Finding a trade later in life

Long story short, I'm in my early 40s, have been in Special Education as a behavior specialist my entire adult life, and am burnt the fuck out.

Maybe this is the fabled mid-life crisis, minus the Corvette?

Anyways.. I've always been handy around the house, doing as much of my own work as I can and lately I've been contemplating what a complete career change might look like.

Wondering if anyone has done this later in life, and what the training and time/money commitment would be like if I wanted to all of a sudden dump my career (with Masters level degree) and become an electrician or something.

Feasible? Possible that the stress reduction is close to what I'd imagine it would be?

How hard would it be to get work as a newbie at my age, and what would pay look like?

Where are you located? Probably a crazy idea and a non-starter but if you could get to Quonset RI and wouldn't have qualms about working on nuclear death machines (i.e. submarines), Electric Boat in Quonset runs help wanted ads on TV constantly, promising free paid training in trades like welding, steamfitting, plumbing, electric and on and on and on. I think they start people at $20/hr. while training and easily double that to start when training is over. Shit they've about had me talked into it a couple times.

I don't know anything about the realities of what you are asking. But I get the idea of wanting to change one's career (I didn't start mine till mid-30s so I am fucking stuck till the bitter end).

That said, every person in the trades seems pretty worn out when they get older. I can't imagine trying to be a plumber or an electrician -- contorting my body into tight crawl spaces and whatnot -- in my 50s and 60s. So my advice would be to consider a career change, sure, but steer clear of the trades.

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That said, every person in the trades seems pretty worn out when they get older. I can't imagine trying to be a plumber or an electrician -- contorting my body into tight crawl spaces and whatnot -- in my 50s and 60s. So my advice would be to consider a career change, sure, but steer clear of the trades.

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^^^This.

Yawn^ Stay in shape and don't get fat, that can help you avoid a lot of the issues. It's like advanced yoga.
4 year apprenticeship in VT (and being smart) and you could be a Master Electrician.
Plenty of work available when you hang your shingle out.

something that is easy on the body

While staying in shape and being limber are surely helpful, to dismiss what I said as no big deal makes me think you're not in the trades.

Assuming my brain stays functional, I can easily do my job when I am 80, not that I plan to. I hate going into my crawl space for any reason at all now, I can't imagine doing that regularly, in other people's houses, when I am 80.

I'm not shitting on the trades AT ALL. I think it can be a great career path. I just think a guy in his 40s, looking to start from scratch, might want to consider some alternatives.

Appliance repair. Go work at Lowe’s and see what you like. they have apprentice training.

Early forty is young. Late forty is death.

Now is the time. Do something. Anything. The only reason to stay in your field is pension. If you ain’t got that, get the fuck out.

50 is the new 40.

How about still using your special Ed in some other job in human resources or sft ?

Might depend on how big you are/ how your body is physiologically adapt for the hard work but the reality is that nobody knows how the body will be as it ages,

one of the early 50's carpenters i drink beer with has told me its getting harder to keep up with the 20 something kids especialy lifting shit overhead, but becuz they are still young/ dumb/ full of cum, he gets them to do more of the heavy lifting under the guise of " apprentice training "

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Originally Posted by XXX-er

How about still using your special Ed in some other job in human resources or sft ?
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I was thinking similarly. Can you use your general background for a new job with different people & different challenges? I know people who’ve done that & recovered their enthusiasm.

Electrician - get Masters.....Start your own businesss, electricians work under your license. My buddy does this - in early 60s. He does the work he likes, rest to his workers. So hard to get good people to come to your house and fix shit.

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Originally Posted by AmmergauerTele

Electrician - get Masters.....Start your own businesss, electricians work under your license. My buddy does this - in early 60s. He does the work he likes, rest to his workers. So hard to get good people to come to your house and fix shit.

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I'm not saying this isn't possible because it certainly is. That said, running your own business like this is a PITA. A good buddy of mine is doing just that, he moved to the area maybe 12 years ago, and he's constantly bitching about it. Either the employees or the clients or both. And while the idea is to make the employees do the crappy parts, it doesn't always work out that way. He's actually considering applying for a facilities job as an electrician to get rid of the headaches. So, while being a master electrician is a great skill and can be a successful career, the idea that you just "start your own business" and let it all roll in is misleading.

It may sound like I am just a naysayer in this thread and I don't mean to be. I do think a career switch is possible and it might be exactly what the OP wants. I just think he needs to be careful that he doesn't fall for a grass is always greener scenario, and unwittingly find that his work life is just crappy in different ways than before.

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Originally Posted by frorider

I was thinking similarly. Can you use your general background for a new job with different people & different challenges? I know people who’ve done that & recovered their enthusiasm.

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yeah if buddy has gone the masters route that is a whole nuther " speak " so to speak that he maybe shouldn't waste ?

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Originally Posted by frorider

I was thinking similarly. Can you use your general background for a new job with different people & different challenges? I know people who’ve done that & recovered their enthusiasm.

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I would consider what your opportunities are in your same field before I changed directions completely. While you’ve had some great advice already up thread - inevitably you’ll get more. Consider it all, many sage voices here.

After returning to college about 5 years after most my age I graduated and joined the ranks of the white collar. I’d been a mechanic on and off for almost 10 years at that point - but now I was was doing what other people wanted me to do - trying to find my way in the world while keeping my hands clean. It went well for a while - a few years there I made great money - but it all changed when tech crashed the first time in the late 00’s I think.

At that point I decided to go back to my passion - cars . It’s been almost 20 years now.
Haven’t looked back - have had my own shop for almost 13 years. It doesn’t feel like work , I can’t wait to get back in there in the morning. But it’s not easy, I’m 56 now, see myself doing this maybe 10 more years , but god damn I wish I’d stayed in this field all along - I’d be so much further along. Know many friends who went the trade route early on - police/fire/utility/transit - most of them are retired by now with pensions. You got a long way to go starting at 40 to get there. It’ll be rewarding if you find your place and you excel - but you’re starting late and it will take a physical toll much more so then if you’d started earlier.

Good luck!

I was thinking of changing trades to professional front desk sitter at a super upscale gym/wellness spa.

Outstanding scenery all day everyday and peaceful relaxing day to day.

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Originally Posted by JayPowHound

Long story short, I'm in my early 40s, have been in Special Education as a behavior specialist my entire adult life, and am burnt the fuck out.

Maybe this is the fabled mid-life crisis, minus the Corvette?

Anyways.. I've always been handy around the house, doing as much of my own work as I can and lately I've been contemplating what a complete career change might look like.

Wondering if anyone has done this later in life, and what the training and time/money commitment would be like if I wanted to all of a sudden dump my career (with Masters level degree) and become an electrician or something.

Feasible? Possible that the stress reduction is close to what I'd imagine it would be?

How hard would it be to get work as a newbie at my age, and what would pay look like?

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Learn to code

It all depends on how to balance the needs. Reason I stay in a career is half financial, and half personal reward/stimulation, with a sprinkle of social contribution. Thought about changing things up a few times, but the financial part, especially with dependants, keeps me looking to improve on what I know and practice, rather than take the financial risk on something new. Been one the edge as a sole proprietor for the first half my career, and don’t think that would fit the bill in my life right now.

Of course looking at (semi) retirement ala a Big Steve low expectation perspective, keeping engaged and productive in my later-but-still-active years, is a whole other conversation.

Where are you at OP?

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Originally Posted by sirbumpsalot

Learn to code

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I think that’s a good suggestion but sounds a little cliche and Kind of broad. How about some specific areas and/starting points?

I'll stop back later when I have time I seem to be on vacation think of it I like vacations about 8 weeks a year

The trades are a great place to earn your keep
An electrician would be a great second choice in my life as well as an hvac tech or the cable guy or a low volt guy

Trade covers a lot of things. You may find the pay more unstable and the broader link of earnings to physical health a source of stress.

Paging Foggy to the "say it like it is" courtesy phone.

With a special Ed background, becoming a contractor is a perfect career choice.


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OP feel free to message me, I made the career change at the beginning of covid.
I spent most of my life working in the outdoor industry in sales until
They decided i wasn’t needed anymore.
I’m 50 now, and my body hates the 20 year old me for sure,
I started working for a buddy doing some carpentry work, I had some experience but not a ton. After some thought and conversation with my buddy that is a GC I am now his project manager.

I was able to bring the same organizational skill set and management that I learned in sales to this new to me industry.

I am definitely not an expert in the trades but I work with all of them and see what their job entails.

The age thing is real, I can’t do what the youngsters can that is for sure.

If you want to chat message me and I’ll get you my number,


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