WYOMING SKILLED TRADES

Build a life.
Build a career.
Build your future, here.

There’s more than one way to build a great life. What does more look like to you? A home of your own, money in the bank, time for the people you love, or work you’re proud of: The trades can help you get there.

Hero Desktop

Build for MORE.
By you, for you.

Find your thing, learn real skills, work alongside people who share your drive, and jumpstart a career that can take you anywhere you want to go.

The life you want is yours to shape. It starts here.

Explore the trades Choose your path
build for more

What’s possible in the trades?

  1. Making the next big thing in America.
  2. Learning the skills that take you places.
  3. Getting your hands dirty doing real work.
  4. Powering our future, and your own.
Where can the trades take you?

And build a life that’s yours, starting now.

See what works for you

More respect, less debt.

Wyoming adults see big opportunities in the trades

  • 89%

    have a positive view of careers in the trades

  • 83%

    say the trades are respected in their community

  • 75%

    would encourage their child to consider a career in the trades

  • 66%

    say the trades offer a way to start working with less debt than a four-year degree

Source: Morning Consult survey, Wyoming Adults, October 3–20, 2026. Survey of 253 adults; margin of error ±6 percentage points.

What do you want to build for yourself?

Pick a trade to see what the work is really like, what it pays in Wyoming, and how to get started.

  • electrician

    ELECTRICIAN

    Power what’s next.

  • pipefitter

    PIPEFITTER

    Keep life moving.

  • welder

    WELDER

    Turn heat into strength.

  • Carpenter

    CARPENTER

    Build a future that lasts.

ELECTRICIAN

Power what's next.

If you…

Like figuring out how things work and solving problems. You’ll wire buildings, troubleshoot what’s not working, and keep everything powered, from the lights in a home to an EV charger. Hands-on, technical work that keeps Wyoming moving.

Wyoming snapshot

22%
job growth projected through 2034
350+
openings expected each year
$76K+
median pay per year

About 20% above the national median pay

How it works

START
Apply for an electrician apprenticeship through the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW) or another local program. Alternatively, enroll in an electrical program at a community college or trade school.
TIME
Most apprenticeships take 4–5 years.
WHAT YOU NEED
A high school diploma or equivalent. Classes in math, physics, or electrical work can help you get started.
WHILE YOU LEARN
You work, get paid, and build your skills while taking classes and learning on the job.

Ready to look at how this compares?

See what works for you Find a program (opens in a new tab)

PIPEFITTER

Keep life moving.

If you…

Like figuring out how things fit together and don’t want to be in the same place every day. You might work at a refinery one day, a power plant the next, or on an energy site somewhere new. You’ll read blueprints, use math, and build systems that keep some of Wyoming’s biggest operations running.

Wyoming snapshot

20%
job growth projected through 2034
140+
openings expected each year
$62K+
median pay per year

Paid from day one: Apprentices earn while they learn, with no tuition debt

How it works

Start
Apply for a pipefitter apprenticeship.
Time
Most apprenticeships take 4–5 years.
What you need
A high school diploma or equivalent. Classes in math, science, or career and technical education can help.
While you learn
You work, get paid, and build your skills on the job while taking classes.

Ready to look at how this compares?

See what works for you Find a program (opens in a new tab)

WELDER

Turn heat into strength

If you…

Like making things with your hands and seeing your work take shape. You have a steady hand, an eye for detail, and creativity. You can build everything from custom projects to the things Wyoming depends on, and you can start earning with a certificate in as little as six months.

Wyoming snapshot

13%
growth projected through 2034
230+
openings expected each year
$60K+
median pay in Wyoming

#3 for welding job concentration in the U.S.

How it works

Start
Choose a certificate, 2-year degree, or paid apprenticeship at Wyoming colleges across the state.
Time
A certificate can take as little as 6–12 months. Apprenticeships typically take 3–5 years.
What you need
A high school diploma or equivalent. Shop, CTE, math, and blueprint-reading classes can help.
While you learn
Get hands-on practice in a shop or get paid to learn on the job.

Ready to look at how this compares?

See what works for you Find a program (opens in a new tab)

CARPENTER

Build Wyoming’s future

If you…

Would rather be outside than behind a desk. You’ll work with a crew, use big equipment, and see the results of your work take shape. And because every site is different, there’s always something new to figure out.

Wyoming snapshot

11%
job growth projected for carpenters through 2034
290+
openings expected each year for carpenters
350+
openings expected each year for equipment operators

#7 for carpentry jobs concentration in the U.S.

How it works

Start
Get started through an apprenticeship, on-the-job training, or an entry-level construction job.
Time
It depends on the path you choose. Apprenticeships typically 3-4 years where you earn while you learn.
What you need
A high school diploma or equivalent. Shop, CTE, and math classes can help.
While you learn
Build your skills on the job, with classroom learning if you choose an apprenticeship.

Ready to look at how this compares?

See what works for you Find a program (opens in a new tab)

See what works for you

Take a look at the options side by side, from time and cost to what you can earn and where it can take you.

See what works for you
PATH HOW LONG? WHAT DOES IT COST? CAN I EARN WHILE I LEARN? WHERE CAN IT TAKE ME?
Apprenticeship

Electrical and pipefitting: 4-5 years. Welding: about 3-5 years.


Construction trades vary by trade.

Designed to avoid or limit student debt.

Yes. Apprenticeships are jobs from day one, with wages that rise as your skills grow.

A nationally recognized credential. Completers report an average starting salary of $86K, and 93% stay employed.
Community college

It depends on the program. For example, a welding certificate takes about 6 to 12 months and an associate degree about 2 years.

Costs vary by school and program.

Pay typically comes only from a separate job.

A certificate or associate degree. Associate-degree holders earned a median $1,099 a week in 2024 (about $57,100 a year).
Four-year university

About 4 years full-time (the standard bachelor degree timeline)

$26,846 a year for a Wyoming resident living on campus, or $18,446 at home.

No. Pay comes only from a separate job.

A wide range of careers requiring a bachelor’s degree.
Military

A standard contract is 4 years active duty (2 to 6 depending on branch and job) inside an 8-year total obligation.

No tuition. It is a paid job.

Yes. E-1 basic pay in 2026 is $2,407 a month (about $28,900 a year), before any allowances.

Military careers, training and education opportunities that can also support careers after service.

Wyoming Training Partners

Find programs across Wyoming where you can learn real skills, get hands-on experience, and start building your future.