since I love to build.

He looked up construction programs, found NCST, and decided to go for it.

Walking In Unsure, Walking Out Confident

Benjamin’s first day at NCST wasn’t without nerves. No friends, a new environment, the quiet anxiety of starting over.

“I was nervous at one point,” he said. “No friends, nervous about what was going to happen.”

That didn’t last long. He started talking to people, friendships formed, and the dynamic shifted. Communicating, he realized, is kind of the job anyway.

“When I came in here, I thought I wouldn’t have friends. But I kind of had to communicate, and as I did that, I began having more friends.”

Learning by Doing

High school had a rhythm of learning something one week and moving on the next, each lesson erased before it had time to stick. NCST works differently. You stay on a skill for weeks. You practice it. When you get it wrong, an instructor or classmate shows you how to fix it.

It’s better than just writing it down and reading a book. I understand it better doing it instead of reading it. With a trade, if you’re struggling with trying to cut something, the instructor will show you, do an example, and help you do it.聽They make you get better.

The Moment It All Confirmed

For Benjamin, the moment everything clicked was roofing. Working through the Building Technology modules, he got his hands on it and something just fell into place.

“When I started getting my hands dirty and building stuff, I was for sure this was the place,” he said. “Since I love roofing, it’s easier and I just love it. That’s just kind of where I want my future to be.”

A Family-Like Environment

Benjamin describes NCST as feeling like a family, instructors included. People check each other’s work, offer corrections without making it a thing, and show up for one another.

We all laugh, giggle, and help each other out. If we’re struggling with something, we can ask, and they’ll do it. If you’re struggling and go to your friends, they will literally help you and treat you like you’re one of theirs.

What He’d Tell a Kid Still Figuring It Out

“If you’re struggling and don’t know what to do, you have people who believe in you. You will find the path you want to go to. If you see something you want to do, look into it, find that school, and go. You will learn a lot.”

And if that path leads to NCST?

NCST is a great school and will help you get to a path you might not know.

Interested in Building Technology or another trade program? Schedule a visit or request more information to get started.

• Explore the Building Technology Program
• Read more: Careers in Carpentry
• What to Expect in Building Program

The post Trade School Stories: Benjamin Soto appeared first on 91影视.

Some people spend years searching for the right path. For Alex Gill, the path was always there 鈥� he just needed the right moment to take it.

Alex grew up in the driveway, handing tools to his grandfather, watching him work and absorbing everything he could. That early spark turned into a deep love for diesel engines and heavy equipment, and eventually, a decision to enroll in the Diesel & Heavy Equipment Repair program at 91影视 (NCST).

A Dream Built in the Driveway

Alex鈥檚 introduction to the trades wasn鈥檛 in a classroom 鈥� it was at home.

鈥淚 grew up doing all this,鈥� he said. 鈥淕randpa was always in the driveway, wrenching on vehicles, and I was fetching tools for him.鈥�

While his parents had different ideas 鈥� hoping he鈥檇 become a doctor or a lawyer 鈥� Alex already knew where he belonged. Something about having a wrench in his hand and bringing a broken machine back to life gave him a sense of purpose nothing else could match.

鈥淚鈥檝e seen what I can do to a vehicle or a truck,鈥� he said. 鈥淛ust the feeling it gives me after I complete it 鈥� it makes me feel good.鈥�

His grandfather eventually gave him a dirt bike as his first real project. That was all it took. What had started as a childhood hobby became a life goal.

A Detour That Led to the Right Road

Alex had originally planned to follow his grandfather into the Marines and pursue a career as a diesel mechanic. But when he was 17, his father passed away 鈥� and everything changed. Leaving home was no longer an option.

Instead of giving up on his goals, Alex refocused. He decided to stay close to his family and pursue his passion through trade school.

NCST wasn鈥檛 a stranger to the Gill family. His grandfather had gone through the welding program. His uncle had completed the motorcycle program. Friends had enrolled and come out the other side with good things to say. Alex had watched from the outside for years.

鈥淚鈥檓 not going to lie: I was jealous,鈥� he said. 鈥淚 had to put my foot down and make a move.鈥�

He enrolled in NCST鈥檚 Diesel & Heavy Equipment Repair program. For the first time in a long time, it felt right.

Hands-On Training That Actually Sticks

The NCST shop floor isn鈥檛 a place where you sit and wait for information to arrive. It鈥檚 loud, physical, and built around real problems that don鈥檛 resolve themselves. For someone who had spent his life learning with his hands, it was exactly the right environment.

It also came with something Alex hadn鈥檛 experienced much of before: instructors who genuinely wanted to see him succeed.

鈥淭hey want to see you succeed,鈥� he said. 鈥淭hey don鈥檛 want to see you fail. You come out knowing the general basics and understanding of how all this works 鈥� without having a fear of not knowing anything.鈥�

That mentorship made all the difference. After years of being handed a textbook and told to figure it out, having an instructor step in, walk through a repair step by step, and make sure the work was done right 鈥� it hit differently.

鈥淣CST was my first choice,鈥� Alex said. 鈥淚 would recommend it.鈥�

Fixing Equipment, Helping People

For Alex, diesel repair has never just been about the machines. It鈥檚 about the people who depend on them.

He knows what it鈥檚 like to not have a vehicle. He rode the city bus through one of the hardest stretches of his life. He understands what it means for people to depend on a truck that works 鈥� and to have someone they can call when it doesn鈥檛.

鈥淚 don鈥檛 want to see people struggle without a vehicle like I did,鈥� he said. 鈥淲hen it鈥檚 broken, they have somebody to lean on.鈥�

That鈥檚 part of why he鈥檚 always wanted to open his own shop 鈥� not just as a business, but as a resource for his community.

鈥淲ithout the trucking industry, the diesel industry, the automotive industry, there would be no world,鈥� he said. 鈥淲ithout the truckers, without us, you wouldn鈥檛 have clothes, food, nothing.鈥�

Just Get Up and Do It

Alex鈥檚 advice to anyone still on the fence is simple 鈥� and it鈥檚 the same advice that worked for him.

鈥淔ind something that you want in life and set that goal,鈥� he said. 鈥淭hink of all the things you have to do to get there. Get up and do it.鈥�

His story is proof that the trades don鈥檛 just build careers 鈥� they build purpose. Whether you鈥檙e fresh out of high school, navigating a major life change, or just tired of a path that never felt like yours, there鈥檚 a place for you on the shop floor.

Ready to work on the machines that keep the world moving? NCST鈥檚 Diesel & Heavy Equipment Repair program can have you job-ready with the hands-on skills employers are looking for.

• Explore the Diesel & Heavy Equipment Repair Program
• Visit the Shop: Schedule a Tour of Our New Castle Campus
• Request Info to Talk With Us

The post Trade School Stories: Alex Gill appeared first on 91影视.

For most high school seniors, the question isn’t whether to go to college. It’s where.

Josh Speer didn’t question it either. Until he did.

Watch: Josh Speer’s Story at NCST

Discovering The Trades as a Career

The assumption gets baked in early, in guidance counselors’ offices, in dinner table conversations, in the quiet pressure that builds through four years of classes designed to prepare you for four more. College is the default setting for life after graduation, and for many students, no one ever questions it.

“I always thought I would go to college,” he said. “Senior year kind of switched it up for me.” Josh graduated from Riverside High School in New Castle, Pa., and was a normal student. He described himself as a fly-under-the-radar kid: he got along fine, kept his head down, and made it through school. But as senior year arrived and the college conversation grew louder, something didn’t feel right.

It wasn’t that college seemed too hard. It was that he could already see what more years in a classroom would look like for him, and he didn’t want it. “Just doing homework all the time, just being in a classroom the whole time,” he said. “I can’t do it. I couldn’t do it.”

For many students, that feeling gets buried. It鈥檚 written off as laziness, fear, or a lack of readiness to grow up. For Josh, it was self-awareness. He wasn’t a sit-and-memorize learner. He had never been. And rather than spend four years and tens of thousands of dollars studying things that didn鈥檛 interest him, Josh started looking for another way.

“I just realized college wasn’t the answer for me,” he said. “Trade school was my best option.”

Finding 91影视

Once the college assumption fell away, the path forward came into focus quickly. Josh began researching trade schools and programs in the area. 91影视 was the closest option, so he scheduled a visit to see the campus for himself.

He enrolled that same day. “I took a visit here. I thought it was a pretty cool campus,” he said. “I got to talk to all the teachers, and I just thought it was a good fit.”

There was no agonizing over the decision. The hands-on environment, the smaller class sizes, the instructors who spent time talking to him all added up fast. For someone who had spent years in classrooms that felt out of sync with how he learned, walking into NCST felt like the opposite.

A Different Kind of Classroom

Josh enrolled in the Industrial Electro-Mechanical Technology program, building skills in major building, industrial, and alternative energy systems. One wall is dedicated to electrical systems. Another features live plumbing. Every corner of the space is a working system, something real that can be taken apart, diagnosed, and put back together.

“We have a lot of different stuff we learn in here,” he said. “Something different every day. That’s what I like about it.”

That daily variety, and the constant physical engagement with real problems, is exactly what Josh was missing. In trade school, information doesn’t live on a page waiting to be memorized and forgotten. It lives in the wall in front of you.

“If you get all the information in a book, you’re not really seeing it in front of you,” Josh said. “Seeing it in front of you is definitely a lot of help.”

Smaller class sizes further sharpen that experience. When a concept isn’t clicking, instructors notice. The class doesn’t move on without you.

“We have a smaller class here, so the teacher can help whoever needs help,” he said. “I feel like they care a little bit more, because this is a life career for me.”

Built-In Community

What Josh didn’t anticipate when he enrolled was the culture he would find inside the program. His classmates look out for each other in a way that surprised him. “I’m kind of the kid of the group,” he said, laughing. “They always help me. They definitely look out for me.” It mirrors the way the trades really work in the field: knowledge passed between people, experience shared freely, everyone pulling toward the same outcome. Nobody gets ahead by holding someone else back. “We all help each other here,” he said. “I’m grateful I met the guys here.”

His hard work paid off. In January 2026, Josh was accepted into the National Honor Society with a handful of his peers.

A Future-Proof Career

Ask Josh about the long-term outlook for his chosen field, and he doesn’t blink.

“There’s always going to be a need for a guy who fixes things,” he said. “You’re always going to have stuff that’s broken. We’re the guys you call in to fix it.”

He and his classmates have talked about what it means to work in a field that automation and artificial intelligence can’t easily touch. Technology reshapes industries, but the skilled trades remain stubbornly hands-on. Someone still has to show up and put their hands on it.

“We kind of know we’ve got job security,” Josh said. “It’s a pretty future-proof career.”

That confidence is already paying off. Before graduation, Josh secured a position with Elwood Group, a specialty metals company that helped fund a portion of his schooling through NCST’s employer partnership program. After graduation, he’ll enter their apprenticeship program before transitioning to a full-time role, a pipeline made possible by employers actively recruiting on the NCST campus throughout the year.

鈥淒ifferent companies come in every quarter that offer all these good things to you,鈥� he said. 鈥淭hey want you to apply. They’re looking for you.鈥�

The Advice He’d Give

For students wrapping up high school who feel like the standard four-year path doesn’t quite fit, but aren’t sure what the alternative looks like, Josh’s advice is direct.

鈥淒o some research, because there are options out there,” he said. 鈥淭rade school is always an option. They鈥檙e more affordable and definitely better learning.鈥�

When he tells people in his community that he chose the trades, the reaction is almost always the same.

鈥淭hey have so much respect for me,” he said. 鈥淭hey’re like, 鈥楾hat’s the best option you could do for yourself.鈥� The community definitely backs the trades.鈥�

His final word for anyone still on the fence is to just show up and see for yourself.

鈥淪chedule a visit. It can’t hurt to just come here and check it out,鈥� he said. “That’s what I did, and I thought it was the right fit. It’s the best decision I’ve ever made.鈥�

• Blog: The Importance of Enrolling in an Alternative Energy Training Program
• Explore the Industrial Electro-Mechanical Technology Program
• Visit the Campus: Schedule a Tour of Our New Castle Campus

The post Trade School Stories: Josh Speer appeared first on 91影视.

The construction industry is short of qualified heavy equipment operators. For people evaluating career options in the trades, skilled operators are in demand, employers are competing to hire them, and training takes less than a year through a trade school program.

What is a Heavy Equipment Operator?

Heavy equipment operators control large machines used in construction, mining, utilities, and agriculture. They move earth, lift materials, grade land, and prepare job sites for building. Precision matters because these machines can weigh tens of thousands of pounds and operate near other workers.

Types of Equipment

• Excavators: dig trenches, foundations, and drainage channels
• Bulldozers: clear and push large volumes of earth
• Backhoes: versatile machines that dig and load in a single pass
• Cranes: lift and position steel beams, concrete panels, and heavy loads
• Motor graders: create smooth, level surfaces for roads and pads
• Loaders: move materials across a job site

Daily Responsibilities and Work Conditions

Operators begin each shift with a safety inspection covering hydraulics, fuel, and mechanical systems. Before the machine moves, they review a site plan (a scaled drawing showing layout, dimensions, and elevation targets), so they understand grading specifications (the required slope or elevation of the finished ground surface) and project goals.

During the workday, they manage multiple controls at once while tracking workers, obstacles, and ground conditions. Basic maintenance is also part of the job:

• Greasing joints
• Checking fluids
• Reporting issues

Work is performed outdoors year-round. Shifts commonly run eight to twelve hours, overtime is frequent during active construction seasons, and colder climates like western Pennsylvania and eastern Ohio see seasonal slowdowns over winter.

Skills Required

• Hand-eye coordination 鈥� essential for precise control of hydraulic systems and machine movements
• Spatial reasoning 鈥� helps judge distances, angles, and clearances in tight or congested work areas
• Physical stamina 鈥� shifts run eight to twelve hours in variable weather; lifting 50 or more pounds is routine
• Mechanical aptitude 鈥� ability to detect unusual sounds or performance issues and communicate them clearly to maintenance teams
• Safety awareness 鈥� must guide every decision on a job site, from pre-shift inspection through shutdown

Certifications and Licensing

Credentials demonstrate that an operator understands safety protocols and can handle equipment responsibly. The table below summarizes the most common certifications and who needs them.

Certifications have expiration dates and require periodic renewal. State licensing rules vary, so check state requirements before enrolling in training.

Class A CDL: Why Equipment Operators Get One

You aren鈥檛 required to hold a CDL to operate heavy equipment on a job site. Federal regulations do not classify an excavator, bulldozer, backhoe, or motor grader working within a private construction site as a commercial motor vehicle. OSHA safety training and employer certifications govern on-site operation.

However, when equipment must be transported between job sites on public roads, a Class A CDL is required. Since most heavy equipment cannot travel on public highways under its own power, it is usually loaded onto a tractor-trailer for transport. That tractor-trailer combination requires a Class A CDL.

Heavy equipment operators who can both operate machines on site and drive the transport truck between jobs are significantly more valuable to employers. That dual capability may be the deciding factor in hiring decisions.

Some programs integrate Class A CDL preparation into the heavy equipment curriculum, so students can earn both credentials in a single enrollment period.

Getting a CDL in Pennsylvania

The steps below reflect Pennsylvania’s CDL process. Ohio applicants should confirm requirements with the Ohio Bureau of Motor Vehicles. Applicants must hold a valid non-commercial driver’s license and be at least 18 for intrastate driving or 21 for interstate driving.

• Pass the written knowledge test. The Class A test covers general knowledge, air brakes, and combination vehicles. Applicants study from the PennDOT CDL manual and test at a Driver License Center.
• Obtain a Commercial Learner’s Permit (CLP). PennDOT issues a CLP valid for 180 days, allowing behind-the-wheel practice with a certified instructor.
• Complete behind-the-wheel training. Training must come from a program approved by PennDOT and listed on the FMCSA Training Provider Registry.
• Pass a DOT physical examination. A certified medical examiner must confirm the applicant is physically qualified to operate a commercial vehicle. The Medical Examiner’s Certificate is valid for up to 24 months and must be kept current.
• Pass the skills test. The road test covers a pre-trip inspection, off-road maneuvers, and a parking exercise.

Steps to Become a Heavy Equipment Operator

No prior machine experience is required. Programs are designed for beginners and can typically be completed in six to eighteen months, depending on the path chosen.

1. Enroll in a training program

Look for programs that combine classroom instruction with significant hands-on machine time, cover multiple equipment types, and include safety certification preparation. Trade school diploma programs typically run 30 weeks to one year.

2. Gain seat time

Seat time, the hours spent operating equipment, separates trained operators from untrained ones. Quality programs provide supervised time on excavators, bulldozers, backhoes, and loaders, and teach students to read site plans and grading specifications.

3. Earn certifications and consider adding a Class A CDL

OSHA 10-Hour certification is required on virtually every commercial job site and should be a priority. Operators who also hold a Class A CDL can drive the transport truck that hauls equipment between job sites, a skill many employers consider a significant advantage, and programs that include CDL preparation allow students to earn both credentials without extending their training.

4. Understanding trade school vs. apprenticeship

Trade school is a realistic starting point for most beginners. Union apprenticeships through the International Union of Operating Engineers (IUOE) take three to four years, combine paid on-the-job training with classroom instruction, and lead to union membership with higher pay floors and better benefits, but typically require prior construction experience, a high school diploma or GED, and a basic aptitude test.

For most people entering the industry with no background, trade school is the first step. The experience gained in an entry-level role is often what makes an applicant eligible for an apprenticeship later.

5. Apply for entry-level positions

Entry-level operators typically start at construction companies, utility contractors, and mining operations. Most new hires begin on lower-complexity equipment under supervision before being assigned independent tasks, a ramp-up that is shorter for graduates who arrive with foundational skills already in place.

Career Path and Job Outlook

What Operators Earn

According to BLS May 2024 OEWS data, the median annual wage for . Wages in Pennsylvania and Ohio are consistent with national medians.

Job Outlook

for construction equipment operators from 2024 to 2034, with approximately 46,200 openings per year over the decade. Most openings are driven by retirements, since roughly 70 percent of current operators are 50 or older, and demand extends beyond construction into utilities, mining, and agriculture.

Advancement

Operators who master multiple machine types and maintain strong safety records earn access to more complex projects and higher-paying assignments. With experience, operators move into site supervision, equipment maintenance coordination, or training roles, and some establish independent contracting businesses.

Start Your Heavy Equipment Training at 91影视

91影视 offers a 30-week Heavy Equipment Operations program at its New Castle, PA campus. Students train on excavators, front loaders, backhoes, bulldozers, and dump trucks using both lever-style and joystick controls. The program includes Class A CDL exam preparation and the opportunity to earn NCCER credentials. Graduates qualify for entry-level positions as equipment operators, dump truck drivers, and grade helpers. Job placement assistance is included.

Learn more at about our Heavy Equipment Operations training program.

Conclusion

A career as a heavy equipment operator offers competitive wages, steady demand, and a clear path from training to employment. The median wage exceeds the national median for all occupations, and the job requires no four-year degree.

With roughly 70 percent of the current operator workforce aged 50 or older, qualified new operators are entering a job market that is actively looking for them.

Frequently Asked Questions

What certifications do I need to become a heavy equipment operator?

OSHA 10-Hour is standard across the industry. Programs affiliated with NCCER allow students to earn portable, industry-recognized credentials. 91影视 students are eligible to attempt NCCER certifications, and crane operators need separate NCCCO credentials regardless of where they trained.

What are entry-level jobs in heavy equipment operations?

Jobs include equipment operators, dump truck drivers, tractor-trailer drivers, grade helpers, and forklift operators. With a Class A CDL, the range expands further, and 91影视 graduates receive job placement assistance to connect with hiring employers in the region.

Do I need to pass a drug test to be a heavy equipment operator?

Most construction employers require a pre-employment drug test, and CDL holders are subject to ongoing federal testing requirements under FMCSA regulations throughout their careers. A positive result will typically disqualify a candidate from employment.

The post How to Become a Heavy Equipment Operator appeared first on 91影视.

Alex Stefek had a great time in high school. He made friends, played sports, and built relationships that he expects to carry for the rest of his life. But if you ask about the classroom, his answer changes.

Academics were never his thing. Bookwork bored him. Weekly studying left him disengaged. The format never matched how he learned.

Alex was never a sit-and-memorize student. He needed to do something with his hands, to understand why it mattered, and to see the connection to real life. In high school, that mostly never happened.

Why High School Didn鈥檛 Work for Him

Alex grew up in Poland, Ohio, and attended Poland Seminary High School. Sports, especially football, were the center of his world. He had been playing since elementary school, and the game gave him something the classroom rarely did: skills that meant something beyond a grade on a page.

“Sports taught me how to be a leader and how to deal with adversity in my life,鈥� he said.

That skill was tested in his junior year, when he broke his leg in a game. Surgeons inserted a titanium rod into his shin bone. The jersey he wore that night had to be cut off.

“That jersey tells a big story about me,鈥� he said. 鈥淪tuff happens in life, but you always have to come back.”

And he did come back. In his senior year, he was voted team captain and played what he calls the best football of his life. But while life was fun, Alex still needed to focus on his future.

Why He Chose Welding Over a Four-Year Degree

Reflecting on his academic experience, Alex said it wasn鈥檛 that the material was too hard. He just didn鈥檛 feel connected to it.

“Learning math and science and all that, I never really was big into that,鈥� he said. 鈥淚 didn’t really enjoy bookwork and having to study every week, then basically forgetting it.鈥�

That preference for doing over reviewing would turn out to be exactly the mindset trade school is designed for. Alex鈥檚 choice was four years in a classroom, studying subjects he didn鈥檛 enjoy, or training for less than a year and entering the workforce.

When he found the welding program at 91影视, it all clicked into place.

What Welding School Is Like

From the moment he started welding training, Alex knew he made the right decision.

Smaller class sizes meant instruction moved at a pace that works for everyone, not just those who caught on quickly. And everything was connected to something real: reading a tape measure, calculating the diameter of a pipe, understanding why precision mattered before you ever struck an arc.

In high school, large classes made it easy to fall behind and stay there. At NCST, that was not an option, and not because of the rules. It was because the instructors noticed.

“Trade school is a lot more interactive,鈥� he said. 鈥淚f the teacher goes up to the board and asks a question, we don鈥檛 move on until everyone understands.”

Instructors kept students accountable without overwhelming them, creating a structure that felt personal in a way that high school rarely did.

“The instructors took the time to review my progress individually,鈥� he said. 鈥淲hen I needed help, they were willing to come into my booth, show me an example, and watch me do it. In high school, it was always one big classroom, and everyone was following the same orders. If you fell behind, it was easy to stay behind.”

A Class Where Everyone Has Your Back

The collaborative culture at NCST left an impression. Welding skills were shared. School wasn鈥檛 a competition. Students who were strong in one technique would share what they knew with classmates who were still working on it and receive the same in return.

In trade school, Alex found that teamwork was possible. That was what he loved about football: that the people around you share their successes and cheer yours.

“At the end of the day, we all want to get out of here and go make good money and start good careers. And we might as well be friends with the people you’re here with, because one day, you’ll never know if you show up to a job site and that’ll be the guy welding next to you.”

Earning a Welding Certification at NCST

Alex graduated with a combination welding certification and is excited about the future and the career opportunities in welding, as well as the job security that comes with it.

“Fabricating, pipe welding, ironworking; anything that has to do with steel, metal, non-ferrous metal,鈥� he said. 鈥淪omeone has to make cars, buildings, everything. There are a lot of opportunities, a lot of room for that skill set to be used.”

Skilled welders are in demand across construction, manufacturing, energy, and infrastructure.

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, there are each year, driven in part by an aging workforce and ongoing infrastructure investment. The combination welding credential gives graduates flexibility to pursue multiple career tracks.

Is Trade School Worth It? One Graduate鈥檚 Take

For students who still believe a four-year degree is the only path worth taking, Alex has a direct response. The trades offer career opportunities that can鈥檛 be replaced by technology, especially for hands-on learners.

“Think about what you’re good at right now,鈥� he said. 鈥淚f you loved playing with Legos when you were a kid, and you like to use your hands, or you like to work outside, trades are an option for you.鈥�

He also points to what trade school offers that traditional education often does not: skills that will serve you for a lifetime and a career that won鈥檛 be taken away.

鈥淓verything breaks in the world, and someone needs to come and fix it,鈥� he said. 鈥淭here are a lot of different opportunities in the trades where you can grow for years upon years.鈥�

“I’ve learned a skill that I鈥檒l use for the rest of my life doing something I really, really enjoy.”

Alex Stefek came to NCST the same way he came back from a broken leg: ready to work, ready to get better, and willing to take the time to do it right. In the welding program, he found an environment that rewarded exactly that.

Learn More

• Explore the Program: Combination Welding at NCST
• Schedule a Tour of Our New Castle Campus

The post Trade School Stories: Alex Stefek appeared first on 91影视.

Kenneth “Kenny” Alli grew up in Youngstown, Ohio, surrounded by family members who had built their livelihoods with their hands. Trade work wasn鈥檛 a fallback where he came from; it was a respected, well-established path. So when it came time to plan for life after high school, Kenny didn鈥檛 hesitate.

He enrolled in NCST鈥檚 Electrical Technology program after graduating from Valley Christian High School in 2022. By the time he was halfway through the program, employers were already calling.

WATCH: Kenny discusses his experience at NCST and what it鈥檚 like to enter the workforce as an electrician.

Choosing a Direction

High school gave Kenny his first real taste of routine: keeping up with grades, planning the next semester, adjusting to a schedule. He appreciated the structure, but he was still working out what came next. College crossed his mind, but it never quite the right fit.

鈥淚 didn鈥檛 think college was the right route for me,鈥� he said. 鈥淲here I come from, working a trade is a respected and normal path. That is what brought me to NCST.鈥�

He had briefly considered programming before settling on electrical. The appeal was straightforward: a focused, shorter path to a career with consistent demand. 鈥淭hat felt like a soft but solid landing for me,鈥� he said, 鈥渉elping me get my footing and start building toward what I want for my career.鈥�

Why NCST

NCST had been on Kenny’s radar long before he was ready to enroll. He drove past the sign on the highway regularly, and the school came up often in conversations around him. The more he learned about it, the more it seemed like the obvious next step. His family background reinforced the decision. Almost everyone around him had come out of a trade or a hands-on job. When he visited NCST, the environment confirmed what he already suspected.

He also noted how efficiently the enrollment process moved. He had previously explored apprenticeships, and while they were upfront about next steps, the timeline dragged. NCST was different.

鈥淲hen I applied to NCST, every step of the enrollment process was done within the same week,鈥� he said. 鈥淭here was no waiting list, no months of wondering if it was the right call. It was almost immediate, and I was able to just dive in.鈥�

Learning by Doing

Textbooks never quite worked for Kenny. He understood things through his hands, through the act of doing. Trade school gave him exactly that. 鈥淭he administration makes it easy to focus on your work and focus on your own improvement,鈥� he said. 鈥淭he environment pushes your learning forward rather than pulling you away from it.鈥�

He also values the transparency of trade school. In his view, one of the clearest advantages over a traditional degree is that you know what you鈥檙e getting into from day one.

鈥淲ith trade school, they tell you the job description up front,鈥� he said. 鈥淭hey tell you what you are getting into. There are no surprises. They鈥檙e just straight up forward with you and lead you to what you may be doing for the rest of your life.鈥�

Employed Before Graduation

Before Kenny finished his third quarter, he was already working in the field. He took a position on a residential job site on the south side of Youngstown, and showed up wearing his school attire since there was no required uniform.

The transition from classroom to job site was smoother than he expected. The work was familiar because the training had prepared him for it. New situations came up, but they didn鈥檛 feel foreign.

鈥淚t showed me just how close the classroom experience is to real field work,鈥� he said. 鈥淥nce you dive in, new things come fast because they are already familiar.鈥�

Getting hired before graduation also confirmed something important for Kenny: the training he was receiving had real market value.

鈥淚 was employable before I even finished my third quarter,鈥� he said. 鈥淧eople were interested in me while I was still in school. They wanted to see me work in real time, and I proved myself in an area I plan to be in for a long time.鈥�

A Trade Built to Last

Kenny thinks about the long-term picture too. Electrical work isn鈥檛 going anywhere. As technology becomes more central to daily life, the need for skilled electricians grows alongside it, not in competition with it.

鈥淓lectricity is becoming more and more important,鈥� he said. 鈥淏eing in the trades and working with electricity, it will always be needed. I鈥檓 comfortable knowing that I鈥檒l always be able to do my job, really, not have that threatened.鈥�

Kenny’s message to anyone unsure about life after high school is straightforward: trades are transparent. You know what the job looks like before you commit.

鈥淭he best way to show someone how something works is to prove it to them,鈥� he said. 鈥淲ith a trade, you can show a person exactly what they will be doing.鈥�

Learn More:

• Explore the Program: Electrical Technology
• Schedule a Tour of Our New Castle Campus

The post Trade School Stories: Kenneth “Kenny” Alli appeared first on 91影视.

Arriving at NCST for her first day of HVAC training was an eye-opener for Alexandria Settle. As the only woman in the class, she admits she was a little nervous. 鈥淚 had no clue what I was getting myself into,鈥� she said. 鈥淚 was scared I wasn鈥檛 going to make any friends, or that I wouldn鈥檛 want to do this anymore, because I had no people. I was going to be by myself.鈥� But her fears were quickly eased. She quickly bonded with her classmates, made friends, and settled into the group, finding a place for herself among her peers. 鈥淭hey’re like brothers to me,鈥� she said. 鈥淚 really appreciate them.鈥�

Alexandria鈥檚 Career Path Led to Trade School

Alexandria was a good student at Wilmington Area High School in New Wilmington, PA. With a GPA of 3.7, and a variety of extracurriculars that included FFA, basketball, marching and concert bands, track, concert choir, and golf, she had already built a resume that would have gotten her accepted to any number of good colleges. College golf coaches even contacted her about potential scholarship offers. But from the start, Alexandria knew college life wasn鈥檛 for her.

鈥淚鈥檓 not going to lie. I did not want to go,鈥� she said. 鈥淚 was bored in high school. If we weren鈥檛 doing a lab or something, I just didn鈥檛 want to be there. I鈥檇 rather work with my hands.鈥�

She thought her lack of interest in school would lead to fewer opportunities in life. 鈥淚 honestly didn’t think I was going to have a great future. I thought that I going to live in a little house and never actually experience the world, or stuck working behind a desk or something.鈥� It didn鈥檛 take long for Alexandria to realize a career in the trades is a good future for her. She鈥檇 had an internship at Keystone Compliance the summer before, and while there, Alexandria developed an interest in heating and refrigeration. She decided to try NCST鈥檚 Refrigeration and A/C Technology program.

Building Confidence and Heating and Air Skills

Once she got started, Alexandria quickly started building confidence, and she was off to the races. She even says she took offense to people who doubt her.

鈥淚 heard people say, 鈥業F you graduate,鈥� not 鈥榃HEN you graduate.鈥� I know I鈥檓 smart. I was like, 鈥楾here鈥檚 no reason I鈥檓 not going to graduate.鈥� I really like it here, and I like what I鈥檓 going into.鈥�

Alexandria graduated from the Refrigeration and A/C Technology program in December, and had a job waiting for her at Weiser鈥檚 Heating Air Conditioning and Refrigeration, a company located in West Middlesex, Pa. When she was speaking with their reps, she didn鈥檛 even realize she was in a job interview.

鈥淚 sat down with them, and I didn’t even know it was an interview. I thought it was just a talk with him. After a few minutes they said they would really like me as one of their workers and I was a great fit for them. They offered me the job right then and there.鈥�

A Rewarding Career

鈥淗VAC is one of the best trades to get into,鈥� Alexandria said. 鈥淚 know a lot of people going into the trades want to do mechanic or electrical, but HVAC is such a good choice. There are so many HVAC companies out there, and they don’t have enough workers.鈥�

At NCST, Alexandria found peers who encouraged her, and instructors who inspired her to work hard and develop skills to begin a job.

鈥淚 came here and realized I had a lot of big opportunities to do something with my life,鈥� she said. 鈥淚 can make money. I can get this stuff that I always wanted. It was a big change in my reality.鈥�

Advice from a Trade School Graduate

Alexandria said NCST changed her perception on education and gave her the confidence to understand when she applies herself, she is capable of great things. When college isn鈥檛 a good fit, or even just for hands-on people unsure of what they want to do with their lives, Alexandria said trade school is a good option.

鈥淭rade school in general is one of the best things you can do, and it鈥檚 one of the most needed things,鈥� she said. 鈥淭here are a lot of jobs out there for people coming out of college, but because there are too many people in that field, there is a lot of competition. But come to trade school and you鈥檒l never be out of the job. It is so needed.”

• Explore the program: Refrigeration and A/C Technology
• Visit the Campus: Schedule a Tour of Our New Castle Campus

The post Trade School Stories: Alexandria Settle appeared first on 91影视.

The 91影视 Career Fair was a smash hit, drawing over 500 job seekers, students, graduates, and their families to the school鈥檚 main campus for its 10th annual celebration.

More than 100 area employers, recruiters, and local business leaders were in attendance on March 19, giving job seekers the opportunity to speak directly to employers who have openings and opportunities for skilled workers across the region.

WATCH: NCST School Director Dennis Corrado Discusses the Career Fair During an Appearance on WFMJ 21

The free public event ran from 10 am to 3 pm at NCST鈥檚 facility at 4117 Pulaski Rd., in New Castle, PA., serving communities from Youngstown, Ohio to North Pittsburgh.

Attendees networked directly with industry representatives, spoke with employers ready to hire immediately, gathered information about training opportunities in the skilled trades, and got to get a look at NCST鈥檚 New Castle campus.

Event Showcases Skilled Trades Jobs Pennsylvania Employers Need

Employers from across the region participated in the NCST Career Fair, representing industries desperately seeking electricians, truck drivers, HVAC service technicians, heavy equipment operators, and machinists.

The NCST Career Fair has become a cornerstone event that demonstrates the real-world value of hands-on training. Many companies conducted on-the-spot interviews and extended job offers to qualified candidates.

鈥淭he response was incredible,鈥� said NCST School Director Dennis Corrado. 鈥淭here are great companies all around the area looking for workers across the skilled trades. A lot of people got a first-hand look at the incredible opportunities available in the trades and helped them in their decisions toward a successful, well-paying future.鈥�

More than 200 High School Students Attended

More than 200 high school students also attended to discuss opportunities in the trades as a future career path.

The trades are becoming increasingly popular with recent high school graduates, something Dennis Corrado said continues to make a future in the trades a bright one.

鈥淐oming out of COVID, people started realizing it is okay to do something different, so they鈥檙e not sitting in the basement paying 50 grand a year doing homework. In the trades, within 12 to 15 months you can be starting a new career.鈥�

Building Careers Through Real Connections

The event highlighted the effectiveness of trade school job placement programs, with many NCST graduates securing positions with regional employers. The hands-on learning environment, knowledgeable instructors, and modern equipment that have established NCST as a community institution were on display throughout the day.

Founded in 1945, NCST has served the New Castle, Pennsylvania community for more than 75 years, offering programs in areas including:

• Automotive Technology
• Diesel and Heavy Equipment Repair
• Motorcycle and Power Equipment Technology
• Building Technology
• Industrial Electro-Mechanical Technology
• Welding
• Truck driving

Among the oldest and most respected trade schools in Pennsylvania, NCST continues to build careers through authentic, hands-on training that prepares students for real-world success.

Employers who attended include regional leaders such as Vogel Holding, Inc, Ellwood Group, Flynn鈥檚 Tire and Service, Preston Automotive, #1 Cochran, Tenaris Steel, Siemens Energy, P I & I Motor periodExpress, Inc, Konecranes, CCL Container, Local 33 Sheetmetal, and many others.

Taking the First Step Toward Building a Future

The success of the 10th annual career fair shows that skilled trades offer stable, rewarding career paths. NCST can help you build the skills to find career success in the trades.

The post 10th NCST Career Fair Draws 500 Job Seekers, 100 Employers appeared first on 91影视.

It seems like welding was always in Sebastian Lewis鈥檚 future. After first discovering it in his high school鈥檚 Vo-Tech program, he knew there was something special about fusing metals together.

鈥淚 wanted to do welding since I was 15, 16,鈥� he said. 鈥淚’d weld for my friends. I’d weld some of my friends’ garages and stuff like that. Fix their lawnmowers. It was always simple stuff, but this was always a trade I wanted to do.鈥� It didn鈥檛 take him long to realize that welding would be an important part of his life for years to come.

Watch: Sebastian Discusses How Welding School Helped Him Secure a Future

Looking for a welding school, Sebastian learned about NCST. He knew NCST was a trade school near him and thought it could be the educational experience he needed. He visited the campus and quickly enrolled in the Combination Welding program. He quickly learned he had structure he needed and freedom to be creative.

鈥淭he teachers are hands on, but they’re not standing over my shoulder and making sure I’m really paying attention to that history lesson,鈥� Sebastian said. 鈥淚n trade school they give you this piece of metal and let you build it for yourself. Bring it to us when you’re done, and we’ll give you pointers, then you go back and fix it yourself.鈥�

Sebastian found a career path he was interested in and a field he felt comfortable with, more than that he took something he loved doing and made it a job.

鈥淲elding’s an art. It takes a lot of heart, and there are a lot of things you can do with it. There’s a lot that goes into it. You have to be able to steady yourself properly and form a pattern. It’s complex, and you just work toward mastering it.鈥�

And with that freedom comes new perspectives. The teacher is the classroom and shop leader, but ideas come from all directions. Everyone contributes to make sure everyone else is succeeding.

鈥淎nybody here can teach you something. It鈥檚 not just the teacher who’s teaching,鈥� he said. 鈥淚 can go to the 30-year-old veteran in our class, and he knows things from his time in Iraq when he was welding a Humvee. The people who don’t know how to weld are showing up, and they find a new technique they share with everyone.鈥�

Lost in High School, Finding Opportunity in Trade School

Like many others in high school, Sebastian kind of slipped by, advancing with mediocre grades and a lot of what he called apathetic teachers. He wasn鈥檛 passionate about anything he did. But while the high school experience wasn鈥檛 all it鈥檚 cracked up to be, he did learn something that changed the way he looked at the world and life.

鈥淗igh school made me realize that education isn’t just in my hands. It’s also in the teacher’s hands,鈥� Sebastian said. 鈥淪ome teachers care; some don’t. If you don’t enjoy being in school, that鈥檚 not going help you enjoy it. I just kind of cruised through it. I just wanted to get done with it.鈥�

He also had a limited support structure in place at school. He didn鈥檛 fit into the usual cliques. His friends also largely struggled. Some had issues even going to school. But Sebastian was already looking at trade school for his future plans.

Supportive Learning Environment

At NCST, Sebastian found a community where teachers are supportive and helpful, and classmates are future colleagues.

鈥淭here’s always something you can learn from anybody in the trades. I can go to auto tech. I can go to construction. Any of those kids will be able to share any of their knowledge, just like the teachers,鈥� he said.

鈥淢y teachers at NCST, when they look at your welds, their input that makes you want to keep doing what you’re doing. It makes you want to improve.鈥�

Sebastian has landed a job welding dumpsters, and said he鈥檚 having fun learning his trade on the job. But he has an eye on a future, where he鈥檚 able to work in different jobs, on different projects, using different types of welding.

鈥淚 want to try something structural related. Maybe structural MIG welding or structural flux welding. Something that really makes an impact on the world,鈥� he said. 鈥淔orge welding. Forging is so cool.鈥�

Finding a Secure Career in Welding

And aside from a passion, Sebastian looks at welding as a career he can keep for the long haul. 鈥淚 have helped not only secure me a job for my future, for right now, but for the next 20 years, for the next 40 years, welding can be my career. Every bridge you drive over has a weld on it. The buildings you stand in are welded together. The cars you drive are put together with welds.鈥� And Sebastian has a lot of options for welding careers. He can work as a fabricator, pipe welder, or underwater welder, all tracks that emphasize different skills, and contributing in real ways to making society better.And Sebastian said his trade school experience made those options possible.

鈥淚f I had the chance to tell somebody to come to NCST, I would tell them to not miss an opportunity,鈥� he said. 鈥淒o something for yourself that you know you’re going to love and appreciate. You’ll be paying a lot more at college than you would here.鈥�

Resources:

• Blog: 7 Reasons Why You Should Become a Welder
• Explore the Combination Welding Program
• Visit the School: Schedule a Tour of Our New Castle Campus

The post Trade School Stories: Sebastian Lewis appeared first on 91影视.